Checking In: April 19, 2022

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

New Associate Joins Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms

William ThomasWilliam Thomas has joined the firm as an associate attorney. Thomas focuses his practice on civil litigation, insurance coverage and defense, and employment law. He has prior experience in employment litigation and workers’ compensation law. While in law school, Thomas served as an intern for Associate Justice Samuel J. Ervin IV with the Supreme Court of North Carolina and Judge R. Christopher Dillon with the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Fox Rothschild in Raleigh Names Bradley M. Risinger Managing Partner

Bradley RisingerFox Rothschild LLP announced that Bradley M. Risinger is now the Managing Partner in the firm’s Raleigh office. Risinger is a trial attorney focusing on business litigation and complex disputes. He has experience litigating in the North Carolina Business Court, as well as in state and federal courts across the Southeast. Risinger served on the Board of Directors for United Way of North Carolina and on the Board of Directors for NC 2-11. He holds a J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. with high distinction from Indiana University.

K&L Gates Welcomes New Partner

K&L Gates announced that Courtney B. Thomas is now a partner. Thomas is a part of the corporate practice group. He focuses his practice on commercial technology and sourcing and corporate/mergers and acquisitions. Thomas has prior experience serving as senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for an international technology company. He also practiced as a senior lawyer at a large investment bank. He has served as a guest lecturer at the University of North Carolina School of Law. He holds a J.D. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. from Duke University.

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Transitioning In House

Christine Mazzone

Gabe Wright

Laura Chipman

Clara Cottrell

By Christine Mazzone, Gabe Wright, Laura Chipman, and Clara Cottrell

The Knowledge Resource Committee led by Sheila Spence and Nickeyea Wilkinson-Pickett collected four stories from in-house counsel and career coaches regarding how they handled transitions into new lines of work, including transitions from roles in law firms to in-house roles, new in-house jobs, and promotions within their companies.

How has it been transitioning in-house, to a new job, or new position during the pandemic?

Christine (New In-House Role): I joined Lenovo when most employees (myself included) were working remotely. Lenovo has about 71,000 employees worldwide, and I joined with about 150 other North America employees in early December 2021. During the pandemic, Lenovo has really figured out how to onboard employees remotely and provide a warm and informative welcome for new employees. I feel very fortunate to have had such an easy transition to Lenovo during the pandemic.

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Keep Your Data Safe and Secure – Join Us for the 2022 Health Law Section Annual CLE Program

Iain StaufferBy Iain Stauffer 

The last few years have seen dramatic changes in health care. As change happens, it is always important to keep privacy and security in mind. The NCBA Health Law Section’s Annual CLE Program will include a session involving “Privacy and Data Compliance Challenges From All Angles: Practical Tips to Manage Risk.” From the HIPAA proposed rulemaking and OCR’s continued right of access enforcement, to the FTC’s renewed focus on health care app developers, ONC’s information blocking rules, and countless ransomware attacks, the health care industry is faced with compliance challenges across all aspects of operations. The rapid expansion of telehealth services throughout the pandemic and continued innovation across the health-tech sector provide essential benefits to patients and consumers but also add to the complexities of data privacy and cybersecurity risk. This session will address practical ways to manage risk without stifling creative advancements in health care models.

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Education Section Update

Kris CaudleBy Kris Caudle

The Education Section has been busy in April! On April 7, the Education Section held its final Regular Meeting of the year in Raleigh at Tharrington Smith LLP, and its Annual Meeting at Whiskey Kitchen. On April 8, the Education Section also held its annual CLE program at the Bar Center. Thanks to everyone who helped make these events a success, especially our CLE Committee co-chairs Collins Saint, Maura O’Keefe, Keir Morton-Manley, Rebecca Williams, and Grace Pennerat.

New Officers & Council Members

At this year’s annual meeting, the Education Section Council voted to approve the following section members for service on the Education Section Council.

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The Tax Section Returns to Kiawah Island for Memorial Day!

After a 3-year hiatus, the Tax Section returns to beautiful Kiawah Island, SC for its annual meeting and CLE program, May 27-29, 2022. The 3-day program includes sessions on state and federal tax, tax policy, and planning, with added ethics and technology sessions. Speakers include well-known professionals from private practice, government, and education sectors. The program has been approved for 9 hours of CLE credit, including 1 hour each of ethics, substance abuse/mental health, and technology. There will also be plenty of time for attendees to enjoy golf, tennis, beaches, dinning, and other amenities that make Kiawah Island Resort special. Registration and program materials are at https://cle.ncbar.org/courses/41046 .

