What does it take to be a trial lawyer? And how can young lawyers know if it’s the right choice for them? On this episode of Trying 2 Win, Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr, co-founders of the civil litigation firm Lincoln Derr, talk with fellow Lincoln Derr attorneys Gwendolyn Lewis and Ashley Bartolucci about their journey to litigation, what they love about it and how they determined what firm would be right for them. This episode is a must for any young lawyer trying to determine where they want their legal career to go.

About Gwendolyn Lewis:

When presented with an opportunity, challenge, or high-stakes problem, there are an abounding number of options. Failure is not on my list.

Gwendolyn W. Lewis is a litigator successfully representing individuals, businesses, and organizations in a wide range of areas including civil litigation, employment litigation, and professional liability litigation at the trial and appellate levels in both North Carolina and U.S. Federal Courts.

Gwendolyn has experience successfully defending employers, individuals, and corporations in employment litigation and obtaining defense verdicts on behalf of physicians and hospitals in multi-million-dollar medical malpractice cases. She is a “real deal” tried and true courtroom lawyer. Just ask her!

Gwendolyn faces the world with one mantra: failure is not on the table. She proceeds through mediation, arbitration, and trial with the best interest of her clients at the forefront of her decision-making.

She has served on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Board of Governors and its Foundation Board of Directors. She promotes pro bono and public service in many of her community activities and leads the NCBA’s Labor and Employment Section Pro Bono Committee. She serves as a Board of Directors member for the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy promoting access to justice for North Carolina citizens. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in Employment Law, Labor & Employment Litigation, and Healthcare Litigation, North Carolina Super Lawyer in Employment Law Defense and Rising Stars and has been elected to Business North Carolina magazine’s Legal Elite for Employment Law.

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Ms. Lewis earned her B.S. in Criminal Justice from North Carolina A&T State University and her J.D. from Elon University School of Law. She launched her career in Greensboro, North Carolina and later joined Lincoln Derr PLLC in Charlotte, North Carolina in April 2017.

About Ashley Bartolucci

Legal issues can be stressful. Ashley Bartolucci assigns high importance to easing the burdens and stresses of her clients so they can focus on their professions and families. Ashley anchors her litigation practice on general liability, medical malpractice, labor and employment, defense of law enforcement agencies, and data privacy and security.

Ashley defends corporations, health care providers, and long-term care companies in claims of professional negligence and general liability. She also defends clients before numerous licensing boards, including the North Carolina Board of Nursing and Medicine and the North Carolina State Bar.

Ashley represents companies in a wide variety of employment matters, including litigating employment claims before administrative agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and in federal court. In addition, she has expertise in defending employers against Title VII, ADEA, and ADA claims, breach of contract, and related tort claims. Ashley also assists her clients with various employment agreements such as separation agreements and developing employment policies and procedures.

Earlier in her career, Ashley was an Assistant State Attorney for the State of Florida, where she prosecuted more than 1,000 felony cases from pre-filing through resolution, including jury trials. She also evaluated crime scenes with law enforcement as a part of the vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter squad to gather and preserve critical evidence. Ashley’s experience as a prosecutor provides her with the knowledge and skills to handle claims from pre-suit through jury trial, including conducting thorough investigations, detailed discovery, and comprehensive pre-trial motions. Her prosecutorial experience is particularly useful in her defense of law enforcement officers accused of misconduct.

Ashley earned a Juris Doctorate from Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg, Florida. She also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Stetson University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Florida.

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Our Cover Art Background: “Brave Enough”

Artist: Sally Higgins

After many years of artistic pursuits of various kinds, Charlotte artist Sally Higgins turned to painting about 10 years ago. She works in oil, acrylic, encaustic and mixed media. Art provides Sally a welcome respite from her word-filled career as a trial lawyer.  See more of Sally’s art at sallyhigginsfineart.com and studioworksgallery.com. 

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