Commercial Litigation

A Top Legal Team

Always in your corner

Bailey & Dixon’s litigation attorneys are experienced in all facets of litigation on behalf of a broad variety of businesses as well as individuals. We focus on constructing the best possible resolution on behalf of our clients whether it be an innovative and cost-effective early resolution or aggressive, protracted litigation. The firm is AV rated and included in the Martindale-Hubbell Register of Preeminent Lawyers.

Our litigators have been recognized by the Best Lawyers in America, North Carolina Super Lawyers, and the Legal Elite. Our practice covers a broad spectrum of litigation, including complex contract and tort litigation; professional malpractice defense; lending institution liability; municipal and law enforcement liability; employment and labor law; land use and condemnation; securities; class action disputes; and all features of insurance law.

Integrity above all

We try cases throughout North Carolina in both state and federal court and appear in all state and federal appellate courts. Our goal is to provide our clients with litigation representation grounded upon excellence, ethics, effective communication, and responsiveness.

Our Commercial Litigation Attorneys

David S. Coats

Co-Managing Partner
David Coats is the firm’s co-managing partner and senior litigation partner. North Carolina Super Lawyers named David as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in North Carolina in 2024, as well as in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
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Devon Collins

Associate
Devon is an associate in the firm’s litigation section. Before joining Bailey & Dixon, Devon worked for a firm in Raleigh doing medical malpractice defense.
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Philip A. Collins

Partner
Phil Collins practices primarily in the areas of employment law, state and federal personnel law, civil rights, constitutional law, personal injury, and insurance coverage. He is an experienced trial attorney who has represented a diverse array of individuals including state employees, law enforcement officers, teachers, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and business owners, among others.
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J.T. Crook

Partner
John "J.T." Crook is an attorney in the firm’s litigation section, regularly representing businesses, financial institutions, municipal police departments, insurance companies and their insureds in a variety of civil litigation matters.
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Chad Dunn

Partner
Chad is an attorney in the firm's litigation section, where he regularly represents and defends individuals, businesses, landlords, insurers and their insureds in a variety of civil actions throughout courts across North Carolina.
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Jeff Gray

Of Counsel
A trial lawyer with experience in a wide variety of civil and regulatory litigation, Jeff Gray has represented individuals and business entities as both plaintiffs and defendants.
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Cody R. Loughridge

Partner
Cody R. Loughridge represents corporate and individual clients in complex civil litigation, including construction, commercial collections, contract interpretation, and various other debtor-creditor disputes.
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Jeffrey D. McKinney

Partner
Jeff has represented clients through formation, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate governance and compliance, commercial contract negotiations and much more.
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Robert H. Merritt, Jr.

Co-Managing Partner
Robert H. Merritt, Jr. (“Robin”) merged his practice with the firm in 2003. He has practiced law in Raleigh, N.C. for over 40 years and concentrates his practice on tax controversies, business acquisitions and divestitures, real estate, commercial litigation and banking law.
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J. Heydt Philbeck

Of Counsel
Heydt Philbeck concentrates his practice on complex civil litigation in the areas of commercial litigation, employment law, contract disputes, unfair business practices, state and federal personnel law, constitutional law, civil rights and occupational licensing.
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Ashley V. Stocum

Ashley V. Stocum

Associate Attorney
Ashley is an associate in the firm’s litigation section. Ashley earned her Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law with distinction, receiving the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship and Book Awards in her Legal Research and Writing and Contract Planning courses.
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David S. Wisz

Partner
David Wisz regularly represents insurance carriers and their insureds in a variety of civil litigation matters. His broad litigation experience ranges from personal injury defense (including motor vehicle negligence, premises liability, wrongful death, construction jobsite injuries, and toxic torts), construction defect litigation, landowner disputes, and homeowners’ association litigation.
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