Jake Stewart focuses his practice on the representation and defense of municipalities and employers, both public and private, in a variety of litigation-based claims in both Federal and State Courts throughout North Carolina. He works closely with his clients to come of up with a defense strategy individualized to the needs and goals particular to the case and the client.
Representation of Municipalities
Jake enjoys representing municipalities and their employees and has defended claims in all three North Carolina Federal Courts, a number of the State Courts, and before the Fourth Circuit. He has had the opportunity to defend against Federal claims alleging violations of Constitutional rights such as the Fourth Amendment, Eighth Amendment, and Fourteenth Amendment. He has also dealt with state claims such as wrongful death, negligence, defamation, wrongful termination, trespass, adverse possession, tortious interference of contract, premises liability, and violations of the North Carolina Constitution. Jake enjoys working with the Councils, Boards, Managers, Sheriffs, Chiefs, attorneys, and employees who keep the Towns, Cities, and Counties running efficiently and safely throughout the State. In addition to providing a strong and thoughtful defense to litigation, Jake also provides legal advice to assist with all the issues a municipality faces regularly. Each municipality has different interests and concerns based on the circumstances of a claim or the nature of the municipality, and Jake understands the importance of recognizing and considering those interests and concerns when dealing with an issue or defending a lawsuit.
Representation of Employers
Jake takes the same client-first approach when representing employers. He has defended wrongful termination and discrimination claims based upon alleged Title VII, ADA, ADEA, and REDA violations in Federal and State courts and before the EEOC and NCDOL. He works closely with employers to ensure their goals and needs are met either through settlement or defense of a claim. Jake also has experience handling claims alleging violations of FLSA and the NC Wage and Hour Act in both Federal and State Courts. In addition to representing employers in litigation, Jake provides general advice to employers on how to deal with employment issues to mitigate any future exposure or prevent a future lawsuit. In addition to his employment law practice, Jake has handled hundreds of workers’ compensation claims before the Industrial Commission. Oftentimes, an employment claim will have a workers’ compensation component to it, so being familiar with both areas of law allows Jake to provide advice that considers all potential exposure.
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Jake grew up in New Jersey and is a hopeless New York sports fan. When not watching sports, Jake can be found on the golf course or spending time with his wife Olivia and their new son Henry.
Accomplishments
•Selected for inclusion in North Carolina Rising Stars in the field of Workers' Compensation (2025); State, Local, and Municipal (2026)
Most Recent Posts
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17 Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Named to 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner LLP announced that 17 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2026 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Discuss First Amendment Updates
Pat Flanagan and Jake Stewart served as presenters during the March 26 Harmonie Group webinar “Current Developments in Diversity and Civil Rights Law.”...
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21 Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Named to 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner LLP announced that 21 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2025 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
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CSH Law Attorneys Host Law Enforcement Lawsuit Webinar
Jack Wright and Jake Stewart hosted the “Trends in Law Enforcement Lawsuits” webinar for Cranfill Sumner LLP on July 27....
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Cranfill Sumner Volunteers Provide Legal Advice During NCBF Empower Hour
On June 1, 20 volunteers from Cranfill Sumner LLP provided legal service to individuals who are unable to afford it through the “NC Free Legal Answers” Empower Hour program with the North Carolina Bar Foundation....
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Jake Stewart Presents to NC Association of Sheriffs and Police Attorneys
Jake Stewart presented at the North Carolina Association of Sheriffs and Police Attorneys 2023 Spring Conference which was held in Wilmington on March 20, 2023....
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Announces New Partners
Cranfill Sumner LLP today announced that Robert El-Jaouhari (Raleigh), Jake Stewart (Charlotte), and Jack Wright (Charlotte) have been named partners in the firm....
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The Mortality of Immunity
Are North Carolina Courts Chipping Away at Public Official Immunity? For years, police officers and other public officials in North...
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CSH Law Attorneys Assist with Bar Candidate Interviews
Attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP assisted in interviews for the February 2022 bar exam session....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Volunteer for Legal Aid Eviction Project
In May 2020, Legal Aid of North Carolina launched an effort to help North Carolinians who were struggling to pay rent and were facing eviction. Legal Aid paired available emergency financial support with a search for volunteer attorneys from across the state who could help negotiate past and future payments with landlords....
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Does an Employee Who Contracts COVID-19 at Work from a Co-Employee Have a Legal Remedy?
As more employers begin to open their doors and their employees return to work, unanticipated and unusual issues are likely...
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A Never Ending Story: Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma
Asbestos was widely used from the 1940s to the 1980s, but surprisingly, it seems claims of asbestos exposure and the...
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What’s fair and just is a must
The Plaintiff worked as a part-time nurse’s assistant, where she earned $8.00 per hour. She received a promotion in February of...
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Cranfill Sumner Charlotte Volunteers at Men’s Shelter
Last week, members of the Charlotte office of Cranfill Sumner LLP recently served 300+ lunches at the Men’s Shelter of Charlotte, an organization dedicated to ending homelessness in the Charlotte Metro region. The organization operates two shelters in Charlotte including more than 400 beds and also provides counseling and training to help occupants find employment and housing....
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Jake Stewart Joins Cranfill Sumner Charlotte Office
Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) today announced that Jake Stewart has joined the firm’s Charlotte office as an associate attorney in the Workers’ Compensation Practice Group....
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