Shameka C. Rolla

Originally from Eastern North Carolina, Shameka attended Duke University and Wake Forest University School of Law before joining Smith Anderson’s Business Litigation and Workplace Law practice groups.

Her practice focuses on a wide range of business disputes, including contract, intellectual property, non-compete and trade secrets and business tort claims, as well as employment disputes, in which she defends employers against claims involving discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, harassment and civil rights claims. As a result of witnessing her parents’ experiences running their own small business, Shameka approaches her client’s business and employment disputes with compassion, a desire to understand her client’s business and goals, and a focus on efficiency, minimal business disruption and conflict resolution. 

She enjoys live sporting events, attending Pilates and Barre classes, walks with her dog and Duke University basketball – Shameka served as a “line monitor” for student attendance at men’s basketball games while attending Duke University.

Education

• Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., 2020
  • The Order of Barristers
  • Appellate Advocacy Clinic
  • National Trial Team
  • Moot Court Board
  • Wake Forest Journal of Law and Policy
• Duke University, B.A., 2017
  • Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society

Bar & Court Admissions

• North Carolina Bar Association
  • Co-Chair, Young Lawyers Division, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2022-2024)
  • Director, Young Lawyers Division, Bar Outreach Division (2024-2025)
• North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
• Wake County Bar Association
• Tenth Judicial District Bar

• Defend employers against employment claims, including, without limitation, claims of discrimination, wrongful discharge, and retaliation, and wage and hour claims.
• Conduct internal investigations for employers regarding allegations of workplace misconduct, including, without limitation, claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
• Represented a software company in federal district court in defending against breach of contract claim involving resale of software and related services and pursued numerous counterclaims; successfully obtained orders denying plaintiff’s requests for TRO and preliminary injunction; case dismissed upon reaching a settlement.
• Successfully obtained a pre-trial dismissal of claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent supervision and retention against corporate clients. 
• Successfully obtained a contested default judgment after oral argument in state court on behalf of client.
• Represented an individual against claims of breach of non-competition agreement, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, and unjust enrichment; successfully defended against motion for TRO; case dismissed upon reaching a settlement.
• Assist clients in responding to third-party subpoenas.
• Defended a global technology company against competitor’s claims of trade secret misappropriation and interference with contract.
• Represented claimant client in multi-million-dollar arbitration involving breach of contract claim resulting in award of full damages with pre- and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees and costs for client.