1001 West Fourth Street, Winston-Salem, NC USA 27101
4208 Six Forks Road Suite 1400, Raleigh, NC USA 27609
Chad is co-leader of the firm's Healthcare Payer Practice and a member of the firm's ERISA Litigation and Class Action teams. He represents plaintiffs and defendants in health care, ERISA, and complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts in North Carolina and across the United States, as well as before international and domestic arbitration panels. He has tried jury and non-jury cases, including ERISA, health care, and property use matters, and has advanced and defended class actions through all stages of litigation.
Chad’s health care practice includes transactional and litigation matters representing payors, providers, intermediaries, and vendors in the industry. He has represented clients in payor-provider payment disputes, coordination of benefits disputes, credentialing, provider and vendor contracting, benefits matters, and regulatory compliance.
He has represented ERISA plans and plan sponsors, administrators, and other fiduciaries in litigation in the employee benefits and health care contexts. Chad has litigated a variety of claims, including those for denial of benefits, breach of fiduciary duty, appropriate equitable relief, and co-fiduciary liability.
Chad also counsels clients on business torts, breaches of contract and warranty, unfair trade practices and other statutory causes of action, trade secrets, intellectual property, and defamation.
Prior to rejoining the firm, Chad was in-house counsel for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina where he managed a wide variety of legal issues, including supporting the Network Management and Provider Credentialing teams. His work included regulatory compliance, provider, intermediary, and vendor contracting, dispute avoidance and resolution, and counseling on strategic initiatives such as new product and programs development.
Chad was recognized in 2019, 2020 and 2021 by The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and again in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 for Health Care Law and Commercial Litigation. He was listed in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business for General Commercial Litigation. Chad was named a "Legal Elite" in 2020 by Business North Carolina magazine. He was recognized as a North Carolina "Super Lawyer" in 2023, 2024 and 2025 for Healthcare Law and from 2014 to 2016 for Business Litigation and as a North Carolina "Rising Star" in 2013 and the three years immediately preceding for Business Litigation by Super Lawyers magazine. Chad, known for his healthcare law expertise and accomplishments, was one of 20 attorneys recognized by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly in its 2023 “Power List” for Healthcare. He was named an Emerging Legal Leader by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly in 2011. Chad was also recognized as a Triad "Mover & Shaker" by Business Leader magazine in 2011 and as one of Triad Business Journal's "40 Leaders Under Forty" in 2010. He is peer rated by Martindale Hubbell as AV® Preeminent™, the highest rating in ethical standards and legal ability.*
Experience
Representative Health Care matters:
Represented a North Carolina health insurer in the North Carolina Business Court in a putative class action brought by chiropractors against the insurer and other health care payors alleging antitrust, unfair and deceptive trade practice, breach of fiduciary duty, and declaratory judgment claims arising out of payors’ relationship with an intermediary managing their chiropractic provider networks. Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal; matter affirmed on appeal.
Represented a North Carolina health insurer in lawsuit brought by specialty pharmacy asserting claims for violation of the North Carolina Pharmacy of Choice statute and related common law claims over exclusion from specialty pharmacy network due to pharmacy’s failure to satisfy network participation requirements. Obtained dismissal at summary judgment; matter affirmed on appeal.
Represents a North Carolina health insurer in lawsuit with North Carolina rural hospital alleging hospital’s wrongful and fraudulent submission of more than $76 million in urine drug screening lab tests. Matter is ongoing.
Represented a North Carolina third party administrator of health benefits in lawsuit brought by assignee of out-of-network surgical center alleging breach of contract and promissory estoppel arising out of disagreement over calculation of UCR and application of payment exclusions. Matter successfully resolved after dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction.
Represented a North Carolina third party administrator of health benefits in lawsuit brought against it, municipal-sponsored group health plan, and municipality by a municipal employee enrollee of the plan challenging the application of certain plan exclusions for “illegal acts” arising out of an alcohol-related auto accident. Matter successfully resolved. Represented North Carolina health insurer in Medicare primacy dispute with hospital system and employer sponsor of group health plan resulting from employer’s failure to disenroll employee at time of retirement. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented North Carolina health insurer in suit against health care provider over fraud, waste, and abuse arising from overbilling for diluted allergen shots. Obtained successful result during jury trial.
Representative ERISA matters:
Represented third party administrator of health benefits in lawsuit brought by health benefit plan and plan sponsor over alleged failure to comply with regulations related to the claims procedure under Section 502 of ERISA. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in longstanding ERISA class action alleging breach of fiduciary duty related to RJRT’s 401K plan. Obtained successful defense verdict after bench trial; matter affirmed on appeal.
Represented pension plan administrator and plan sponsor in suit involving ERISA claims for benefits, breach of fiduciary duty, and equitable estoppel. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented a North Carolina health insurer in lawsuit brought by health care provider asserting ERISA and common law claims arising out of unpaid medical benefits. Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal.
Represented employer sponsor of group health plan and third party administrator of health benefits in lawsuit brought by an employee enrollee asserting ERISA claims resulting from denial of health benefits to minor infant for cochlear implants based on application of corporate medical policy. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented beneficiaries in dispute with plan administrator of ERISA retirement plan over claim for benefits under contested beneficiary designation forms. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented health benefits plan administrator and plan sponsor in dispute with health care provider over alleged assigned benefits arising out of dialysis treatments. Matter successfully resolved.
Representative Class Action matters:
Represent an individual and putative class of North Carolina consumers in litigation with national durable medical equipment provider alleging systematic and predatory use of unfair and deceptive debt collection practices to collect fees, penalties, and other charges that were never owed by consumers. Matter is ongoing.
