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Meet Our Professionals

Deborah L. Edney

Counsel
Washington, DC | 202.854.2830
Fax | 202.217.2771

Debbie Edney has nearly 20 years of experience representing corporate, financial, and individual clients in all aspects of complex commercial litigation. Her experience includes managing, trying, and arbitrating cases involving trade secret misappropriation, noncompete agreements and other restrictive covenants, unfair and deceptive trade practices, independent contractor classifications, tortious interference, breaches of fiduciary duty, antitrust claims, financial and tax disputes, and corporate governance.

Across the board, Debbie takes pride in learning each client's business so that she can leverage that knowledge in litigation. Clients have praised her ability to understand and describe the intricate details of their businesses.

Debbie is the former leader of Parker Poe's antitrust, business torts, and white collar practice, as well as a former editor of the American Bar Association's Business Torts Journal. She has been an integral part of large trial teams that won rulings that continue to be cited in business litigation today, including involving trade secrets and unfair and deceptive trade practices. She has also litigated a merger-to-monopoly case before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). She has arbitrated cases before the American Arbitration Association (AAA), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), and International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR).

In addition, Debbie has held various positions with the U.S. Department of State. Her husband is a foreign service officer, and they have lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Australia, and Turkey.

Representative Experience

  • Secured a ruling on behalf of a leading national equipment rental company that competitors violated the North Carolina Trade Secrets Protection Act and the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act and were responsible for damages and attorneys' fees totaling $16.2 million.
  • Successfully tried a case to a jury for clients in the motorsports industry for unfair competition, libel per se, tortious interference, and other claims resulting in treble damages and an award of attorneys’ fees.
  • Represented employers in various industries, including health care, aviation, manufacturing, and government contracting, in lawsuits to restrain the disclosure of trade secrets and confidential information.
  • Successfully negotiated settlements in noncompete cases, including obtaining acknowledgements that the covenants in question were valid and enforceable, resulting in positive outcomes for the client without the expense of litigating through trial.
  • Defended one of the largest commercial baking companies in the U.S. against multiple lawsuits alleging, among other things, misclassification of independent contractors and breaches of federal employment statutes.
  • Represented shareholders and companies in disputes involving state securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and constructive fraud.
  • Successfully defended a real estate developer against a temporary restraining order obtained by a landowner, resulting in a denial of a preliminary injunction permitting the client to move forward with development.
  • Represented clients in commercial lease disputes, including disputes over boundaries, exclusivity provisions, common area maintenance (CAM) charges, summary ejectment actions, and other commercial real estate litigation issues.

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Honors & Awards

  • Benchmark Litigation, Future Star in North Carolina, 2014
  • Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award, Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, 2013

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • North Carolina Bar Association