Campbell Law Spotlight: Benjamin Aydlett ’21

Benjamin Aydlett ’21 is an associate in K&L Gates’ Real Estate practice. His experience involves all aspects of acquisition, development, leasing, and disposition of real property across various asset classes, including office, residential, retail, industrial and laboratory. Prior to joining the firm, Aydlett was a summer associate for a law firm in the Triangle focusing on commercial real estate acquisition, disposition and leasing. He also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Robert T. Numbers II in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He was recognized among Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite “Young Guns” in 2024. While at Campbell Law, Aydlett served as a staff editor of the Campbell Law Review.

Q: What is your educational background and journey into the legal field?
A: I attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for my undergraduate studies, majoring in business administration and minoring in pre-law. There, I realized my passion for pursuing a legal career. This passion was solidified when I received hands-on experience through an internship at Hornthal, Riley, Ellis & Maland near my hometown. I headed to Campbell Law School straight out of undergrad. Campbell Law was an obvious choice for me as I always knew I wanted to be a North Carolina attorney and attend a law school that would specifically prepare me to practice in N.C.

Q: What were you involved in during your time at Campbell Law?
A: During my time there, I participated on the Campbell Law Review, the Negotiations Team and the Moot Court Team. One highlight was winning first place at the American College of Bankruptcy 4th Circuit Moot Court Competition. I also gained a lot of practical experience from my summer positions. During my 1L summer, I externed for the Honorable Robert T. Numbers II in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and was a summer associate at Barringer Sasser LLP. I enjoyed learning in these two environments and the opportunity to see the lifespan of a case from its inception in a firm setting to its development in the courtroom. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted my original 2L summer plans, but I was able to pivot to be a legal intern to the general counsel at a healthcare corporation. This position was very timely with the ongoing pandemic and provided another perspective of legal practice from the corporate lens.

Q: Could you tell us about your current role at K&L Gates and what you enjoy most about it?
A: My work primarily involves representing land developers and national homebuilders in connection with the development of new communities, commercial landlords and tenants in connection with the leasing of laboratory, office, retail and warehouse space, and assisting public and private corporations with the real estate components of mergers, acquisitions and other corporate transactions. My favorite part of this practice is the ability to physically observe the projects that I have worked on around the Triangle.

Q: What has your experience at K&L Gates been like?
A: I really enjoy working at K&L Gates. Although the firm has a global presence with offices across five continents and a diverse team of roughly 2,000 attorneys, it maintains a personalized approach and offers mentorship and development akin to a smaller firm. I appreciate the resources available for collaboration across offices and the opportunity to work with so many intelligent colleagues.

Q: Reflecting on your time at Campbell Law, what advice would you offer to current law students?
A: One of the key takeaways from Campbell Law was the emphasis many classes have on practical, real-world experiences. My advice would be to purposefully select electives that align with your interests and have practical application. For instance, a construction law elective has proven immensely useful in my current practice. Additionally, remain open-minded about subjects you may not initially find intriguing, as they might become integral to your career later on. Contracts was certainly not the course that was the most interesting to me while I was in school, but now I spend every day reviewing and negotiating contracts.

Q: How did the Campbell Law Career Center support you during your time as a student?
A: The Career Center played a vital role in my career journey. I utilized their resources for interview preparation, resume refinement and participated in the practice interview program. The guidance and support I received were instrumental in securing all of my positions.