BAILEY & DIXON - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant Scoutmaster ( 2012 to 2018 )
Chad is an attorney in the firm's litigation section, where he regularly represents and defends individuals, businesses, landlords, insurers and their insureds in a variety of civil actions throughout courts across North Carolina. Chad has extensive experience defending cases involving personal injury, premises liability, construction defect litigation, home owner's association litigation, insurance coverage disputes, and other matters. As part of his insurance practice, Chad represents insurers' interests in UM/UIM claims and declaratory judgment actions, as well as counseling on questions of coverage and policy interpretation.
Chad's practice also focuses on the many issues facing multifamily and student-housing property owners and managers. Solely representing landlords, Chad is experienced in finding expedient, cost-effective solutions to disputes with tenants, up to and including legal action when necessary. Chad frequently counsels landlords on lease interpretation, and the drafting of lease agreements and various addenda to suit a particular asset's needs. Recognizing that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Chad provides preventive-law services to clients on Fair Housing and other regulations impacting North Carolina landlords.
A portion of Chad's representative experience includes:
Defending insurers and their insureds (individuals, businesses, general contractors, home/condo/property owners associations) in various first and third-party tort actions throughout multiple venues in North Carolina.
Advising insurers on first-party coverage interpretation, including UM/UIM issues.
Advising and representing Class A/B multifamily and student-housing communities in tenant dispute resolution, summary ejectment and collection matters, property/boundary issues (including encroachment, trespass, and easement matters), and other litigation.
Drafting lease agreements, addenda, vendor contracts/service agreements, and other contracts for numerous multi-family housing communities.
Representing and assisting owner and third-party managed properties with federal and state Fair Housing compliance, including reasonable accommodation/modification requests.
Prior to law school, Chad worked for several years with two national, multi-line insurers. In 2014, Chad graduated from Washington & Lee University School of Law where he practiced in the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic representing individuals in controversies with the IRS and the Virginia Department of Taxation. Before joining the firm in the spring of 2017, Chad practiced insurance defense law with a civil litigation firm in Raleigh.
When not in the office, Chad enjoys spending time with his wife and two energetic daughters. As a family, they enjoy attending church, getting lost on new hiking trails, and attempting to gather clams at the coast.
Education
James Madison University, B.S. Technical & Scientific Communication, 2003
Washington & Lee University School of Law, J.D., 2014
Jurisdictions Licensed
All North Carolina State Courts
Professional Affiliations
North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
Wake County Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association
American Bar Association
Charles McDarris practices primarily in the area of administrative, municipal and regulatory law as well as general litigation. LEARN MORE
Prior to returning to private practice, Christina served as a Staff Attorney at the North Carolina Utilities Commission, where she spent the majority of her time advising the Commission regarding electric and water utility matters, as well as the implementation of regulatory structures to govern new State energy programs created by House Bill 589 (S.L. 2017-192), entitled "Competitive Energy Solutions for NC."
Before joining Commission staff, Christina served as in-house counsel to the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service and, for a time, as its Interim Executive Director. While at the Board, Christina prosecuted alleged violations of the laws and rules enforced by the Board, advised the Board on various regulatory compliance matters, and served as the Board's Ethics Liaison, Rulemaking Coordinator, Records Custodian, and Legislative Liaison.
Immediately after law school, Christina spent her first two years in practice defending insurance companies and their insured members from a variety of civil liability actions. During this time, Christina single-chaired a three-day jury trial in Wake County Superior Court, seven District Court bench trials, and litigated numerous cases from the pleadings phase through adjudication or settlement.
Originally from small town Florida, Christina fell in love with North Carolina when she moved in 2010 to attend law school in Chapel Hill. Save from traveling, she hasn't left the state since. Out of the office, Christina usually is immersed in reading for her book club or playing with her rescue dogs, George and Kramer.
Education
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D.; 2013
The University of Florida, M.A., International Business; 2010
The University of Florida, B.S., Business Management; 2010
Professional Affiliations
North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
Professional Vitality Committee, 2019-2020
Leadership Academy Class of 2019
Membership Committee, Co-Chair of Member Benefits Subcommittee, 2019-2020
Administrative Law Section Council, 2017-2020
CLE Committee Co-Chair, 2019-2020
Christina Cress practices primarily in the areas of energy & utilities law, employment law, and administrative law, including occupational and professional licensing matters.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Council Member of the North Carolina Bar Association
Cody R. Loughridge represents corporate and individual clients in complex civil litigation, including construction, commercial collections, contract interpretation, and various other debtor-creditor disputes. Cody practices throughout the state, federal, and bankruptcy courts of North Carolina and serves as lead counsel at bench and jury trials, as well as in arbitrations and mediations.
