Biography

Jeff is a business litigator. He is a Navy veteran, trusted adviser and relentless adversary. He personally litigates complex commercial disputes in North Carolina and beyond. Jeff also leads teams of Fox attorneys across the country as the single trusted point of contact for national clients. 

Jeff invests in client relationships and understanding a client’s business. His clients include public companies, private-equity-owned and closely held businesses and individuals in a range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, nuclear energy, banking, transportation and insurance.

Jeff appears and litigates before the state and federal courts in North Carolina and other jurisdictions, including North Carolina's Business Court. He has also tried matters to decisions before arbitrators and federal and state juries.

Jeff is former Managing Partner of the firm's Charlotte office.

Jeff is a business litigator. He is a Navy veteran, trusted adviser and relentless adversary. He personally litigates complex commercial disputes in North Carolina and beyond. Jeff also leads teams of Fox attorneys across the country as the single trusted point of contact for national clients. 

Jeff invests in client relationships and understanding a client’s business. His clients include public companies, private-equity-owned and closely held businesses and individuals in a range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, nuclear energy, banking, transportation and insurance.

Jeff appears and litigates before the state and federal courts in North Carolina and other jurisdictions, including North Carolina's Business Court. He has also tried matters to decisions before arbitrators and federal and state juries.

Jeff is former Managing Partner of the firm's Charlotte office.

Representative Matters

  • Lead trial counsel for manufacturer in successfully resolving yearslong lawsuit with a supplier involving allegations of nonconformity, breach and fraud, and alleged damages exceeding $10 million.
  • Lead trial counsel for manufacturer in successfully resolving acrimonious dispute with supplier involving allegations of nonconforming goods, breach of contract and breach of warranty.
  • Lead trial counsel defending privately held technology company in bet-the-company lawsuit from competitor involving allegations of trade secret theft and unfair competition.
  • Lead counsel in successful defense of public company in transportation industry against claims of breach of contract and negligence involving alleged damages exceeding $20 million.
  • Manages and leads a national team of Fox lawyers helping national, private equity-owned manufacturer on a range of litigation and nonlitigation issues, including commercial litigation with customers and suppliers, resolution of prelitigation disputes, contract review, and various corporate, environmental and employment matters.
  • Leads a national team of Fox lawyers and actively counsels Charlotte-based public company in transportation industry pursuing and defending various claims arising from provision of brokerage and transportation services, advising and asserting creditor claims in various bankruptcy courts.
  • Leads a team of Fox lawyers and actively counsels Georgia-based private equity-owned manufacturer on issues involving product safety, fair competition, and breach of contract and warranty obligations.
  • Obtained summary judgment ruling in excess of $50 million for a large company in the energy industry pursuing a nine-figure claim through trial and appeal against a Charlotte-based utility stemming from the utility’s decision to terminate an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a nuclear power plant.
  • Defended company founder and minority owner in a contentious jury trial against other owners involving issues including minority shareholder oppression, derivative claims, wrongful termination and breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Represented and advised numerous clients in disputes and litigation involving matters unique to closely held companies including duties, corporate formality, self-dealing, unauthorized and excessive distribution, and minority shareholder oppression.
  • Lead counsel for national franchisor in a commercial lease dispute involving claims of breach, constructive eviction and mold remediation.
  • Represented numerous insurers pursuing loss-loss subrogated claims including negligence and product liability against various businesses and product manufacturers.
  • Represented numerous companies in litigation involving alleged theft and misappropriation of trade secrets, proprietary information and commercially sensitive information by former employees and competitors.
  • Co-lead counsel for a closely held company through a successful arbitration in a contentious dispute with a large national bank over the suitability of a complex lending transaction that involved interest rate swap agreements.
  • Lead trial counsel for manufacturer in successfully resolving yearslong lawsuit with a supplier involving allegations of nonconformity, breach and fraud, and alleged damages exceeding $10 million.
  • Lead trial counsel for manufacturer in successfully resolving acrimonious dispute with supplier involving allegations of nonconforming goods, breach of contract and breach of warranty.
  • Lead trial counsel defending privately held technology company in bet-the-company lawsuit from competitor involving allegations of trade secret theft and unfair competition.
  • Lead counsel in successful defense of public company in transportation industry against claims of breach of contract and negligence involving alleged damages exceeding $20 million.
  • Manages and leads a national team of Fox lawyers helping national, private equity-owned manufacturer on a range of litigation and nonlitigation issues, including commercial litigation with customers and suppliers, resolution of prelitigation disputes, contract review, and various corporate, environmental and employment matters.
  • Leads a national team of Fox lawyers and actively counsels Charlotte-based public company in transportation industry pursuing and defending various claims arising from provision of brokerage and transportation services, advising and asserting creditor claims in various bankruptcy courts.
  • Leads a team of Fox lawyers and actively counsels Georgia-based private equity-owned manufacturer on issues involving product safety, fair competition, and breach of contract and warranty obligations.
  • Obtained summary judgment ruling in excess of $50 million for a large company in the energy industry pursuing a nine-figure claim through trial and appeal against a Charlotte-based utility stemming from the utility’s decision to terminate an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a nuclear power plant.
  • Defended company founder and minority owner in a contentious jury trial against other owners involving issues including minority shareholder oppression, derivative claims, wrongful termination and breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Represented and advised numerous clients in disputes and litigation involving matters unique to closely held companies including duties, corporate formality, self-dealing, unauthorized and excessive distribution, and minority shareholder oppression.
  • Lead counsel for national franchisor in a commercial lease dispute involving claims of breach, constructive eviction and mold remediation.
  • Represented numerous insurers pursuing loss-loss subrogated claims including negligence and product liability against various businesses and product manufacturers.
  • Represented numerous companies in litigation involving alleged theft and misappropriation of trade secrets, proprietary information and commercially sensitive information by former employees and competitors.
  • Co-lead counsel for a closely held company through a successful arbitration in a contentious dispute with a large national bank over the suitability of a complex lending transaction that involved interest rate swap agreements.

Client Resources

It's Just Business Blog

Jeff is a regular contributor to the firm's It's Just Business blog, providing analysis of important rulings issued by the North Carolina Business Court. He focuses on issues uniquely applicable to out-of-state clients litigating in North Carolina.

View Blog

Before Fox Rothschild

Jeff was a partner at Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP, which combined with Fox Rothschild in 2018. Before that, he practiced law in Pittsburgh, PA, in the complex commercial litigation group of an AM Law 100 firm. Prior to that, Jeff was a lieutenant in the United States Navy. 

Honors & Awards

  • Named a "Stand-Out Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters (2024)
  • Named to the "Managing Partners to Watch" Power List by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (2023, 2024)
  • Named to the list of Client Service All Stars by BTI Consulting Group (2023)
  • Named to the "Legal Elite" list by Business North Carolina for Litigation (2021)
  • Selected by Law & Politics Magazine for inclusion in North Carolina Super Lawyers-Rising Stars Edition, Business Litigation, 2012
  • Selected to the "Super Lawyers" list for Business Litigation in North Carolina by Super Lawyers (2026)

Bar Admissions

  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania

Education

  • George Washington University Law School (J.D., with high honors, 2002)
    • Order of the Coif,
  • Duke University (B.A., 1995)
    • History
    • Certificate in Markets & Management Studies
    • Dean's List
    • Navy ROTC Scholarship