Representative Experience
Tom has substantial experience helping clients to resolve a wide variety of disputes through litigation and alternative dispute resolution. He regularly appears in North Carolina’s state and federal courts. Tom has also resolved many disputes through arbitrations, mediations and settlement conferences. He is AV rated in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and has been recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers as a Rising Star (2009, 2010). Tom is also a Certified Mediator for Superior Court Civil Actions.
Tom serves as the Practice Group Leader of the firm's litigation practice. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation, franchise litigation, real-estate litigation, and personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Specific Matters
- Served as court-appointed Claims Administrator in class action settlement involving thousands of class members
- Represented thirteen North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia tobacco warehouses in complex federal civil and U.S.D.A. administrative hearings
- Represented former officers of management of various publicly-traded corporations to recover substantial stock options and benefits
- Represented heirs in estate dispute involving partition of thousands of acres of real property
- Represented bus manufacturer in federal litigation involving defect claims
- Regularly represents several leading commercial landlords to enforce leases
- Represented person who developed Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome ("Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy") after being struck by falling merchandise in major department store to recover for permanent injuries and lost income for the rest of her life
- Represents executors, caveators, and beneficiaries in numerous Will contests and trust disputes involving claims of undue influence and lack of mental capacity
- Represented franchisor to enforce its franchise agreements against non-compliant franchisee locations in multi-state litigation
- Represented chain-restaurant franchisee in dispute with franchisor over illegal marketing scheme
- Chief legal counsel to several local small and medium size companies providing general business advice on contracts, collections, and employment matters
Professional Activities
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- American Bar Association
- Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
- Franchise Section
- Litigation Section
- Commercial and Business Litigation Committee
- Real Estate, Property and Probate Litigation Committee
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Litigation Section
- Dispute Resolution Section
- General CLE Curriculum Committee
- Wake County Bar Association
- Professionalism Committee, Secretary
- 10th Judicial District Bar
- Fee Dispute Resolution Committee
Community Activities
- The Volunteer Lawyers Program of Wake County, North Carolina
- 1999 Outstanding Volunteer Attorney
- Providence Baptist Church
- Deacon
- Marriage Council
- Men's Ministry Team
- University of North Carolina
- Chi Psi Alumni Advisory Board
Presentations
- The Unknown or Inadvertent Franchise, North Carolina Bar Association 2010 Business Law, Corporate Counsel and International Law Practice Sections Joint Annual Meeting, Pinehurst NC, February 2010
Associated News / Events
