 Practices
 Industries
|
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.
 Career Highlights
- 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"
 News
 Publications
|
 Education
- Clemson University
- North Carolina State University, B.A. with high honors, 1972
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., 1975
 Bar & Court Admissions
- North Carolina
- Federal District Court for Eastern District of NC
- 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals
- US Supreme Court
|