News + Insights

Maximizing Recovery in Trade Secret Cases: A Guide to Damages and Remedies

Written By Isabelle M. Chammas, Michael J. Parrish, and Gavin B. Parsons

Ed. Note: This is the fourth in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30,…

Litigating Trade Secret Cases: A Strategic Guide for In-House Counsel

Written By Edward J. "Trip" Coyne, III, E. Bradley Evans, and Gavin B. Parsons

Ed. Note: This is the third in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30, …

Understanding Trade Secret Misappropriation: A Guide for In-House Counsel

Written By Alexander C. Dale, Gavin B. Parsons, and Mark S. Wigley

Ed. Note: This is the second in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30,…

Trade Secret Protection in 2025: What In-House Counsel Need to Know

Written By Gavin B. Parsons, Joseph A. Schouten, and Ryan K. Simmons

Ed. Note: This is the first in a series of articles taken from Gavin Parsons' CLE presentation for the North Carolina Bar Association's Antitrust and Complex Business Dispute CLE Program presented on Thursday, January 30, …

The AI Royal Flush: The Five Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, Part 2

Written By William S. Durr and E. Bradley Evans

This is Part 2 of a summary of Ward and Smith Certified AI Governance Professional and IP attorney Angela Doughty's comprehensive overview of the potential impacts of the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for in-hou…

The Five Foundations of Artificial Intelligence for In-House Counsel, Part 1

Written By S. McKinley Gray, III and Mayukh Sircar, CIPP/US

During their annual In-House Counsel Seminar, Ward and Smith Certified AI Governance Professional and privacy and data security attorney Angela Doughty provided a comprehensive overview of the potential impacts of the use …

On a Roll: Hot Topics for In-House Counsel

We explore several critical areas affecting businesses in our coverage of Ward and Smith’s 2024 In-House Counsel seminar. Initially, we examine anticipated tax policy changes and securities law considerations a…

The DEI Stalemate: Paying the Price for the Wrong Move - Part 2

Written By Justin T. Hill, Emily G. Massey, and Devon D. Williams

Three Ward and Smith attorneys described what can happen when a DEI initiative goes wrong, placing an organization in a legal stalemate with its employees.  Part 2 of The DEI Stalemate builds on the lessons learned i…

The DEI Stalemate: Paying the Price for the Wrong Move - Part 1

Written By Justin T. Hill, Emily G. Massey, and Devon D. Williams

Three Ward and Smith attorneys described what can happen when a DEI initiative goes wrong, placing an organization in a legal stalemate with its employees.    In a unique, interactive session that was part of th…

Upping the Ante: New Rules and Regulations in Play for In-House Counsel

Four Ward and Smith team members delivered concise, actionable insights on projected governmental and policy changes resulting from the recent elections, the Corporate Transparency Act, the implications of the Chevron deci…

The House Advantage: Wisdom from In-House Counsel

Written By B.T. Atkinson and Allen N. Trask, III

In a question-and-answer session moderated by Trip Coyne, a Ward and Smith attorney who previously served as the CEO of a multinational consumer products company, two prominent in-house attorneys shared valuable insights o…

Reflections from the 2024 AJEI Summit: A Focus on Appellate Innovation and Integrity

Written By Chris S. Edwards

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2024 Appellate Judges Education Institute (AJEI) Summit in Boston, Massachusetts. The Summit was an enriching experience, offering deep insights into the evolving dynamics of…

A Short Refresher On Discrete Legal Issues During Natural Disasters

Written By Will Oden and Genesis E. Torres

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  In that spirit, what follows are certain pay and leave issues employers may confront during times of natural disaster – all of which are better to …

Decoding Success: A Discussion of the In-House Experience

In a question and answer session moderated by Ken Gray, leader of Ward and Smith’s Labor and Employment Practice Group, two in-house attorneys from prominent North Carolina businesses shared real-world advice on a va…

Generative Artificial Intelligence for Legal Departments

Written By Mayukh Sircar, CIPP/US and Genesis E. Torres

In a recent presentation by Ward and Smith attorney Angela Doughty, in-house counsel received an overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI), how it can be used for various legal tasks such as research, discovery, and contrac…

