Biography
Susie practices in the areas of employment compliance law, employment defense in litigation and administrative proceedings, and Affirmative Action Plans and Audit defense. She also reviews and writes employment contracts, policies and handbooks. Additionally, Susie is a regular speaker on employment matters.
Areas of Focus
+Employment
- Regularly advises and defends clients in race, age, disability and sex discrimination and harassment cases before the EEOC and in state and federal court
+Affirmative Action Plans & Audit Defense
- Regularly advises clients on Affirmative Action Plans, Fair Labor Standards Act and Family Medical Leave compliance, and defends clients on these issues
+Policies, Contracts, & Handbooks
- Reviews handbooks, policies and termination issues; a regular speaker on employment matters
+Litigation Avoidance Counseling
Susie works regularly with clients to analyze the risk of litigation presented by a termination, transfer, discipline, or layoff situation, and provides practical advice on how to structure such events to position the employer with the best defense to any claim the employee might make.
Visit our Litigation Avoidance Counseling page ▶Credentials
+Certifications & Specializations
Certified Yellow Belt in Legal Lean Sigma by the Legal Lean Sigma Institute®
+Education
Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., 1981, cum laude
Wake Forest University, B.S., 1978, summa cum laude
+Notable Accomplishments
Recognized as a Leading Attorney by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Labor and Employment Law), 2009-2024
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 Raleigh Labor Law-Management Lawyer of the Year; 2015, 2017, 2021 Raleigh Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year; Labor and Employment Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Management, 2007 – 2017, 2021, 2023-2025
Recognized as “Labor and Employment Star” by Benchmark Litigation (2023)
Recognized in Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite” (Employment), 2003 – 2004, 2006, 2008 – 2016, and 2022
Ranked among Super Lawyers magazine’s “Top 50 North Carolina Female Lawyers,” 2006 – 2013; Top 100 North Carolina “Super Lawyers,” 2011; North Carolina “Super Lawyers” (Labor and Employment Law), 2006 – 2023
Recognized in Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite” ( Employment) Hall of Fame, 2022
Ranked #1 in Employment Law in Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite” 2018
North Carolina Bar Association’s Minorities in the Profession Committee, 1990 – 1995
+Professional & Community Activities
North Carolina Bar Association, Minorities in the Profession Committee, 1990 – 1995
Wake County Bar Association
