Overview

Travis Hockaday leads the firm’s Employment, Labor and Human Resources practice. He is recognized by Best Lawyers® 2021 in Litigation - Labor and Employment, and by Benchmark Litigation as a North Carolina Labor & Employment Star for 2021. His practice focuses on providing counseling and risk management advice on significant employment-related matters to both public and private companies across a variety of industries, identifying and managing employment-related issues in mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations, and drafting complex employment and severance agreements for companies and C-suite executives. From 2010 to 2013, Travis provided counseling and risk management services on employment-related matters to a Fortune 500 company’s legal department under a secondment arrangement.

Travis has extensive experience assisting employers with worker classification and co-employment issues, work health (ADA, FMLA, GINA) matters, and wage and hour compliance. He also conducts investigations into discrimination and harassment complaints, develops workplace policies, and advises employers on terminations, disciplinary actions and handling employee grievances. Travis regularly defends employers in federal and state courts and agencies (including the EEOC, U.S. DOL and U.S. DOJ) against discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour and whistleblower claims (including systemic discrimination claims).

Travis frequently develops and delivers training programs for executives, managers and human resources professionals, and is a co-author of the North Carolina Human Resources Manual, the 700-page authoritative guide for North Carolina employers.

Areas of Focus

Credentials

Recognition

  • Business North Carolina Legal Elite, Employment (2024)
  • Benchmark Litigation, North Carolina Labor and Employment Star (2020-2021, 2023-2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Litigation - Labor and Employment (2019-2025)
    • Employment Law - Management (2025)
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star (2011, 2018) 

Education

  • University of North Carolina, J.D., 2003
  • Campbell University, B.A., summa cum laude, 2000

Bar & Court Admissions

  • North Carolina
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina

Affiliations

  • Board of Directors, Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, Inc.
  • American Bar Association, Labor & Employment and Litigation Sections
  • North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Labor & Employment, and Litigation Sections
  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association Lawyer Effectiveness/Quality of Life Committee (2008-2012)
  • Member, Society for Human Resources Management
  • Wake County/Tenth Judicial District Bar Association
  • Class of 2003 Reunion Representative, University of North Carolina School of Law
  • Past Ruling Elder, Trustee and Clerk of Session, Grove Presbyterian Church, Dunn, NC (PCUSA)

Experience

  • Defending employers against claims involving discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, harassment and civil rights claims.
  • Defending wage and hour, ERISA, and other benefit-related claims.
  • Representing clients in investigations conducted by both federal and state Departments of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice.
  • Representing clients before the North Carolina Division of Employment Security.
  • Advising clients regarding the development of effective employee handbooks, policies and practices.
  • Representing employers and individuals in connection with allegations of violation of non-compete agreements, unfair competition and tortious interference with contract.
  • Providing training to management, human resource professionals and employees regarding numerous employment-related topics, including workplace discrimination and harassment, religion in the workplace, unemployment compensation, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
  • Advising clients on variety of state and federal regulatory issues.
  • Serving as outside counsel to a state licensing agency.
  • Represented a North Carolina mutual insurance holding company in its merger with a Minnesota mutual insurance holding company, combining two of the nation’s leading providers of medical professional liability insurance in the first-ever merger by a North Carolina-domiciled mutual insurance holding company, resulting in a combined company with over $2 billion in consolidated assets.
  • Advised a EU-based clinical research organization in a definitive agreement to acquire the pharmacovigilance business from a global, listed healthcare services company for approximately $10,000,000 in cash.
  • Advised a contract research organization in a definitive agreement to acquire a specialized contract research organization for the biotechnology industry.
  • Advised a private equity fund and its contract research solutions portfolio company in their acquisition of a statistical programming, consulting, and data management company.
  • Advised a company specializing in video game and software development in a definitive agreement to acquire a company that developed a presence-based social networking platform connecting users online through live video on mobile and desktop apps.
  • Advised a private equity fund in its acquisition of a leading provider of staffing resources to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies for clinical trial needs.
  • Advised a leading CRO in Asia on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of CRO assets in the United States.
  • Advised a publicly-traded health services company on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of a health services division of a privately-held company for $105 million in cash.
  • Advised an online gaming company in a definitive agreement to acquire an online 3-D modeling company.
  • Advised an online gaming company in an acquisition of a UK-based pioneer in the "kidtech" market.
  • Advised a leading healthcare services provider on the employment law aspects of its $60 million cash acquisition of a global sourcing company.
  • Advised a private equity-backed medical device repair services company on the employment law aspects of its sale of its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries to a strategic buyer operating in the medical device repair services industry.
  • Advised a publicly-traded health information technologies and clinical research company on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of a consulting business focusing on orphan drug designations.
  • Advised a private equity fund on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of a specialty pharmaceutical company.
  • Advised a frozen foods company on the employment law aspects of its definitive agreement to acquire a frozen snacks business.
  • Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a leading digital patient recruitment company.
  • Represented a private equity fund in its acquisition of a leading contract research organization and contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in cell and gene therapy.

