D.J. O'Brien III

D.J. O'Brien III


Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP

Recognized since 2019

Greensboro, North Carolina

Practice Areas

Employment Law - Management

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D.J. O’Brien represents employers and individuals in business litigation, employment law, and government enforcement actions. He has deep experience in all levels of federal and state appellate and trial courts in North Carolina, including the N.C. Business Court. D.J. concentrates a significant part of his practice in high-stakes actions under the False Claims Act.

D.J. represents businesses in a variety of employment-related litigation cases, including class and collective actions and discrimination and wage-and-hour claims, before state and federal agencies and courts. He has worked with companies in a broad variety of industries, including technology companies and franchises.

As part of his civil litigation practice, D.J. regularly represents companies and individuals from a variety of industries, including the health care, construction, defense, transportation, and technology sectors, in claims asserted under the False Claims Act.

D.J. has substantial experience in helping clients navigate legal and reputational threats in responding to civil investigative demands, subpoenas, and other government enforcement actions.

D.J. represents businesses and individuals in a range of complex business disputes, including litigation involving trade secrets, shareholder disputes, and claims under state and federal consumer protection statutes. He has deep experience litigating class and collective actions in state and federal court. D.J. serves as member of the Local Rules Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.

D.J. represents executives and companies who are under criminal or regulatory scrutiny concerning their business practices. He has extensive experience conducting sensitive internal investigations for companies, big and small, in an array of practice areas, including banking, health care, and securities.

Location
  • 230 North Elm Street
    P.O. Box 26000
    Greensboro, NC 27420
Education
  • Wake Forest University, J.D., graduated 2006
  • Vanderbilt University, B.A., graduated 1998
Bar Admissions
  • North Carolina, North Carolina
Affiliations
  • Our Lady of Grace Church Finance Council - Chairman, Member
  • Labor & Employment Law Section, NC Bar Association - Member
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of NC - Member, Local Civil Rules Committee
Court Admissions
  • US District Court - Middle District of NC
  • US District Court - Eastern District of NC
  • US Court of Appeals - 4th, 11th Circuits
  • US District Court - Western District of NC
Federal Clerkships
  • United States District Court

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
Special Focus:
  • COVID-19
Awards:
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Employment Law - Management (2019-2025)

  • Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters) for Business Litigation (2024-2025) and as a “Rising Star” in Business Litigation (2012)
  • Recognized as a "Labor and Employment Star" by Benchmark Litigation (2020-2023)
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Health Care Law
  • Technology Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Litigation - ERISA
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment

Publications

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