Paralegal Spotlight: Peggy Pardue

Peggy PardueBy the Communications Committee

This month’s Paralegal Spotlight is on Peggy Pardue.

I am a North Carolina Certified Paralegal at Hampson Family Law located in Raleigh.

I attended Elon college for one year before transitioning my studies to a community college. I also became a notary public in the ’80s. While formal education may be the best route for some people, experience was the best way for me to learn the skills I needed to become a successful paralegal.

Initially, I worked full time at the North Carolina Board of CPA Examiners in their disciplinary section. This position gave me a taste of the legal world. After working there for eight years, I transitioned into the role of an Executive Administrative Assistant with a local propane company. After a couple of years as an Executive Administrative Assistant when my son was young, and I had been through a divorce and remarried, I started working in a family law firm. This position gave me and continues to give me the opportunity to do something to help others who are going through similar circumstances. I thought that passion and calling would have led me to Child Support Enforcement, but I found my home with family law. As of May 2022, I have served in the legal field for 19 years.

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Register Now for the Section’s Annual Meeting and the 2022 Tri-State Environmental Law Conference

By Andrew Wagner

Turn off your webcams and join us at the farm for our section’s Annual Meeting and Social on May 4. Then, pack your bags and head down to Charleston on June 16-18 for the 2022 Tri-State Environmental Law Conference!

Our Section will hold its Annual Meeting and Social on May 4 at Carolina Morning Stables in Siler City, home of section member Jeff Tyburski. The afternoon’s agenda promises fresh air, food, fellowship, horses, and music. Registration and agenda are available here. Remember to register by April 22.

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Join Us for the 2022 Health Law Section Annual CLE Program

Iain StaufferBy Iain Stauffer 

In addition to health care, the COVID-19 pandemic has raised many questions and issues for human resources and employment law. The NCBA Health Law Section’s Annual CLE Program will include a session involving “HR Gone WILD: Shots, Shouts, Shortages and More.” This session will incorporate a panel discussion including an in-house lawyer from a large health system along with private practitioners to analyze the pandemic’s impact on employment law, including mandatory vaccinations, exemption requests, employee shortages and burnout, and how shifting state and federal regulations have created a new landscape.

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Breaking News – Upcoming 2022 Health Law Section Annual CLE Program

Iain StaufferBy Iain Stauffer 

The last few years have seen dramatic changes in health care, especially the expanding role of telemedicine. The NCBA Health Law Section’s Annual CLE Program will include a session involving “The Telemedicine Explosion – Policy Considerations and Practical Realities.” This session will cover a wide range of topics including a discussion of current telemedicine models and Corporate Practice of Medicine considerations; federal waivers, exceptions, and pending legislation affecting the expansion and reimbursement of telemedicine; and government enforcement trends. The session will also address telemedicine in North Carolina while providing a survey of state law changes nationwide.

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Appellate Practice Section Meeting and CLE

By the Appellate Practice Section 

This year’s Appellate Practice Section meeting and CLE Appellate Lawyering in Context is on April 27, 2022. After a COVID-19 hiatus, we are back to an in-person program, which has a live webcast available, too. You can register online here. We have great content this year. North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Park, former North Carolina Solicitor General Matthew Sawchak, and former assistant U.S. Solicitor General Jonathan Ellis will be speaking about what it is like to be a solicitor general. Justice (Ret.) Timmons-Goodson and Judge (Ret.) Wanda Bryant will discuss diversity in the appellate bar. In addition, leading North Carolina criminal appellate lawyers will discuss brief-writing tips for all appellate practitioners, and we’ll address changes to the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure, building an appellate practice, and getting the most out of moots.

To celebrate returning to in-person meetings, we are raffling off treatises for appellate practitioners to in-person attendees.  You’ll get to see your friends and win books.

If you are just so excited you can’t wait for the meeting and CLE, we’ve got good news. The Appellate Practice Section is having a social the night before (sign-up link here). Join us at Sitti (137 N. Wilmington St) at 5 p.m. for a night of fun.
We look forward to seeing you there.