Overview

Bryan Starrett has a unique background as a litigator, employment lawyer, and in-house generalist for a new public company. This combination of experience gives Bryan an invaluable perspective for understanding how a legal issue fits within clients’ business operations and goals, and how to provide thoughtful and practical counsel to clients. 

In his litigation practice, Bryan represents clients in all levels of state and federal courts in North Carolina, including the North Carolina Business Court. He has represented clients in matters involving shareholder rights, corporate governance, antitrust, breaches of contract, covenants not to compete, employment discrimination, personal and business torts and constitutional litigation.

Clients appreciate Bryan’s ability to help them navigate legal risks within the context of their business goals and finding practical legal solutions that support their business objectives. He is a true partner and counselor, understanding firsthand the responsibility and pressures of legal issues within a company.

In addition to using his combination of legal and business experience to help clients, Bryan also works as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest Business School where he helps business students identify, understand, and learn how to navigate the legal environment of the businesses in which they work.

My Practices

  • Using his experience as both an in-house attorney and a former Deloitte strategy consultant, Bryan brings a unique perspective to internal investigations, working with businesses to identify and proactively address potential legal issues they may have within their operations. 

    Bryan has designed or led internal investigations on matters ranging from unlawful contracting practices to workplace investigations, as well as on more sensitive matters at the request of the board of directors. Additionally, he has designed internal investigation protocols for two public companies and trained human resource professionals at those companies on how to follow the procedure.

  • Through his experience as an in-house legal counsel of a public company, Bryan understands the often-competing priorities and interests a company faces during pending litigation and knows how to help clients seek the best outcome. He represents clients in all levels of state and federal courts in North Carolina, including the North Carolina Business Court, in a wide variety of litigation, including cases involving shareholder rights, antitrust, breaches of contract, covenants not to compete, employment discrimination, wrongful death and constitutional litigation.

  • Bryan advises employers and HR professionals on a wide variety of employment-related matters, including wage and hour issues, employment contracts and policies, employee privacy matters and workplace investigations. During his time working in-house for a newly formed public company, he created and implemented human resources and employment-related policies and procedures, and served as a day-to-day counselor for human resources in retail, distribution, and office settings. Bryan also represents employers in all levels of state and federal courts in employment-related litigation, including actions involving non-competition agreements, wage and hour litigation, discrimination actions and other matters.

  • Bryan’s experience as an in-house corporate attorney and business adviser allows him to both relate to and counsel clients. Having helped his previous employer create and build their legal team after becoming a public company, Bryan knows the ins and outs of clients’ operations. He assists clients in general business and transactional matters and commercial contracts, with notable experience in reviewing technology-related agreements, and creating legal processes and practices designed to effectively balance efficient and effective business practices and risk management. 

Experience

Business Litigation

  • Representing an insurance marketing organization in a lawsuit alleging breach of contract and fraud against approximately 35 of the organization's former insurance agents.
  • Successfully challenged the constitutionality of an act of the North Carolina General Assembly moving control of Charlotte Douglas International Airport from the City of Charlotte to an independent commission.
  • Representing the CEO of a large statewide health system in an antitrust action alleging unfair suppression of employment opportunities between competing health systems.
  • Successfully challenging the constitutionality of an act of the North Carolina General Assembly altering the structure and form of government for a state municipality.
  • Representing a large consumer products employer in an investigation alleging misconduct by multiple executives.

Credentials

Clerkships

Law Clerk to the Honorable Norman K. Moon, United States District Court, Western District of Virginia, 2009-10

Honors & Recognitions

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Commercial Litigation (2024)

Recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" in Employment Litigation: Defense (2019)

Selected by his peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" in Employment Law (2019) and in the Young Guns category (2019)

Recognized as a "Labor and Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (2019)

Selected for Benchmark Litigation's "Under 40 Hot List" (2017, 2018)

Recognized by the Triad Business Journal as "Forty Under 40" (2015)

Education

University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2009

Wake Forest University, B.S., 2002, cum laude

Certifications

Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), 2013, certified by the Compliance Certification Board

Admissions

North Carolina

U.S. District Court for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina

Newsroom

News

Professional & Civic

Professional & Civic Activities

Member, Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Greensboro (2022 - present)

Member, Wake Forest University Alumni Council (2021 – present)

Adjunct Professor (Business Law), Wake Forest University School of Business (2016 – present)

Selectee, North Carolina Bar Leadership Academy, Class of 2015

Member, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (2013 – present)

Adjunct Professor (Employment Law), Elon University School of Law (2013 – 2016)

Chair, Board of Directors, Out of the Garden Project (2014 – 2018); Member (2011 – 2018)

Member, Chief Justice Joseph Branch Inn of Court (2011 – 2013)

About Me

During my time spent as an in-house attorney, I frequently encountered how the law can affect both short-term business decisions and long-term strategic planning. I witnessed firsthand how the legal landscape informs (or fails to inform) business decisions. Now at Brooks Pierce, I enjoy helping the Firm’s clients navigate their legal problems and the business context in which those problems have arisen. Oftentimes, we are called on to solve problems that have already come to light—to “put out a fire.” While I enjoy solving those problems, I particularly relish figuring out how to prevent those “legal fires” in the first place.

Outside of my practice at Brooks Pierce, I work as an adjunct business professor at Wake Forest Business School helping develop business students into future successful businessmen and women. When I’m not practicing law or teaching, I enjoy playing competitive sports, watching Wake Forest basketball (Go Deacs!), and spending time with my two daughters.

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    34 attorneys named to Business North Carolina's 2024 "Legal Elite" and "Hall of Fame"
  • 114
    114 attorneys with the highest standard of professional and personal excellence
  • 74
    74 of our attorneys are recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 Guide
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