Insights

  • Speaking Engagement
    Co-Presenter, "Raising the Bar and the Threshold: USDOL's New Final Rules on Independent Contractors and the Salary Threshold for Overtime Exemptions," Smith Anderson's 32nd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
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  • Speaking Engagement
    Co-Presenter, "The Latest from EEOC on Unlawful Harassment and Health Issues in the Workplace," Smith Anderson's 32nd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
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  • Recognition
    Another Banner Year for Smith Anderson in The Best Lawyers in America®
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News

Publications & Alerts

Events & Programming

  • Co-Presenter, "Raising the Bar and the Threshold: USDOL's New Final Rules on Independent Contractors and the Salary Threshold for Overtime Exemptions," Smith Anderson's 32nd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Speaking Engagement
  • Co-Presenter, "The Latest from EEOC on Unlawful Harassment and Health Issues in the Workplace," Smith Anderson's 32nd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Speaking Engagement
  • Presenter, "Accommodations Galore! Employer's Guide to Understanding Obligations to Accommodate Disability, Pregnancy and Religion," Smith Anderson's 31st Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Speaking Engagement
  • Moderator, "What's New for 2023 in Employment Law," Smith Anderson's 31st Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Speaking Engagement
  • Presenter, "Marijuana and the Workplace: What the Trend Toward Marijuana Legalization Means for Drug Testing Policies and Programs," Smith Anderson's 30th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Panelist, "Key Developments for Multi-State Employers," Smith Anderson's 30th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Moderator, "What’s New for 2022 in Employment Law," Smith Anderson's 30th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Moderator, "Live Questions and Answers," Smith Anderson 29th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Presenter, "Wage and Hour Update," Smith Anderson 29th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Moderator, "Live Questions and Answers," Smith Anderson 29th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Co-Panelist, "Hot (Non-COVID-19) Topics in Employment Law," Smith Anderson 29th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Presenter, "Wage and Hour Update,” Smith Anderson 28th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Panel Member, "Hot Topics in Employment Law,” Smith Anderson 28th Annual Employment Law Update, Virtual
    Speaking Engagement
  • Co-Presenter, "Open for Business During the Times of COVID-19: Is Your Company Prepared?" Webinar hosted by the NCBA
    Speaking Engagement
  • Presenter, "COVID-19 Realities for the Small Business Finance Professional: People & Payroll Implications," Live Webinar hosted by ncaCPA
    Speaking Engagement
  • Co-Panelist, "Coronavirus-Employment Related Legal Topics on Changes Impacting Employers," North Carolina Bar Association
    Speaking Engagement
  • Presenter, "Recent Developments in Work Classification Law," NCACPA's 80th Annual Symposium, Greensboro, N.C.
    Speaking Engagement
  • Co-Presenter, "Preventing and Addressing Workplace Violence," Smith Anderson 27th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Speaking Engagement
  • Presenter, "Election Year Challenges for Employers," Smith Anderson 27th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Speaking Engagement
  • Co-Presenter, "Emerging Drug Trends, Laws, and Your Drug Policies and Testing Programs,” Smith Anderson 26th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Co-Presenter, "Shifting Sands in Labor Law: A Review of Recent Developments Under the New NLRB,” Smith Anderson 26th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Wage and Hour Update," Triangle Hospitality Human Resources Association, Raleigh, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Handling Unemployment Insurance Claims and Appeals Hearings: Employer Do's and Don'ts," Smith Anderson's 25th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "A Time for Everything (A Time to Hire, and a Time to Fire) - Ten Common Sense (But Often Forgotten) Lessons for Complying with the Law and Mitigating Risk," Smith Anderson's 25th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • WEBINAR: Seventy-Five Days In: New Administration, New Initiatives and What It All Means for Employers
    Webinar
