Charles L. Hicks, III enjoys working in partnership with his clients to provide efficient and economical solutions to complex problems. His dual background in law and business helps him to understand his clients’ legal and business concerns.
He practices in the Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation and the Business Disputes and Litigation Groups of the Raleigh Office of Cranfill Sumner.
His business acumen makes him extremely attuned to clients’ key metrics, including efficient claims resolution and working effectively on alternative fee arrangements.
Workers’ Compensation Defense
In his Workers’ Compensation practice, Charles has defended thousands of workers’ compensation claims, through all phases of the North Carolina workers’ compensation process.
He has extensive experience defending death claims before the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC). He has become a trusted voice in this arena, regularly writing and presenting on the topic.
Charles has substantial experience investigating and analyzing cases, mediating claims to a successful resolution, conducting depositions, and crafting pleadings and briefs. Charles has served as first chair attorney in dozens of administrative forums, full evidentiary hearings, and appeals before panels of Commissioners.
Charles represents employers in Chapter 97 claims all over the State of North Carolina.
Business Disputes and Litigation
In Charles’ civil litigation practice, he handles construction litigation and commercial collections cases.
In this position Charles shepherds cases through informal negotiations, Alternative Dispute Resolution forums, and all stages of the judicial adversarial process.
He particularly focuses on Chapter 44A statutory liens on real property. He files, prosecutes, and defends Claims of Lien on behalf of general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers throughout the State of North Carolina. When appropriate he also helps protect payment rights through Notices of Claims of Lien Upon Funds and helps subcontractors with subrogation rights.
Charles has been named among the Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for the years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 in the fields of Workers’ Compensation Defense and Construction law. Charles also maintains an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell, which is a peer-review rating system.
*Cases or matters referenced do not represent the attorney’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or a law firm’s past results.
Articles, Presentations, and Publications
•Presenter, Cranfill Sumner LLP’s 2025 Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation Legal Summit, “ Short- and Long-Term Claim Handling Objectives when Denying Compensability” (April 2025)
•Author, “ Statutory Timelines for Defendants in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims ” (November 2024)
•Author, “ Is This Claim Compensable? Elements Required to Prove Compensability for a Back Claim in North Carolina ” (November 2024)
•Author, “ Elements Required to Prove an Injury by Accident in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims ” (November 2024)
•Author, “ Recommendations for Best Defense Practices at the Outset of a Workers’ Compensation Claim ” (November 2024)
•Author, “ Death Claim Series - How Are the Benefits to be Distributed ?” (March 2022)
•Author, “ Elements Required to Prove an Injury by Accident in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims ” (November 2024)
•Author, “ Statutory Timelines for Plaintiffs in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims ” (November 2024)
•Author, “ Statutory Timelines for Defendants in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims ” (November 2024)
•Author, “ The Court of Appeals Issues a New Opinion on the Requirements for Extended Benefits Beyond 500 Weeks ” (July 2024)
•Author, “ Death Claim Series - To Whom Are the Benefits Owed? ” (February 2022)
•Presenter, “Now What? Early Trends in NC Extended Benefits Cases” (January 2022)
•Author, “ Death Claim Series - What Benefits Are Owed? ” (December 2021)
•Author, “ Death Claim Series - Whether the Accident or Occupational Disease Caused the Resulting Death ” (November 2021)
•Author, “ Death Claim Series - Whether the Underlying Accident or Occupational Disease is Compensable ” (October 2021)
•Presenter, Workers’ Compensation Death Claims Webinar (June 2021)
•Author, “Vested Interest: How Shifts in Interest Rates are Affecting the Value of Workers’ Compensation Death Claims” (May 2020)
Accomplishments
•Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
•Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the fields of Construction Law (2021-2025); Workers' Compensation - Employers (2021-2025)
•Campbell Law School Moot Court Team (2011-2013)
•Order of Old Kivett
•Who’s Who Among American Law Students
•Eagle Scout
Most Recent Posts
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Timelines for Filing and Serving a Claim of Lien and a Corresponding Lawsuit
If you think you may be entitled to a Claim of Lien, it is important to consult an attorney in...
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Who Employs Police Officers Directing Traffic? Why a New North Carolina Supreme Court Decision Matters for Your Business
On December 12, 2025, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued a decision in Lassiter v. Robeson County Sheriff’s Department, Synergy...
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Statutory Timelines for Defendants in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims
North Carolina Workers’ Compensation claims are governed by Chapter 97 of the North Carolina General Statutes. What follows are timelines...
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Statutory Timelines for Plaintiffs in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims
North Carolina Workers’ Compensation claims are governed by Chapter 97 of the North Carolina GeneralStatutes. What follows are timelines for...
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Elements Required to Prove an Injury by Accident in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Claims
Whether a claim is compensable may depend on what type of injury/disease is alleged. The four major types of workers’...
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Is This Claim Compensable? Elements Required to Prove Compensability for a Back Claim in North Carolina
Whether a claim is compensable may depend on what type of injury/disease is alleged. The four major types of workers’...
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Recommendations for Best Defense Practices at the Outset of a Workers’ Compensation Claim
You should take the following steps at the outset of a new claim: If you have any questions about whether...
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The Court of Appeals Issues a New Opinion on the Requirements for Extended Benefits Beyond 500 Weeks
IN BETTS V. NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - CHERRY HOSPITAL (NO. COA22-324), THE NORTH CAROLINA COURT...
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Death Claim Series - How are the Benefits to be Distributed?
Over the past several weeks, I have released a series of articles on North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Death Claims. The...
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Death Claim Series - To Whom are the Benefits Owed?
Over the last several weeks, I have been releasing a series of articles on North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Death Claims....
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Death Claim Series - What benefits are owed?
Over the next several weeks I will be releasing a series of articles on North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Death Claims. The...
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Death Claim Series - Whether the Accident or Occupational Disease Caused the Resulting Death
Over the next several weeks I will be releasing a series of articles on North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Death Claims. ...
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Death Claim Series - Whether the Underlying Accident or Occupational Disease is Compensable
Over the next several weeks I will be releasing a series of articles on North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Death Claims. The...
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“Vested Interest”
How Shifts in Interest Rates are Affecting the Value of Workers’ Compensation Death Claims Interest rates affect many aspects of...
