Eric David, Brooks Pierce Photo

Eric M. David

Partner

Overview

Eric David focuses his practice on business litigation, constitutional litigation, and media and communications law. Eric represents businesses, public agencies, and individuals in high-stakes litigation in federal and state court, and especially the North Carolina Business Court.

My Practices

  • Eric represents large and small businesses in complex litigation, particularly in federal court and the North Carolina Business Court. Eric has experience in a myriad of matters, including trade secrets litigation, corporate governance disputes, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and claims brought under the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

  • Eric has advocated on behalf of publisher and broadcast clients in a variety of First Amendment and newsgathering matters, including disputes over the North Carolina Public Records Act and access to public meetings. Eric has substantial experience defending both large and small publishers against defamation claims in state and federal court.

  • Eric represents companies, shareholders, and directors in a variety of corporate governance disputes, including claims for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and corporate dissolution. Eric has substantial experience in the North Carolina Business Court, where many of these disputes are litigated.

  • Eric represents companies and individuals in a variety of intellectual property disputes, especially claims brought under the North Carolina Trade Secrets Protection Act. Eric has substantial experience in both federal court and the North Carolina Business Court, where many intellectual property disputes are litigated.

Credentials

Honors & Recognitions

Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Litigation - First Amendment (2024) (Raleigh "Lawyer of the Year" 2020, 2023), Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Intellectual Property (2018-2024), Corporate Governance Law (2020-2024), Appellate Practice (2024)

Recognized by his peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina’s "Legal Elite" in Young Guns category (2013-2014); for Litigation (2017-2024)

Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) in Business Litigation (2019-2024), Top 100 North Carolina Lawyers (2023-2024), Top 25 Raleigh Super Lawyers (2024), and as a “Rising Star” in Business Litigation (2014-2018) and Civil Rights/First Amendment (2012-2013) 

Selected as North Carolina Lawyers Weekly “Leader in the Law” (2018)

Education

University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., 2008, with high honors; Order of the Coif; Editor-in-Chief, First Amendment Law Review

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.A., 2005, Park Fellow

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 1994, John Motley Morehead Scholar; Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

North Carolina

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th and D.C. Circuits

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

U.S. District Court of Colorado

Newsroom

News

Professional & Civic

Professional & Civic Activities

Commissioner, Uniform Law Commission (ULC) – North Carolina Delegation (2024-present)

Member, Board of Directors, North Carolina Open Government Coalition (2022-present)

Founding President, Board of Directors, Lucille Hunter Elementary School Foundation (2017-2019)

President, Board of Directors, Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood (2017)

Rules Advisory Committee, North Carolina Business Court (2015)

Council Member, Constitutional Rights and Responsibilities Section, North Carolina Bar Association (2014-2017)

About Me

Though not a Tar Heel born, Eric is, by now, a Tar Heel bred. Eric graduated from high school in Baltimore and then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar. After receiving his undergraduate degree with honors, Eric spent five years teaching history and coaching three sports at Sewickley Academy outside Pittsburgh. In 1999, Eric returned to Chapel Hill to serve for four years as Assistant Director for Summer Enrichment for the John Motley Morehead Foundation (now the Morehead-Cain Foundation).

After nine years in education, Eric decided to return to school, earning a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication from UNC Chapel Hill. Eric’s passion for law was sparked by a graduate class in media law. As a result, Eric continued on to law school after receiving his master’s degree. He graduated with high honors from UNC School of Law in 2008. While in law school, Eric served as editor-in-chief of the First Amendment Law Review.

Eric lives in downtown Raleigh with his two sons.

  • 2
    2 incredible sons
  • 100+
    100+ lacrosse games (not all of them incredible)
  • 123
    123 year-old house in downtown Raleigh
Jump to Page

This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. For more information on our cookie use, see our Privacy Policy.