Experience

• Owner, Law Offices of Denise Smith Cline, PLLC. since 2010

• Partner, Smith Moore Leatherwood, LLP, 2003-2010

• Member, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC 1991-2003

• Associate, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC 1985-1991

• Law Clerk to Justice Burley Mitchell and, Chief Justice Joseph B. Branch, North Carolina Supreme Court, 1983-85

• Senior Lecturing Fellow, Duke University School of Law 

 

Recognitions

• Lawyer of the Year in Employment Law, Individuals, 2019, 2022

• Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law, 2014-2021

• Best Law Firms 2016 to Present, U.S. News & World Report

• Top 50 Women Lawyers in North Carolina, Top 25 Lawyers in Raleigh, NC, Super Lawyers' Magazine, 2017 to present

• “Super Lawyer” in General Litigation by Law and Politics Magazine 2010-14, Employment Law 2015 to present

• Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite, Labor and Employment Law 2006 to present               

• Highest AV® Rating, Martindale-Hubbell            

• Chair, Raleigh Civil Service Commission

• Former Board Member and Chair, Triangle Pastoral Counseling 

• Former member Board of Directors, Wake County Smart Start

• Former member Board of Directors Way of the Greater Triangle

• Litigation Counsel of America, 2012 to present

• Wake County Bar Association

• North Carolina Bar Association

• American Bar Association

• American Health Lawyers Association

• AHLA Panel of Neutrals

• Panel of Neutrals, American Arbitration Association

• Panel of Neutrals, CPR

• Superior Court Certified Mediator 

• Member of Hayes Barton United Methodist Church

• Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)

 

Publications and Presentations

• “So Now What? A Candid Look at the Progress of Women in the Law”, Panelist, Fall Meeting, Litigation Council of America, October 2019.

• “Mediating Employment Matters,” North Carolina Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section Meeting, March 7, 2019.

• “Arbitrating Your Employment Law Case,” Advocates For Justice Continuing Education, February 1, 2019.

• Mediator Challenge, Co-presenter, North Carolina Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Section Meeting, March 2016.

• “Glass Slippers, Glass Ceiling.” Panelist, Spring Meeting, Litigation Council of America, April 2015.

• “Understanding the Impact of Health Care Reform on Employers", Lorman Seminar, August 2010.

• “Blogging, Social Media and the Workforce: Managing Privacy Issues.” Webinar Brighttalk, September 2009.

• “Raising a ‘Red Flag’: Understanding the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, the ‘Red Flag’ Regulations, and Their Impact on Health Care Providers,” Audio Seminar, October 23, 2008.

• “E-Privacy: How to Legally Monitor Employee Communications.” Center for Competitive Management audio conference on January 30, 2008, co-presenter with Anthony Oncidi of Proskauer Rose LLP.

• National Business Institute: “Wage and Hour Claims: a Practical Guide to Claim Resolution.” September 2006

• Health Care Industry Conference: “Privacy Concerns in the Workplace.” August 2006

• Wake County Human Services: “2006 Changing Faces: Issues in Workforce Diversity and Human Resources Conference.” May 2006

• National Business Institute: “Advanced Issues in North Carolina Employment Law.” Winter 2005

• North Carolina Bar Association: “Covenants not to Compete in the Healthcare Industry --- Still Enforceable in North Carolina.?” Fall 2005

• North Carolina Association of CPAs: “Staffing Smart for Physician Practices – Hiring, Retaining, and 

• Managing Medical Staff for Best Results.” Summer 2005Bowman Enterprises, Inc.: “Legal Pointers for Managing Documents in a Computerized Age.” Spring 2005

• N.C. Medical Society Website and Members Section Practice Management section: “Enforcing Physician Noncompetition Agreements: Five Myths, Five Tips.” Spring 2005

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