Kearns Davis

Kearns Davis leads the firm's practice in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, felony trials and appeals, grand jury proceedings, and government investigations. He also handles a broad range of federal and business litigation. Among other honors and awards, he is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America" in White-Collar Criminal Defense, Bet-the-Company Litigation, and Commercial Litigation (Woodward/White publishing, 2010), and in "North Carolina Super Lawyers" in White-Collar Criminal Defense (Law & Politics, 2010).  He has tried jury cases at all levels of federal and North Carolina trial courts and has handled dozens of criminal and civil appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, and Ninth Circuits.

Kearns regularly represents businesses, executives, doctors, lawyers, financial professionals, and others involved in government and criminal investigations, including real estate, health care, environmental, bank fraud, public corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, mail fraud, wire fraud, false statements, federal benefits, computer crimes, embezzlement, false pretenses, identity theft, conspiracy, and other types of cases. A former federal prosecutor, Kearns served as the United States' lead counsel in felony trials for a broad spectrum of crimes including fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, crimes against financial institutions, drug trafficking, bank robbery, and firearms offenses. He was the lead Assistant United States Attorney in investigations by federal agencies and grand juries into offenses ranging from bank fraud to tax evasion.

In business and civil litigation, Kearns has represented publicly traded corporations, privately held companies, small businesses, municipalities, individuals, and the United States in a wide range of matters including fraud, unfair trade practices, antitrust, shareholder disputes, breach of contract, environmental, real estate, construction, labor and employment, tax, intellectual property, transportation, and consumer protection.

Honors & Awards

• "The Best Lawyers in America" in White-Collar Criminal Defense, Bet-the-Company Litigation, and Commercial Litigation (Woodward/White publishing, 2010)
• "North Carolina Super Lawyers" in White-Collar Criminal Defense (Law & Politics, 2010)
• "Legal Elite" in Criminal Law (Business North Carolina magazine, 2008-2010)
• "Top Lawyers of the Triad" in Trial/Litigation (Business Leader magazine, 2008)
• "Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award" (North Carolina Bar Association, 2010).

Professional & Community Activities

• Adjunct Law Professor, Trial Advocacy, University of North Carolina School of Law, 2008-11
• Adjunct Law Professor, Trial Advocacy, Elon University School of Law, Spring 2008
• President, Federal Bar Association, Middle District of North Carolina Chapter, 2010-11.
• Chair, N.C. Bar Association Criminal Justice Section, 2007-08
• Criminal Justice Act Appellate Panel Committee, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Chair, North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, 2004-05
• Co-Director, Rotary Youth Leadership Program, 2007
• Board of Directors, University of North Carolina School of Law Alumni Association, 2000-06
• Board of Directors, Davidson College Alumni Association, 2007-2010
• Board of Directors, National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, 2006-07
• Chair, Greensboro Bar Association Pro Bono Committee, 2000-01
• Founding Chair, Greensboro Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section Domestic Violence Project, 1999-2001
• Advisory Board, Court Watch of North Carolina
• Secretary, Rest Haven Summer Sunday School, Pamlico River, Beaufort County, NC
• Finance Board & Deacon, Grace Community Church, 2004-06
• Greensboro Sports Council
• Wide Receiver/Linebacker, Greensboro Prowlers, Arena Football 2, 2000
• Graduate Assistant Football Coach, Duke University, 1991-92

Articles & Presentations

• "Federal Criminal Case Law Update," North Carolina Bar Association 2010 Annual Review, October 2010
• "2010 White-Collar Crime Update - Fourth Circuit and Supreme Court," North Carolina Bar Foundation, April 2010
• "Environmental Criminal Investigations & Enforcement," UNC Law School Festival of Legal Learning, February 2010
• "Corporate Investigations: Government, Criminal, and Internal," UNC School of Law Festival of Legal Learning, February 2009
• "Federal Case Law Update," Criminal Justice Section Annual Meeting, North Carolina Bar Foundation, 2006-09
• "Internal Corporate Investigations," Security Summit Presentation, N.C. Bankers Association, September 2008
• Adjunct Law Professor, Trial Advocacy, Elon University School of Law, Spring 2008
• Trial Advocacy Instructor, National Advocacy Center, 2007
• Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy Southeast Regional, 2006-07
• "Appellate Process." National Advocacy Center, 2005
• "Environmental Citizen Suits." Real Estate Section Annual Meeting, North Carolina Bar Foundation, 2000
• Sigurjonsson v. Iceland: The European Court of Human Rights Expands the Negative Right of Association, 27 Case W. Res. J. Int'l L. (1995), reprinted in 5 Irish Student L. Rev. (1995)
• Note, Crawford v. Air Line Pilots Association: The Fourth Circuit Determines What Expenses a Union May Charge to Nonunion Workers, 72 N.C. L. REV. 1732 (1994)

News

• Brooks Pierce Attorneys Named Super Lawyers, North Carolina Super Lawyers
• Davis Appointed to Fourth Circuit's Criminal Justice Act Appellate Panel Committee
• Kearns Davis Recognized as Volunteer of the Week, Guilford Record North
• Kearns Davis Featured in The Advocate

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

• Kearns Davis Presents at Criminal Justice Section Annual Meeting
• Brooks Pierce Attorneys Present at Bankers Association Security Summit