Charlie Raphun is a commercial and technology law attorney whose practice has consistently focused on understanding the unique needs of his clients and their products. He is dedicated to helping clients achieve business success while ensuring compliance with the ever-evolving landscape of laws and regulations. Charlie recognizes the practical need for clients to assess and manage legal risks, and he brings a broad set of competencies-including intellectual property, accounting, tax, international trade compliance, privacy and cybersecurity, and regulatory law-that are essential to today’s business environment.
25+ Years Negotiating Complex Technology and IP Agreements
Charlie’s legal experience has included over 25 years in the telecommunications and software industries, where he has negotiated hundreds of technology transfer agreements, acquisitions, divestitures, and other agreements for licensing of patents, trademarks, software and trade secrets.
Tailored Commercial Transactions and Compliance Services
Charlie customizes commercial transactions and compliance services for his clients by first listening carefully to understand their real interests and needs. He then works closely with them to ensure that commercial contracts, governance instruments, and other documents are understandable, comprehensive, and sustainable.
Patent Attorney and Intellectual Property Dispute Resolution
Charlie is an experienced patent attorney who effectively manages and resolves licensing and intellectual property infringement disputes for clients. He has managed patent and trademark portfolios for technology companies, working with product line managers and inventors to effectively protect their rights and support their products.
Business Structuring and Tax Advisory Services
He routinely works with business clients to help organize and develop effective operating structures to serve their needs - from individual entrepreneurs creating start-ups to more established businesses. That work includes advising clients on short and long-term tax considerations of their business models, and practical guidance on how to maintain accountability during the businesses’ life cycles.
Corporate Formation and Strategic Agreement Negotiation
Charlie has helped clients form corporations and limited liability companies and registered them with state and federal agencies. He has also negotiated essential terms for clients to establish joint ventures, implementing franchise agreements, and similar agreements. He acts as an essential partner to businesses, executives and skilled employees in understanding their rights and obligations under employment and labor laws and in negotiating employment and benefits agreements.
Trusted Advisor to the Aviation and Aerospace Sector
Charlie plays a key role in the firm’s aviation and aerospace practice group, supporting aircraft owners, flight schools, maintenance shops and charter companies in their operational needs, including acquisitions and sales of aircraft, compliance with FAA regulations, and structuring their companies properly. He assists clients in reporting requirements and in addressing FAA investigations involving his clients.
Translating Military Legal Experience into Business Solutions
Charlie is also a former military attorney and officer, whose service culminated in duties as the Staff Judge Advocate for the U.S. Army Reserve Legal Command. In that capacity, he provided oversight and advice to military attorneys across the country. This brings a skill set that combines resiliency, organizational leadership, and individual legal counsel that translates well to assist businesses with their needs.
Most Recent Posts
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The Eleventh Circuit Upholds the CTA, But the Compliance Picture Remains Unsettled
On December 16, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in National Small Business United v. U.S....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Host Mergers and Acquisitions Webinar
On Oct. 29, Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys Vince Eisinger, Charlie Raphun, and Dominic Totman hosted a Mergers and Acquisitions webinar which provided attendees with a roadmap for how the transactions for a typical sale or purchase of an existing small or mid-sized, non-public business is conducted. ...
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We Can Work It Out: U.S. Department of Labor Pauses Reliance on 2024 Independent Contractor Rule in its Enforcement of Independent Contractor Misclassification
The saga continues... The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is again signaling changes in how it will evaluate independent contractor...
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Cranfill Sumner Staffs Pro Bono Empower Hour
Cranfill Sumner LLP attorneys and summer clerks volunteered for the North Carolina Bar Foundation pro bono clinic the Empower Hour on June 3. ...
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Charlie Raphun Discusses AI Case in NC Lawyers Weekly
Charlie Raphun, a Partner at Cranfill Sumner LLP, was featured in the April 2025 edition of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly in an article titled “First AI Fair Use Case May Prove to Be Outlier.”...
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AI Hallucination Reveals More Than Its Creator Bargained For
The concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) “hallucinating,” i.e. generating answers and sources that do not exist, is widely sweeping the...
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Names New Partners
Cranfill Sumner LLP today announced that Christina Zaroulis Milnor, Charlie Raphun, and Chad Rhoades have been named partners in the firm....
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Treasury Department Suspends Enforcement of Corporate Transparency Act for U.S. Citizens and Domestic Reporting Companies
March 6, 2025, Update The U.S. Treasury Department announced on March 2 that it is suspending enforcement of the Corporate...
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Charlie Raphun Selected to Join IADC
Charlie Raphun has been selected to join the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC). ...
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International Trade Agreements Webinar Led by Cranfill Sumner Attorneys
Vince Eisinger and Charlie Raphun presented the “International Trade Agreements - E-commerce and Services in the Cloud” webinar on May 24. The webinar was hosted by the North Carolina World Trade Association....
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CSH Law Attorneys Present NCWTA Webinar
Vince Eisinger and Charlie Raphun led the March 21 International Trade Agreements webinar for the North Carolina World Trade Association....
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The State of Data Privacy
January 28 is International Privacy Day, and this day is an opportunity to learn about recent developments in the legal...
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Let’s Work It Out: U.S. Department of Labor Finalizes Rule for Independent Contractor Status - Takes Effect March 11
This past week, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a final rule for the classification of workers as employees...
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Flying Foul Play: Legal Issues Take Flight in Monday Night Football’s Drone Incident
Sports fans may recall a bizarre incident in November 2023 during the Monday Night Football Ravens-Bengals matchup- a small drone...
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White House Lays Groundwork for AI Regulation
The Biden-Harris Administration announced issuance of an Executive Order (“EO”) on October 30, 2023 that directs various Executive Agencies to...
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Hosts Legal Summit
Cranfill Sumner LLP hosted a day-long, virtual 2023 Legal Summit on Oct. 11....
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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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Charlie Raphun Presents to Wake County Bar Association Event
On June 1, Charlie Raphun presented “Ten Things To Know About Working In-house” as a Learn Over Lunch event for the Wake County Bar Association....
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Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Discuss International Intellectual Property Management
Russ Racine and Charlie Raphun presented at the May 12 Export Coffee Talk webinar about International Intellectual Property Management. The event was hosted by the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina....
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Recent Developments in Data Privacy
For American companies doing business in Europe and European businesses relying on U.S. vendors and service providers, 2023 may be...
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Cranfill Sumner LLP Welcomes New Attorneys in Raleigh Office
Cranfill Sumner LLP today announced Ryan Shuirman and Charlie Raphun have joined the firm’s Raleigh Office. Shuirman is a Partner with the firm, and Raphun is Of Counsel....
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