Jacqueline Y. Ferrell

With over 20 years of experience, Jacqueline focuses her practice on employment litigation and counseling. She represents clients in a wide range of employment issues, including discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and harassment in federal and state courts on behalf of both unionized and non-unionized companies. She has defended employers against ERISA denial of benefits and breach of fiduciary duty claims.

In addition to litigation, Jacqueline helps her clients navigate the employment law challenges of operating in all 50 states. She regularly advises her clients on the investigation, discipline, and termination of employees; attendance and leave issues under the FMLA, ADA, workers’ compensation and state leave laws; wage and hour compliance; harassment, discrimination, and retaliation complaints; employment and independent contractor agreements; and restructurings, layoffs, and the shutdown of facilities – including advice on the WARN Act and severance issues.

Jacqueline represents clients before federal and state administrative agencies, including the EEOC, U.S. Department of Labor, NLRB, and similar state and local agencies.

Prior to joining the firm, Jacqueline practiced with O’Hagan Meyer PLLC and Winston & Strawn LLP in Charlotte. Jacqueline also served as in-house counsel at Duke Energy, where she provided strategic legal guidance and support on all aspects of labor and employment law to human resources and management clients in various areas of the organization. In addition, she advised on traditional labor-management relations issues and helped maintain positive relations with unions and their members, as well as defended the company against grievances and arbitrations with the labor unions. Jacqueline also practiced at Hunton & Williams LLP (now Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP).

Notable

• North Carolina Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars," Employment and Labor, 2011-2013
• Volunteer Attorney, Custody Advocacy Program, Council for Children’s Rights
• Mentor and Member of the Gala and Walk Committees, Western Carolina Chapter, JDRF International
• Member, Pro Bono Committee, Wills for Seniors Pro Bono Clinic
• Member, Virginia Law Review, University of Virginia

Affiliations

• North Carolina Bar Association
• Mecklenburg County Bar Association