Gerald Roach serves as firm chair of the Smith Anderson law firm and previously served as managing partner. His practice involves public company securities, domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, family business and family office matters, advising boards of directors and special committees, and helping clients with their most significant opportunities and challenges. Gerald Roach currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University and chair of the Special Advisory Committee on Government Affairs, served as board chair from 2018-2021 and chair of its 2021 presidential search committee. He previously served as a member of the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center Board of Trustees. In 2024, he served as the chair of the Commerce Transition Committee for Governor Josh Stein. He also previously served as secretary to the NC Economic Recovery Council and the Governor’s Business Council, both nonpartisan groups of business leaders. He is an elder at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he has served in leadership roles, including as chair of its capital campaign. He received his bachelor’s degree and J.D. from Wake Forest University.