  • Presenter, "A New Administration - A New World (for Employers)," Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce/Raleigh-Wake Human Resources Management Associations - Talent Strategies Workshop, Raleigh, N.C.
    Event
  • Panelist, "USDOL Overtime Rule and Employee Classification Issues," North Carolina Defense Business Association, Raleigh, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Worker Classification Law - The 2016 Edition," N.C. Association of Certified Public Accountants Annual Symposium, Greensboro, N.C.
    Event
  • Panelist, "Hot Topics in Employment Law (and Answers to Your Questions)," Smith Anderson's 24th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Faith and Politics - 2016 Edition," Smith Anderson's 24th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Panelist, "USDOL Overtime Rule, Worker Classification, and House Bill 2," Financial Executives Network Group, Raleigh, N.C.
    Event
  • Panelist, "USDOL Overtime Rule and Employee Classification Issues," North Carolina Defense Business Association, Raleigh, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Avoiding America's No.1 Employment Claim: Retaliation," UNC School of Government 2016 Public Employment Law Symposium, Chapel Hill, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "To Be or Not To Be (An Employer): Developments in Worker Classification Law," NCACPA Symposium
    Event
  • Panel Moderator, "Today's Top Five Employer Mistakes (and Answers to Questions on Your Mind...)," Smith Anderson's 23rd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Social Media Scramble," Smith Anderson's 23rd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • To Be or Not To Be (an Employer)...
    Webinar
  • Presenter, "The Legal Ins and Outs of Hiring Troops, Hiring and Employing Troops: Translating and Transitioning Military Culture to Civilian Workplaces," USO of North Carolina's Workshop, Charlotte, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Social Media Accounts: Exploring Issues of Ownership and Solicitation," Smith Anderson’s 22nd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Contractor or Employee? The Million-Dollar Question and the Sometimes 'Clear as Mud' Tests for Classification," Smith Anderson’s 22nd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • When Performance is Impacted by Health
    Webinar
  • North Carolina Unemployment Insurance Reform
    Webinar
  • Presenter, "North Carolina Unemployment Insurance Reform," Smith Anderson Live Webinar
    Event
  • Speaker, "North Carolina Unemployment Insurance Reform," Smith Anderson’s 21st Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Threats to Confidential Data on Mobile Devices," the NC Association of Defense Attorneys, 2013 Fall Seminar, Greensboro, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Protecting Social Media Accounts and Contacts," Protecting Proprietary Business Assets: Strategies to Safeguard Your Company Seminar at Vaco, Raleigh, N.C.
    Event
  • Effectively Managing Absences Under the FMLA and the ADA
    Webinar
  • Presenter, "Effectively Managing Absences Under the FMLA and the ADA," Smith Anderson Live Webinar
    Event
  • From Unemployment to Reemployment: Preparing Your Business for HB4
    Webinar
  • Presenter, "Nuts and Bolts of Unemployment Insurance Law Changes: A Primer for Managers and Human Resources Professionals," Part 2 of a two-part webinar co-hosted by the North Carolina Chamber and Smith Anderson
    Event
  • Presenter, "View from the Top: A Primer on NC Unemployment Insurance Reform for the C-Suite," Part 1 of a two-part webinar co-hosted by the North Carolina Chamber and Smith Anderson
    Event
  • Presenter, "From Unemployment to Reemployment: Preparing Your Business for HB4," Smith Anderson and N.C. Chamber Live Webinar
    Event
  • Presenter, "Be Careful What You Ask For: Recent Developments on Background, Criminal History and Credit Checks," Smith Anderson’s 20th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Religion at Work: Best Practices for Avoiding Claims of Discrimination and Handling Requests for Accommodation," Smith Anderson’s 20th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "North Carolina Update 2011," Smith Anderson’s 19th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    Event
  • Presenter, "Small Business Workshop," Raleigh-Wake Human Resources Management Association
    Event
  • Panelist, "Changing Faces - Achieving Workforce Diversity," Raleigh-Wake Human Resources Management Association
    Event
  • Presenter, "North Carolina FMLA Update," Council on Education in Management
    Event
  • Presenter, "North Carolina FMLA Update," Council on Education in Management
    Event
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