HICKS MCDONALD NOECKER - Key Persons
Amber Engel joined the firm of Hicks McDonald Noecker, LLP August 2021 as our Legal Administrator. Amber is responsible for a broad range of administrative functions as well as legal support. She will likely be the person with whom you speak when calling our office. Helping our clients is what she enjoys most.
David W. McDonald received his B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina in 1976, together with joint J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1980.
Mr. McDonald began his legal career in Washington, D.C. where he was a partner in the law firm of Burch Wilhelm & McDonald. The practice in Washington, D.C. included complex business litigation, international trade, and employment law. Mr. McDonald returned to North Carolina in 1985 to raise his family and to practice law. Mr. McDonald is a founding partner in Hicks McDonald Noecker LLP. Mr. McDonald's practice in Greensboro extends to general representation of businesses and individuals; litigation in broad areas including business disputes, employment, discrimination, civil rights, defamation, condemnation and constitutional law; administrative practice; and appellate advocacy. Mr. McDonald practices in the trial, administrative and appellate courts of North Carolina as well as the United States District Courts for all Districts of North Carolina and in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. McDonald is active in public service in the community. He has served on the Board of Directors (Executive Committee) of the Greensboro Youth Soccer Association; the Board of Directors (formerly Chair) of the Music Academy of North Carolina; the Board of Directors of the Musical Arts Guild (Chair 2016-17); and the Board of Directors of Music For A Great Space. Mr. McDonald sings with Bel Canto Company and the Chancel Choir of First Presbyterian Church Greensboro.
Mr. McDonald is admitted to practice in the courts of North Carolina, the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Mr. McDonald is a member of The North Carolina State Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Retired Member of the North Carolina State Bar
John Wright's law practice is primarily bringing claims on behalf of people who have been subject to personal injury in some way by the acts of another. This includes motor vehicle accidents, products liability, catastrophic injury, wrongful death and personal injury that result from another's negligence or purposeful harm. John also advises clients on business formation, business disputes, buying and selling of businesses and avoiding liability.
John has a background in business consulting, which gives him a particular passion for business law. Additionally, he was the head coach for the University of Oregon Men's lacrosse team and later coached for a number of years at Grimsley High School. He served in the United State Peace Corps for two and a half years in the Republic of Georgia as an English teacher. He volunteers his time for legal pro-bono work, including tax preparation for low income citizens and volunteering for various pro-bono projects put on by the North Carolina Bar Association
John was born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, and attended Grimsley High School. He went to college at the University of Oregon and went to law school at Rutgers University School of Law. While in law school he served as the editor for the Women's Rights Law Review.
Outside of the practice of law, John spends a lot of his time devoted to music. He is a member of the Bel Canto choir in Greensboro and The Greensboro Choral Society, and with the New Garden Friends Meeting choir.
Richard H. Hicks, Jr. received his B.A. degree from Davidson College in 1966 before receiving the J. D. degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1969. He served two years of active duty as an officer in the United States Army.
Mr. Hicks has practiced law since 1971. He began his professional career in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was associated with the firm of Boyle, Alexander and Hord, practicing primarily in the field of insurance defense litigation. Thereafter, he was a staff attorney for a number of years in the legal department of an NYSE listed corporation based in Greensboro. Mr. Hicks returned to the private practice of law in 1981 in order to resume his civil litigation practice and establish his business practice. In 1994, he and David W. McDonald established the firm now known as Hicks McDonald Noecker LLP. Mr. Hicks's current practice is concentrated in the areas of business entity formations and business startups, entity governance, investor relations, business transactions, and other areas of corporate representation.
His current activities in the community include volunteer service at Greensboro Urban Ministry. Mr. Hicks is a former member of the Vestry of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro and a former member of the Board of Directors and Chair of Holy Trinity Day School. He has also served as a member of the Vestry and Senior Warden of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Hillsborough, North Carolina. He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Hillsborough Arts Council and a former member of the Board of Directors, Secretary and Chair of The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough. Upon his appointment by Governor Perdue, Mr. Hicks served a term as a Commissioner of The Historic Hillsborough Commission. Mr. Hicks is a former member of the Board of Directors, Secretary and President of Greensboro Opera Company (now Greensboro Opera).
Mr. Hicks is admitted to practice in the courts of North Carolina, the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, and the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. His professional affiliations include membership in The North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, and sustaining membership in the Greensboro Bar Association.