Norris A. Adams, II
Charlotte, North Carolina
| Phone: | (704) 377-4300 |
| Fax: | (704) 372-1357 |
| Email: | NAdams@essexrichards.com |
Additional Information:
Norris A. Adams, II was born in Columbia, South Carolina. He grew up in Columbia, Virginia Beach, Virginia, London, England, and Jacksonville, North Carolina. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC, with a double major in Government and History, and was awarded the prestigious Sarah Virginia Hackney Award. Norris received his law degree from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, where he was selected as a national member of the Order of Barristers. Before joining the firm, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Stephen C. St. John in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk, Virginia.
Norris' practice centers generally on civil litigation, with an emphasis on ERISA litigation, construction litigation, personal injury, and business litigation. He has successfully tried numerous bench and jury trials, and regularly appears in both state and federal court. He also regularly represents clients in ERISA matters at both the administrative level and in federal court, including long-term disability benefit, retirement benefit, and denial of health benefit coverage claims.
Norris is an avid sports fan and Washington Redskins season ticket holder. Norris is also a frequent traveler, having visited more than 25 countries and 35 states. His wife, Julie Adams, is also an attorney practicing in Charlotte.
Areas of Practice:
- Business Litigation
- Class Actions
- Construction Law
- Employment Law
- ERISA Litigation
- General Civil Litigation, including appeals
- Medical Malpractice
- Personal Injury
- Retirement/Disability/Healthcare Litigation
- 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
- North Carolina, 2004
- U.S. Court of Appeals
- Fourth Circuit, 2008
- U.S. District Court
- Western District of North Carolina, 2004
- Middle District of North Carolina, 2006
- Eastern District of North Carolina, 2006
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court
- Western District of North Carolina, 2006
- Middle District of North Carolina, 2006
- Eastern District of North Carolina, 2006
Honors and Awards:
- The Order of the Barristers
- 2010 Business North Carolina LEGAL ELITE - Construction Law
- 2011 Business North Carolina LEGAL ELITE - Young Guns (Best Under 40)
- 2011 Business North Carolina LEGAL ELITE - Construction Law
- 2012 Business North Carolina LEGAL ELITE - Young Guns (Best Under 40)
- 2012 North Carolina SUPER LAWYERS - Rising Stars
Articles and Publications:
- "Challenging the Reliability and Import of Independent Medical Reviews in the Wake of Glenn v. MetLife," American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Health & Disability Insurance Law Committee Newsletter (Fall 2009).
- "Hang Up And Drive, Or Pay the Price," Charlotte Observer (February 19, 2009).
- "Are dependent Social Security benefits exempt from offset under the terms of your client's plan?" Essex Richards, P.A. ERISA Newsletter (Summer 2008).
- "Does 407(a) of the Social Security Act bar insurers from successfully counterclaiming for repayment of claimed offsets for Social Security benefits?" Essex Richards, P.A. ERISA Newsletter (Winter 2008).
- Regular contributor to The Cornerstone Newsletter (June 6, 2007; July 4, 2007; August 1, 2007; August 29, 2007; October 10, 2007; November 21, 2007; December 19, 2007; January 16, 2008; February 27, 2008; May 7, 2008; June 18, 2008; August 13, 2008; February 11, 2009; May 25, 2011).
- Regular contributor to Intersection Magazine (Winter 2008; Summer 2008; Fall 2008; Spring/Summer 2009; Fall 2009; Winter 2010; Fall 2010 85th Anniversary Keepsake Ed.; Winter 2011).
Education:
- Wake Forest University School of Law, 2004 J.D.
- Moot Court Executive Council
- Moot Court Entertainment Law Team (Final 4 oral argument, Top 2 written brief), New York, NY
- Chairperson Edwin M. Stanley Memorial Moot Court Competition, Winston-Salem, NC
- Trial Bar
- Legal Research & Writing Teaching Assistant
- Appellate Advocacy Teaching Assistant
- Campbell University, 2001 B.A., Double Major: Government & History
- Magna Cum Laude
- Sarah Virginia Hackney Award of Excellence (Top Government & History Student)
- Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) All-Conference Academic Team (men's tennis)
- Phi Kappa Phi
- Epsilon Pi Eta Honor Society (Character, Leadership, & Scholarship); Alpha Phi Sigma (National Honor Society for Criminal Justice); Pi Gamma Mu (International Honor Society in the Social Sciences); Alpha Iota Alpha chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (International History Honor Society); Presidential Scholars Honor Society
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Business Section Member
- Civil Litigation Section Member
- Sports & Entertainment Law Section Member
- Mecklenburg County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division Member
- Mecklenburg County Trial Lawyers Association
- American Bar Association
- Young Lawyers Division Member
- Forum Committee on Entertainment and Sports Industry Member
- Charlotte Touchdown Club nonprofit organization Member
- Justice Bobbitt Inn of Court
- The Honorable Judge Stephen C. St. John, United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia.
- Representative Opinion: In re Thompson, 329 B.R. 145 (E.D.Va July 22, 2005).