Graham Whittington
- Raleigh
- t: 919.573.6225
- f: 336.232.9225
- gwhittington@brookspierce.com
Overview
Graham Whittington represents businesses and individuals in all levels of state and federal courts. He leverages his experience as a federal law clerk to inform his case strategy and assist clients in all stages of litigation. Graham has obtained favorable results in a wide variety of matters at the trial and appellate levels, including corporate lawsuits, environmental litigation, tort disputes, and class actions. Apart from his litigation practice, Graham also provides general corporate counsel to small businesses.
My Practices
Graham draws on his experience as a federal law clerk to advise clients throughout the course of litigation. He works with clients to develop a tailored, effective approach to resolving disputes.
Graham counsels both plaintiffs and defendants in matters ranging from complex business and contract litigation to tort disputes to environmental lawsuits. His experience includes briefing and arguing before appellate courts, the North Carolina Business Court, federal district courts, and state trial courts.
Graham handles appeals. He briefed and argued a case before the North Carolina Court of Appeals that led to a published opinion in which the appellate court unanimously reversed the trial court’s dismissal of a client’s lawsuit. He has also drafted numerous other petitions, motions, and briefs before the North Carolina Supreme Court and North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Beyond his litigation practice, Graham provides corporate counsel to businesses. He represents two semi-professional sports teams as outside general counsel, advising on an array of legal issues ranging from contract drafting and negotiation to corporate governance matters.
Experience
Complex Civil Litigation:
- Briefed a motion to dismiss in a contract dispute before the North Carolina Business Court that swayed the plaintiff to drop its case entirely before even responding.
- Helped achieve summary judgment for a private university in a federal wrongful death lawsuit.
- Helped obtain enforcement of a settlement agreement in an intracorporate lawsuit before the North Carolina Business Court.
- Assisted with discovery and briefing in a federal lawsuit in which the firm client won summary judgment on most issues, leading to a favorable settlement.
- Drafted successful summary judgment briefs before a federal district court in a franchise dispute.
- Aided the Governor of North Carolina in constitutional litigation, as well as lawsuits and other legal issues arising from COVID-19-related shutdowns and policies.
- Defended regional banks in “insufficient funds fees” class action lawsuits before the North Carolina Business Court. One case ended in a favorable settlement after the motion to dismiss was briefed. The other ended in the plaintiff’s voluntary dismissal after negotiations.
- Represent water providers in litigation and settlement collection related to PFAS contamination.
Appellate:
- Briefed and argued a case before the North Carolina Court of Appeals that resulted in a published opinion reversing the trial court’s dismissal of a client’s lawsuit.
- Briefed motions and petitions convincing the North Carolina Court of Appeals to consider an interlocutory appeal of discovery orders.
- Wrote a brief resulting in a published opinion reversing the trial court’s discovery order and vacating related sanctions against a client.
- Represented a public university in a successful appeal regarding tuition reimbursement issues stemming from the pandemic.
Credentials
Clerkships
Law Clerk to the Honorable Steve C. Jones, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia (2020-2022)
Honors & Recognitions
Inducted into the James E. and Carolyn B. Davis Society, University of North Carolina School of Law (2019)
Awarded the North Carolina Law Review’s Joyner Award for most outstanding staff writing submission (2019)
Member, North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society (2023)
Education
University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D., 2019, with high honors; Order of the Coif; Comments Editor, North Carolina Law Review, 2018-2019
Davidson College, B.A., 2014, cum laude
Admissions
North Carolina
US District Court - North Carolina
Middle District
Eastern District
Newsroom
News
Publications
Author, Ultimate Discrimination?: Sunday Play, Sports Schedules, and Evaluating the Effectiveness of Anti-Discrimination Laws, 97 N.C. L. Rev. 933 (2019)
Professional & Civic
Professional & Civic Activities
Member, Board of Directors, Triangle Ultimate (2025)
Attorney Projects Coordinator, UNC School of Law Pro Bono Program (2017-2019)
Name Change Clinic Coordinator, UNC School of Law Lambda Law Students Association (2017-2019)