A Swift Debriefing: Rapid Fire Legal Update

Written By Richard J. Crow and Avery J. Locklear

At Ward and Smith's recent In-House Counsel event, four Ward and Smith attorneys shared insights on a variety of legal topics, including updates from the General Assembly, how to navigate insurance policies, a Supreme Cour…

An Interview with EEOC Director Tom Colclough

Written By S. McKinley Gray, III and X. Lightfoot

Attendees of Ward and Smith’s recent annual Employment Law Symposium received insights on key employment law developments in an interactive discussion between Emily Massey, a labor and employment attorney, and Tom Co…

Messy "Real Life" LARP: An Employer's Accident Response Deconstructed for In-House Counsel

Written By Justin T. Hill and Hayley R. Wells

During Ward and Smith’s annual Employment Law Symposium, three attorneys provided insights on a fictional construction company's reaction to a serious job site accident. In the session, the attorneys shed light on k…

AI: Legal Déjà Vu or Revolution?

Written By Angela P. Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP

As the Artificial Intelligence (AI) hype continues, you may feel a sense of déjà vu. But after attending the recent Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) conference—which was dominated by sessio…

Riding the Rapids: Staying Afloat in the Legal Waters

Written By Michelle Gonzalez and Avery J. Locklear

Five Ward and Smith attorneys delivered keen guidance on a host of matters pertinent to in-house counsel and company preparation for the imminent economic climate. As part of the firm's 2022 In-House Counsel Seminar, thes…

On the Grid: Data and Privacy Protection Act

Written By Mayukh Sircar, CIPP/US

In a presentation by Ward and Smith attorney Angela Doughty, In-House Counsel Seminar attendees received an overview on a variety of topics relevant to privacy and data security, including current state regulations, the po…

Where Can Your Company Be Sued? The Basics of Personal Jurisdiction

Written By Jeremy M. Wilson

In recent years, the United States Supreme Court has issued two opinions, in the cases of BNSF Railway Co. v. Tyrrell and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Ct. of California, San Francisco Cnty., analyzing and reaf…

Rapid Fire Legal Update on Tax Provisions, E-Discovery, Lobbying Issues, and ADA Compliance

Written By Richard J. Crow, Chris S. Edwards, James W. Norment, and Hayley R. Wells

We recently provided timely updates on new tax provisions, electronic discovery, lobbying issues, and ADA compliance during Ward and Smith's 2021 Virtual In-House Counsel Webinar. The following article highlight…

Inside Out: Employment Law LARP

Written By S. McKinley Gray, III, Justin T. Hill, and Devon D. Williams

Three Ward and Smith labor and employment attorneys analyzed a number of real-life situations many employers are dealing with in the current landscape. The webinar, part of Ward and Smith's In-House Counsel virtual confer…

Split Decision: SCOTUS Stays OSHA ETS, While Upholding CMS Vaccine Mandate

Written By Emily G. Massey, Will Oden, and Devon D. Williams

On January 13, 2022, in a 6-3 per curiam opinion in NFIB v. OSHA­, the United States Supreme Court ordered the OSHA ETS be stayed pending disposition of the matter at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.   Large E…

Upside Down: Privacy and Data Security LARP

Written By Angela P. Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP

A Ward and Smith attorney, Information Technology professional and Privacy Officer outlined a variety of best practices and tips for businesses dealing with data security and privacy issues. The webinar, one in a series f…

Local Counsel in North Carolina's Federal Courts

Written By Jordan M. Spanner

In federal court, the rules for out-of-state counsel's participation vary from district to district.  For out-of-state counsel seeking to appear in federal court in North Carolina, the local rules require, first and …

Corporate Counsels Discuss Managing Internal and External Relationships

Written By Whitney Campbell Christensen

A panel of general counsels discussed how they manage internal and external relationships in the first panel of Ward and Smith's 2019 In-House Counsel Seminar. Panelists covered everything from how they structure their …

Executives Explore the Ins and Outs of Managing Vendors and Vendor Risk in Compliance-Intensive Industry

Written By Hayley R. Wells

Three executives from First Citizens Bank explained how they manage vendor and supplier relationships, including issues such as risk management and compliance, during a panel discussion at the 2019 Ward and Smith In-Hous…

