Morningstar Law Group

Number of partners: 23

Number of attorneys: 37

Morningstar Law Group is a premier North Carolina business law firm. The firm works with clients who represent every aspect of North Carolina’s state economy, a mix of entrepreneurs and established companies, academic institutions and technological innovators, all brought to life by a passionate group of investors, developers, and partners. Founded in 2012, the firm is recognized among the best in their field, with a special focus on business law, intellectual property and technology, litigation, political and government disputes, FDA and healthcare, and real estate and land use. Included in their ranks are attorneys with extensive experience in public sector roles and former government positions in North Carolina. This knowledge and expertise are complemented by a personal commitment: to give clients and the community the attention and advice necessary to succeed.

Morningstar Law Group’s commercial real estate and land use attorneys have the experience to advise both developers and owners as they navigate North Carolina’s real estate development landscape, secure necessary zoning approvals from local governments, and tackle other entitlement issues.

The firm’s zoning attorneys have an in-depth understanding of local zoning requirements and how potential projects may fit within a community’s long-term plans and policies. Land use attorneys also work with clients to obtain special use permits, variances, and other approvals before quasi-judicial bodies, such as boards of adjustment. The firm’s attorneys assist developers with a wide range of real estate and land use issues, from shepherding controversial rezoning requests to establishing public-private partnerships that are necessary to make a development feasible. In addition, the firm handles real estate transactions in an efficient and practical manner and assists clients with real estate litigation matters when necessary.

To provide insight into the local political landscape and neighborhood issues, the team has built strong relationships within North Carolina’s Triangle region, and works closely with local government entities, planning departments, and neighborhood groups. They are intimately familiar with the planning processes and decision makers in Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina and other towns. These strong relationships enable the firm to advise clients on navigating community and political dynamics effectively. The practice also covers areas like Opportunity Zones and public-private partnerships, which are essential for clients engaging in complex real estate developments.

Morningstar Law Group's business attorneys represent businesses of all types and sizes, providing the fundamental and sophisticated legal services that businesses need at every stage of growth. From small entrepreneurial startups to publicly-traded Fortune 50 companies; engineering firms to software companies; real estate developers to manufacturers; pharmaceutical companies to sweepstakes operators; retailers to professional services companies.

Morningstar Law Group’s intellectual property attorneys and technology attorneys help protect and commercialize a company’s intellectual property, assisting with copyright, trademark and other intellectual property protections, and negotiating licensing and other agreements. In addition, the firm helps clients resolve commercial and intellectual property-focused disputes through litigation when necessary.

The firm's seasoned team of litigators work directly with clients on litigation matters, performing comprehensive and candid pre-suit investigations, preparing cases for trial or arbitration, negotiating resolutions, and serving as first chair attorneys at trial. The firm's lawyers have extensive experience handling lawsuits at all levels of state and federal court, as well as local boards of adjustment, the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings, and arbitration venues.

The firm's political and government disputes attorneys are uniquely qualified to help navigate complex investigations and litigation involving government entities and frequently work at the national, state, and local levels. They provide strategic counseling to help clients stay on top of critical public policy issues and emerging trends in public disputes, guide internal investigations, and help clients respond to government investigations. Attorneys within the practice have deep experience in strategic negotiations and workable resolutions, and when disputes move to court, they have government experience and litigation savvy to guide clients toward successful outcomes.

The firm's experienced team of FDA and healthcare regulatory lawyers advise pre-commercial startups, newly commercial-stage companies, and established industry leaders on compliance issues related to FDA and healthcare rules, regulations, and guidelines, state and federal fraud and abuse laws, and more.