Biography

Duane Jones is a Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice with 17 years of experience. Focusing exclusively on appellate matters since 2010, he leads the firm’s appellate practice group and is instrumental in navigating clients through appeals.

Active in the North Carolina State Bar Appellate Rules Committee since 2012, Duane is involved in improving the rules governing North Carolina appellate procedure. In his practice, he has contributed to over 200 briefs to the state appellate courts and has 20 oral arguments before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.

Duane has presented on appellate practice at the North Carolina Bar Association Appellate Practice Section Annual Meeting, the Workers’ Compensation Practice Section Annual Meeting, the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys seminars, and before county bar associations.  He has authored several amicus briefs on behalf of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys.

Duane’s appellate work earned recognition in the North Carolina Super Lawyers® list, published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazine, from 2015 to 2023, and in Business North Carolina‘s Legal Elite from 2018 to 2020.

Duane began his career as a workers’ compensation attorney, and he continues to handle appeals before the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Prior to joining Hedrick Gardner, he served as a law clerk to Judge Linda McGee of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

While in law school, Duane was a member of the North Carolina Banking Institute Journal, serving as Articles Editor from 2000-2001.

When not practicing law, Duane enjoys hiking, especially in the North Carolina mountains. He is an avid fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Braves, and UNC Tarheels.

Experience and Involvement

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT:

  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Association
  • Children’s Law Center
    • Pro Bono Attorney (2003-present)
  • North Carolina Appellate Rules Committee

PRESENTATIONS:

  • Tips for Appeals, Buncombe County Bar Meeting (November 13, 2019)
  • Co-Planner, Getting Straight A’s: Aids, Accessible Applications, Advice and Approaches to Advocacy, 2019 NCBA Appellate Practice Section Annual Meeting (September 13, 2019)
  • Moderator, Tips From the Clerk’s Office, 2019 NCBA Appellate Practice Section Annual Meeting (September 13, 2019)
  • Tips for Appeals, New Hanover County Bar Meeting (April 18, 2019)
  • Wilkes v. City of Greenville and the Legislative Aftermath, 2018 NCBA Workers’ Compensation Section Annual Meeting (February 10, 2018)
  • Wilkes, Bentley and More:  The Legislature Speaks, NCADA Fall Seminar (September 29, 2017)
  • The Other Appeals: A Discussion of Administrative Agency Appeals, 2015 NCBA Appellate Practice Section Annual Meeting (October 2, 2015)
  • Prevailing on Appeal:  An Oral Advocacy Skills Training of an Appellate Case, NCADA Young Lawyers Seminar (July 25, 2012)
  • How to Prepare a Proper Record on Appeal of Appeals to the Court of Appeals from the Industrial Commission, 2012 NCBA Workers’ Compensation Section Annual Meeting (February 11, 2012)
Representative Matters

Cases or matters referenced are for illustrative purposes only, and do not represent the lawyer’s or law firm’s entire record.  Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits.  The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicted based upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

  • Chambers v. Transit Management, 360 N.C. 609, 636 S.E.2d 553 (2006)
  • Gregory v. W. A. Brown & Sons, 363 N.C. 750, 688 S.E.2d 431 (2010)
  • Bryson v. Coastal Plain League, et al. N.C. App., 729 S.E.2d 107 (2012)
  • Diaz v. Smith, _N.C. App_, 724 S.E.2d 141 (2012)
  • Gray v. United Parcel Services, _N.C. App_, 713 S.E.2d 126 (2011)
  • Norman v. Food Lion, _ N.C. App_, 713 S.E.2d 507 (2011)
  • Nale v. Ethan Allen, 199 N.C. App 511,  682 S.E.2d 231 (2009)
Honors

HONORS: