News + Insights

Meet 2023 Summer Associate Emily Sullivan

Ward and Smith's 2023 Summer Associate Program is underway with a formidable five-strong cohort of legal minds. This six-week venture into the legal realm offers these promising future lawyers a chance to sharpen their sk…

Media Mention: Devon Williams Named to the 2022 Salisbury-Rowan Hall of Fame

Co-Manging Director and labor and employment attorney Devon Williams has been named to the 2022 class of the Salisbury-Rowan Hall of Fame. The news was featured in an article published by the Salisbury Post. Devon wa…

Virtual Meetings for Nonprofit Corporations: During the Post COVID-19 Era

Written By Matthew A. Jones and Steven B. Long

The COVID-19 pandemic catapulted the new normal of virtual meetings into our day-to-day lives. In order to adapt to this new normal, nonprofit corporations are turning to their Board of Directors for leadership and direct…

Update to EEOC's Position on Mandatory COVID testing

Written By William A. Oden, III

On July 12, 2022, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") updated its guidance regarding COVID-19 workplace viral screening testing.  The EEOC's original position on COVID-19 workplace viral screening te…

Media Mention: Amy Wang Reflects on Leadership as Outgoing NCBA Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section Chair

Environmental attorney Amy Wang recently wrapped up her one-year term as Chair of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA). She recently reflected on this time…

Erica Rogers on Planning Committee for the First-Time Registrant Orientation and Reception at the 2022 INTA Annual Meeting

One of the largest gatherings for intellectual property professionals kicks off later this month in Washington, D.C, and attorney Erica Rogers is taking an active role behind the scenes.  The International Trademark …

NCDHHS Secretary to Speak at April Greenville-Pitt County Chamber Power Luncheon

There will be a healthy dose of information at the next Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce Power Luncheon. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) secretary Kody Kinsley will deliver the ke…

X. Lightfoot Elected Capital City Lawyers Association Treasurer

Attorney X. Lightfoot has been elected treasurer of the Capital City Lawyers Association.  He is in the midst of a one-year term that ends in 2023. The Capital City Lawyers Association is a local, inclusive, vo…

Adam Beaudoin to Speak at NCBA 2022 Real Property Winter Program

Attorney Adam Beaudoin will be a featured speaker at the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) 2022 Real Property Winter Program on Friday, February 18. He will be joined by Hope Derby Carmichael, with Jordan Price W…

Media Mention: Devon Williams Interviewed by Citizen Times on Mandatory Vaccines for Health Care Workers

The clock is ticking for some health care workers to get vaccinated.  Medical facilities that receive Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services funding must get their staff at least one dose of a COVID-19 vacci…

Amy Wooten to Speak at the 2022 Insurance Law Section Program and Annual Meeting

Attorney Amy Wooten will be a featured panelist at the 2022 North Carolina Bar Association Insurance Law Section Program and Annual Meeting on Friday, January 28.  The one-day CLE, Understanding Common…

Ward and Smith Becomes a 2022 Data Privacy Week Champion

Data Privacy Day was so 2021. It now has expanded into a full week, underscoring the importance of protecting personal data. Ward and Smith is pleased to join the national and international efforts to recognize and supp…

Get Ready for the 2022 New Bern Heart Ball

The New Bern Heart Ball is back. It returns on June 4 as an in-person event at the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center. The fundraiser was held as a virtual auction last year due to the ongoing pandemic. Attendees mush …

The Best of 2021: Ward and Smith's Top Articles

Following one of the most disruptive years in recent history, 2021 was supposed to be a return to normal.  Instead, it was a slightly less tumultuous year filled with new challenges and uncertainty - dominated n…

Déjà Vu: Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Dissolves Stay of OSHA COVID-19 "Emergency Temporary Standard" for Large Employers

Written By Chris S. Edwards, S. McKinley Gray, III, and Grant B. Osborne

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. observed that democracy is messy and hard. The serial legal battle over COVID-19 and what the federal government can and should make employers do about it illustrates the point. Late on Friday, Dec…

Grant Osborne Named NCBA Labor & Employment Law Section Communications Committee Co-Chair

Grant Osborne will serve as Co-Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association's (NCBA) Labor & Employment Law Section Communications Committee. In his new position, Grant will be responsible for maintaining and updating …

Healthcare Highlights: Cyber-Security, Licensing Board Issues, and Employer COVID-19 Regulations

Written By Leigh A. Wilkinson

Recently, several Ward and Smith attorneys held a Health Care Breakfast and Learn to provide insights on the healthcare industry relevant to their specific areas of expertise, from privacy and data security to professional…

Annual Jingle Ball is Back

Get dressed to the nines to rock out to some holiday music for a great cause in December.  The 28th Annual Jingle Ball, hosted by the Capital City Clauses, is back in-person on Thursday, December 9, at the NC Museum …

Media Mention: Ken Gray and Grant Osborne Featured in NCRLA's Official Newsletter

The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association ("NCRLA") spotlighted an article written by attorneys Ken Gray and Grant Osborne in its In the Mix newsletter. The article, "U.S. Court of Appeals Puts Brakes on …

U.S. Court of Appeals Puts Brakes on OSHA COVID-19 "Emergency Temporary Standard"

Written By S. McKinley Gray, III and Grant B. Osborne

It's a case of "Get Ready, Get Set … Wait!" On Saturday, November 6, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in response to a lawsuit filed last Friday by various plaintiffs including the Attorney General …

OSHA Issues Long-Awaited COVID-19 "Emergency Temporary Standard"

Written By S. McKinley Gray, III and Grant B. Osborne

Good (and Not So Good) Things Come to Those Who Wait Yesterday, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") of the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL"), at long last, issued an "Interim final rule" regarding th…

Ken Gray to be a Guest Speaker on the Crisp Small Business Center Webinar

Labor and employment attorney Ken Gray will be a featured speaker on the Crisp Small Business Center webinar on November 5. His presentation, "Do a Double Take: Unraveling OSHA's New Emergency Temporary Standard," focuses…

Grant Osborne to Speak at the NCSHRM State Conference

Labor and employment attorney Grant Osborne is a featured speaker at the 2021 North Carolina Society for Human Resource Management (NCSHRM) State Conference. The three-day event kicks off on October 20 and features a…

October Greenville-Pitt County Chamber Power Luncheon to Feature Vidant Health CEO

Join the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce on October 19 for its monthly Power Luncheon series, sponsored by Ward and Smith.  The upcoming virtual event will feature Vidant Health CEO and Dean of the Brody S…

Media Mention: Ken Gray Talks Vaccination Mandates with WRAL TechWire

Tech giants like IBM and Red Hat are now mandating vaccinations for employees, and many more Triangle companies are likely to follow, according to WRAL TechWire. Recently the publication, which is dedicated to techno…

Four New Attorneys Join Ward and Smith

Ward and Smith is pleased to welcome four recent law grads to the profession. Olivia Lewis, Lily Faulconer, Dana Lingenfelser, and Taylor Rodney – all former 2020 summer associates – return to the firm as new …

Ken Gray to Speak at the CFMA Carolinas Construction Conference

Labor and employment attorney Ken Gray will speak at this year's CFMA Carolina Construction Conference, sponsored in part by Ward and Smith. He is one of 13 speakers presenting over the two-day event, which starts on …

Show Me The Money! Wage and Hour Requirements Applied to COVID-19 Testing Time

Written By William A. Oden, III

Recently, several of our clients have asked us whether they are required to compensate their employees for time spent going for the COVID-19 test. Fortunately, the United States Department of Labor ("USDOL") has issued so…

Media Mention: WRAL TechWire Features COVID-19 Vaccinations Article Written By Will Oden and Hayley Wells

Mandatory vaccines.  It's a hot topic that threatens to boil over after the Biden Administration announced a new six-pronged national strategy to combat COVID-19. Labor and Employment attorneys Will Oden and Hay…

Biden Administration To Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for Large Employers

Written By William A. Oden, III and Hayley R. Wells

President Biden announced at a press conference at 5:00 p.m. on September 9, 2021, a new, six-pronged national strategy to combat COVID-19 while keeping businesses and schools open.  A link to the Plan can be found h…

How OSHA's Revised COVID-19 Guidance Affects Agriculture and Food Processing Employers

Written By Justin T. Hill

In an effort to reflect recent updates provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC"), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA") revised its guidance on protecting workers and preventin…

How North Carolina is Adapting to a Shortage of Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Written By E. Bradley Evans and Joseph A. Schouten

As the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. accelerates once again, this time in the form of the "delta variant," the nation faces a shortage of nurses just when it needs them most. North Carolina has unfortunately not es…

Ward and Smith Launches a New Service for Individuals with Questions about COVID Vaccine Mandates

"Can my employer enforce a vaccination mandate?" It's a prolific question that's been around since COVID-19 vaccines became widely available. Now, with the FDA's announcement of the first fully-approved COVID vaccine, mor…

"Emergency Use" No More: FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine

Written By Grant B. Osborne

There was a time in which employers and employees weren’t vexed with viruses, vaccines, and their respective duties and rights. That seems like a long time ago, but it wasn’t. The World Health Organization dec…

How the Law Is Grappling With Free Expression, COVID-19, Diversity, and More

Written By Justin T. Hill

Between COVID-19, last year’s demonstrations for racial justice, and a new president, there are many legal issues employers may need to consider — or reconsider. A quartet of Ward and Smith attorneys highlight…

Media Mention: Grant Osborne Talks Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccines on ABC News 13

A new directive from the Buncombe County Clerk of Superior Court has sparked a new debate on whether employers can require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.  Recently, Clerk Steven Cogburn sent out an email…

COVID-19 and the Construction Industry: Must Know Information for Executives

Written By William S. Durr

During Ward and Smith’s recent virtual "Construction Conference," six of my partners and I covered a range of emerging legal issues — most related to the pandemic — that are important for construction com…

Ken Gray and X. Lightfoot to Speak at SEACAA Pre-Conference Event

Labor and employment attorneys Ken Gray and X. Lightfoot will kick off a pre-conference day event during the Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies' (SEACAA) annual symposium. This virtual one-day session o…

Media Mention: Business Adaptability During COVID-19

COVID-19 continues to significantly impact businesses, but there are ways companies can emerge from the current crisis stronger. The Wilmington Business Journal recently asked corporate and securities attorney K…

Hayley Wells Joins Asheville Brewers Alliance's COVID-19 Legal Roundtable as a Panelist

Attorney Hayley Wells will be a panelist for a virtual COVID-19 Legal Roundtable, hosted by the Asheville Brewers Alliance ("ABA"). The virtual forum is for breweries who still have lingering questions and concerns r…

Media Mention: X. Lightfoot and Will Oden Featured in "Business North Carolina"

"How do I get my workers back to the workplace?" It's a common question frequently asked by employers to our labor and employment attorneys. And recently, attorneys Xavier Lightfoot and Will Oden addressed that speci…

COVID-19 Update from Ward and Smith

An employee at the New Bern office of Ward and Smith has tested positive for the coronavirus. We immediately notified the employees who came into close contact with the impacted person, and per our policy, those people wi…

Ward and Smith Welcomes Two Attorneys to Raleigh Office

COVID-19 has impacted our state tremendously in recent days, but Ward and Smith's ability to provide comprehensive legal services to our clients not only remains steadfast but has grown, with the addition of two new attorn…

Pitt Community College Foundation Changes Format of Spring Fundraiser Due to COVID-19 Outbreak

Every year, the Pitt Community College Foundation (PCC) holds a fundraiser to benefit student scholarships, programs, and educational activities.  Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the nonprofit has changed the format of…

Ward and Smith Launches COVID-19 Response Team for Client Questions, Concerns

In order to efficiently address the vast and rapidly changing effects COVID-19 will continue to have on our clients and their needs, Ward and Smith has formed a COVID-19 Response Team.   The members of the Team …

7 Guidelines for Parents Sharing Custody of Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Written By Lauren Taylor Arnette Quinn

With the Governor's proclamation to close schools and restaurants to dine-in customers, now, more than ever, our children are a primary focus during these trying times.  All parents are faced with the challenges of e…

Ward and Smith's Response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)

To our clients and friends: Ward and Smith, like so many other businesses in our community, is doing our part to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) while ensuring that all of your legal needs will continue to b…