Nick Valaoras is a partner in the firm’s Charlotte office where he has been practicing since 1993. His practice focuses on workers’ compensation defense representing employers and insurance carriers. He is also a Board Certified mediator in workers’ compensation cases. Nick is a problem solver who enjoys helping his clients identify which cases to defend and which to resolve. He is a strong advocate of mediation as a way to resolve and settle claims and his years of experience as a mediator have made him an effective negotiator.
Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation Practice
Nick has represented employers and workers’ compensation insurance carriers in evidentiary and appellate hearings before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, North Carolina Court of Appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court since 1993. Nick has experience in handling traumatic injury by accident cases, occupational disease, repetitive motion disorders, asbestosis, and permanent-total disability claims. He is active with the Workers’ Compensation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and served as Section Council Member from 2010 - 2013 and serves on the Cranfill Sumner LLP COVID-19 Response Team.
After growing up in the Chicago suburbs, Nick has called North Carolina home since attending both college and law school at Wake Forest University. A devoted husband and father, Nick also enjoys serving and teaching in his church, mentoring students at Brookstone School, hiking, and following politics and military history in his free time. Nick also serves on the Scholarship Committee for Kid’s Chance of North Carolina.
Presentations
Nick is a frequent speaker at seminars and regularly presents webinars before workers’ compensation insurance carriers, employers and rehabilitation professionals on various topics such as Medicare legislation, return to work procedures, occupational diseases, burdens of proof, disability and case law updates. His recent speaking engagements and presentations include:
•2025 - Caselaw Update - North Carolina Association of Self-Insureds Annual Conference
•2024 - “Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update” - Cranfill Sumner Legal Summit
•2023 - “Fundamental Elements of an Estate Plan, Part 2 - The Will” - Cranfill Conversations
•2023 - “Powers of Attorney and Advance Directives” - Cranfill Conversations
•2023 - “The Intoxication Defense” - Cranfill Conversations
•2022 - “Powers of Attorney and Guardianship” - Cranfill Conversations
•2022 - “Powers of Attorney and Guardianship - A Primer” - Cranfill Sumner Legal Summit
•2022 - “Worker’s Compensation Appellate Law ‘Moot Court'” - Cranfill Sumner Legal Summit
•2022 - “The Long and Winding Road” - Webinar
•2021 - “Life Isn’t Fair, but Average Weekly Wage Has to Be” - Webinar
•2021 - “2021 Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update” - Webinar
•2021 - “Ethical Considerations for Rehab Professionals in North Carolina” - Webinar
•2020 - “North Carolina Claim Handling - Pre-Litigation and Litigation Issues for Lost Time Claims” - Webinar
•2020 - “Navigating Ethical Issues” - Webinar
•2020 - “Triple Threat - The Characteristics of Injury by Accident, Specific Traumatic Incidents, and Aggravation of Pre-Existing Condition Claims in North Carolina” - Webinar
•2020 - “The Injuries You Can’t See - Medical-Legal Issues for PTSD/Psychological Claims” - Webinar
•2019 - “What Should I Do Now? Mediation Issues and Dilemmas for Parties, Attorneys, and Mediators to Consider” - Webinar
•2019 - Presented at the Carolinas AGC HR and Safety Conference, “Where the Rubber Meets the Road” and “Settlement Strategies, Clinchers, Resignations, Release Opportunities”
•2019 - “2019 Case Law Update: Examination of Recent Workers’ Compensation Cases, Rules, and Procedures” - Seminar
Articles and Publications
•“Anchors Away! The Supreme Court Addresses Important Medical Causation Issues in Kluttz-Ellison v. Noah’s Playloft Preschool “, April 2024
•“Analyzing Compensability for Accidents Caused by Idiopathic Conditions While Driving”, October 2021
Accomplishments
•Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated
•Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers (2018-2026)
Most Recent Posts
News
33 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2026
Thirty-three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2026....
News
Cranfill Sumner Hosts 2025 Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation Legal Summit
On April 30, Cranfill Sumner LLP hosted its 2025 Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation Legal Summit....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Present at NCASI Conference
Jerri Simmons and Nick Valaoras presented a Case Law Update at the North Carolina Association of Self-Insurer’s (NCASI) 2025 Annual Conference in Wrightsville Beach on March 26. ...
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Our Top 10 Resources of 2024
Throughout the year, the attorneys at Cranfill Sumner LLP strive to provide the public with the latest updates on North...
News
32 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2025
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2025....
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Anchors Away! The Supreme Court Addresses Important Medical Causation Issues in Kluttz-Ellison v. Noah’s Playloft Preschool
Facts Plaintiff Robin Kluttz-Ellison was the owner of Noah’s Playloft, a preschool in Salisbury, North Carolina. She had a pre-existing...