In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Cody was selected as a North Carolina Super Lawyers "Rising Star" in the area of construction litigation, a peer recognition reserved for less than 3% of North Carolina lawyers.
Cody currently serves as a Council Member of the North Carolina Bar Association, Construction Section (2018-2021) and has previously served as Vice-Chair of the Legislative Committee and Co-Chair of the Legislative and Ethical Committee (2010-2013).
Cody received his law degree from the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. Prior to law school, he graduated from North Carolina State University, with honors, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Philosophy.
Cody and his wife, Morgan, live in Holly Springs with their 2 sons, where he is active in the community. Cody currently serves on the Board of Adjustment for the Town of Holly Springs, and previously served on the Parks and Recreation Department Steering Committee.
In his free time, Cody enjoys outdoor activities, such as boating, camping, skiing, coaching baseball, and attending live music events. When not outdoors, the Loughridges enjoy spending time together in the kitchen.
Education
Campbell University, Juris Doctor
North Carolina State University, Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Jurisdictions Licensed
United States District Court - Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
United States Bankruptcy Court - Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
North Carolina State Bar
Professional Affiliations
North Carolina Bar Association/Construction Section (Council Member, Term 2010-2013 & 2018-2021; Vice-Chair, Legislative Committee; Co-Chair, Legislative and Ethical Committee)
Wake County Bar Association
Before joining Bailey & Dixon, Douglas "D.C." Conant served as the law clerk for the Honorable Jacob E. Reger for the 26th Judicial Circuit of West Virginia. There, he handled an array of different subjects aiding in research and drafting for Judge Reger.
Job Titles:
- Co - Managing Partner
- Co - Managing Partner and Senior Litigation Partner
David Coats is the firm's co-managing partner and senior litigation partner. North Carolina Super Lawyers named David as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in North Carolina in 2024, as well as in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. He has been recognized and peer selected for each of the past 18 years for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America; Business North Carolina Magazine's Legal Elite; and North Carolina Super Lawyers - and in a variety of areas including insurance law, commercial litigation, construction law, and construction litigation. Since 1997, Martindale Hubbell has recognized David with its highest "AV" peer rating and has also recognized him with the highest rating as voted on by the Judiciary. In 2015, Best Lawyers in America selected David as Lawyer of the Year and the best lawyer in insurance law in the Raleigh metropolitan market.
David focuses his practice on commercial litigation, insurance coverage litigation, insurance bad faith and unfair claim practices, construction defect litigation, professional malpractice defense, appellate practice, and municipal and law enforcement liability law, as well as personal injury actions. Experienced in federal and state court proceedings, David is the attorney of record in over 35 published opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, Federal District Courts in North Carolina and South Carolina, and the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and he has tried a large number of cases to verdict both in state and federal court. David is also a certified mediator and has mediated and arbitrated a variety of cases.
David has lectured at over 25 continuing education seminars for organizations such as the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers. His sessions cover a variety of topics including insurance bad faith, construction litigation, the economic loss rule, insurance coverage litigation, jury selection, and trial techniques. He has also been inducted as a fellow in The Litigation Counsel of America - an invitation-only trial lawyer honor society, as a member in the American Board of Trial Advocates - invitation only association of experienced trial lawyers and Judges, and as a member of The Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
David's representative experience includes the following:
In 2022, concluded litigation (1) as lead policyholder counsel for trucking company sued for four wrongful death claims in state court in Pitt County, (2) as lead policyholder counsel for engineering firm named as a defendant in 26 separate suits for wrongful death, personal injury, and property damage arising out of the April 10, 2019, Durham Gas Explosion, (3) as insurer co-counsel for insurer sued for contractual and extra-contractual claims arising out of the Duke No-Poaching class action suits, and (4) as lead policyholder counsel for Cherokee County employees sued in multiple federal suits arising out of contended removal of minor children from custodial parents.
Serving as lead counsel for a contractor sued in multiple venues for wrongful death and personal injury actions arising out of the ConAgra Slim Jim Plant Explosion.
Serving as lead counsel for a contractor sued for alleged construction defects in 159 chain restaurants in 11 states.
