Thomas R. West 
Partner
Education

Duke University, JD, 1979

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, 1975

Phi Beta Kappa

Order of the Golden Fleece

Professional and Community Activities

​DRC Certified Mediator - Superior Court
Board of Advisors, Sarah P. Duke Gardens
North Carolina Bar Association, Previous Chair, Administrative Law Section
North Carolina Courts Commission
Past Chair, Pfeiffer University Board of Trustees

Notable Accomplishments
Jurisdictions Licensed
301 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1900, Raleigh, NC 27601t: 919.783.2897|
P.O. Box 1801, Raleigh, NC 27602-1801f: 919.783.1075|

Tom has been actively involved in Administrative Law issues since 1986 when he was among the first five people appointed to serve as a North Carolina Administrative Law Judge. While serving as an ALJ, he heard a number of cases involving health care and environmental penalties and licensure.

Since joining Poyner Spruill, Tom has focused on health care penalty and licensure cases, occupational licensure cases (Medicine, Nursing, Psychology, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Funeral, Alarm Systems), rulemaking proceedings before the North Carolina Rules Review Commission, and representation of County governments.   Tom also lobbies in the General Assembly.

Tom is actively involved as a mediator of condemnation, personal injury, environmental penalty, wrongful death, construction defect, medical, and nursing home negligence cases.

Representative Experience

  • Currently representing two County governments in opposing the Navy's effort to site an Outlying Landing Field (OLF) in northeastern North Carolina
  • Represents a national non-profit provider of services to juveniles in the General Assembly
  • Represented a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certified teacher in successfully appealing NC Department of Public Instruction Denial of NBPTS salary supplement
  • Represented numerous medical providers in certificate of need cases since 1983​

Prior Legal Experience

In 1986, Tom was among the first five people appointed to serve as a North Carolina Administrative Law Judge.  He served in that position until May 1997 when he left to join Poyner Spruill. 


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