Grainger Pierce

C. Grainger Pierce, Jr. practices in the firm’s Employment and Labor Law group.

Mr. Pierce's experience includes employment litigation, employment policy and compliance assessment, ERISA litigation, insurance coverage litigation, commercial litigation, and construction litigation. In addition, Mr. Pierce has successfully represented clients before the North Carolina Supreme Court and North Carolina Court of Appeals.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Duke University and his law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill. He has also served as an instructor in the Duke University and University of North Carolina - Charlotte paralegal programs.

• Named among North Carolina's "Legal Elite" by Business North Carolina for 2010
• 2010 North Carolina Super Lawyers® "Rising Star"

• "To Google or not to Google? That is the question"
  Nexsen Pruet Employment and Labor Law attorney Grainger Pierce tells the Traid Business Journal about the dangers of doing on-line searches to find out about job candidates.
• Nexsen Pruet Moves into New Space in Charlotte
  The firm’s new offices will be located on the 15th floor of the Carillon Building. That’s on the corner of Trade and Poplar Streets.
• "Nexsen Pruet makes uptown office move"
  The Friday, April 23rd edition of the Charlotte Business Journal features an article entitled "Nexsen Pruet makes uptown office move."
• Charlotte and Greensboro Attorneys Recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers®
  Nine attorneys from the Charlotte and Greensboro offices of Nexsen Pruet have been named to the 2010 list of North Carolina Super Lawyers®. Four more attorneys are named as “North Carolina Rising Stars.”
• Two Nexsen Pruet Attorneys Top “Legal Elite” List; Five Recognized By Business North Carolina Magazine
  Five Nexsen Pruet attorneys have been listed in Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite.” The listings appear in magazine’s January 2010 issue.
• "Sick leave, unionization among key legislative issues to monitor"
  Nexsen Pruet special counsel Grainger Pierce is cited as a source for an article in The Triad Business Journal's Benefits Edge entitled "Sick leave unionization among key legislative issues to monitor."
• Grainger Pierce, Jr. Quoted about ADA Changes
  Nexsen Pruet Employment and Labor Law attorney Grainger Pierce Jr. is quoted in the latest edition of the Triad Business Journal.
• Grainger Pierce Joins Nexsen Pruet's Employment and Labor Law Group
  C. Grainger Pierce, Jr. has joined Nexsen Pruet in the Charlotte office and will serve as Special Counsel in the firm’s Employment and Labor Law group.

• Employment Law Update - August 2010 Supplemental
  Part one of a two-part OSHA Update describing what employers can do to prepare for an inspection conducted by South Carolina OSHA.
• Employment Law Update - August 2010
  This edition of the newsletter summarizes a Fact Sheet issued by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) setting out the agency's view of unpaid internships.
• Employment Law Update - June 2010
  This edition reviews a recent decision by the Fourth Circuit federal appeals court examining who is a "supervisor" for purposes of holding a company liable for sexual harassment conduct by a supervisor.
• Employment Law Update - May 2010
  On March 30, 2010, Governor Sanford signed legislation restructuring, and renaming, the South Carolina Employment Security Commission, and amending the state's employment security law. This month's update describes some of the changes that have taken place at the agency and in the benefits claims process.
• Employment Law Update - April 2010
  Employer wins ADA suit brought by medical intern who could not perform the essential functions of his job with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Employment Law Alert: The HIRE Act and FICA Taxation of Severance Benefits
  Hiring for the HIRE Act: Federal Legislation Offers Substantial Incentives for Bringing on New Workers and Important New Development Affecting FICA Taxation of Severance Benefits
• Employment Law Update - March 2010
  This edition describes new audit initiatives by the IRS and DOL that focus on potential misclassification of workers as independent contractors when they are, in fact, employees, as well as potential misclassification of employees as exempt from wage and hour laws when they do not meet the requirements for exempt status.
• Employment Law Update - February 2010
  This month's Employment Law Update addresses some of the legal risks associated with employee use of blackberries and cell phones after work hours or while driving.
• Employment Law Update - January 2010
  As the new year gets underway, the January edition of the Update discusses four resolutions employers will want to consider.
• Employment and Labor Law: 2009 Rewind
  As we approach the end of 2009, we look back, scratch our heads, and ask, "What Happened"?

  Topics covered include:

  • ADA protections expanded
  • Immigration requirements and inspections increased
  • Miltary leave broadened
  • EEO poster revised
  • Other important legal changes this year
• Employment Law Update - December 2009
  This edition addresses employment law issues arising from employee and employer use of online social networking sites.
• Employment Law Update - October 2009
  This edition focuses on the EEOC's recent publication that addresses waivers of discrimination claims in employee severance agreements; the EEOC reminds employers and employees about requirements for valid and enforceable releases, especially when the releases are for employees age 40 and older.
• Employment Law Update - August 2009
  This edition focuses on three Department of Labor opinion letters that address how cost-cutting strategies like mandatory furloughs and reduced workweeks may affect an employee's exempt status under the Fair Labor Standards Act. It also updates pending North Carolina legislation that, if passed, would require private sector employers to use E-Verify to check the legal status of new hires.
• Employment Law Update - July 2009
  This edition discusses the U.S. Supreme Court’s Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc. decision, which recognized a more stringent standard of proof for employees bringing claims under the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). According to the Court, a plaintiff asserting a disparate-treatment claim under the ADEA must prove that age was the “but-for” cause of an adverse employment action, as opposed to a mere “motivating factor.”
• Employment Law Update - June 2009 Supplemental
  Starting July 1, 2009, private employers in South Carolina with 100 or more employees must comply with the employment verification requirements of the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act.
• Employment Law Update - June 2009
  This edition focuses on recent court decisions striking down restrictive covenants for being overly broad and highlights the need to narrowly tailor non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
• Employment Law Update - May 2009
  This edition explains why many employers are seeking privileged legal compliance reviews of their compensation practices and documentation in the aftermath of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

  A brief video update on immigration compliance developments is available by clicking here. Then, click on the video entitled "Immigration."

• Fiduciary Duty Newsletter - April 2009
  The Nexsen Pruet Fiduciary Duty & Trade Secret Newsletter deals with topics of current interest in these two areas of the law that are critical to businesses and the people who manage, own, and direct businesses.
• Employment Law Update - October 2008
  This edition summarizes the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), which expands the protections against discrimination based on disability included in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADAAA in effect overrules U.S. Supreme Court decisions that narrowly interpreted the ADA.

• Employment and Labor Law Webinar: 2009 Rewind
• Employment Law Quarterly Breakfast Briefings
• Webinar: Immigration Compliance & Enforcement Update
• "Hot Topics in Employment Law"
• Leave or Left - FMLA and Unemployment Benefits
• Starting Off Right: Helpful Tips for Interviewing and Hiring