Tomomi Atamas

Tomomi is not your typical triangle-area family lawyer. As a graduate of Harvard Law School, former Lehman Brothers investment banker, and Wall Street securities lawyer, Tomomi delivers the highest legal sophistication and diligence. At the same time, as a wife and mother, she genuinely empathizes with the tumultuous feelings that many of us experience regarding issues surrounding our families and children.

Tomomi started her legal career practicing securities law in Manhattan.  Years later, while taking a break from the practice of law to care for her twins, Tomomi received an unexpected phone call from a friend in desperate need, a fellow mom threatened with loss of custody of her four-year-old son.  Over the next year, as Tomomi helped her friend through a contentious international divorce and eventually got her son back, Tomomi found her calling.  She was inspired to change course to find deeper meaning in her law practice by helping ordinary people resolve the problems that affect the most personal aspects of their daily lives during what is often the most challenging time of their lives.

Tomomi’s economics degree from Brown University and her investment banking experience make her uniquely qualified to handle the financial issues of family law clients, whether it is the division of assets, child support, or alimony.   She also brings her first-hand experiences as a parent into play in helping clients navigate custody disputes. In addition, she devotes heartfelt care and attention to every client with her soft and kind demeanor. Although she is a perfectionist by nature, hard work and discipline are deeply ingrained in her DNA, and she gives her all to every case.

A city girl at heart, Tomomi has spent most of her life in big cities, from Tokyo to New York to Boston.  She moved back and forth across the Pacific several times before settling down in Raleigh in 2016.  She has friends and colleagues from all over the globe and naturally connects with all viewpoints, cultures, and ethnicities.

Tomomi joined Smith Debnam in 2022 and represents clients in family law, including separation and divorce, equitable distribution, alimony, post-separation support, child custody, child support, prenuptial, postnuptial agreements, and domestic violence. She earned her B.A. magna cum laude from Brown University and her J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Areas of Practice:

• Alienation of Affection
• Alimony
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Divorce & Separation
• Family Law
• Property Division

Admissions:

• North Carolina State Bar, 2019
• New York State Bar, 2013

Education:

• J.D., Harvard Law School, 2012
• B.A., Brown University, 2008, magna cum laude in Economics

Professional Affiliations:

• North Carolina Bar Association
• Tenth Judicial District Bar
• Wake County Bar Association

 Civic Involvement:

• Legal Aid of North Carolina, Volunteer, 2017-present