Ernest C. Pearson

Ernest C. Pearson practices in the Banking and Finance Group, focusing on areas that include corporate law, international law, public finance, commercial real estate, and economic development.

From 1989 to 1993, Mr. Pearson served as Assistant Secretary of Economic Development for the North Carolina Department of Commerce. In this position, he managed programs dealing with business and industry recruitment, international trade development, finance packages supporting new and expanded facilities, travel and tourism promotion, and small business development.

In each of his four years with the department, the agency was recognized as the top state recruitment program in the country. During that period, North Carolina led the nation in recruiting larges industries three times and twice led in recruiting international companies and R&D facilities.

After leaving government, Mr. Pearson joined Sanford Holshouser LLP, where he focused his practice on legal matters dealing with economic development and site selection, including public finance, incentives, nonprofit organizations, and public-private partnerships. He is especially well suited to work with companies considering new business locations, expansions, restructuring financing, and international business dealings.

At the firm, he was a founder of The Sanford Holshouser Business
Development Group, an economic development group which has handled numerous economic development consulting assignments in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Florida and Minnesota.

Mr. Pearson began his legal career in 1975 when he served as Director of Special Projects in the North Carolina Department of Transportation.  Following service from 1977 to 1981 as a Judge Advocate in the United States Army, he returned to civilian life as a general practice attorney. In 1987, he accepted an appointment as chairman of the North Carolina Industrial Commission, serving as the chief judicial officer and manager of the agency that adjudicates workers compensation claims and tort claims against the state.

He is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and has served on various public and private sector boards. These include:

• President and member of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina State University School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Foundation
• Advisory Board for the Fuquay School of Business Center for International Education and Research
• Board of Directors of the N. C. Economic Developers Association
• Board of Directors of Triangle Growth Strategies
• Vice Chairman of the Wake County Economic Development Commission
• Board of Directors Chairman of Disciple Bible Outreach Ministries, Inc.

• North Carolina Department of Transportation – Director of Special Projects (1975-1977)
• North Carolina Industrial Commission – Chairman (1987-1989)
• North Carolina Department of Commerce - Assistant Secretary of
• Economic Development (1989-1993)
• Recipient of Order of the Long Leaf Pine
• Founder of The Sanford Holshouser Business Development Group
• Former Chairman - North Carolina Industrial Commission
• President - Board of Directors for the North Carolina State University School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Foundation
• Advisory Board - Fuquay School of Business Center for International
• Education and Research
• Board - N. C. Economic Developers Association
• Board - Directors of Triangle Growth Strategies
• Vice Chairman - Wake County Economic Development Commission
• Recipient of NC Economic Developers Association’s President’s Award for representation of Association before the NC Supreme Court in Maready v. Forsythe County, landmark lawsuit over recruitment incentives
• Selected by Southern Business & Development magazine in Spring of 2008 issue as one of the top thirteen economic development lawyers in eighteen southern states
• Only firm listed for both North and South Carolina in Southern Business & Development magazine's 2009 "Trade Allies Directory"

• "Nexsen Pruet signs lease with Highwoods, looks to hire"
  The Triangle Business Journal reports on Nexsen Pruet's upcoming move in Raleigh.
• Ernie Pearson Elected to Board of the North Carolina Economic Developers Association
  Pearson is the managing member of the firm’s Raleigh office.
• Nexsen Pruet Elects Three New Members
  Nexsen Pruet announced today that Tushar Chikhliker, Suzi Grigg and Ernie Pearson have been elected Members (partners) of the firm.
• "Multi-County Economic Partnership Dream Comes to Fruition at Triangle North"
  Southern Business and Development's 2010 Small Town South Edition features an article written by Nexsen Pruet attorney Ernie Pearson entitled "Multi-County Economic Partnership Dream Comes to Fruition at Triangle North."
• Nexsen Pruet: Only Law Firm Listed for North and South Carolina in "Trade Allies" Directory
  The new edition of Southern Business & Development magazine features the "1st Annual Trade Allies Directory." Nexsen Pruet is the only law firm listed in both North and South Carolina.
• "Global Manufacturer to Expand in Eden, Relocate Headquarters to Cary"
  North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue has announced that Nexsen Pruet client Loparex LLC will expand its manufacturing operation in Eden and relocate its U.S. headquarters from a Chicago suburb to Cary.
• "Altman Weil: Law firm mergers jump 33%"
  The Triangle Business Journal reports that the "marriage of Cary’s Sanford Holshouser and Columbia, S.C.-based Nexsen Pruet" is one of many deals that has led to a significant jump in law firm mergers during the first quarter of 2009.
• "Tar Heel law firm joining S.C. firm"
  The January 5th, 2009 edition of the Raleigh News and Observer reports on Nexsen Pruet's new North Carolina office in an article called "Tar Heel law firm joining S.C. firm."
• Nexsen Pruet Opens Raleigh Office; Ernie Pearson & Former Governor Holshouser Join Firm
  Nexsen Pruet today announced the opening of a Raleigh office that will include Ernie Pearson, former Assistant Secretary of Economic Development for the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and former Governor Jim Holshouser.

• Multi-County Economic Partnership Dream Comes to Fruition at Triangle North
  Southern Business and Development's 2010 Small Town South Edition features an article written by Nexsen Pruet attorney Ernie Pearson entitled "Multi-County Economic Partnership Dream Comes to Fruition at Triangle North."
• Trade Allies Directory
  The new edition of Southern Business & Development magazine features the "1st Annual Trade Allies Directory." Nexsen Pruet is the only law firm listed in both North and South Carolina. What's more, Sanford Holshouser, the firm Nexsen Pruet joined forces with in January, also made the list in North Carolina.
• 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."

• Legal Authority for Local Government Incentives
  The following memorandum of law was prepared for a County in North Carolina which requested a memorandum outlining in some detail the legal and constitutional authority for local governments to provide incentives to recruit industrial facilities. The name of the County has been deleted for confidentiality purposes.
• Legal Authority for Multijurisdictional Industrial Park Projects
  The following memorandum was prepared at the request of the County Attorneys, whose clients were in the early stages of considering a multijurisdictional industrial park project. The names of the counties and the project have been deleted for confidentiality purposes.
• Building Inspections of Industrial Machinery - Building Code Council Order
  North Carolina is apparently unique among states, with which it regularly competes in economic development projects, by requiring that industrial machinery be subject to building code inspections.
• Economic Development Financing Tools
  This paper gives an overview of relevant considerations and possible financing structures for a local economic development program to finance the acquisition and development of an industrial/business park on its own, or in conjunction with other local governments through a multi-jurisdictional industrial park arrangement.
• Local Government Incentives in North Carolina
  This report gives an overview of the history of local government incentives in North Carolina.
• Building Inspections of Industrial Machinery - Trial Brief
  North Carolina is apparently unique among states, with which it regularly competes in economic development projects, by requiring that industrial machinery be subject to building code inspections.