Serving as lead counsel in defending the bad faith and insurance coverage claims arising out of the Duke Lacrosse cases.
Winning a jury verdict and a judgment of no liability after a multi-week construction defect trial for a general contractor that constructed a multi-million dollar residential project.
Securing dismissals for multiple defendants in a taxpayer derivative action in which the plaintiff sought to recover more than $15 million for an alleged fraud and conspiracy surrounding the construction and operation of an entertainment complex.
Serving as lead defense counsel in multiple assisted living facility memory care unit wrongful death and personal injury claims.
Serving as lead counsel for the general contractor, developer, or owner in over 125 construction defect and construction contract suits throughout the State.
Serving as lead counsel for the general contractor or developer in over a dozen suits involving alleged construction defects in large condominium complex or hotel construction defect suits on the North Carolina and South Carolina coast
Education
Wake Forest University, J.D., 1988
Guilford College, B.S., 1984
A litigator by training, David has served a first-chair counsel in more than 40 jury trials across 15+ counties throughout the State of North Carolina, represented parties in hundreds of mediation conferences, and taken more than a thousand depositions.
In recognition of his long-time achievements as a litigator, David was recently accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates ABOTA), a prestigious invitation-only organization of attorneys dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment (which guarantees the right to civil jury trials). David has also been selected as a North Carolina SuperLawyer in the area of Personal Injury - Defense for 2024.
Some of David's representative experience includes the following:
Obtained dismissal of bad faith and breach of contract action against insurer (and agent) based on alleged failure to properly advise and insure policyholder with respect to employee dishonesty coverage.
Obtained summary judgment in favor of UIM insurer in multiple claimant situation based on trial court's determination that tortfeasor's primary limits had been exhausted pursuant to a "per accident," instead of "per person," cap
Represented owner of a vacation rental property in defense of wrongful death claim asserted on behalf of minor killed in tragic elevator accident
Represented employer-owner and employee-driver in defense of claim for in utero brain injuries arising of motor vehicle accident involving pregnant mother
Obtained a favorable commercial arbitration award in favor of a financial institution that was alleged to have breached a software licensing agreement. The claimant software company sought in excess of $4,000,000 for alleged breach of contract and unjust enrichment damages in excess of $20,000,000, but the arbitrator awarded software licensing company only $13,000 in damages and ordered them to reimburse a percentage of the financial institution's attorneys fees incurred in defending the matter.
Obtained a bench trial verdict in favor of an insurance carrier sued by a former insured who alleged that the carrier had improperly denied fire loss claim under homeowner's insurance policy due to erroneous cancellation of the policy.
Obtained favorable jury verdict in motor vehicle negligence action brought by parents of minor child who had severe pre-existing disabilities and claimed post-traumatic stress disorder a result of flashbacks of the accident. Plaintiffs asked jury to award $150,000 to 200,000, but verdict returned for only $22,500.
Represented general contractor in a lawsuit filed against a county board of education for damages incurred upon the termination of a contract for the construction of a school building. Jury verdict rendered in favor of the general contractor.
Represented flooring installation subcontractor in a lawsuit filed against them by a national restaurant chain alleging defective work in more than 100 installations across multiple states. A favorable settlement reached while motion for summary judgment was under consideration by the trial court.
David graduated magna cum laude from St. Bonaventure University, earning a B.B.A. in Marketing with a secondary concentration in Management Sciences. He then attended the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he earned his J.D. degree with High Distinction, was Order of the Coif, and served as a Notes Editor on the Kentucky Law Journal.
David and his wife, Kate, a federal administrative law judge, are the proud parents of triplets who have recently graduated from college. In his spare time, David enjoys spending time with his family (including pets), reading, and exercise (having completed 50 marathons and currently ranking as a 3rd Degree Decided Black Belt in Taekwondo).
Education
St. Bonaventure University, B.B.A., magna cum laude, 1991
University of Kentucky, J.D. with high distinction (Order of the Coif), 1994
David Wisz regularly represents insurance carriers and their insureds in a variety of civil litigation matters. His broad litigation experience ranges from personal injury defense (including motor vehicle negligence, premises liability, wrongful death, construction jobsite injuries, and toxic torts), construction defect litigation, landowner disputes, and homeowners' association litigation. He also regularly counsels insurance carriers in matters of insurance coverage, and represents both carriers and insureds in litigation arising out of insurance coverage disputes.
