Susan K. Burkhart - a Raleigh, Mecklenburg (NC) Insurance Defense Litigation Lawyer

Raleigh Insurance Defense Litigation Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Insurance Defense Litigation
Municipal Land Use Litigation

Attorney Information

Overview

Susan Burkhart, a partner with Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP since its founding in 1992, specializes in insurance coverage litigation. Susan counsels and defends large and small insurers and agents in their most complex and sensitive insurance cases.

Susan’s decades of professional achievement are recognized in her attainment of the highest (“AV”) rating in Martindale-Hubbell, the most prestigious peer review rating for attorneys. She has litigated over one hundred declaratory judgment actions for insurers in her twenty-nine year career, including coverage actions arising from class action lawsuits.

Susan has also been honored and recognized by her peers as one of America's Best Lawyers in the area of insurance coverage. She has been listed in the publication, "The Best Lawyers in America" since 2007 and has been selected through balloting as one of North Carolina's Super Lawyers since 2009.

Susan has served as the Chair of the Litigation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and as a member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Wake County Bar Association. She has tried numerous jury and bench trials in the Superior Courts and the United States District Courts, while enjoying a strong motions practice in her representation of insurers in declaratory judgment actions. Susan has also represented numerous insurers and agents in first-party bad faith, extra-contractual, and errors and omissions claims and suits.

In the municipal land use field, Susan defends numerous towns and cities across North Carolina, and their public officials, in constitutional challenges to zoning and land use ordinances and practices.

Awards and Honors

Honors

Named to "Best Lawyers in America®" Area of Insurance Law, 2007 - 2008
Named to "Best Lawyers in America®" Area of Insurance Law, 2007 - 2008
"North Carolina Super Lawyers" Area of Insurance Law, 2009
"North Carolina Super Lawyers" Area of Insurance Law, 2009

Education

Legal Education
- Wayne State University Law School, Detroit, Michigan, 1981
  J.D.
  Honors: Marshall D. Goldberg Award, Best Oralist, Moot Court
  Honors: American Jurisprudence Award, Property
Non Legal Education
- University of Michigan, 1977
  B.A.
  Honors: With High Honors

Current Employment Position(s)

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Partner
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Classes and Seminars

•"Recent Developments in CGL, Auto and Property Law: 2008,", Fall CSH Educational Seminar, 2008
•"Recent Developments in CGL, Auto and Property Law: 2008,", Fall CSH Educational Seminar, 2008
Insurance Coverage Annual Update, CSH Seminars
Insurance Coverage Annual Update, CSH Seminars
“Material Misrepresentations and Other Ways to Avoid Coverage”, N.C. Bar Association
“Material Misrepresentations and Other Ways to Avoid Coverage”, N.C. Bar Association
“Civil Procedure, Nuts and Bolts of North Carolina Law”, N.C. Bar Association
“Civil Procedure, Nuts and Bolts of North Carolina Law”, N.C. Bar Association
"Insurance Coverage Issues in Construction Claims", N.C. Defense Attorneys Association
"Insurance Coverage Issues in Construction Claims", N.C. Defense Attorneys Association
•"Recent Developments in CGL, Auto and Property Law: 2007,", Spring CSH Educational Seminar, 2007
•"Recent Developments in CGL, Auto and Property Law: 2007,", Spring CSH Educational Seminar, 2007

Published Works

Articles

“North Carolina Bad Faith Insurance Compendium”, Defense Research Institute
“North Carolina Bad Faith Insurance Compendium”, Defense Research Institute
“North Carolina Unfair Trade Practice Compendium”, Defense Research Institute
“North Carolina Unfair Trade Practice Compendium”, Defense Research Institute
"Hot Topics in Commercial General Liability Insurance,", North Carolina Bar Association, Fall, 2009
"Hot Topics in Commercial General Liability Insurance,", North Carolina Bar Association, Fall, 2009
"Insurance Coverage Issues in Construction Claims,", N.C. Defense Attorneys Association, Fall, 2007
"Insurance Coverage Issues in Construction Claims,", N.C. Defense Attorneys Association, Fall, 2007
“North Carolina Bad Faith Insurance Compendium,” (Co-Author), Defense Research Institute, 2008, 2009
“North Carolina Bad Faith Insurance Compendium,” (Co-Author), Defense Research Institute, 2008, 2009
“Material Misrepresentations and Other Ways to Avoid Coverage,”, North Carolina Bar Association
“Material Misrepresentations and Other Ways to Avoid Coverage,”, North Carolina Bar Association
“Civil Procedure, Nuts and Bolts of North Carolina Law,”, North Carolina Bar Association
“Civil Procedure, Nuts and Bolts of North Carolina Law,”, North Carolina Bar Association

Bar Admissions

North Carolina, 1981
U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina
U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit

Other Affiliations

N.C. Bar Association (Litigation Section and Women in the Profession Committee) (Member)
N.C. Bar Association (Litigation Section and Women in the Profession Committee) (Member)
Defense Research Institute (Insurance Coverage Committee) (Member)
Defense Research Institute (Insurance Coverage Committee) (Member)
North Carolina Bar Association and the Wake County Bar Association (Member of the Board of Directors)
North Carolina Bar Association and the Wake County Bar Association (Member of the Board of Directors)
Litigation Section, N.C. Bar Association (Chair)
Litigation Section, N.C. Bar Association (Chair)
Representative, Harmonie Group Insurance Coverage Section
Representative, Harmonie Group Insurance Coverage Section

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Contact

Raleigh, NC

5420 Wade Park Boulevard
#300
Raleigh, NC 27607

Directions

Phones:

Fax: (919) 863-3537

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.cshlaw.com/

Credit Cards Accepted
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Susan K. Burkhart - Raleigh, NC