Guilford County Attorney Andrea Leslie-Fite is the new Charlotte City Attorney, following a recent unanimous vote by the Charlotte City Council. Her last day with Guilford County is Friday, Oct. 31.
A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Central University School of Law, Leslie-Fite joined Guilford County in 2022, having previously served as the city attorney in Shelby, N.C. She also held stints as a senior assistant city attorney with the city of Charlotte, senior attorney in Cleveland County, and as a partner with the former Yelton, Farfour & Fite law firm.
“Andrea has made a significant impact in Guilford County throughout her tenure, even beyond her role leading our legal department,” said County Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston. "Under Andrea’s leadership, the county has made tremendous strides in strengthening our relationship with our district courts. Upon her arrival in Guilford County, she restructured the county’s legal team to enhance responsiveness and collaboration among its 30-plus departments, and provided consistent, expert counsel to the Board of Commissioners as needed. Guilford County is grateful for Andrea’s stewardship and wishes her the greatest success in Charlotte.”
“While I am excited to begin this next chapter in Charlotte, I will always look back on my time with Guilford County with deep gratitude to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners and staff,” said Leslie-Fite. “Service is and always will be about the people we impact along the way. I hope that I was able to positively impact lives through my servant leadership. I will forever cherish the relationships I have developed with the talented and dedicated group of professionals in the Guilford County Attorney’s office, as well as with our legal partners, coworkers, and community stakeholders. I appreciate the support of the County Board of Commissioners and the County Manager as we work through this transition period.”
Leslie-Fite was instrumental in guiding and providing legal support for major Guilford County economic development projects and initiatives such as Jet Zero, Cascade, and Lenovo. She also provided legal guidance for the county’s $1.7 billion bond initiative and key land use projects, including Guilford’s recent adoption of its Comprehensive Land Use Plan.
Currently serving as president of the North Carolina Association of County Attorneys, Leslie-Fite is also a member of the International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) and the North Carolina Bar Association.