A litigator by training, David has served a first-chair counsel in more than 40 jury trials across 15+ counties throughout the State of North Carolina, represented parties in hundreds of mediation conferences, and taken more than a thousand depositions.
In recognition of his long-time achievements as a litigator, David was recently accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates ABOTA), a prestigious invitation-only organization of attorneys dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment (which guarantees the right to civil jury trials). David has also been selected as a North Carolina SuperLawyer in the area of Personal Injury - Defense for 2024.
Devon is an associate in the firm's litigation section. Before joining Bailey & Dixon, Devon worked for a firm in Raleigh doing medical malpractice defense. There, she represented physicians, midlevel providers, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare entities in both North Carolina and Georgia n cases involving allegations of medical malpractice and negligence.
Prior to her start in private practice, Devon served as the judicial clerk for the Honorable A. David Copperthite in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. While earning her J.D. at University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Devon was a student attorney in the school's Public Health Law Clinic where she worked with community organizations and legislators to identify public health challenges, develop policy and law responses, and advocate for policy change in front of the Maryland General Assembly. Devon also served as a Senior Articles Editor for the Journal of Health Care Law & Policy, Treasurer of the Women's Bar Association, and was a member of the school's Student Health Law Organization. She earned her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences and a minor in Medicine, Health, and Culture from Furman University.
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Devon moved to Durham in 2021 with her husband, Matt. When not working, Devon can be found outside playing with their dog, Tennyson, going for bike rides on the American Tobacco Trail, or exploring restaurants in the area.
Education
Furman University, B.S., 2017
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, J.D., 2020
Bar Admissions
North Carolina Maryland
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- North Carolina Chairman for the U.S. Government
I.M. Bailey serves as North Carolina chairman for the U.S. Government's war bond sales campaign in the 1940s.
Heydt Philbeck concentrates his practice on complex civil litigation in the areas of commercial litigation, employment law, contract disputes, unfair business practices, state and federal personnel law, constitutional law, civil rights and occupational licensing.
John "J.T." Crook is an attorney in the firm's litigation section, regularly representing businesses, financial institutions, municipal police departments, insurance companies and their insureds in a variety of civil litigation matters.
A trial lawyer with experience in a wide variety of civil and regulatory litigation, Jeff Gray has represented individuals and business entities as both plaintiffs and defendants. In addition to his trial practice, he has argued dozens of cases before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. His practice is currently focused on government regulatory matters.
In addition to representing licensees before the multitude of occupational and professional licensing boards in North Carolina, he personally serves as legal counsel to the North Carolina Private Protective Services Board, the North Carolina Alarm Systems Licensing Board and the North Carolina Board of Landscape Architects and as hearing counsel to the North Carolina Board of Funeral Services and the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board. Jeff previously served as legal counsel to the North Carolina Board of Barber Examiners (2007-2011), the North Carolina Auctioneers Licensing Board (1994-2008), and has served as hearing counsel or legal advisor for six (6) other boards. He also serves as legislative agent and lobbyist for numerous professional and trade groups and associations.
Early in his career, he served as Special Assistant to former North Carolina Attorney General Lacy H. Thornburg (1985-1991) and later worked as an Assistant Attorney General (1992-1998) where he served as attorney for the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (1996-1998). He has taught for Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC (1996-1998) and is a frequent presenter at continuing education courses for attorneys and other professionals.
He served five two-year terms as a Commissioner on the North Carolina Rules Review Commission between 2001 and 2011.
Jeff is the author of published articles in the Campbell Law Observer; the Campbell Law Review; the North Carolina State Bar Journal; the Supreme Court Historical Society's Juridicus; numerous North Carolina Bar Association newsletters; Popular Government; various law enforcement and trade journals; and numerous publications for distribution by the Department of Justice to local and state government agencies.
Jeff is admitted to practice before all North Carolina state courts, the federal district courts in the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Education
Western Carolina University, B.S. in Political Science, 1981
Campbell University School of Law, J.D., 1985
Professional Affiliations
Member, Tenth Judicial District Bar and the Wake County Bar Association
Member, North Carolina Bar Association, Administrative Law Section and Government & Public Sector Section
Member of the North Carolina State Bar
Jeff McKinney's practice covers a wide range of business law and general corporate matters. Jeff has represented clients through formation, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate governance and compliance, commercial contract negotiations and drafting, intellectual property matters, employment issues, shareholder disputes and other failed business relationships, and an array of litigation matters.
