nwilson@foxrothschild.comBiography
Biography
Nathan is a seasoned trial and appellate attorney who represents clients in federal and state courts across the nation, with a particular focus on criminal defense and First Amendment issues.
Nathan regularly handles high-stakes briefing in appellate courts and complex motion practice at the trial level — where precise and persuasive writing can often determine the outcome. He is also an experienced oral advocate, having argued and won cases at the Supreme Court of North Carolina and North Carolina Court of Appeals, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.
Nathan’s experience includes matters arising under the U.S. Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution, criminal defense cases; business, contract and trade secret disputes; zoning and administrative law issues; and matters falling under North Carolina’s juvenile code.
Clients also turn to Nathan for help in crafting amicus curiae briefs on pressing issues that impact their business or interests. Through his amicus work, Nathan has significant experience in helping organizations supplement parties’ briefing to ensure a court has a full picture of the issues before it.
Nathan is a seasoned trial and appellate attorney who represents clients in federal and state courts across the nation, with a particular focus on criminal defense and First Amendment issues.
Nathan regularly handles high-stakes briefing in appellate courts and complex motion practice at the trial level — where precise and persuasive writing can often determine the outcome. He is also an experienced oral advocate, having argued and won cases at the Supreme Court of North Carolina and North Carolina Court of Appeals, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.
Nathan’s experience includes matters arising under the U.S. Constitution and the North Carolina Constitution, criminal defense cases; business, contract and trade secret disputes; zoning and administrative law issues; and matters falling under North Carolina’s juvenile code.
Clients also turn to Nathan for help in crafting amicus curiae briefs on pressing issues that impact their business or interests. Through his amicus work, Nathan has significant experience in helping organizations supplement parties’ briefing to ensure a court has a full picture of the issues before it.
Services
Representative Work
- Argued a landmark criminal procedure victory at the U.S Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit that allowed a criminal defendant to withdraw a guilty plea that the government obtained through misrepresentation.
- Defended the First Amendment rights of public university professors who were suspended or terminated on the basis of their speech.
- Advocated on behalf of businesses affected by the North Carolina Supreme Court’s recent changes to economic liberty precedent, including the state constitution’s Fruits of their Labor and Monopoly Clauses.
- Convinced the North Carolina Supreme Court to review and overturn a lower court decision that jeopardized his client’s award of permanent custody.
- Helped the developer of a multimillion-dollar construction project successfully appeal challenges to a county zoning decision.
- Defended criminal defendants who were wrongfully convicted due to insufficient evidence and violations of their rights under the state and federal constitutions.
- Secured a precedent-setting decision by the North Carolina Supreme Court which interpreted the state constitution as prohibiting judicial deference to executive agencies when interpreting administrative regulations.
- Vindicated a citizen’s First Amendment right to speak freely at a city council meeting after the municipality attempted to restrict what could be said in public meetings.
- Assisted public university professors with First Amendment challenges when administrators adopted internal regulations targeting their religion.
- Empowered students who were deprived of their state constitutional right to a sound and basic education due to abuse by fellow students as well as teachers.
Before Fox Rothschild
A former summer associate at Fox Rothschild, Nathan joined the firm following a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Tamara Patterson Barringer of the Supreme Court of North Carolina.
Nathan externed at the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He also interned with the Honorable Paul Newby and the Honorable Samuel Ervin, both of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Nathan served as the Publication Editor for Volume 99 of the North Carolina Law Review.
Beyond Fox Rothschild
Nathan is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section Council, where he works to enhance the overall quality of appellate practice in the state. Nathan also serves on the editorial board of the American Bar Association’s Appellate Issues.
Nathan is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of civic leaders. He serves as a mentor with the McIntyre-Whichard Fellowship and volunteers with TeenPact Leadership Schools, teaching high school students about state government.
In his pro bono work, Nathan defends the constitutional rights of those without the means to hire an attorney. He has argued for the rights of a disabled veteran, vindicated the First Amendment interests of a citizen who was silenced at a town council meeting, and assisted North Carolina’s guardian ad litem program in protecting vulnerable children.
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth 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
Education
- University of North Carolina School of Law (J.D., with high honors, Order of the Coif, 2021)
- Thomas Edison State University (B.A., 2018)
Honors & Awards
- Gressman and Pollitt Oral Advocacy Award, University of North Carolina School of Law
