LAW. LEADERSHIP. PUBLIC SERVICE.
Sound judgment.
Lasting impact.
Nathaniel “Nate” Smith III
General counsel. Former federal prosecutor.
A career at the intersection of business, technology, and public trust.
BASED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Where complex challenges
meet clear purpose.
Nate Smith brings a prosecutor’s rigor and a business leader’s perspective to the decisions that matter most.
As General Counsel at Norfolk Southern, Nate operates where legal risk, business strategy, and public trust meet. Shaped by federal prosecution and legal leadership at Tesla, he brings a distinctive perspective to challenges that cannot be solved through legal analysis alone. He connects litigation and regulatory strategy with the commercial, governmental, and reputational realities facing the business—helping leaders navigate scrutiny, preserve credibility, and move the company forward.
His work as a federal cybercrime prosecutor grounded that perspective in evidence, accountability, and an understanding of how technology and government power intersect. He brings that discipline to evaluating emerging technology, responding to scrutiny, and protecting public trust.
Download short biography (PDF)Juris Doctor 2009
B.A., Political Science 2006
Magna cum laude · Phi Beta KappaPerspective earned
across institutions.
Corporate leadership. Federal service.
Trial and appellate advocacy.
2023 — PRESENTNorfolk SouthernGeneral Counsel
Helps guide a major American company through consequential legal and regulatory challenges, connecting litigation strategy with business priorities, government affairs, and communications. Brings a broad institutional perspective to decisions that affect both the company’s future and its public credibility.
2021 — 2023TeslaAssociate General Counsel & Head of General Litigation
Served on the senior legal leadership team, leading general litigation and advising on consequential disputes, government investigations, emerging technology, and regulatory strategy. Built in-house litigation capacity and an affirmative litigation practice.
2016 — 2021U.S. Department of JusticeAssistant U.S. Attorney · Eastern District of Virginia
Prosecuted complex national security, hacking, fraud, and data-breach cases, including state-sponsored cyber intrusions targeting U.S. satellite and aerospace companies. Tried cases to verdict and successfully argued an issue of first impression on digital-evidence probable cause before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
2009 — 2016A foundation in advocacyWachtell Lipton · Kirkland & Ellis · Federal clerkship
Practiced at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Kirkland & Ellis, working on corporate litigation, investigations, antitrust, and governance matters. Clerked for Judge Catherine C. Eagles of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Doing the right thing.
03 / SERVICE & COMMUNITY
Leadership beyond
the job description.
Raised in Greenville, South Carolina, and now based in Atlanta, Nate’s commitment to service extends to civic leadership, protecting vulnerable communities, and developing the next generation of advocates.
Investing in Atlanta
A Leadership Atlanta graduate, connecting with leaders across sectors to better understand and serve the city.
Protecting the vulnerable
A principal member of the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Task Force, building on a career in public service.
Teaching the craft
Served as a visiting faculty member for Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop in 2019.
A NEWSLETTER BY NATHANIEL SMITH III
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