Overview

Jill is an experienced employment law counselor, litigator and appellate advocate. She helps clients prevent and defend employment-related claims.

Jill represents employers in proceedings before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. Her litigation experience includes defending claims involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation, wage and hour violations, and employee leave issues, as well as representing employers in contract disputes regarding employment agreements and restrictive covenants.

Jill devotes a substantial portion of her practice to appellate advocacy. She regularly appears before federal and state appellate courts and advises clients on employment-related appeals. She co-chairs the firm’s Appellate Practice Group.

She also advises employers on thorny personnel matters to ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations. Jill’s experience includes counseling on individual employment decisions, developing employment policies and training programs, and assisting employers with workforce reductions. She regularly presents and publishes for human resources and in-house counsel audiences.

Honors & Recognitions

  • Chambers USA Guide® (2024)
  • 40 Under 40 Award, Triad Business Journal (2005)
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law – Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2005-2022, 2024-2025)
  • Recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" for Employment Law - Management in Greensboro, NC in The Best Lawyers in America® (2018-2021)
  • Labor & Employment Star by Benchmark Litigation (2019)
  • Legal Elite, Employment Law, Business North Carolina (2013-2018, 2023, 2024)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers® (2010-2024)
  • Top 100: North Carolina Super Lawyers® (2015-2021)
  • Top 50: Women North Carolina Super Lawyers® (2013-2021)
  • Top Lawyer for Trial/Litigation, Triad Business Leader (2008)

Professional & Civic Associations

  • American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
  • DRI—Lawyers Representing Business, Employment and Labor Law Committee and Appellate Advocacy Committee
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section
  • Camel City Jazz Orchestra, Co-Founder/Board of Directors (2012–Present)
  • Piedmont Opera, Board of Directors (2011–2017 and 2018–2024)
  • Leadership Winston-Salem (2015)

Press Room

About Me

Jill enjoys reading, hiking, traveling and all types of live music.

Representative Matters

Representative Matters

  • EEOC v. Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2015). Represented national law firm in lawsuit by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission involving claims of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Obtained favorable summary judgment ruling, which was upheld by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as monetary sanctions against the EEOC for spoliation of evidence.
  • National Retail Furniture Company, U.S. District Court for Western District of North Carolina (2011). Represented retail furniture company in multi-plaintiff lawsuit involving claims of sexual harassment, retaliation and constructive discharge. Obtained dismissal of all of the plaintiff’s state law claims, along with the Title VII claims of retaliation and constructive discharge, on summary judgment. Tried hostile work environment claims to favorable defense jury verdict.

 

News & Analysis

Speaking Engagements & Industry Publications

  • “The Role of Subject Matter Experts in Appeals,” Certworthy, DRI Appellate Advocacy Committee, August 2021
  • "Pay Equity Initiatives at the State and Local Level," For the Defense, DRI—Lawyers Representing Business, March 2020
  • "Basics of Litigating Employment Cases," presented at NCBA Labor & Employment Law Section's 2020 Fundamentals of Employment Law Seminar, February 2020 
  • "Pay Equity: New Developments and Best Practices," presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of DRI— Lawyers Representing Business, October 2019
  • “Basics of Litigating Employment Cases,” presented at the North Carolina Bar Association’s Fundamentals of Employment Law seminar, February 2018
  • “Labor and Employment Law Changes All Corporate Counsel Need to Know,” presented at the North Carolina Bar Association Corporate Counsel Action Annual Meeting, January 2016
  • “The Employment Litigation Defense Playbook—Winning Pretrial Strategies,” presented for DRI Employment and Labor Law Committee Webcast Series, July 2015
  • “Bringing It All Back Home—A Panel Discussion,” presented at DRI Sexual Torts Seminar, November 2013
  • “Social Media: Employer Nightmare?,” presented at DRI Employment and Labor Law Seminar, May 2012
  • “Let’s Talk: Properly Classifying Employees Under the FLSA,” presented at DRI Corporate Counsel Committee’s Teleconference Series, May 2012
  • “The Use of Demonstrative Evidence,” Employment Law Trial Tactics, The DRI Defense Library Series, January 2010
  • “Whistleblower Protections for DoD Contractors,” Law 360, December 2009
  • “4th Circuit: Employer Unlawfully Withdrew Union Recognition,” SHRM Online, March 2008
  • “Virginia CFO Prevails in Early Sarbanes-Oxley Whistleblower Claim,” Business Lawyer, NCBA Corporate Counsel Section, March 2004
  • “Seeking Some Repose:  Limitations on Title VII Claims After Morgan,” For The Defense, DRI— Lawyers Representing Business, October 2002
  • “Torn Between Two Clients: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest When Representing Employers and Their Insurers,” Employment Rights and Responsibilities, ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Fall 2000
  • “New Approaches to Harassment Claims,” The Federal Lawyer, Federal Bar Association, August 2000

Blogs, Videos & Podcasts

Blog Posts

  • "All generalities are false, including this one."
  • Mark Twain

Practice Emphasis

  • Employment Litigation Prevention and Defense
  • Employment Policy Formulation and Advice
  • Employment Law Training
  • Counseling and Advice Regarding FMLA and Other Employee Leave Issues

Education

Wake Forest University School of Law

  • J.D., 1993

St. Andrews Presbyterian College

  • B.A., English, cum laude, with honors, 1990

Bar & Court Admissions

  • North Carolina, 1993
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Back to Page