Bailey & Dixon attorney Jeffrey P. Gray receives the North Carolina Bar Association Administrative Law Section’s Award of Excellence
Bailey & Dixon attorney Jeffrey P. (Jeff) Gray recently received the North Carolina Bar Association Administrative Law Section’s Award of Excellence. The award was presented during the Section’s annual meeting on March 19, 2025.
The Administrative Law Award for Excellence is designed to honor an attorney who:
- has practiced administrative or regulatory law for at least ten years and who has continuous experience in this practice.
- is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Administrative Law Section;
- has an exemplary record and reputation in the legal community and follows the highest ethical standards; and
- has an exemplary record of active participation in the efforts to improve the administrative and regulatory process for regulators, the regulated public, the citizens of North Carolina and in the interests of justice.
A graduate of Western Carolina University (1981) and Campbell Law School (1985), Gray served as Special Assistant to Attorney General Lacy Thornburg from 1985-91 and as an assistant attorney general from 1992-98, during which time he served as attorney for the N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (1996-98). He has also served as legal counsel to the N.C. Board of Barber Examiners (2007-11) and the N.C. Auctioneers Licensing Board (1994-2008) and has represented 13 of the state’s 56 occupational licensing boards in some manner over the course of his career. Gray currently represents four occupational and professional licensing boards and is hearings counsel for one.
Gray is a past chair of the Administrative Law Section (2007-08) and the Government & Public Sector Section (2005-06), which honored him in 2009 as the recipient of the section’s Grainger Barrett Award for Excellence. He has been a frequent CLE planner and presenter for both sections, an author of countless magazine and newsletter articles on the topic of administrative law and has presented at national conferences of the Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards, the Council on Licensure Enforcement and Regulation, and numerous associations related to his clients’ licensees.
Gray is also a member of the NCBA Zoning, Planning & Land Use Section.
“I was very honored by receiving this award, especially since it comes from my peers,” Gray said. “It was nice having it occur on what is kind of an anniversary for me-it’s my 40th year of practice, believe it or not. I graduated law school in 1985 and started in the AG’s Office in September when 150-B, the Administrative Procedures Act, went into effect on October 1st. I have been involced with administrative law literally since my first day.”
In addition to his board clients, Gray represents individuals and licensees before all other occupational and professional licensing boards.