Education
B.S. Magna Cum Laude, Elon University, 1989
President of Student Government (1987-1988)
Externship: U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
(Summer, 1987)
Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., Summer 1987
Certificate, Engalitcheff Institute of Comparative Political
and Economic Systems.
J.D., Valparaiso University, School of Law, 1992
Externship: Hon. Sidney S. Eagles, Jr., North Carolina Court
of Appeals (Summer, 1990)
Jurisdictions Licensed
All North Carolina State Trial and Appellate Courts
United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of International Trade
United States Tax Court
United States Supreme Court
Bar Admissions
North Carolina State Bar
Tenth Judicial District Bar (elected, Board of Directors, 2008-2010 term)
Select Reported Cases
Newberne v. Dept. of Crime Control & Public Safety, et al, 192 N.C. App. 703,
666 S.E. 2d 195 (2008) (In a case of first impressions, N.C. Court of Appeals
held that plaintiff's settlement of an administrative claim did not prejudice his
ability to bring a Whistleblower claim in Superior Court even though the claim
arose from the same termination).
Caldwell v. Johnson, Administrator, EPA, 289 Fed. Appx. 579 (4th Cir. 2008)
(Unpublished) (first U.S. Court of Appeals case in nation to hold that Title VII
retaliation standard announced in the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark
decision in
Burlington Northern v. White applied to federal employees).
Trayford v. North Carolina Psychology Board, 619 S.E. 2d 862 (2005);
aff'd,
360 S.E. 2d 462 (2006) (Court affirmed petitioner's interpretation of statute
over that of regulatory board, which interpretation is generally given
substantial deference).
Newberne v. Dept. of Crime Control & Public Safety, et al, 359 N.C. 782,
618 S.E. 2d 201 (2005) (landmark North Carolina Supreme Court case for
claims under the state Whistleblower Act).
Professional Activities
Braxton Craven American Inn of Court, Duke University School of Law (President, 2009-2010)
North Carolina Bar Association (Sections: Litigation; Labor and Employment Law)
North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (Sections: Employment Law; Civil Rights)
North Carolina Supreme Court Historical Society, sustaining member (2009-Current)
Wake County Bar Association, member (elected: Board of Directors, 2008-2010 term)
National Employment Lawyers Association, member (2007-Current)
Panel Attorney, Southern Police Benevolent Association, Inc. (2006-Current)
Professional Honors and Special Recognition
Listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" (Woodard/White) for commercial litigation (2010) (inclusion based on peer ratings).
Listed in "Top 100 Lawyers in North Carolina" by Law & Politics as published by Charlotte Magazine (2009) (inclusion based on peer ratings).
Named "Legal Elite" by Business North Carolina magazine in two independent practice areas: Litigation (2007) and Employment Law (2007.2008, 2009, 2010) (inclusion based on peer ratings).
Named "North Carolina Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics as published by Charlotte Magazine (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) (inclusion based on peer ratings).
Charter Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (Member: Order of Justitia, Order of Certus), trial lawyer honorary society, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society consisting of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. (2007-Current)
Rated: Martindale Hubbell's highest rating "AV" ("Very High to Preeminent") for legal ability and ethics based on confidential and independent peer review. (2006-Current)
Recipient, "40 Under 40" Leadership Award, Triangle Business Journal (2005)
Listed in Marquis' Who's Who in American Law since 2005.
Listed in Marquis' Who's Who in America since 2007.
Listed in Marquis' Who's Who in the World since 2007.
Professional Training and Certifications
Certificate, Master Advocate, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (2007)
Certificate, Advocate, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (2007)
Certificate, Technology-Augmented Trial Advocacy, Center for Legal and
Court Technology, William & Mary Marshall-Wythe
School of Law, Virginia (2007)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Jury Selection, Colorado (2008)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Advocacy Teacher Training,
California (2007)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Advanced Depositions of Financial
Experts, Colorado (2006)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Hanley Advanced Trial Advocacy
School, Colorado (2005)
North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Civil Trial Advocacy Clinic,
Raleigh (1999)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Deposition Skills, Duke University,
(1998)
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Trial Advocacy School, Duke University,
(1997)
Leadership Training
Leadership North Carolina, Fellow (2001)
Leadership Triangle, Fellow (1997)
North Carolina Institute for Political Leadership, Fellow (1996)
Publications and Seminars
Lecturer and author, Employment Issues in the Paperless Workplace,
Employment Law Update, Sterling Education Services, CLE Program,
September 25, 2007.
Lecturer and author, Wage & Hour Act Issues, Pro Bono 102: A Practitioner's
Toolkit to Representing the Disadvantaged Client, North Carolina Bar
Association CLE Program, December 2, 2005.
Lecturer and author, Sex, Race and other Harassment in the Workplace,
Fundamentals of Employment Law in North Carolina, Sterling Education
Services CLE Program, July 12, 2005.
Lecturer and author, How to Turn Lemons into Lemonade: Evaluating Car
Cases, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, Convention 2004 CLE
Program, June 15, 2004.
Lecturer and author, Retaliation Employment Discrimination Act, Recent
Developments in Employment Law, Sterling Education Services CLE
Program, June 17, 2003.
Lecturer and author, Employee Misconduct and Workplace Torts, Recent
Developments in Employment Law, Sterling Education Services CLE
Program, June 17, 2003.
Chief Panelist, North Carolina Bar Association, Practical Skills CLE
Program, 1999.
Author, "Pretrial Publicity: Let the Lawyer Beware", Survey of Ethics,
Grievance, and Malpractice Issues, North Carolina Bar Foundation, 1993.