News
Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Participate in Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 4ALL - Lawyers on Call event on Friday, March 1. ...
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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...
News
32 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2024
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2024....
News
Nick Valaoras Hosts Cranfill Conversation about Wills
On April 4, Nick Valaoras hosted the “Fundamental Elements of an Estate Plan” Cranfill Conversation. This was a continuation of his previous Cranfill Conversation with a new focus on the importance of Wills....
News
Cranfill Conversation Discusses Powers of Attorney and Advance Directives
Nick Valaoras hosted the March 9 Cranfill Conversation about Powers of Attorney and Advance Directives....
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Workers’ Compensation Cases to Consider in 2023
In the past two years, there have been many interesting and impactful appellate decisions in North Carolina Workers’ Compensation law....
News
Cranfill Sumner Hosts 2022 Workers’ Compensation Update Webinar
On Sept. 15, Brad Kline and Nick Valaoras hosted the 2022 Workers’ Compensation Case Law Update. It was held as part of the Cranfill Sumner LLP webinar series....
News
25 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2023
Twenty-five attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2023....
News
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....
News
Cranfill Sumner Hosts Mediation Webinar
Nick Valaoras hosted the Cranfill Sumner LLP webinar “Mediation in COVID and Post-COVID Era” on May 19. The webinar featured a discussion from panelists and mediators Collins Barwick and Amy Berry....
Post
Analyzing Compensability for Accidents Caused by Idiopathic Conditions while Driving
In North Carolina, it is well established that when an idiopathic condition is the sole cause of the injury, the...
News
26 CSH Law Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2022
Twenty-six attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022....
News
Cranfill Sumner LLP Staff Members Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 14th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 5. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event was held virtually this year....
News
Cranfill Sumner LLP Attorneys Receive AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) today announced that Steven Bader, Paul Gessner, Charles Hicks, Q. Shante Martin and Nick Valaoras have received AV Ratings from Martindale-Hubbell....
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Another COVID-19 Reality-Analysis of Potential WC and OSHA Claims for Employees Working from Home
With more people working from home than ever before it can be difficult to determine how to handle workers’ compensation...
News
27 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2021
Twenty-seven attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
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Cranfill Sumner Launches COVID-19 Response Team
Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP (Cranfill Sumner) announced the creation of its COVID-19 Response Team. The team is comprised of...
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FAQ: How Does COVID-19 Affect Current WC Claims?
If a WC Claimant refuses medical treatment due to COVID-19 contamination fears, can benefits be cut off? Under NC Law...
News
Cranfill Sumner Staff Members Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Members of the Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) offices participated in the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 13th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 6....
News
31 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2020
Thirty-one attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2020(Copyright 2019 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Present at Carolinas AGC Conference
Brad Kline and Nick Valaoras served as featured presenters at the Carolinas AGC HR and Safety Conference on March 27. The conference was held March 27-29 at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort Grand Dunes in Myrtle Beach. ...
News
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....
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participated at 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Attorneys from the offices of Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 12thAnnual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 1....
News
32 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2019
Thirty-two attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2019 (Copyright 2018 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC)....
News
4ALL Statewide Service Day
Attorneys from the offices of Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) participated in the North Carolina Bar Association’s 11th Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day on Friday, March 2....
News
33 Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2018
Thirty-three attorneys from Cranfill Sumner LLP (Cranfill Sumner) were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2018 (Copyright 2017 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC). Eight attorneys were selected for inclusion in the list for the first time....
News
Attorneys Speak at CLM Education Event
Nick Valaoras and Lee Poole, attorneys in the Charlotte office of Cranfill Sumner LLP, will be featured speakers at the 2015 Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) Western North Carolina Chapter Educational and Networking Event. The event is scheduled for today at the Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge in Charlotte. Nick and Lee will be speaking on defense and settlement strategies for workers’ compensation and civil liability cases involving chronic pain management issues....
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Employers: Is Your Company Social Putting You at Risk?
The arrival of summer marks the end of another school year and the anticipation of beach vacations, backyard cookouts, and...
News
Attorneys to Speak at ABC Construction Conference
John Ong, Pat Flanagan and Nick Valaoras will be the featured speakers at a panel discussion for the Associated Builders...
News
Cranfill Sumner Attorneys Participate in 4ALL Statewide Service Day
Ten attorneys from Cranfill Sumner provided vital legal advice and resources in the North Carolina Bar Association’s Annual 4ALL Statewide Service Day....
News
Nick Valaoras Publishes Article on Workers’ Comp Mediation in NC
Cranfill Sumner Charlotte attorney, is published in the Course & Scope, an e-newsletter for the North Carolina Bar Association’s (NCBA) Workers Compensation Section...
