Cranfill Sumner LLP

Our Employment attorneys are experts at managing the relationship between employee and employer. Whether a small start-up with limited staff or a giant manufacturer with thousands of people on the payroll, we have the tact and experience to find the best possible resolution for you.

What We Do

Our Employment Law Practice Group assists clients with a variety of day-to-day personnel and workplace issues, including:

• Allegations of discrimination and harassment under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, the Age Discrimination and Employment Act, and other anti-discrimination statutes
• Assisting and advising clients in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Labor investigations and charges
• Claims of unpaid overtime and wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act and North Carolina Wage and Hour Act
• Drafting, review, and negotiation of contractual agreements between employers and employees, such as non-compete agreements and non-solicitation agreements
• Due diligence reviews of employer policies, procedures, and other handbooks to ensure that employers are complying with state and federal employment laws
• Trainings and seminars for clients to assist with risk management and mitigation

Our Experience

Our team of lawyers has experience representing clients in front of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, United States Department of Labor, North Carolina Department of Labor, and North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings. If the matter cannot be resolved in one of these forums and a lawsuit is ultimately filed, you’ll have aggressive and experienced advocates on your side during the entire litigation process.

We continuously represent clients in front of the federal and state courts of North Carolina and we will zealously work to defend your best interests, whether that means conducting discovery, taking depositions, filing dispositive motions, taking your case to trial, or resolving it through negotiations or mediation.

Our Philosophy

The group is led by chair Patrick Flanagan and includes a team of highly accomplished lawyers who are committed to delivering the highest quality legal service. They’ve earned an excellent reputation among employers across North Carolina by:

• Being accessible and responsive to client needs
• Always keeping clients informed
• Knowing and understanding each individual workplace
• Watching budgets closely
• Providing excellent client service and value

Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog is committed to a work environment that welcomes, nurtures, and honors the contributions of individuals who bring a variety of talents, experiences, and backgrounds to our firm.  We believe we work best with clients, judges, juries, other attorneys, and each other when we reflect the richness of our community and world.

• Our Diversity Committee meets regularly to assess our diversity efforts and create new initiatives. The committee is made up of partners, associates, and staff from our three offices, and includes representatives from the Management Committee, Human Resources, and Recruiting.
• We are committed to recruiting attorneys and staff through minority job fairs and at historically black colleges and universities, and by identifying and participating in other programs in the legal community designed to increase minority hiring.
• Our firm is an outstanding place for women to practice law.  Our female attorneys constitute 30% of our partners and 54% of our associates, and women fully participate in all aspects of firm leadership. 
• Our training and mentoring is designed to develop and support attorneys and staff and encourage an environment of inclusivity and sensitivity.
• We make work/life balance a priority and recognize that excellence is not compromised by flexibility and innovation.
• Our employees are active and engaged in their communities through volunteer activities, charitable giving, and pro bono projects.

1. To recruit, hire, train, mentor, and develop attorneys and staff who reflect the richness and diversity of the world we live in and the communities we serve.
2. To foster a work environment where all individuals are supported and valued.
3. To increase awareness of, and sensitivity to, the differences in the cultures, backgrounds, and experiences of our employees, clients, and colleagues.  
4. To engage in a coordinated program of civic activism, charitable giving, and pro bono projects that focus on improving and strengthening our community.