Kayla N. McDaniel concentrates her practice on employment, civil rights, and government liability defense for both public and private entities. In her employment practice, Kayla has effectively represented private and municipal entities facing claims for wrongful termination, retaliation, hostile work environment, breach of contract, and discrimination under Title VII, REDA, ADA, ADEA, FLSA, and FMLA. She has experience defending employment claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, as well as in state and federal courts in North Carolina. Kayla frequently works with municipal officials and their local counsel to defend a wide range of other civil matters, including public records disputes, zoning and land use cases, and other constitutional issues.
She also defends clients facing claims involving issues of professional liability, personal injury, premises liability, defamation, and breach of contract, as well as defending construction cases and business disputes.
Kayla works closely with clients to understand their needs and goals, and to provide effective representation in mediation as well as litigation. Her main priority is to tailor her representation to fit the needs of each individual client, whether that entails delivering strategies to minimize risk and avoid litigation, or defending a matter all the way to trial.
Prior to graduating from Campbell University School of Law with honors, Kayla attended Western Carolina University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Spanish. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, painting, yoga, and reading.
Accomplishments
•Selected for inclusion in North Carolina Rising Stars in the field of Employment Litigation, Defense (2024 - 2026)
Most Recent Posts
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Cranfill Sumner Hosts Employment Law Webinar
On Feb. 19, attorneys at Cranfill Sumner LLP hosted a panel discussion during the firm’s latest webinar....
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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 Hosts 2025 Employment Law Webinar
On Feb. 26, Cranfill Sumner LLP hosted its 2025 Employment Law Panel webinar....
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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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Mica Nguyen Worthy and Kayla McDaniel Represent Client in Multiparty Aviation Business Dispute
Mica Nguyen Worthy, practice group leader for the Aviation & Aerospace Practice Group, and Kayla McDaniel, associate attorney based out...
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Attorneys Lead Webinar Discussing Gender Identity Workplace Accommodations
Ryan Bolick and Kayla McDaniel recently hosted the “Gender Identity & Accommodations In the Workplace” webinar through PLAN....
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Hosts 2024 Employment Law Panel Webinar
Cranfill Sumner LLP today hosted its 2024 Employment Law Panel as part of its ongoing webinar series....
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13 Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Named to 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Cranfill Sumner LLP announced that 13 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers and 2024 North Carolina Rising Stars lists....
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Our Top 10 Resources of 2023
Throughout the year, Cranfill Sumner LLP’s attorneys work diligently to bring the most up-to-date information on North Carolina legal updates...
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Kayla McDaniel Featured on NCADA Member Spotlight
The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys featured Kayla McDaniel in its recent Member Spotlight....
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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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North Carolina Enacts Stricter Legislation Aimed at Improving Residential Elevator Safety
North Carolina has implemented House Bill 619, which amends the regulations for residential elevators set forth in Article 9 of...
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Our Top 10 Resources of 2022
Throughout the year, Cranfill Sumner LLP’s attorneys work diligently to bring the most up-to-date information on North Carolina legal updates...
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Published in Business NC
Mica Nguyen Worthy and Kayla McDaniel have been featured in the latest edition of Business North Carolina. Their article, “The Power of the New York Convention,” was featured in the November 2022 edition....
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You Can Run, but You Can’t Hide From the NY Convention
On June 24, 2022, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling in Reddy v. Buttar concerning enforcement of...
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys and Staff Volunteer for Bar Candidate Interviews
Attorneys and staff members of Cranfill Sumner LLP volunteered to perform bar candidate interviews for the NC Board of Law Examiners prior to the July 2022 bar exam....
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Round 2! U.S. Supreme Court Has Heard the Arguments on Section 1782 - Discovering the Issues With Discovery in International Arbitrations
As noted in our prior posts, the U.S. Supreme Court Justices (with the exclusion of Justice Clarence Thomas who was...
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PART II: Round 2! US Supreme Court to Review 28 U.S.C. 1782 Discovery Question on International and Foreign Tribunals
ZF Automotive US, Inc. v. Luxshare, Ltd., 21-401 is currently pending before the Supreme Court, with oral arguments scheduled to...
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Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 to Be Signed by President Biden
On February 7th, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4445, known as the “Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault...
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SC District Court Addresses Implications of Arbitration Clause
The United States District Court for the District of South Carolina recently ruled in Sunland Logistics Solutions Inc. v. Zhejiang...
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EEOC Issues Updated Guidance to Employers for COVID-19 Related Issues
EEOC Issues Updated Guidance to Employers for COVID-19 Related Issues In the wake of the new Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS)...
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Details of Biden’s Mandatory Vaccine Plan Published
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a new emergency temporary standard (“ETS”) today, effective immediately, with compliance...
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CSH Law Welcomes New Attorneys
Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) announced today that Coltrane Henderson, Kayla McDaniel, Austin Sistrunk, Ani Whittington and Ella Zulman have joined the firm’s Charlotte and Wilmington offices as associate attorneys....
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President Biden to Push for Workplace Vaccination and Testing Mandate for Private Employers
Article written by Kayla McDaniel President Biden held a press conference Thursday evening where he outlined a series of new...
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