Isaac A. Linnartz

Isaac Linnartz focuses on business litigation, employment litigation and pre-litigation dispute assessment and risk mitigation. He has represented businesses across a variety of industries in high-stakes litigation involving complex contract disputes, corporate governance issues, trade secret and confidentiality matters and various business torts. On the employment side, he represents employers defending against claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination and wage and hour violations. Additionally, Isaac assists with drafting, assessing and litigating non-compete, non-solicit and confidentiality agreements, including assessing enforceability and litigating requests for emergency injunctive relief and damages.

Recognition

• North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star (2014-2022)
• The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Commercial Litigation (2024-2025)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024-2025)
• Benchmark Litigation
  • 40 & Under List (2018-2023)
  • North Carolina Future Star (2024-2025)
  • North Carolina Labor and Employment Star (2019-2021, 2023-2024)
• Selected, North Carolina Bar Association's Leadership Academy, Class of 2016
• Executive Editor, Duke Law Journal

Clerkships

• Law Clerk to Chief Judge David B. Sentelle of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington, DC.

Education

• Duke University, J.D., cum laude, 2009
  • Order of the Coif
• Duke University Divinity School, Master of Theological Studies, summa cum laude, 2009
• Duke University, B.A., History, 2004

Bar & Court Admissions

• North Carolina Bar Association
• Wake County Bar Association
• North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
  • Member, Board of Directors (2021-2024)
  • Chair, Ethics Committee (2019-2021)
  • Chair, Commercial Litigation Practice Group (2016-2017)
  • Vice Chair, Commercial Litigation Practice Group (2015-2016)

Business Litigation

• Represented an electric aerospace company in dispute with prototype airframe supplier that claimed exclusive rights to participate in aircraft development and manufacturing program and sought hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. We filed counterclaims, obtained a temporary restraining order requiring return of our client’s intellectual property, and obtained a declaratory judgment establishing that our client properly terminated the underlying contract and the supplier had no further right to participate in the program. The matter was ultimately resolved without any payment by our client.
• Represented one of the nation’s largest public utilities in complex contract litigation involving a long-term supply contract. Obtained a favorable judgment on an important remedies provision of the agreement after a bench trial in the North Carolina Business Court.
• Represented an internet marketing company in bringing trade secret and breach of contract claims against public company for misappropriating trade secrets and misusing confidential information obtained during due diligence for a potential business transaction. Obtained preliminary and permanent injunctions barring the defendant from using our client’s confidential information or engaging in wrongful competition.
• Represented a publisher of telephone directories in a breach of contract case against a national telecommunications company. After a bench trial, the Court ruled in our client’s favor on all issues, issued a declaratory judgment that saved the client over $100 million, and awarded over $1.2 million in attorneys’ fees.
• Defended a bank in numerous consumer class action lawsuits around the country alleging that the bank facilitated improper lending practices.
• Represented a company and its directors and officers in defense of shareholder derivative claims filed under “say on pay” provisions of Dodd-Frank Act. Obtained dismissal of all claims in federal court.
• Defended a soft drink bottler against claims for breach of an alleged long-term requirements contract brought by cooperative of soft drink bottlers. The case was resolved by confidential settlement after a week-long trial in federal court in South Carolina.

 Employment Litigation

• Defended a law firm and its former managing partner against discrimination claims asserted by a former equity partner in federal court. The trial court’s decision dismissing the complaint was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in a unanimous published opinion following oral argument.
• Defended a public utility company against whistleblower retaliation, retaliatory discharge, wrongful discharge, and wage and hour claims brought by former employee. Obtained summary judgment in federal court that was affirmed on appeal by the Fourth Circuit.
• Defended a public utility company against sex discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims brought by former employee. Obtained summary judgment in federal court that was affirmed on appeal by the Fourth Circuit.
• Defended a military contractor against race, national origin, and disability discrimination claims and retaliation claims brought by two former employees and obtained summary judgment in federal court.
• Defended a global provider of biopharmaceutical development services and commercial outsourcing services against sex and national origin discrimination claims brought by former pharmaceutical sales representative. The matter was favorably resolved by confidential settlement agreement.
• Defended a global provider of biopharmaceutical development services and commercial outsourcing services against national origin and pregnancy discrimination claims brought by former pharmaceutical sales representative. Obtained summary judgment in federal court in Florida.
• Defended a global provider of biopharmaceutical development services and commercial outsourcing services and supervisor against sex discrimination, disability discrimination, FMLA non-compliance, and FMLA retaliation claims brought by former pharmaceutical sales representative. The matter was mediated and favorably resolved by confidential settlement.
• Defended a community college against religious discrimination claim brought under Title VII and obtained dismissal with prejudice.
• Defended a public telecommunications company against claims of racial discrimination and retaliation brought by a former employee in federal court. Obtained dismissal with prejudice by showing through discovery that plaintiff made false representations to the court in applications to proceed in forma pauperis.
• Represented a global pharmaceutical, vaccines, and consumer health company in putative collective and class actions in Florida and New York alleging violations of federal and state wage and hour laws based on failure to pay overtime to pharmaceutical sales representatives.

 Other Litigation

• Defended a surgeon and surgical practice at trial in case alleging wrongful death. The jury returned a verdict in favor of our clients after a 9-day trial.
• Represented a tenant pro bono in a lawsuit against her landlord for retaining her security deposit after failing to deliver habitable premises. The case was tried and resulted in our client obtaining and collecting a judgment for actual damages and punitive damages.