Areas of Practice

Pre-Litigation Advice
and Strategy

  • Investment in reaching a full understanding of the client’s best outcome from a business or personal perspective
  • Development of legal strategy to avoid litigation whenever possible
  • Smart positioning in order to be ready for litigation and trial if necessary

Litigation and Trial in State
and Federal Court

  • Tough and effective courtroom advocacy in motions and trials throughout North Carolina
  • Admitted to practice in the U.S. District Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina
  • Appearances in other state and federal courts through admission pro hac vice

Appeals

  • Admitted to practice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court
  • Significant experience in successful state and federal appellate advocacy

Mediation

  • Extensive experience representing parties at mediation
  • Conducted thousands of mediations as a mediator certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission

Arbitration

  • Represent parties in arbitration before the American Arbitration Association, FINRA, JAMS, National Association of Securities Dealers and New York Stock Exchange
  • Service as an arbitrator through AAA and private arbitrations
  • Arbitrator for matters ranging from major construction disputes to significant sports agency matters and everything in between

Pro Bono and
Community Services

  • Deep tradition of community and pro bono legal service
  • Leadership roles in arts, cultural, conservation and human services non-profit organizations
  • Co-counsel roles in pro bono impact litigation throughout North Carolina

Representative Matters

  • Settlement of commercial disputes and litigation pending in multiple venues

  • Pre-litigation resolution of shareholder dispute and separation of business interests

  • Trial and arbitration of disputes regarding LLC membership interests and obligations under operating agreements

  • Successful defense of threatened license revocations by professional licensing boards

  • Negotiation of employment termination and severance agreements, including modification of restrictive covenants

  • Defense of alleged violations of employee covenants-not-to compete

  • Representation of law firms and departing lawyers in negotiating and litigating partnership disputes

  • Catastrophic tort and wrongful death claims

  • Commercial insurance disputes

  • Defense of claims of fraud asserted against major law firms