Kearns Davis

Kearns founded the firm's white-collar defense and investigations practice in 2007. Among his most notable cases, Kearns represented a Division I coach in Operation Varsity Blues, the nationwide college-admissions investigation, obtaining for his client the government's only agreement in those cases to dismiss all charges against a defendant. He successfully defended a former member of Congress against bribery and false statement charges. He won not guilty verdicts on all counts for a business owner indicted for mail fraud, money laundering, theft of government property, and obstruction. And he persuaded authorities to dismiss without publicity a false accusation against a Hall of Fame professional athlete.

Among other honors and awards, Kearns is listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers Top 10 attorneys across all practice areas (Thomson Reuters, 2016-2023), The Best Lawyers in America© in White-Collar Criminal Defense (2010-2023), and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations (Band 1) (2012-22). Best Lawyers has repeatedly named him "Lawyer of the Year" for Greensboro in White-Collar Criminal Defense (2013, 2016, 2018 & 2020), and his peers elected him in 2020 to permanent membership in Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite Hall of Fame” for Criminal Defense (2020). Benchmark Litigation has recognized him as a "Litigation Star" for North Carolina in White-Collar Crime each year since 2015. In 2024, the North Carolina Bar Association Criminal Justice Section honored Kearns with the Wade M. Smith Award, which it presents to just one criminal defense lawyer each year.

"[Kearns Davis] is a wonderfully disciplined trial lawyer and is extremely methodical in his approach. He is an extremely bright person with good instincts."
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business

The investigation phase is when companies and individuals have the greatest opportunity to shape the course of a matter, develop the facts and issues, and pursue an outcome that protects a client's interests and reputation. Kearns regularly represents businesses and professionals in government and criminal investigations related to health care, real estate, tax evasion, environmental issues, bank fraud, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud, public corruption, insider trading and securities, money laundering, mail fraud, wire fraud, false statements, immigration, federal benefits, computer crimes, embezzlement, false pretenses, identity theft, conspiracy, professional licensing, and other matters. He also conducts internal investigations on behalf of business, higher education, and other organizations.

Among other honors and awards, Kearns is listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers Top 10 attorneys across all practice areas (Thomson Reuters, 2016-2023), The Best Lawyers in America© in White-Collar Criminal Defense (2010-2023), and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations (Band 1) (2012-22). Best Lawyers has repeatedly named him "Lawyer of the Year" for Greensboro in White-Collar Criminal Defense (2013, 2016, 2018 & 2020), and his peers elected him in 2020 to permanent membership in Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite Hall of Fame” for Criminal Defense. Benchmark Litigation has recognized him as a "Litigation Star" for North Carolina in White-Collar Crime each year since 2015.

"[Kearns Davis] is the ultimate professional. His vast experience combined with his ability to dissect even the most complicated situations into understandable real world language is invaluable." - Best Lawyers^®

Kearns has deep, broad experience in federal litigation and federal courts. He began his legal career as a law clerk to Chief Judge Sam J. Ervin, III of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, later served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, and in private practice handles cases in federal courts across North Carolina and the United States. In an era when federal trials are increasingly rare, fewer attorneys have the courtroom experience that can make the difference in successful litigation or negotiation of a federal case. Kearns is the rare lawyer whose federal trial experience not only is extensive, but includes both civil and criminal jury trials. He also has handled dozens of appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 2nd, 4th, and 9th Circuits.

Kearns repeatedly has been named among the North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) "Top 10" attorneys across all practice areas (2016-2023), and selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation (2010-2023). He was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© as its 2015 “Lawyer of the Year” for Greensboro in Bet-the-Company Litigation.

"[Kearns Davis] is a remarkable and very capable lawyer with a stellar statewide reputation." - Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business

Businesses, their leaders, and their lawyers look to Kearns to represent them when the stakes are high. He has represented publicly traded corporations, privately held companies, financial institutions, small businesses, healthcare entities, municipalities, educational institutions, individuals, and the United States government in a myriad of matters including fraud, qui tam/whistleblower litigation, class-action defense, unfair trade practices, antitrust, shareholder disputes, breach of contract, environmental, real estate, construction, labor and employment, tax, intellectual property, transportation, and consumer protection. He regularly appears in business cases in federal courts, the North Carolina Business Court, other state courts, and arbitration proceedings.

Kearns repeatedly has been named among the North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) "Top 10" attorneys across all practice areas (2016-2023), and selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation (2010-2023). He was recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© as its 2015 "Lawyer of the Year" for Greensboro in Bet-the-Company Litigation.

"Kearns is absolutely fantastic. He is a zealous advocate for his clients and a true professional." - Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business