Education
Graham is a member of Hamilton Stephens Steele + Martin’s litigation team with broad ranging experience across multiple civil litigation disciplines. Graham’s practice focuses on representing owners, contractors, and design professionals in construction disputes, plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation matters, insurance carriers in subrogation matters, and plaintiffs, individuals, and businesses injured by the negligence and tortious actions of others. Graham strives to resolve cases for clients as efficiently and as early in the dispute resolution process as possible, but he’s more than willing to litigate a case through trial and on appeal, having obtained favorable verdicts and arbitration awards on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in matters across North Carolina. Graham regularly appears before the state and federal courts sitting in North Carolina, including appearances before the North Carolina Business Court, and the American Arbitration Association and other arbitration panels.
Outside of his litigation practice, Graham collaborates with owners, contractors, and design professionals in contract drafting and negotiation matters. Leveraging his litigation background, Graham aims to preemptively address issues commonly encountered in his litigation practice, striving to prevent potential pitfalls during negotiations.
Graham attended the University of North Carolina School of Law where he earned his JD with Honors and served as the Broun National Trial Team’s Chief of Staff. With the trial team, Graham provided closing arguments for his team’s win in the 2017 San Diego Defense Lawyers Association’s mock trial competition and was voted “Best Closer” in his class by his fellow teammates. Through the UNC Civil Legal Assistance Clinic, Graham represented clients in employment law, administrative law, and landlord/tenant issues. Prior to attending law school, Graham graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in History and Political Science, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Graham grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Outside of work he enjoys hunting, fishing, target and skeet shooting, and traveling with his fiancée. He also considers it an honor to have officiated four of his closest friends’ weddings.
Experience
- After three-week trial, obtained complete defense verdict for geotechnical engineering firm in matter alleging professional negligence and negligent misrepresentation. In same matter, obtained directed verdict on negligent misrepresentation claim.
- Obtained seven-figure settlement for homeowners in matter garnering national press coverage.
- Plaintiff’s counsel for owners in numerous construction defect matters resulting in settlements in excess of repair costs.
- Defense counsel for national fire suppression equipment manufacturer, obtaining dismissal at 12(b) stage of litigation.
- Second chair plaintiff’s counsel in oral argument before the North Carolina Supreme Court.
- Represented national multi-family owner in class action resulting in complete dismissal of all claims.
- Represented business owners in defamation matters, obtaining financial settlements and retractions of defamatory statements.
- Represented general contractors and subcontractors in lien enforcement actions with the amount in dispute ranging from a few thousand dollars to eight-figure amounts.
- Resolved multiple construction disputes and commercial litigation matters through negotiation before and during trial.
- While still in law school and practicing under Student Practice Certification, obtained plaintiff’s verdict and post-verdict award of costs and attorneys’ fees for driver injured in car accident; obtained reversal of licensing board decision after board initially denied applicant’s license; obtained high six-figure settlement for injured driver; obtained high six-figure settlement in estate dispute involving multiple siblings’ claims to estate; and appeared before district courts in many family law matters — equitable distribution, child custody, etc.
