Thomas A. Farr
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
Recognized since 1997
Raleigh, North Carolina
Practice Areas
Employment Law - Management
Labor Law - Management
Litigation - Labor and Employment


Mr. Farr concentrates on workplace safety, employment litigation and advice, and constitutional law. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America* and is A-V rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory*. Mr. Farr is listed in the 2002-2013 editions of Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite*. In 2007 and 2008, Super Lawyers* named Mr. Farr as one of the top 100 lawyers in North Carolina. Mr. Farr was also selected as one of the leading employment lawyers in North Carolina by Chambers USA*, America’s Leading Business Lawyers 2004-2013 editions.In December 2006 Mr. Farr was nominated by President George W. Bush to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He received the highest rating for fitness for the bench given by the American Bar Association.Prior to entering private practice in 1983, he was an attorney with the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation; counsel to the U.S. Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee; and law clerk to the Honorable Frank W. Bullock, Jr., Chief Judge for the United States District Court, Middle District of North Carolina. He also served as Adjunct Professor of Labor and Employment Law at Campbell University School of Law from 1990 through 1995.Mr. Farr has tried cases in federal and state courts in North Carolina and has handled appeals at all levels of the North Carolina appellate courts, the Fourth and Sixth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court. *Disclaimer:Please follow the link provided for information on the standards for admission to this group, organization, or publication. This group, organization, or publication does not have a financial interest in promoting any particular lawyer. There is no fee charged for membership in this group, organization, or publication.
Contact & Links
- Lawyer Page: https://
Location
- 301 Hillsborough Street, Suite 1400
Raleigh, NC 27603
Education
- Emory University, JD, graduated 1979
- Hillsdale College, BLS, graduated 1976
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association
- Georgia, State Bar of Georgia
- Virginia, Virginia State Bar
Affiliations
- American Bar Association - Member
- Campbell University School of Law - Adjunct Professor 1990-1995
- Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference - Permanent Member
- North Carolina Bar Association - Member
Raleigh, North Carolina
262 The Best Lawyers in America® awards
101 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards


Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Employment Law - Management, Raleigh (2015)
- Labor Law - Management, Raleigh (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
- Employment Law - Management
- Labor Law - Management
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
Special Focus:
- Defense
- Discrimination
- Management
- OSHA
- Title VII Litigation
- Wrongful Discharge
Awards:
- Martindale AV Rated*
- Chambers USA (2004-2013)*
- North Carolina Super Lawyer (2006-2013)*
Cases
Experience
- Lead counsel in numerous employment discrimination cases
- Lead counsel in numerous administrative OSHA trials before the North Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission including death cases, alleged violations of the general duty clause, and trench citations
- Lead counsel in OSHA case brought by NC OSHA attempting to appeal the general industry standards to agricultural operations
- Lead counsel for the President Pro Tem of the North Carolina State Senate and the Speaker of the North Carolina House on redistricting legislation and pending redistricting litigation (2011 through 2013). Counsel to NC Speaker on Voting Rights issues and election law reform (2011-2013)
- Lead counsel for plaintiff interveners in Shaw v. Hunt, which challenged North Carolina’s 1992 Congressional redistricting. Successfully prepared and argued appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court
- Lead counsel in Stephenson v. Bartlett, a lawsuit successfully challenging North Carolina's 2001 and 2002 legislative districts under the North Carolina Constitution
Part 2
- Lead counsel for major corporation in four week intentional infliction of emotional distress trial in which plaintiff asked for multiple millions of dollars in economic and psychological damages. Jury returned a verdict for the defense
- Lead defense counsel in class-action suit brought by Washington-based legal defense fund against a local rental car company for alleged racial discrimination against customers
- First chair in sexual harassment / intentional infliction and emotional distress claim in which plaintiff sought damages in excess of $20 million against a major corporation. Jury verdict returned in all claims for the defendant
- Lead defense counsel in class action by EEOC against major multinational corporation for alleged racial harassment
- First chair in employment discrimination lawsuit by railroad employee against major railroad. Jury returned a defense verdict
- First chair for a local school board in defense of a case involving an alleged breach of an employment contract and alleged violation of statutory and constitutional rights. Jury returned verdict for school board
- Successful argument of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, overturning a bargaining unit determination by the National Labor Relations Board
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