Colin McGrath

Biography

Drawing on a variety of experience, Colin works with clients to solve their most complex problems.

He frequently represents companies, shareholders, and executives in high-stakes litigation, often in the North Carolina Business Court, where he began his career clerking for two Business Court Judges. He has successfully and efficiently resolved shareholder disputes within closely held businesses, high-stakes contract litigation, and issues involving competition and securities.

Among his recent work in the North Carolina Business Court, state court, and federal court, Colin has:

• obtained a settlement worth more than $100 million on behalf of a minority shareholder’s estate in Business Court litigation involving the interpretation of a shareholders’ agreement;
• achieved a no-liability result in defense of a lawsuit in the North Carolina Business Court seeking more than $150 million related to a series of real-estate transactions;
• successfully defended an action brought by a former executive against clean energy company regarding option awards and securities claims;
• obtained dismissal of shareholder litigation involving a CBD processing business;
• obtained a favorable settlement, including recovery of attorneys’ fees, in a derivative action brought by shareholders of a nonprofit corporation in North Carolina Business Court;
• secured dismissal of intellectual property claims in the Eastern District of North Carolina; and
• successfully defended claims brought by a co-partner in a real estate development dispute pending in North Carolina Business Court.

Colin also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to working with landowners and developers to navigate complex rezonings, quasi-judicial approvals, and other land use and development issues. Colin frequently helps owners and developers across North Carolina obtain entitlements—and, when necessary, court orders—to establish or expand controversial land use projects, including solid waste facilities and other industrial uses. Colin regularly represents property owners in connection with rezonings and other legislative approvals for residential, commercial, and mixed-use projects throughout Wake and the surrounding counties.

Colin also combines his litigation and land use experience to assist local governments across the state in resolving their most complex land use, utilities, and development-related issues.

Colin began his career clerking for Judge John R. Jolly, Jr., followed by a clerkship with Judge Gregory P. McGuire of the North Carolina Business Court.

Areas of Focus

Credentials