Kearns Davis
Kearns Davis leads the firm's practice in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, felony trials and appeals, grand jury proceedings, and government investigations, and handles a broad range of federal and business litigation.Among other honors and awards, Kearns is listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers Top 10 attorneys in all categories (Thomson Reuters, 2016-2022), The Best Lawyers in America© in White-Collar Criminal Defense (2010-2022), and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations (Band 1) (2012-21). Best Lawyers has repeatedly named him "Lawyer of the Year" for Greensboro in White-Collar Criminal Defense (2013, 2016, 2018 & 2020), and his peers elected him in 2020 to permanent membership in Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite Hall of Fame” for Criminal Defense (2020). Benchmark Litigation has recognized him as a "Litigation Star" for North Carolina in White-Collar Crime each year since 2015. Kearns has tried jury cases at all levels of federal and North Carolina trial courts, regularly represents clients in other states pro hac vice, and has handled dozens of criminal and civil appeals in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fourth, and Ninth Circuits.
Kearns regularly represents businesses, executives, doctors, lawyers, financial professionals, and others involved in government and criminal investigations including real estate, health care, environmental, bank fraud, public corruption, tax evasion, insider trading and securities, money laundering, mail fraud, wire fraud, false statements, federal benefits, computer crimes, embezzlement, false pretenses, identity theft, conspiracy, professional licensing, and other types of cases. A former federal prosecutor, in his years with the government Kearns served as the United States' lead counsel in felony trials for a broad spectrum of crimes including fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, crimes against financial institutions, drug trafficking, bank robbery, and firearms offenses.
In business and civil litigation, Kearns has represented publicly traded corporations, privately held companies, financial institutions, small businesses, municipalities, individuals, and the United States in a wide range of matters including fraud, unfair trade practices, antitrust, shareholder disputes, breach of contract, environmental, real estate, construction, labor and employment, tax, intellectual property, transportation, and consumer protection.
Teaching- Adjunct Law Professor, Trial Advocacy, University of North Carolina School of Law, 2009-15, 2018-present
- Adjunct Law Professor, Trial Advocacy, Elon University School of Law, Spring 2008
- Trial Advocacy Instructor, U.S. Department of Justice, National Advocacy Center, 2007
- Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy Southeast Regional, 2006 & 2007
- "North Carolina's Top Rated Lawyers" in Criminal Law, Litigation, and Appellate Law (Martindale-Hubbell 2012)
- "Robinson O. Everett Professionalism Award" (North Carolina Bar Association, 2010)
- Recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “Local Litigation Star” for North Carolina in White Collar Crime/Enforcements/Investigations (2015-2022)
- Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations (Band 1) (2012-2021)
- Elected by North Carolina lawyers to permanent inclusion in Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” Hall of Fame for Criminal Law (2020)
- Repeatedly recognized among "Top 10" attorneys in all categories by North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) (2016-2022)
Greensboro, North Carolina 27420
