While we appreciate the recognition, we have never measured our success simply by the size of our roster. To us, client service will always be more important than our headcount.

However, we view this growth as a direct reflection of the trust our clients place in us. It is a testament to the quality of legal services we strive to provide every day and, most importantly, the deep talent and dedication of our attorneys and professional staff.

Thank you to our clients for your continued partnership, and to our incredible team for making this milestone possible.

The post Growth Driven by Client Trust – Morningstar Law Group Ranked 10th Largest Firm in the Triangle appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

If an employer decides to take action based on social media use, that action should align with applicable law, company polices, company culture, the severity of the offense, and decisions the employer will make in the future.  

Federal, state and local laws govern whether an employer can take an employment action based on social media use, even when the use disrupts business.  For example, some state and local laws specifically safeguard employees’ conduct (whether on-duty or off-duty) related to their political views.  Others protect employees’ off-duty conduct, including social media use, requiring employers to link the conduct to the job before taking disciplinary action. While federal laws do not directly protect political affiliation or speech in the private employment context, anti-discrimination laws may be implicated when employee speech involves a protected characteristic (e.g., race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran status, etc.), and federal law protects employees who engage in concerted activities to improve the terms and conditions of their employment.

Company policies may prohibit certain conduct and/or promise protection for political speech or off-duty conduct. Companies should honor their policies and apply them consistently. Now would be a good time to refresh relevant policies and training (social media, code of conduct, safety, etc.) and consider a reminder to employees about the importance of following the law and company policies with respect to communications inside and outside of work.

Each situation must be considered on its own facts and in light of the employer’s risk tolerance and cultural priorities. For example, action may be appropriate if a social media post promotes violence, is egregiously offensive, or targets a person’s or group’s protected characteristics (e.g., age, race, sex or ethnicity), but a post that civilly expresses one’s opinion on a loaded political issue (e.g., gun control, abortion, or immigration), even if different from the company’s views, might not warrant action.  And, employers should consider the precedent they may be setting when they make a decision in an individual case, even when the action they want to take is not specifically prohibited by applicable law.

There are a wide variety of potential responses to these situations, depending on the circumstances.  We can help businesses sort through the complications and find an appropriate course of action.

The post Employment Law Alert – Reacting to Employee Social Media Posts appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

The CIPP/US is a leading industry certification for attorneys and professionals who focus on U.S. privacy laws and regulations. It demonstrates a deep understanding of key privacy concepts, including the structure of U.S. law, data protection practices, and legal requirements governing the collection and use of personal data.

Administered by the IAPP—the world’s largest and most comprehensive privacy and data protection organization—the CIPP/US certification is widely recognized as a mark of distinction in the privacy field. It reflects a commitment to staying current with a rapidly evolving legal landscape and providing clients with informed, practical guidance on privacy compliance and risk management.

Alex’s achievement highlights their dedication to helping clients navigate the growing challenges of data privacy and security. Please join us in congratulating them on this important professional milestone.

The post Congratulations to Alex Jakubiak on Earning Their CIPP/US Certification appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Jenn is a Raleigh attorney with a background in biology and a lifelong interest in innovation. She advises life sciences and healthcare companies on a range of regulatory and transactional matters, including licensing agreements, product development, and strategic growth initiatives. Known for her ability to simplify complex legal and technical issues, Jenn provides tailored, pragmatic counsel that aligns with each client’s goals and stage of development.

Her industry insight comes from years of in-house legal roles at leading life sciences and healthcare organizations — including Syngenta, where she worked on global R&D, licensing, and M&A matters, as well as leadership roles at a clinical research organization, a pharmaceutical manufacturer, a gene therapy company, and a metabolomics lab. This hands-on experience gives her a deep appreciation of how innovative companies operate and the regulatory challenges they face.

Jenn began her legal career in Delaware, advising business entities at one of the state’s largest firms, and later worked with North Carolina startups through a boutique practice focused on early-stage company formation, funding, and exit strategy.

We’re excited to have Jenn on board and know our clients will benefit from her thoughtful, business-minded approach to regulatory and transactional counsel.

The post Morningstar Law Group Welcomes Attorney Jennifer Ball to FDA & Healthcare Regulatory Practice appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Abby is a seasoned corporate attorney who advises clients on a wide range of complex financial transactions. Her practice focuses on representing private equity funds, lenders, and private companies in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, debt financings, and other general corporate matters. She brings particular experience in navigating sophisticated financing structures, including first lien, unitranche, second lien, and mezzanine credit facilities, as well as equity co-investments, leveraged buyouts, and workouts.

In addition to her transactional work, Abby provides strategic counsel to funds, companies, and investors on recapitalizations, exit transactions, and broader corporate strategy.

Prior to joining Morningstar, Abby was an associate in the corporate and private equity group at a large international law firm. Her experience and insight further strengthen our ability to deliver practical, business-focused solutions to our clients.

Please join us in welcoming Abby to Morningstar Law Group.

The post Morningstar Law Group Welcomes Abby Maner Freeman to Expanding Business Practice appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

“Anne and Alex are talented, trusted, and bring a client-first approach to everything they do,” said Grayson Hale, chair of the firm’s Business Practice Group. “Their deep understanding of financial transactions and business strategy makes them an excellent fit for our firm and the business clients we serve in North Carolina and nationally.”

Anne andAlex have decades of experience advising private equity firms, lenders, investors, and growing businesses on sophisticated financing and corporate transactions. Their work spans debt and equity financing, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and a wide range of corporate matters. They also have extensive experience representing Business Development Companies (BDCs), Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), and private debt funds.

Morningstar Law Group is proud to continue growing a team of talented attorneys who share our commitment to delivering practical, strategic counsel for businesses at every stage of growth. The addition of Anne and Alex further strengthens our ability to support businesses with complex financing needs.

The post Morningstar Adds Partners with Financial Expertise appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.