Atty. Paul H. Derrick

Atty. Paul H. Derrick

Paul H. Derrick is a Partner in the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP, where he focuses in the Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Practice Groups.

Wilmington Wilmington 37 yrs experience 37 year
Call (910) 679-0703 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Paul H. Derrick at a glance

Paul H. Derrick is a Special Counsel based in Wilmington, North Carolina, practicing at Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms, PLLC. They have 37+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1989. Their practice focuses on employment, business, ip, and litigation. Admitted to practice in Tennessee Eastern District of Louisiana (1991) and North Carolina (2000). Educated at University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D., 1988) and Newberry College (B.A. Economics, 1979). Recognitions include BV Distinguished. Serands clients in Wilmington, NC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Paul H. Derrick is a Partner in the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP, where he focuses in the Labor and Employment Law and Litigation Practice Groups
  • He regularly provides preventive and strategic advice and litigates individual and multi-plaintiff claims for breaches of restrictive covenants, unfair competition and theft of trade secrets, discrimination of all types, retaliation, employment-related torts, wage-hour, and more
  • Paul began his legal career as a trial attorney in the National Labor Relations Board's regional office in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was trial counsel in the nation's first “union salting” case
  • In the two decades since leaving government practice, he has successfully represented employers across the country before federal and state courts, administrative and investigative agencies, and arbitration tribunals concerning a broad range of employment law and constitutional issues
  • Paul also assisted in the development and prosecution of a successful civil racketeering case against nearly 500 defendants and he has handled class action lawsuits involving a wide variety of alleged violations
  • In 2008, he was selected as a fellow in Litigation Counsel of America
  • LCA is an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers
  • Paul is a presenter for several national seminar organizations and regularly trains in-house counsel, human resource professionals, and managers on supervisory issues, positive employee relations, and related topics
  • He is a longtime supporter of many professional and civic entities and is widely published on a variety of labor and employment topics
  • Paul is the author of the blog Workplace Update, which focuses on giving both startup and ongoing businesses useful information on labor and employment law developments from all over the country, particularly in the Carolinas and the Southeast
  • It can be accessed at http://www.workplaceupdate.com
  • Articles Presentations and Publications •“Employment Nightmares in the Retail Industry: What's Keeping You Up at Night, ? ” (The Retailer, April 2014). •Co-author: “Secret's Out
  • Trade Secrets Remain Important Component of Company IP, ” (IP Links, June 2013). •“Be Careful When Enforcing Employment Agreements - The NLRB is Watching, ” (Success, March/April 2013). •“EEOC's New Age Discrimination Regulations Appear to Miss the Mark, ” (The Defender, June 2012). •“EEOC's New Age Discrimination Regulations Appear to Miss the Mark, ” (The Resource, April 2012). •Quoted: “EEOC Expands 'Disabled' Definition, ” ( InsideCounsel Magazine, June 2011). •Quoted in “Layoffs Lead to Grumbles, and They Beget Lawsuits, ” (Triangle Business Journal, May 6, 2011). •“The ADAAA Final Regulations Have Arrived
  • Were They Worth the Two-Year Wait?, ” (HR News Magazine (International Public Management Association), May 2011). •“Labor Board Edges to Pro-Union Stance, ” (The News and Observer, Nov. 17, 2010). •“Deja Vu All Over Again: NLRB Decides Nonunion Employees Have No Right to Representation During Investigatory Interview, ” (South Carolina Lawyer, September 2004). •“Of E-mail, Employees, and the NLRB, ” (South Carolina Business Journal, June 2002). •“Unions Now Able to Organize Temporary Workers, ” (South Carolina Lawyer, May/June 2001). •“Employee Investigations: Representation Rights Extended to Nonunion Employees, ” (South Carolina Lawyer, Jan./Feb. 2001). •Contributing Author: “Privacy and Defamation in the Workplace, ” (The COMMENT Series, M. Lee Smith Publishers, 1995). •Contributing Author: “Management's Guide to Union Organizing Campaigns, ” (The COMMENT Series, M. Lee Smith Publishers, 1994). •Contributing Author: “Americans with Disabilities Act, Compliance Guidebook, ” (King & Ballow, M. Lee Smith Publishers, 1992). •Contributing Author: “Fair Labor Standards Act Compliance, ” (The COMMENT Series, M. Lee Smith Publishers, 1992)
  • Accomplishments •Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Employment Law-Management and Litigation-Labor & Employment: 2012 - 2015 •Selected by North Carolina Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer: 2012 - 2015 •Selected for inclusion in the 2014 Super Lawyers Business Edition

Practice Areas Explained

Paul H. Derrick's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Paul H. Derrick handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Employment Law

Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.

Paul H. Derrick is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in North Carolina →

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Paul H. Derrick is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in North Carolina →

Intellectual Property

IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.

Paul H. Derrick is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in North Carolina →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Paul H. Derrick is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in North Carolina →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in North Carolina

Practicing law in North Carolina. Legal matters in North Carolina are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Wilmington are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate North Carolina state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in North Carolina brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in North Carolina courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional North Carolina attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Wilmington or all attorneys in North Carolina.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Paul H. Derrick

Where is Paul H. Derrick's law office located?
Paul H. Derrick's law practice is located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The firm is Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms, PLLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Paul H. Derrick handle?
Paul H. Derrick focuses on employment, business, ip, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in North Carolina.
How long has Paul H. Derrick practiced law?
Paul H. Derrick has 37+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1989.
Where did Paul H. Derrick go to law school?
Paul H. Derrick earned their education at (J.D., 1988); (B.A. Economics, 1979).
How can I contact Paul H. Derrick for a consultation?
You can contact Paul H. Derrick directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Paul H. Derrick received?
Paul H. Derrick's notable recognition includes: BV Distinguished.

Education

J.D.
University of South Carolina School of Law
- 1988
B.A. Economics
Newberry College
- 1979

Awards

BV Distinguished

Bar Admissions

Tennessee Eastern District of Louisiana
Admitted: 1991
North Carolina
Admitted: 2000

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