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William S. Cherry III
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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.
Will has been a part of Manning Fulton’s complex business litigation practice since graduating from Campbell Law School in 2005.
About
Will is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee and is the head of Manning Fulton’s Employment Law practice group. As part of his complex commercial litigation practice, Will represents large and small businesses and individuals in wide range of matters including contract disputes, shareholder disputes, property tax matters, intellectual property disputes, franchise litigation, , data security and privacy, professional negligence matters, insurance disputes including bad faith and coverage disputes, and errors and omissions (E&0) claims, and real property and construction disputes and litigation. Will has represented clients 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 Employment Law practice, Will 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
Will has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for 10 consecutive years, by North Carolina Super Lawyers for 8 consecutive years, and by Business North Carolina Legal Elite for 2 consecutive years. 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.
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 – Present)
- Development Committee Member (2006 – 2019)
- Labor and Employment Law Section
- Insurance Law Section Council Member (2021 – Present)
- Vice President (2026-2027)
- Legal Aid Lawyer-on-the-Line Pro Bono Volunteer Attorney (2012 – Present)
- Litigation Law Section (2024)
- Antitrust & Complex Business Disputes Law Section (2024)
- Wake County Bar Association (2006 – Present)
- Firm Coordinator for Young Lawyer’s Division Clothing Drive (2007-2009)
- Public Service Committee Member (2011)
- Campbell Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors – Service Chair (2021 – Present)
- Campbell Law School Student Mentor (2024 – Present)
- Recognized in Best Lawyers in America (2018-2027) in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Employment Law Management, Insurance Law, Insurance Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, and Labor and Employment Litigation
- Recognized by Legal Elite, Business North Carolina, Employment (2025-2026)
- Recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers, Business Litigation (2012-2013, 2019-2026)
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)