Durham Office

Diamond View II, 280 South Mangum Street, Suite 130, Durham, NC 27701

(919) 787-8880 Contact Us

Raleigh Office

3605 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 500, Raleigh, NC 27612

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Will joined Manning Fulton’s litigation practice after graduating from Campbell Law School in 2005.  Will works with a wide variety of business clients of all types and sizes, located throughout North Carolina and nationwide.  He provides strategic counsel to assist clients in identifying and avoiding legal risks and pitfalls and litigates their disputes in state and federal court, before state and federal administrative agencies and in arbitration.

About

Will is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee, is the Firm’s Litigation Section Practice Group Leader and is the head of Manning Fulton’s Employment Law practice and assists clients in handling claims related to discrimination, retaliation, non-competes, trade secrets and wage and hour issues. He has represented clients in employment litigation disputes ranging from discrimination claims involving a few thousand dollars in controversy, to bet the company non-compete and trade secret claims, to multi-million dollar wage and hour class action lawsuits. Will advises clients daily on employment best practices, policies and procedures, and employment termination issues, effectively working as outside legal counsel to assist business owners and HR managers with their day-to-day employment law needs.

In addition to his employment law practice, Will represents large and small businesses and individuals in matters involving franchise trademark, data security and privacy, real property and construction disputes and litigation. He has represented franchisors and franchisees located throughout the country in complex business litigation matters pending in North Carolina state and federal courts and in various arbitration forums.

As part of his complex commercial litigation practice Will also regularly assists clients in contract disputes, shareholder disputes, property tax matters, professional negligence matters and insurance cases involving bad faith claims; coverage disputes; business policyholder issues; errors and omissions (E&O) claims and policy procurement matters against insurance agents and brokers.

Will has also been recognized multiple years by Best Lawyers in America and North Carolina Super Lawyers.  Prior to his legal career, he lived and worked in Matagalpa, Nicaragua as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer helping small businesses and working and working with youth as a Scoutmaster for a boys and girls Scout troop in Nicaragua, imparting knowledge he obtained himself as an Eagle Scout from Troop 207 in Raleigh.

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Credentials

Education

  • Campbell University – J.D. – 2005
  • North Carolina State University – B.A in Economics –1998 – Magna Cum Laude

Admitted to Practice

  • State of North Carolina 2005.
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina 2005
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina 2009
  • United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina 2009
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit  2009
  • Supreme Court of the United States 2022

Professional Memberships & Activities

  • North Carolina Bar Association –2005 to Present
    • Development Committee Member 2006 to 2019
    • Labor and Employment Law Section
    • Insurance Law Section Council Member (2021-2024)
    • 4All Call Day Participant (2011, 2012)
    • Legal Aid Lawyer-on-the-Line Pro Bono Volunteer Attorney 2012 to Present
    • Litigation Law Section (2024)
    • Antitrust & Complex Business  Disputes Law Section (2024)
  • Wake County Bar Association 2006 to Present
    • Firm Coordinator for Young Lawyer’s Division Clothing Drive 2007-2009
    • Public Service Committee Member 2011
  •  Defense Research Institute (DRI) Member
  • Recognized in Best Lawyers in America (2018-2025) in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Insurance Law, Insurance Litigation, Labor and Employment Litigation, and Real Estate Litigation

Community Engagement

Triangle United Way

  • Campaign Manager, 2006

Participant in City of Raleigh “Lunch with a Lawyer” program

Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

  • Vestry Member (2012-2014)
  • Sunday School Teacher (Grades 6-8) (2012-2019)
  • Good Shepherd Stewardship Committee Chair (2013, 2014)
  • Good Shepherd Endowment Fund Trustee (2016-2020)

YMCA

  • Y Guide Program (2012 to 2018)
  • Youth T-Ball and Softball Coach (2017-2019)
  • We Build People Campaign Volunteer (2017)

Will has been a valuable asset in helping The Butcher’s Market navigate its legal needs as a growing business in the Triangle area.  Will’s commercial litigation experience and expertise has assisted the Butcher’s Market in defending our brand from outside threats, while always working with us, as a team member, to understand our unique business and assist us in meeting our needs in an effective and efficient manner.

Craig Wilkins
CEO/Owner | The Butcher's Market

Will has consistently been a valuable resource for our company and is usually our first call to discuss a legal issue, as his breadth of knowledge and expertise lends itself to addressing our needs.  He has represented us in litigation as defendants and plaintiffs, reviewed various types of contracts, and offers counsel on general legal matters, but no matter the circumstances he has done so with honesty and integrity.  Will always provides sound guidance, fights for our company, and does not shy away from providing his truthful assessments or recommendations on matters if they’re in the best interest of our company, even when it may be something we’d rather not hear.

Michael Pope
Vice President and Controller of Prestage Farms | Prestage AgEnergy | Prestage Foods

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