Jennifer Van Zant, Brooks Pierce Photo

Jennifer K. Van Zant

Partner

Overview

Jennifer Van Zant focuses her practice on complex business litigation — the more complicated, the better. She represents businesses on a wide array of disputes before federal courts and the North Carolina Business Court, and works closely with clients to make paths toward resolution.

My Practices

  • Jennifer represents clients in a variety of complex business disputes, including numerous class action cases and LLC ownership disputes. She thrives in cases that involve complicated legal theories. She has extensive experience representing clients before the North Carolina Business Court and in federal district court.

    "If you compare a canoe to a dispute, with litigation on one side and resolution on the other side, I know where and when to paddle. If you only paddle on the resolution side or the litigation side, you are just going in circles. I help clients move straight ahead."
  • Jennifer has defended numerous class actions in an array of business-related cases. Her experience includes class action suits related to health care, consumer products, insurance, and antitrust.

  • Jennifer has been widely recognized by clients and peers for her success in antitrust litigation, and has been included in The Best Lawyers in America© and Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for her work in this area. Jennifer’s antitrust litigation practice includes representation of various industries, such as health care and textiles.

    The 2017 Chambers USA guide comments that Jennifer is, "'a thoughtful litigator' who is held in high regard for her notable antitrust expertise."

  • Jennifer represents a variety of health care related organizations in an array of business disputes. Her experience includes representing health care insurance companies in disputes with providers and participants, and representing a continuing care retirement community in a dispute over enforceability of covenants. She has also represented a network of chiropractors in disputes brought by former network participants, and she represents an insurer with regard to defending against challenges to an award of a significant government contract.

Credentials

Clerkships

Law Clerk to Judge N. Carlton Tilley, Jr., U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina, 1994-1995

Honors & Recognitions

Selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Litigation—Securities (Greensboro "Lawyer of the Year" 2014, 2020, 2023), Antitrust Litigation (Greensboro "Lawyer of the Year" 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024), Bet-the-Company Litigation (Greensboro "Lawyer of the Year" 2017), Banking and Finance Litigation (Greensboro "Lawyer of the Year" 2022), Commercial Litigation (2007-2024) and Antitrust Law (2009-2024)

Recognized as a North Carolina Lawyers Weekly "Leader in the Law" (2022)

Named one of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly's "Women of Justice" (2019)

Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) in Business Litigation (2010-2024); Top 50 Women Lawyers (2012-2022, 2024); Top 10 (2022); Top 100 (2012, 2014-2019, 2021, 2023); “Rising Star” (2009)

Named one of Triad Business Journal's "Outstanding Women in Business" (2016)

Recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition for Business Litigation (2015)

Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Antitrust Litigation (2008-2023)

Recognized by her peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" in Antitrust Law (2010), Litigation (2018, 2020-2021, 2023-2024), Appellate (2021) and Young Guns (2008); also permanently recognized in the "Legal Elite Hall of Fame" for Antitrust Law

Recognized in Benchmark Litigation as a “Rising Star” (2011-2014), a "Future Star" (2015, 2017), a "Local Litigation Star" in Competition/Antitrust (2017-2023) and Top 250 Women in Litigation (2015-2023)

Education

Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., 1994, magna cum laude; Managing Editor, Wake Forest Law Review, 1993-94

Duke University, B.S., 1991

Admissions

North Carolina

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

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

Newsroom

News

Professional & Civic

Professional & Civic Activities

Member, North Carolina State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners (2019-present)

Chair, Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section, North Carolina Bar Association (2010-2011)

Permanent Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference

Chair, North Carolina Business Court Rules Committee

Member, Litigation and Antitrust Sections, North Carolina Bar Association

Member, Antitrust Section, American Bar Association

Member, Board of Directors, BackPack Beginnings (2012-present)

President (July 2021-present), Board of Directors (2014-present), Joseph Branch Inn of Court

Member, Board of Directors, Presbyterian Counseling Center (2014)

Member, Session, Westminster Presbyterian Church (2013) (2023)

About Me

As a partner at Brooks Pierce and a mom of three very active kids, I am always thinking and I am always solving problems. I think that being a mom makes me a better lawyer. I have a “get it done” approach – I am there when my clients need me and I am there when my family needs me.
 
When it comes to my practice, I thrive in cases that involve complicated legal theories. I work to understand deeply my clients’ problems and to find unique solutions that others may not find. Outside of Brooks Pierce, I am an avid runner and enjoy running with friends all over Greensboro. I serve on the board of directors for BackPack Beginnings and the Joseph Branch Inn of Court, and am active at church and at my kids’ schools.

  • 20
    20 miles (average) run each week
  • 3,000
    3,000 swim meets, soccer games, and baseball games attended (maybe an exaggeration; maybe not)
  • 1
    1 book a day on an ideal vacation
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