Norris A. Adams, II
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Employee Benefits Attorney in Charlotte, NC
Selected To Rising Stars: 2012 - 2013
- Employee Benefits (70%),
- Appellate (10%),
- Civil Litigation: Plaintiff (10%),
- Insurance Coverage (10%)
Norris A. Adams, II, practices civil litigation at Essex Richards in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mr. Adams mainly focuses his practice on labor and employment law matters involving ERISA and long-term disability claims. He has over 15 years of legal experience and represents clients in Charlotte and throughout North Carolina.
In addition to his work in labor and employment law, Mr. Adams has experience with claims involving accidental death and dismemberment, breach of fiduciary duty, disability income, health benefits, insurance coverage, life insurance and business litigation. He represents clients at the state, federal and appellate levels. Recognizing the value of professional education, he regularly speaks nationwide at continuing legal education events. He is also the author of many articles about ERISA issues for various publications.
Honored for his legal capability and ethical standards, Mr. Adams is AV Preeminent* peer-review rated through Martindale-Hubbell. He is listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America and has been named to several “Legal Elite” lists by Business North Carolina. He belongs to the Mecklenburg County Bar, the Mecklenburg County Trial Lawyers Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the American Bar Association and the Justice William Bobbitt Inn of Court.
After graduating magna cum laude from Campbell University, where he double-majored in history and political science, Mr. Adams received his law degree from Wake Forest School of Law. He is qualified to practice before all North Carolina state courts, the U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished, and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards, and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
- 70%Employee Benefits
- 10%Appellate
- 10%Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
- 10%Insurance Coverage
Insurance
Selections
Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2021 Rising Stars: 2012 - 2013
To: Norris A. Adams, II
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Additional Sources of Information About Norris A. Adams, II
About Norris Adams, II
Admitted: 2004, North Carolina
Professional Webpage: https://www.essexrichards.com/attorneys/norris-a-adams-ii/
Honors/Awards:
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters (2012, 2013)
- Campbell University Distinguished Political Science Alumnus, 2013-14
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated Distinguished
- North Carolina Legal Elite, Employment Law, Business NC, 2019
- National Business Edition Super Lawyers, ERISA/Employee Benefits, Thomson Reuters, 2015
- North Carolina Legal Elite, Construction Law, Business NC, 2010-2011
- National Order of the Barristers
- The Best Lawyers in America, Employee Benefits, U.S. News and World Report (2018, 2019, 2020)
- The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – ERISA, U.S. News and World Report (2018, 2019, 2020)
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated Preeminent (2015-present)
- Business Edition Super Lawyers, ERISA/Employee Benefits, Thomson Reuters (2015)
- North Carolina Legal Elite, Young Guns/Best Under 40, Business NC, 2011-2013
- Campbell University Distinguished Political Science Alumnus (2013-14)
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, ERISA/Employee Benefits, Thomson Reuters, 2014-2020
Bar/Professional Activity:
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of North Carolina, 2006
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 2006
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of North Carolina, 2006
- U.S. Court of Appeals Fourth Circuit, 2008
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 2006
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina, 2006
- U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina, 2004
- North Carolina, 2004
- American Bar Association
- United States Court of Federal Claims, 2019
- Mecklenburg County Trial Lawyers Association
- Justice Bobbitt Inn of Court
- Mecklenburg County Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Scholarly Lectures: North Carolina Advocates for Justice Annual Conference: Managing Client Expectations, My Greatest Successes, Sunset Beach, North Carolina (June 19, 2017); Mecklenburg County Bar, Appellate Advocacy: Winning Your Case through Persuasive Writing, Charlotte, North Carolina (March 15, 2016); American Conference Institute’s 18th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims (Contractual Limitations Periods in the Post-Heimeshoff Era), Philadelphia, PA (January 21-22, 2016). American Conference Institute’s 17th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims (Vocational Issues in Disability Claims), Philadelphia, PA (January 22-23, 2015). American Conference Institute’s 7th National Forum on ERISA Litigation (Selected Issues in Benefit Claims Litigation), Chicago, IL (April 28-29, 2014). North Carolina Advocates for Justice, "Disbursements 2014: Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Just the Messenger (ERISA Liens)," Greensboro, NC (February 28, 2014). North Carolina Advocates for Justice, "Disbursements 2014: Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Just the Messenger (ERISA Liens)," Raleigh, NC (January 24, 2014). American Conference Institute’s 6th National Forum on ERISA Litigation (Accidental Death & Dismemberment Claims), New York, NY (October 25-26, 2013). American Conference Institute’s 5th National Forum on ERISA Litigation (Plaintiff's Perspective on ERISA Benefit Claim Issues), New York, NY (October 29-30, 2012).
- New Supreme Court Ruling Affects Statute of Limitations in ERISA Employee Benefits Claims, NCAJ Practice Alert (December 19, 2013)
- Supreme Court Ruling Limits Lawsuits Over Benefits, Charlotte Business Journal (May 23, 2014)
- Scholarly Writings: Contractual Limitations Periods in the Post-Heimeshoff Era: Case Law Update 2014-2016, ACI 18th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims (January 21, 2016); "Inside the Minds: Protecting Retirees Health Care Benefits: Leading Lawyers on Negotiating Costs, Preventing Discrimination, and Ensuring Quality Medical Coverage," Thompson Reuters Aspatore Books (published Aug. 2015). "Vocational Issues in Disability Claims: Case Law Update 2014-15," ACI 17th National Advanced Forum on Litigating Disability Insurance Claims, Philadelphia, PA (Jan. 22-23, 2015). Lawyers Mutual Risk Perspective, January 22, 2014 "New Supreme Court Ruling Affects Statute of Limitations in ERISA Employee Benefit Claims." North Carolina Advocates for Justice Practice Alert, December 19, 2013: "New Supreme Court Ruling Affects Statute of Limitations in ERISA Employee Benefits Claims." "Accidental Death & Dismemberment Policies: Case Law update 2012-13,” ACI 6th National Forum on ERISA Litigation, New York, NY (Oct 25-26, 2013). "Challenging the Reliability and Import of Independent Medical Reviews in the Wake of Glenn v. MetLife," American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Health & Disability Insurance Law Committee Newsletter (Fall 2009). "Hang Up and Drive, Or Pay the Price," (Vicarious Liability Implications), Charlotte Observer (February 19, 2009). "Are dependent Social Security benefits exempt from offset under the terms of your client's plan?" Essex Richards, P.A. ERISA Newsletter (Summer 2008). "Does 407(a) of the Social Security Act bar insurers from successfully counterclaiming for repayment of claimed offsets for Social Security benefits?" Essex Richards, P.A. ERISA Newsletter (Winter 2008).
Educational Background:
- Campbell University, B.A., Double Major: Government & History; Magna Cum Laude; Sarah Virginia Hackney Award of Excellence (Top Government & History Student); Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) All-Conference Academic Team (men's tennis); Phi Kappa Phi; Epsilon Pi Eta Honor Society (Character, Leadership, & Scholarship); Alpha Phi Sigma (National Honor Society for Criminal Justice); Pi Gamma Mu (International Honor Society in the Social Sciences); Alpha Iota Alpha chapter of Phi Alpha Theta (International History Honor Society); Presidential Scholars Honor Society., 2001
Norris A. Adams, II:
Last Updated: 5/11/2021