Dedicated Advocacy. Practical Solutions.
Ed Gaskins
- Partner, Chairman
Contact
Mindy Lee, Litigation Paralegal
Martha Kelly, Legal Assistant
Practice Areas
Biography
After more than 50 years, Ed is still excited to practice the profession he loves. He does so because it's intellectually challenging, satisfies both his competitive nature and his joy in collaborative teamwork with his colleagues, and is consistent with his desire to help others. He is known for his professionalism and passion for mentoring young lawyers.
When Ed started his practice, lawyers in Wake County for the most part were generalists not specialists. Thus Ed was in the courtroom in criminal and civil cases, including family law, commercial disputes, and personal injury as well as administrative hearings in federal contract claims, before the Utilities Commission and occupational licensing boards. He has appeared at the trial and appellate level in both state and federal courts. He has handled transactional matters and contract negotiation, including commercial and residential closings, and has served as general counsel to a bank, residential and commercial developers, a country club and homeowners associations. He has represented both taxpayers and tax representatives before the Property Tax Commission. He has been involved in toxic mold litigation involving serious personal injury for 30 years. Indeed, there are few attorneys practicing law in North Carolina today who can bring to bear on their clients' opportunities and problems the breadth and depth of knowledge and experience which Ed possesses. This experience over 50 years of diverse practice makes Ed the firm's ultimate problem solver whose advice and guidance is sought and respected by clients and fellow attorneys alike.
In recent years Ed has concentrated his practice in business problem solving and civil trial practice, primarily involving business-related disputes, but also property tax appeals, toxic mold and serious personal injury in federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate level. Clients (as well as opposing counsel) who have dealt with Ed have described him as being like a friendly bulldog: easy and pleasant to deal with but when necessary he bites hard and never gives up.
Education
- Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina
- J.D. - 1966
- Wake Forest University
- B.A. - 1963
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, 1966
- District of Columbia, 1979
- U.S. Federal Courts, 1968
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1983
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims, 1981
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina
- U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit
- U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Professional Associations
- North Carolina Bar Association, Board of Governors' Chair, Senior Lawyers Division, 2017 - 2018
- Wake County Bar Association, President, 2009 - 2010
- Wake County Bar Association, Professionalism Committee
- American Bar Association, Standing Committee on Professionalism
- North Carolina Associates for Justice
- American Associates for Justice
- Craven-Everett American Inn of Court, Founding Master and President
- North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice
- Chief Justices Commission on Professionalism
- North Carolina Commission on the Delivery of Legal Services
Honors
- WCBA Joseph Branch Professionalism Award, 2004
- NCBA General Practice Hall of Fame, 2012
- North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame, 2018
- Best Lawyers in America (2020 Wake County Best Lawyers in Appellate Practice), 2001 - 2003
- AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism, 2008 - 2010
Pro-Bono Activities
- Mentor, Campbell Law School "Connections," 2013 - Present
- Legal Aid, Lawyers on the Line. 1990 - Present
- Legal Aid of NC, Board of Directors
- BarCARES, Board of Directors
- Hayes Barton Baptist Church
- Chair of the Chamber of Commerce Education Committee
- Wake County Interfaith Council
Classes & Seminars
- The Ethics of Mentoring, Campbell Law School, 2017 to 2022
- Everything you want to know about Mold, Legal Aid of NC, 2019
- Strategic Planning for Law Firms, NC Bar Foundation, 2001
- Developing Teamwork with Highly Independent, NC School of Management, 1995
- Total Quality Management for Law Firms, NC Bar Foundation, 1993
Past Positions
- Sanford & Cannon Law Firm, Associate & Partner, 1968 to 1990
- U.S. Army, Captain, Military Intelligence, 1966 to 1968
Published Works
- Professional Responsibility and Professionalism, The Professional Lawyer, ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, January, 2006
- Co-Author, Chapter on Instructions to the Triers of Fact, NC Trial and Appeal, West Group, NC Practice, 1998