Zebulon D. Anderson

Zeb Anderson has devoted his career to the representation of private and public employers in connection with all aspects of employment-related litigation. He has represented employers in state and federal courts and before government agencies throughout North Carolina and in other jurisdictions across the country. His experience includes litigation involving employment-related statutory, as well as common law, claims arising under federal and state law and issues that arise when employees leave to join competitors, including non-compete and non-solicitation restrictions, trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference and unfair competition.

Recognition

• Business North Carolina Legal Elite, Employment (2017, 2023-2024)
• Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers, Labor & Employment (2015-2024)
• Benchmark Litigation, North Carolina Labor and Employment Star (2018-2021, 2023-2024)
• The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment (2016-2025)
  • Employment Law-Management (2018-2025)
  • Best Lawyers® 2023 Litigation - Labor and Employment "Lawyer of the Year" in Raleigh
• Super Lawyers
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers (2012-2024)
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star (2009)
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated 

Education

• University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1994
  • Editorial Board, Virginia Law Review, 1992-1994
  • Order of the Coif
• Duke University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1991

Bar & Court Admissions

• American Bar Association, Employment Section
• Defense Research Institute, Employment Law, Intellectual Property Litigation, and Diversity Committees
• North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, Employment and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups
• North Carolina Bar Association, Labor & Employment Section
• Member, Section Council
• North Carolina Bar Association, Litigation Section
• Former Member, Section Council
• Former Editor, The Litigator
• Former Treasurer
• Co-chair, Smith Anderson Lawyer Development Committee
• Member and former co-chair, Smith Anderson Diversity and Inclusion Committee
• Member and former co-chair, Smith Anderson Recruiting Committee
• Wake County Bar Association

• Since 2000, served as lead counsel in over 100 cases in various industries involving the defense of employment-related claims, including alleged discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, civil rights violations, labor standards and wage and hour violations, denial of employee benefits and workplace violence.
• Served as lead counsel in aviation industry-based class and collective action alleging violation of wage and hour laws in connection with baggage-related tip and service charge practices.
• Represented global pharmaceutical company in series of class and collective actions filed in Arizona, California and New York alleging that the company’s failure to pay its pharmaceutical sales representatives overtime for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week violated the FLSA and state law.
• Defended employer in the material handling industry that was sued in Florida state court by Fortune 100 company that claimed the employer misappropriated its trade secrets, tortiously interfered with its employee relationships and otherwise unfairly competed with it when the employer hired 19 of its at-will employees over the course of several months.
• Defended employer in the entertainment industry and a newly-hired employee who was sued in Michigan state court by a competitor who previously employed that employee and who claimed that the employee breached and the employer tortiously interfered with a non-solicitation agreement after the employee joined the employer.
• Represented multiple insurance companies in lawsuits brought in state and federal courts in North Carolina that involved allegations of non-compete and non-solicitation agreement breach by insurance agents who left one company to join a competitor.
• Represented medical device distributor in lawsuit filed in federal court in North Carolina that sought to restrain the sales activities of former sales employees who left to join a competitor, but were bound by non-solicitation agreements.
• Represented many employers in the health care, pharmaceutical, logistics/transportation and other industries in lawsuits throughout the state and federal courts in North Carolina involving allegations of non-compete and non-solicitation agreement breach, trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference and unfair competition.

• Provided advice and counseling to employers in connection with all aspects of employment law, ranging from EEO issues to non-compete agreements and trade secret protection.
• Advised a global financial services technology company on the employment-related aspects of its acquisition of a leading provider of deal analytics and valuation technology.