Jeff has advised enterprises ranging from start-ups to middle-market companies to multi-national corporations across a broad range of industries, including technology, health care, manufacturing, advertising, software, and commercial real estate to name a few. Jeff also has experience in taxation and tax controversies, and administrative and regulatory law. Additionally, Jeff has represented numerous North Carolina occupational licensing boards, and has also represented individuals and corporate clients before various state administrative agencies and regulatory bodies.
Jeff has represented clients through formation, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate governance and compliance, commercial contract negotiations and much more.
Phil Collins practices primarily in the areas of employment law, state and federal personnel law, civil rights, constitutional law, personal injury, and insurance coverage. He is an experienced trial attorney who has represented a diverse array of individuals including state employees, law enforcement officers, teachers, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and business owners, among others.
Phil has tried multiple jury and bench trials across the state of North Carolina and has successfully represented clients before the North Carolina Supreme Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He has also appeared for clients in the United States District Court for all three federal districts in North Carolina.
Phil graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law where he served as a staff member on the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commerce. He has authored numerous publications from the National Business Institute in the area of insurance coverage.
In his spare time, Phil likes to do nothing in particular with his wife, Grace, and two daughters, Lucy and Julia. He also writes songs on occasion and makes the rest of the world suffer for his art by playing them in public.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 1986
North Carolina State University, M.A., 1996
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., honors, 2000
Ralph "Bo" McDonald went inactive effective in 2021 and is officially a Retired Member of the North Carolina State Bar. Bo's legal work focused on administrative and regulatory law, banking and credit union law, governmental affairs, public utilities, business law and commercial real estate law.
Bo joined Bailey & Dixon in 1965, and enjoyed a particularly active public utilities practice, representing industrial purchases of electricity in regulatory proceedings. He also advised the State Employees' Credit Union, North Carolina's largest and one of the largest in the country, on miscellaneous banking and credit union matters. His real estate practice included commercial transactional work for a range of purchasers and sellers across the State.
Bo was "AV" rated by Martindale Hubbell. He was a past Chairman of the Administrative Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, A.B., 1961
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, LL.B., 1964
Ralph "Bo" McDonald's legal work focuses on administrative and regulatory law, banking and credit union law, municipal law, governmental affairs, public utilities, business law and commercial real estate law.
Robert H. Merritt, Jr. ("Robin") merged his practice with the firm in 2003. He has practiced law in Raleigh, N.C. for over 40 years and concentrates his practice on tax controversies, business acquisitions and divestitures, real estate, commercial litigation and banking law. He regularly represents individuals and businesses in federal and state tax audit, collection and tax litigation matters with special emphasis on 941 civil penalty cases, sales and use tax adjustments and constitutional law issues affecting taxation. His endeavors in taxation resulted in Bailey & Dixon's receipt of Metro Magazine's "Metro Bravo" award for the Best Tax Law Firm for 2005, 2006 and 2007 and honorable mention for that award in 2008, 2009 and 2012.
Ruffin Bailey Joins Bailey
After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Law School, I.M. Bailey's son, Ruffin Bailey, joins Bailey, Holding & Lassiter, as a law clerk at the munificent sum of $225 per month.
Ruffin Bailey files for a State Senate seat in January and later serves four terms in the North Carolina General Assembly from 1965 to 1973.
Sabra is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Davidson College with a B.A. in philosophy. An honors graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law, she was also a Note and Comment Editor of the North Carolina Law Review. She is a member of the Tenth Judicial District Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, and the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys. Sabra is a recipient of North Carolina's Order of the Long Leaf Pine award and is in her second term on the North Carolina General Statutes Commission.
Sabra Faires concentrates her practice in government law, specifically in the areas of administrative law, elections and political law, and taxation. Sabra also counsels clients on strategies for achieving their legislative goals.
After receiving his law degree from UNC, Wright T. Dixon, Jr. joins the practice establishing the present-day name of our firm.
In the 1960s, Wright Dixon demonstrates his litigation prowess in a key case establishing that a baseball league has a duty to use due care in protecting baseball umpires against attacks by frenzied fans.
Dixon's commitment to professional service is highlighted in his terms as President of both the Wake County Bar and North Carolina State Bar in the 1960s. Soon after, the profession honored him with the Wake County Bar's Joseph Branch Professionalism Award.