Panelists Talk Diversity and Inclusion From Personal and Professional Perspectives

Written By Emily G. Massey

Two panelists and an employment attorney delved deep into some of the tricky issues that companies can face as they seek to strengthen their diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, as well as the challenges that uncons…

Top 10 Technology Trends and Topics for Attorneys to Watch

Written By E. Bradley Evans

From technical competency to artificial intelligence to cybersecurity, Ward and Smith’s Director of Information Technology Charles Collins counted down the top 10 most critical technology topics for lawyers. Collins…

In-House Counsel Seminar Insights: Group Exercise Highlights Tricky Employment Law Issues

Hammertime Security is a nationwide cybersecurity firm whose in-house counsel faces a slew of tricky legal problems:  Managers posting unprofessional content on social media Employees publicly complaining about co…

Attorneys Provide Updates on Rapidly Changing Aspects of Employment Law

Written By Hayley R. Wells

Several Ward and Smith attorneys provided updates on some of the fastest-changing areas of employment law during the firm’s 2019 Employment Law Symposium. In a rapid-fire session, they covered several topics, includ…

NC Attorney General Talks Opioid Epidemic at Employment Law Symposium

Written By S. McKinley Gray, III

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein identified opioid abuse and cybersecurity as top challenges businesses face, while also giving attendees at Ward and Smith’s 2019 Employment Law Symposium a look at the broa…

From Facebook to FMLA to Furry Friends—Frequently Asked Questions in Employment Law

Written By Emily G. Massey

The questions we receive as labor and employment attorneys vary based on many factors such as organizational changes a business is experiencing, new laws or regulations that affect employer obligations, and certain trends …

Discovery for a Modern Age: E-Discovery, Metadata, and Cost Savings

Written By Chris S. Edwards

Electronic discovery ("e-discovery") isn't the most popular legal topic out there.  Even so, as the law becomes more technology-driven, e-discovery is quickly becoming a key tool in the sophisticated litigator's belt…

In-House-Counsel Seminar Insights: Ethics and Professional Responsibility in the #MeToo Era

Ward and Smith employment law attorneys Ken Gray and Emily Massey gave corporate attorneys at the firm’s 2018 In-House Counsel Seminar a refresher in the law and ethics surrounding employment discrimination and workp…

In-House Counsel Insights: What In-House Counsel Need to Know About Blockchain

Written By Whitney Campbell Christensen

A trio of blockchain experts helped corporate attorneys attending Ward and Smith’s 2018 In-House Counsel Seminar understand the ins and outs of blockchain technology. Ward and Smith attorney Trip Coyne moderated a d…

In-House Counsel Seminar Insights: How General Counsel can Successfully Collaborate with Outside Attorneys

Written By Richard J. Crow

Three senior in-house attorneys discussed best practices for collaborating with outside counsel during a panel discussion at Ward and Smith’s 2018 In-House Counsel Seminar, with a focus on leveraging technology, cont…

How To Avoid Becoming A #MeToo Statistic In 2019

Written By S. McKinley Gray, III

A new lawsuit for sexual harassment is filed almost on a daily basis somewhere in the United States.  Most of these lawsuits could have been avoided with (1) proper groundwork on the front end, (2) an impartial inves…

Key 2018 Legal Updates for Employers: Report from Ward and Smith's 2018 Employment Law Symposium

Written By Emily G. Massey

This is the third in a series of articles summarizing key topics addressed at the Ward and Smith, P.A. 2018 Employment Law Symposium held in Wilmington, North Carolina. Ward and Smith's 2018 Employment Law Symposium kicke…

Employment Law Symposium: Preventing and Dealing with Workplace Harassment

Written By Will Oden

This is the second in a series of articles summarizing key topics addressed at the Ward and Smith, P.A. 2018 Employment Law Symposium held in Wilmington, North Carolina.   Sexual harassment i…

Employment Law Symposium Insights: Dealing with Workplace Discrimination

Written By Devon D. Williams

This is the first in a series of articles summarizing key topics discussed at Ward and Smith's 2018 Employment Law Symposium. Recently, Thomas M. Colclough, deputy district director of the United States Equal Employment …