Gwendolyn W. Lewis

How Gwendolyn Helps Clients

Gwendolyn brings more than a decade of counseling and litigation experience to her practice which focuses on civil litigation, complex labor and employment litigation and advising and professional liability litigation, assisting a wide range of clients including businesses, churches, healthcare organizations and providers, and educational institutions. She focuses on understanding her clients and their business, connecting across cultures, and delivering on client objectives.

She provides strategic counsel to individual and corporate clients in civil litigation matters at the trial level, represents clients in cases involving Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issues such as investigating, defending citations and assisting in abatement, and she advises clients on a broad range of issues before the United States Department of Labor and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, including issues arising under Title VII and Title IX.

Gwendolyn has extensive experience with representation and defense of medical providers and hospitals before state courts and administrative agencies, including multi-million-dollar medical malpractice litigation. She also has experience in litigation and day-to-day issues including restructuring, termination, demotions, workplace accommodations, and liability risk management. She has drafted and negotiated settlement documents, discovery, briefs, and other motions to defend employment, professional liability, and business claims, and is experienced in trial and witness preparation through all phases of litigation in state and federal courts.

Prior to joining Buchanan, Gwendolyn practiced commercial and employment litigation at a AmLaw 200 firm and regional North Carolina firm. She previously served as Alumni Director at Elon University School of Law where she facilitated the growth and development of the alumni association by engaging with partners, advocates, and investors. In this role, she also served on the institutional committee and managed policies related to Title IX, community responsibility and standards for reporting, preventing, and responding to Title IX accusations, and other university policies against federal legislation, and much more.

Earlier, Gwendolyn was an adjunct professor at the Elon University School of Law and instructed students on courtroom procedures, federal rules of evidence, and the American judicial system. After receiving her J.D., Gwendolyn was an associate for a boutique law firm where she gained valuable experience in all aspects of employment litigation, including employee manuals, non-compete, severance, and confidentiality agreements. Gwendolyn was also a judicial extern for the North Carolina Supreme Court for Justice Paul M. Newby.

What Clients Can Expect

Gwendolyn is an energetic, advocate, problem-solver, and collaborator with her clients. She believes listening is the key to understanding client objectives and works closely with clients to drive strategy. She provides excellent client service, is dedicated and decisive, and approaches challenges with creative solutions and results.

Outside the Office

Gwendolyn is active in her community, as well as local and state bar associations. She has served on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Board of Governors and its Foundation Board of Directors and remains active in its sections and committees. She promotes pro bono and public service in many of her community activities and leads the Charlotte-area 4ALL Statewide Day of Service. She is the Chair of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorney’s Labor and Employment Committee. She serves as Past-Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, promoting access to justice for North Carolina citizens through civil legal services. She also serves on the Lifespan Services, Inc. Board of Directors, empowering children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through provision of education, employment and enrichment opportunities.

I face opportunities, challenges, and high-stakes problems with the perspective that failure is never an option and I proceed through investigations, mediation, arbitration, motion practice, and trial with the best interest of my clients at the forefront of my decision-making.

Honors & Recognitions

• Legal Elite, Business North Carolina Magazine
  • Employment Law, 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2023
  • Litigation, 2021
  • Young Guns, 2015
• North Carolina Super Lawyers
  • Employment Litigation, 2018–Present
• Best Lawyers in America©
  • Healthcare Litigation, 2020-present
  • Labor and Employment Litigation, 2020-present
  • Employment Law – Management, 2022-present
• Leaders in the Law, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2019

Proof Points

Gwendolyn has extensive experience in a broad range of litigation matters and disputes and has successfully conducted trials, mediations, arbitrations, evidentiary and injunction hearings in both federal and state court actions. Her representations range, but include:

• Won multiple summary judgments for various commercial clients;
• Represented hospital in 100+ million-dollar matter alleging medical negligence and administrative negligence matter;
• Represented multiple private employers in negotiations of severance packages;
• Represented multiple private employers in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission matters and in drafting of position statements;
• Negotiated numerous settlements with favorable terms for her clients.
• Represented publicly traded company in regulatory action in Department of Labor before Administrative Law Judge;
• Represented national employer in American Arbitration Association litigation impacting multiple locations and employees with exposure exceeding $2,000,000.00; and
• Represented individual business owner in alleged breach of non-disclosure and non-solicitation agreement with alleged damages totaling approximately $500,000.00;
• Represented individual dental provider in alleged breach of non-competition agreement with purported damages totaling over $95,000.00;
• Represented medical provider in successful argument for summary judgment related to alleged medical negligence with damages seeking approximately $2,000,000.00;
• Represented corporation in alleged claims of negligence and punitive damages;
• Represented private business owner in filing and mediation of claims of breach of good faith and fair dealing, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment and unfair and deceptive trade practices;
• Represented individual medical providers before North Carolina Medical Board in appeal of disciplinary decisions.