Fred focuses his civil litigation practice on representing individuals and companies involved in complex business disputes. Fred’s trial experience, when coupled with his educational background in the areas of finance and accounting, provide him with a distinctive ability to counsel clients on business litigation issues. Fred is uniquely qualified to assist individuals and businesses involved in complex disputes in areas such as: derivative actions, dissolutions, waste of assets, minority shareholder rights, controlling shareholder obligations, dissenting shareholder rights, officers’ and directors’ liability, executive compensation, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, employee stock ownership plans, business valuation issues, financial products, estates and trusts and severe bodily injury. In addition, Fred has represented investors in arbitrations before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and has given continuing legal education lectures to other lawyers in that practice area. Fred is a member of the Public Investor Bar Arbitration Association (“PIABA”). He also represents licensed brokers who are either embroiled in employment disputes in which they were denied compensation or were the victims of false accusations. Fred’s clients have ranged from large institutions, such as a public university, to businesses and individuals. Fred is also a certified mediator. The North Carolina Business Court for Complex Cases has appointed Fred to serve as a mediator and has found him qualified to serve in the capacity as a receiver in complex business cases. As a first chair lawyer, Fred has successfully prosecuted and defended many cases in trials before judges, juries, and arbitration panels.