Hering Koenig PLLC

Going through a separation and divorce can be one of life's most challenging and traumatic events. The attorney you choose can mean the difference between an amicable, private resolution outside of court or years of contested, stressful, and expensive litigation. Our attorneys make a concerted effort to resolve matters for our family law clients by agreement BEFORE a lawsuit is ever filed, whether through informal negotiations, using the collaborative family law approach, or pre-lawsuit mediation. 

However, there are circumstances when it is necessary to file a lawsuit or to have your matter addressed in court, such as when your spouse is unwilling to engage in reasonable settlement discussions, you are the victim of domestic violence, your spouse is threatening to move away with the children, your spouse is wasting or hiding assets, your spouse has stopped paying the bills, or your spouse has hired one of the numerous attorneys who instinctively file a lawsuit in every family law case (some of whom can still be reasonable and willing to resolve matters by agreement or consent order). Although resolving matters in court is extremely inefficient, stressful, and much more expensive, we are experienced and ready to zealously represent your interests in court if necessary.

Our family law practice includes the following:

• Absolute Divorce (BEFORE this happens, talk to an attorney about property division and alimony)
• Equitable Distribution (property division)
• Spousal Support (Postseparation Support and Alimony)
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Grandparents' Rights
• Adoptions (step-parent adoptions, private adoptions, DSS adoptions, re-adoptions in NC)
• Alienation of Affection and Criminal Conversation
• Premarital Agreements (even for first marriages, these can promote important conversations about finances with your future spouse and should be seriously considered for second, third, or fourth marriages, especially when you or your future spouse have children from a prior relationship)
• Postmarital Agreements (these can be helpful for addressing property issues and estate planning during the marriage)
• Separation and Property Settlement Agreements (the primary way matters are resolved outside of court)
• Collaborative Family Law (a private way to resolve your family law matters outside of court in a civil, cooperative manner with your attorney and your spouse's attorney)
• Mediation
• Arbitration

Hering Koenig’s employment law practice includes representing individuals and small business in matters involving:

• Employment Agreements
• Independent Contractor Agreements
• Severance or Separation Agreements
• For small business clients, we provide various types of counseling and advice on matters including development of effective employment policies, practices, and procedures; conflict avoidance and resolution; employment handbook reviews and drafting; equal employment, wage and hour, and other employment law compliance audits; and investigations of grievances and complaints, including complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, or other types of harassment.
• Wrongful Termination / Discharge / Constructive Discharge
• Discrimination, Retaliation, and Harassment claims, including those pursuant to:
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, gender identity)
  • Section 1981 (race, color, ethnicity)
  • Section 1983 (civil rights)
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) / North Carolina Persons with Disabilities Act
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act (“ADEA”)
  • North Carolina’s Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (“REDA”) (discrimination or retaliation for exercising rights pursuant to Workers’ Compensation Act, Wage and Hour Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act, among others)
  • North Carolina’s Equal Employment Practices Act (“EEPA”) (race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, or handicap)
• Disputes / Litigation involving breach of employment agreements, non-competition agreements, non-solicitation agreements, and trade secrets.
• State law claims such as negligent hiring, supervision, and retention; fraud; defamation; assault and battery; invasion of privacy; and tortious interference.
• Wage and Hour disputes and litigation
• Mediation and Arbitration
• Representation at the EEOC
• Counseling and advice to assist employees and employers with dispute avoidance and resolution.

Our attorneys have substantial experience handling claims and lawsuits involving motor vehicle accidents, including those with catastrophic personal injuries, wrongful death, and/or significant property damage.   

When you get sued or need to file a lawsuit, our attorneys are experienced and ready to zealously pursue and/or defend litigation in North Carolina state courts (District Court, Superior Court, and NC appellate courts) and federal courts (Middle District of North Carolina, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals). Throughout any lawsuit, our attorneys combine our trial advocacy and negotiating skills to seek the best possible outcome for our clients in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

Our attorneys have practiced in large, medium, and small firms and have experience across many areas of law, including:

• Auto accidents
• Business disputes and unfair trade practices
• Catastrophic injuries
• Civil rights
• Construction
• Contracts
• Defamation (libel or slander)
• Employment
• Family Law
• Fraud
• Insurance coverage and bad faith
• Insurance defense
• Negligence
• Personal injury
• Product liability
• Real Estate Litigation / Partition Proceedings
• Trust and Estate Disputes, including breach of fiduciary duty, will contests, and disputes involving trust or estate administration.