M. Daniel McGinn

For decades, Dan has been considered one of the most accomplished labor and employment lawyers in North Carolina, especially in litigation matters. He represented companies in more than 100 labor and employment civil suits in federal and state courts and in more than 150 labor arbitration hearings. He appeared in oral arguments in 15 cases before the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and also appeared before the U.S. Supreme Court.

After law school, Dan worked for the National Labor Relations Board’s regional office in Winston-Salem before coming to Brooks Pierce in 1971. He developed his practice in employment law by working alongside Thornton Brooks, who was known at the time as one of the leading employment lawyers in North Carolina. Dan was able to see the development of EEOC and civil rights regulations in real time, which shaped his understanding of the myriad implications these regulations have for employers. Dan used that understanding to counsel employers on avoiding claims of discrimination claims and unfair labor practices.

He also used his background knowledge of the NLRB to represent employers facing unfair labor practice charges brought by unions and employees. He counseled employers on union organization campaigns, union avoidance strategies, and drafting and negotiating union contracts. His experience covered a wide variety of industries, including food service, transportation, tobacco production, manufacturing, and telecommunications.

Dan has been honored multiple times for his contributions to labor and employment law. He was regularly ranked in The Best Lawyers in America©, Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and North Carolina Super Lawyers for his excellent client service. He was honored with a fellowship in the American College of Trial Lawyers. He also received the Jonathan R. Harkavy Award from the Labor and Employment Section of the North Carolina Bar Association in 2010, making him only the third lawyer to receive the award for overall contributions to labor and employment law. In 2016, the Wake Forest Law Review named its annual banquet after Dan, honoring his contributions to his alma mater and the legal profession as a whole.

Dan has been active in professional and community service during his career. He served on the Development Committee for the North Carolina Bar Foundation and as the Chair of the Labor & Employment Law Section for the North Carolina Bar Association. He also served as legal counsel and an Executive Committee member for the United Way of Greater Greensboro. Dan has been a member of the Wake Forest Law School Board of Visitors since 1999, and previously served on their Law Alumni Council.