Woody Connette has practiced law for almost 45 years. He has tried cases and appeals in federal and state courts, representing clients who have suffered catastrophic personal injuries, loss of family members by wrongful death, long-term disability benefit claims, and a wide variety of other litigation matters. He also has participated in class action litigation for more than 40 years, including consumer, employment, shareholder, and civil rights claims.

Woody is familiar with ERISA and other federal and state laws and regulations in the retirement, disability and health care areas. He has a long history of mental health and disability advocacy, ranging from individual incompetency and guardianship matters to large disability rights class actions.

While Woody is a litigator, the breadth of his experience makes him an adept counselor, assisting clients in developing strategies to attain objectives without litigation.

Through the years, he has been a frequent speaker and teacher at various continuing education programs. He has taught trial practice skills for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He has spoken on a wide range of topics for bar and community groups, including national ERISA conferences, the North Carolina and South Carolina Bar Associations, American Advocates for Justice, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and other groups. His publications include articles on trial skills such as depositions for the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section, health care advocacy for the North Carolina Medical Journal and the American Bar Association, and professionalism for the North Carolina State Bar.

Woody’s bar activities include an appointment to the Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism, service on the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association, and current service on the Board of Directors and as chair of the Development Committee for the North Carolina Bar Foundation. The North Carolina State Bar has honored Woody with its John B. McMillan Service Award. The North Carolina Bar Association has given its H. Brent McKnight Professionalism Award, and the Mecklenburg County Bar has given its Ayscue professionalism Award to Woody. He has been recognized as one of the North Carolina Legal Elite, the Best Lawyers in America, North Carolina Super Lawyers, and other listings.

Among his volunteer and community activities, Woody currently serves on the Board of Directors for Disability Rights North Carolina. In the past, he has served on the national Board of Trustees and as President for United Cerebral Palsy, based in Washington, D.C. He also has served as President of Easter Seals/UCP of North Carolina, as Executive Board Chair for the National Patient Advocate Foundation, and as Chair of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Charlotte. He has served on the boards of the Charlotte Light Factory, the Mecklenburg Medical Society’s Bioethics Resource Group, Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, Carolina Legal Assistance, The Council on Adolescent Pregnancy, and other nonprofit organizations.

Locally, he has served as an advisor with the Davidson College Medical Humanities program, and with the UNC Charlotte Center for Community and Applied Ethics.

Woody enjoys art, music, and outdoor activities.  He has climbed the highest point in all 50 states, including Denali and Mount Rainier. Among those 50 peaks, he successfully reached the highest point in Delaware (442 feet) without Sherpas or supplemental oxygen. Twenty pounds ago, in 1991, he completed the Ironman World Triathalon in Hawaii. He has completed more than twenty marathons and the 60-kilometer Kepler Challenge in New Zealand.

Woody is married to Jane Harper, a retired state court judge.