Mediator Resume

Mediator, Arbitrator

Member, Alexander Ricks PLLC, 2016 - 2023; Partner, Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP, 2014 - 2016; Solo Practitioner, Alice Carmichael Richey PLLC, 2009 - 2014; Partner, KL Gates LLP (by merger with Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman), 2008 - 2009; Associate/Partner, Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman LLP, 1986 - 2008.

Over 38 years of experience representing companies and individuals in commercial litigation and arbitration, with significant jury trial and arbitration experience. Matters have included claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, misrepresentation, securities violations, false advertising, and unfair and deceptive trade practices; claims arising from a variety of business relationships, including disputes among franchisors and franchisees, members of limited liability and closely held companies, partners, shareholders (including minority shareholder issues), corporate governance and dissolution issues; financial services claims, including lender liability claims, and disputes between lenders, borrowers, and guarantors; claims regarding real property rights, including development agreements, easements, and landlord/tenant issues; employment claims involving covenants not to compete, non-solicitation agreements and trade secrets; personal and business tort claims involving defamation/disparagement, privacy, and right of publicity; and intellectual property disputes including licensing issues, and trademark, trade dress, and copyright infringement claims. Clients have been in numerous industries including manufacturing, entertainment, publishing, technology, energy, banking, finance, real estate development, franchising, education, and insurance.

Have served as a mediator since 2009 (certified by the Dispute Resolution Commission of the State of North Carolina). Since January 2024, have been a full-time mediator and arbitrator. Mediated matters have included shareholder and closely-held company disputes, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, defamation, real property disputes (including easements and other land rights), employment disputes (including covenants not to compete and trade secrets), unfair and deceptive trade practices, commercial and other contract disputes, insurance disputes, including claims of bad faith, banking negligence, franchise disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, securities fraud, trust and other fiduciary agreements, and claims of fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation.

Mediation is an opportunity for the parties to have control over the resolution of their conflict. My job as the mediator is to advocate for resolution, encouraging the parties to be patient, to listen, and to make good assessments and responsible decisions. I will remind the parties throughout the mediation to focus on how they can resolve their case, rather than how they can win it. Mediation permits creative resolutions not available in litigation or arbitration and crafting a creative resolution can sometimes bridge the parties’ differences. Often, there is some interest or issue not readily apparent from the pleadings which is driving decision making. I want to understand those drivers and prevent them from becoming impediments to resolution. Prior to the mediation day, I meet virtually with each side's attorneys (no clients, including in-house counsel) for candid discussions regarding the matter. This can often lead to some information sharing prior to the mediation, if helpful. I will also review any materials submitted to me by counsel, but do not require a written mediation statement.

Routinely use Zoom to conduct virtual mediations and arbitration conferences/discovery hearings.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (JD with honors - 1986, North Carolina Law Review, Note and Comment Editor; BA with highest honors - 1982); Amherst College (1977-1979).

Admitted to the North Carolina State Bar from 1986 - 2025. Admitted to US District Court: Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina; US Court of Appeals: 4th Circuit; US Supreme Court. I went inactive with the NC State Bar in 2025, so all court admissions are now inactive.

2019 Mecklenburg County Bar All Star Trial Advocacy CLE: Communicating with a Jury 2019 Intellectual Property Law Section and Sports & Entertainment Section Annual Meeting: Implementation of the Defend Trade Secrets Act 2018 Annual North Carolina Business Court CLE: Trade Secrets Panel 2018 Western District of North Carolina Federal Bar Association Annual Meeting and CLE: Preparing for Your Trial in Federal Court 2017 NCBA Business Law and International Law Practice Sections Joint Annual Meeting: The Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016.

Charlotte, North Carolina and immediate surrounding areas

Hourly Rate: $800.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $800.00/hr Cancellation: $2,000.00/Day Cancellation Period: 5 Days Comment: The $400.00 per hour travel rate applies only to travel that is cumulatively (to and from) four hours or less. If the cumulative number of travel hours exceeds four, the time in excess of four hours will be billed at $800.00 per hour. Parties are also responsible for reimbursement of actual and reasonable out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with out-of-town travel. If cancellation results in non-refundable expenses, those amounts will be charged to the parties.

English

United States of America

Charlotte, North Carolina