Biography

Duane Jones is a Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice with 23 years of experience. Since 2010, he has focused exclusively on appellate matters and is instrumental in navigating clients through appeals.

In his practice, he has contributed to over 200 briefs to the state appellate courts and has 20 oral arguments before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.

In addition to leading the firm’s appellate practice group, Duane has remained active in the North Carolina State Bar Appellate Rules Committee since 2012 where he is involved in improving the rules governing North Carolina appellate procedure.

A regular presenter on appellate practice, Duane has presented at the North Carolina Bar Association Appellate Practice Section Annual Meeting, the Workers’ Compensation Practice Section Annual Meeting, the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys seminars, and before county bar associations. He has authored several amicus briefs on behalf of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys.

Duane began his career as a workers’ compensation attorney, and he continues to handle appeals before the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Before joining Hedrick Gardner, he served as a law clerk to Judge Linda McGee of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

When not practicing law, you might find Duane hiking in the beautiful North Carolina mountains. He’s also a devoted sports fan, cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Braves, and UNC Tarheels.

Experience and Involvement

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT:

  • North Carolina State Bar Appellate Rules Committee (2012-present)
  • North Carolina State Bar Appellate Practice Specialization Committee (2018-present, Vice-Chair 2023-2024; Chair 2025)
  • North Carolina Bar Association – Appellate Practice Section and Workers’ Compensation Practice Section
  • North Carolina Bar Association Appellate Practice Section Council (2023-present)
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Association
  • North Carolina Guardian Ad Litem Pro Bono Appellate Program (2023-present)
  • North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
  • NCADA Amicus Committee (2024-present)

PRESENTATIONS:

  • Basic Principles in Workers’ Compensation Law, North Carolina Court of Appeals’ New Clerk Orientation (September 14, 2024)
  • Settling Your Workers’ Compensation Case on Appeal, 2024 NCADA Workers’ Compensation Section Seminar (April 25, 2024)
  • Extended Benefits, 2024 NCADA Workers’ Compensation Section Seminar (April 25, 2024)
  • “I Thought We Were Exclusive . . . .” The Court of Appeals and the Jurisdiction of the Industrial Commission, 2024 NCADA Fall Seminar (October 6, 2023)
  • NCADA Amicus Briefs Pivotal Cases: Insights and Analysis, 2024 NCADA Fall Seminar (October 6, 2023)
  • Basic Principles in Workers’ Compensation Law, North Carolina Court of Appeals’ New Clerk Orientation (September 13, 2023)
  • From the Industrial Commission to Appearing Before the North Carolina Court of Appeals: Preparing a Proper Record on Appeal in a Workers’ Compensation Case, 2021 NCBA Workers’ Compensation Section Fall Program (November 5, 2021)
  • Tips for Appeals, Buncombe County Bar Meeting (November 13, 2019)
  • Co-Planner, Getting Straight A’s: Aids, Accessible Applications, Advice and Approaches to Advocacy, 2019 NCBA Appellate Practice Section Annual Meeting (September 13, 2019)
  • Moderator, Tips From the Clerk’s Office, 2019 NCBA Appellate Practice Section Annual Meeting (September 13, 2019)
  • Tips for Appeals, New Hanover County Bar Meeting (April 18, 2019)
  • Wilkes v. City of Greenville and the Legislative Aftermath, 2018 NCBA Workers’ Compensation Section Annual Meeting (February 10, 2018)
  • Wilkes, Bentley and More:  The Legislature Speaks, NCADA Fall Seminar (September 29, 2017)
  • The Other Appeals: A Discussion of Administrative Agency Appeals, 2015 NCBA Appellate Practice Section Annual Meeting (October 2, 2015)
  • Prevailing on Appeal:  An Oral Advocacy Skills Training of an Appellate Case, NCADA Young Lawyers Seminar (July 25, 2012)
  • How to Prepare a Proper Record on Appeal of Appeals to the Court of Appeals from the Industrial Commission, 2012 NCBA Workers’ Compensation Section Annual Meeting (February 11, 2012)
Representative Matters

Cases or matters referenced are for illustrative purposes only, and do not represent the lawyer’s or law firm’s entire record.  Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits.  The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicted based upon a lawyer’s or law firm’s past results. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

  • Chambers v. Transit Management, 360 N.C. 609, 636 S.E.2d 553 (2006)
  • Gregory v. W. A. Brown & Sons, 363 N.C. 750, 688 S.E.2d 431 (2010)
  • Bryson v. Coastal Plain League, et al. N.C. App., 729 S.E.2d 107 (2012)
  • Diaz v. Smith, _N.C. App_, 724 S.E.2d 141 (2012)
  • Gray v. United Parcel Services, _N.C. App_, 713 S.E.2d 126 (2011)
  • Norman v. Food Lion, _ N.C. App_, 713 S.E.2d 507 (2011)
  • Nale v. Ethan Allen, 199 N.C. App 511,  682 S.E.2d 231 (2009)
Honors

HONORS: