Morningstar Law Group – Raleigh Law Firm – Durham NC Attorneys
Harrison Hank Gates – Employment Lawyer Durham NC – Business Litigation Attorney

Harrison 'Hank' M. Gates

Partner

Hank Gates is an employment lawyer and business litigation attorney in Morningstar’s Durham, NC office. His experience covers a broad range of areas in employment law, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other state and federal anti-discrimination laws; religious and disability accommodation, and family and medical leave claims; wage and hour disputes; employee restrictive covenant disputes; misappropriation of confidential information and trade secrets claims; and workforce-related contract disputes. In addition to his broad experience in employment law, Hank has handled construction law, land use, complex contract, business tort, and insurance coverage disputes in state and federal court.

Hank’s approach to business and employment litigation emphasizes thoughtful and proactive strategy, creativity, agility, out-of-the box thinking, and above all, careful attention and preparation. Having handled cases in federal, state, and local agencies, federal and state courts, arbitration and mediation, he knows the terrain in which disputes are litigated. His experience covers every aspect of disputes and litigation, including trying cases to jury verdict, arguing complex dispositive motions, directing and managing discovery, alternative dispute resolution, dispute negotiations, and risk management counseling. He brings this knowledge and experience to bear to pursue clients’ goals and obtain favorable outcomes.

Prior to joining Morningstar Law Group, Hank was an employment and business litigation attorney at Christian & Barton, LLP in Richmond, Virginia and served as Law Clerk to the Honorable Jackson L. Kiser of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia and to the Honorable Michael C. Allen in the Circuit Court of Virginia.


What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Whenever you are working on something for a client, that client is your only client.

Accolades

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch –  Labor and Employment Law – Management (2021), Litigation – Labor and Employment (2021-2025), Commercial Litigation (2021-2025)

Representative Experience

  • Defended numerous federal and state law claims for discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and hostile work environment in the EEOC, state and federal court, and arbitration.
  • Defended numerous federal and state law claims for alleged failure to accommodate under the ADA and FMLA.
  • Defended wage and hour claims, including class action lawsuits, for alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act.
  • Defended and prosecuted numerous disputes involving non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements and claims of tortious interference and unfair competition against employers.
  • Defended and prosecuted numerous disputes involving misappropriation of confidential information and trade secrets.
  • Defended and prosecuted numerous disputes involving executive and management employment agreements and compensation.
  • Assisted numerous clients in review and negotiation of proposed employment agreements, separation agreements, and other employment-related contracts.
  • Represented owners and contractors in commercial and residential construction disputes.
  • Represented insurers and insureds in disputes relating to insurance coverage and claims of bad faith
  • Represented developers in land use and zoning disputes with local governments.

Presentations & Publications

  • “Dancin’ in the Rain: Labor and Employment Law Update” (2024)
  • “The End of an Era: North Carolina Considers the Future of Extraterritorial Jurisdiction,” The Morningstar (2024)
  • “Litigation Boot Camp,” National Business Institute (2020)
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) Alerts (2020)
  • “What Constitutes a Restrictive Covenant and Who Should Be Asked to Sign Them?” (2020)
  • “Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes: Employers Race to Keep Up with a Host of New State and Local Regulations” (2019)
  • “Employment Law: 2019 Comprehensive Guide,” National Business Institute (2019)
  • “Arbitration in a Nutshell,” MLG CLE (2019)
  • “Business Torts: A Fifty State Guide – Virginia,” Wolters Kluwer Law & Business (2016-2018)

Education

  • University of Richmond School of Law, J.D. (2010) summa cum laude
    Order of the Coif
  • Articles Editor, University of Richmond Law Review (2010)
  • Washington and Lee University, B.A., Politics and History (2007) magna cum laude

Admissions

  • North Carolina State Bar (2012)
  • Virginia State Bar (2010)
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Professional

  • North Carolina Bar Association: Member
  • Virginia Bar Association: Member