Represented a North Carolina third party administrator of health benefits in putative class action brought by participants of an employer sponsored health benefit plan alleging ERISA breach of fiduciary, denial of benefits, and equitable relief and under COBRA arising out of plan sponsor’s bankruptcy and termination of the plan. Matter successfully resolved prior to class certification.
Represented Volvo Penta of the Americas, a global supplier of engines and power solutions for marine and industrial applications, in a nationwide putative class action asserting claims for product liability/breach of warranty, quantum meruit/unjust enrichment, and conversion arising out of allegedly defective marine propulsion products. Matter successfully resolved after class certification denied.
Represented Volvo Group North America, one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of Class 8 trucks, in a nationwide putative class action asserting claims for breach of implied and express warranty, breach of contract, and related claims arising out of allegedly defective diesel engines. Matter successfully resolved after class certification denied.
Represented federal employees in several class actions – one in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the Federal Circuit and the other in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and the First Circuit – against the United States asserting breach of contract and related claims arising out of the government’s violation of the terms of a prior settlement agreement with a class of federal employees who worked in the “non-foreign” or “COLA” areas of the United States, which includes Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, and Alaska, by, among other things, eliminating COLA payments to class members. Matter resolved after appeal.
Representative Complex Commercial Litigation matters:
Represent a global infrastructure company and its U.S. affiliate in defense of lawsuit brought by supplier of infrastructure products alleging misappropriation of trade secrets and other business torts, and in assertion of third party claims against the supplier’s former employee for selling products containing allegedly misappropriated trade secrets. Matter is ongoing.
Represented the developer of large LED advertising sign in Times Square, New York, in lawsuit against solutions company and technology integrator, architectural and engineering firms, and survey companies for breach of contract and warranty, misrepresentation, negligence, and other claims arising out of project delays and low-quality and defect-riddled sign. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented subsidiary of global metals service company in lawsuit with process and mechanical contractor over contractor’s failure to pay for steel products supplied for and incorporated into microsystems plan in China. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented developer of wood pellet facility in contested case before the NC Office of Administrative Hearings brought by environment group against the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality challenging certain air quality permits granted to the developer. Obtained Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal.
Represented credit union property owner in lawsuit against aircraft maintenance company owning adjacent land asserting claims under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), violations of the North Carolina Oil Pollution and Hazardous Substances Control Act, private nuisance, trespass, negligence, and contribution arising out of migration of environmental contamination onto client’s property. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented a North Carolina environmental and industrial resources company in an action against a facility from which it purchased soil for use as clean backfill at a site undergoing environmental remediation under the North Carolina Dry-Cleaning Solvent Cleanup Act (DSCA) Program. The soil was contaminated with petroleum, necessitating immediate removal, cleanup, and further involvement by state regulators. Matter successfully resolved.
Represented land owner in case brought against adjacent land owner asserting claims for nuisance, trespass, riparian rights, negligence, and violation of certain environmental and dam safety statutes arising out of neighbor’s construction of an upstream dam and irrigation pond that cut off and contaminated downstream water supply. Achieved successful jury verdict.
Represented R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in North Carolina Business Court litigation with competitor over the use of the word “pleasure” in tobacco advertising arising out of the parties’ settlement of trademark disputes. Matter successfully resolved.
Insights View All
University of North Carolina School of Law J.D. (2004) with honors
University of Alaska, Anchorage B.A. (2001) History
North Carolina (2004)
Virginia (2020)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2015)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2012)
U.S. Court of Federal Claims (2014)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (2005)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (2024)
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2005)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (2005)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia (2024)
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina - Honorable William L. Osteen (Aug 2004-Aug 2005)
Professional Activities
Wake Forest University School of Law, Adjunct Professor
Paying for Health Care (2018-Present
Native American Law (2008-2011)
21st Judicial District Bar, Member
Forsyth County Bar Association, Member
North Carolina Bar Association, Litigation Section, Member; Health Law Section, Member
Federal Bar Association, Middle District of North Carolina Chapter, Member
American Health Lawyers Association, Member
Chief Justice Joseph Branch Inn of Court, Member (2007-2009, 2019-Present)
North Carolina Journal of International Law & Commercial Regulation, Articles Editor (2003-2004) and Staff Member (2002-2003)
UNC Trial Law Academy, Executive Committee Member (2003-2004)
TYLA National Trial Competition, National Semi-Finalist (2003)
UNC Broun National Trial Team, Member (2002-2004)
Community Activities
NC Triad Fusion, Inc., Board of Directors (2018-present)
Twin City Youth Soccer Association, President (2016-2018), Vice President (2014-2016), Board of Directors (2013-present)
Salem Chapel, Elder (2020-Present)
Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County, Board of Directors (2014-2016)
The Forsyth Promise, Executive Team Member (2015-2016)
Community Chair, Forsyth County/Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools School Funding Work Group (2010-2011)
Family Promise of Forsyth County, Board of Directors (2009-2013)
Leadership Winston-Salem, Graduate (2008-2009)
Disclaimer
While we are pleased to have you contact us by telephone, surface mail, electronic mail, or by facsimile transmission, contacting Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP or any of its attorneys does not create an attorney-client relationship. The formation of an attorney-client relationship requires consideration of multiple factors, including possible conflicts of interest. An attorney-client relationship is formed only when both you and the Firm have agreed to proceed with a defined engagement.
DO NOT CONVEY TO US ANY INFORMATION YOU REGARD AS CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL A FORMAL CLIENT-ATTORNEY RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
If you do convey information, you recognize that we may review and disclose the information, and you agree that even if you regard the information as highly confidential and even if it is transmitted in a good faith effort to retain us, such a review does not preclude us from representing another client directly adverse to you, even in a matter where that information could be used against you.