Hillary M. Kies

Attorney

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. — Winston Churchill

Passion and perseverance make Hillary Kies a truly excellent litigation attorney.  Her keen eye for detail and her ability to view an entire issue make her an extraordinary asset to our team and our clients, and her positive spirit and sense of humor make her a joy to be around.  Hillary excels at efficiently analyzing complex facts and complex legal positions, putting in the hard work that is required to achieve her clients’ goals.

Hillary represents plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of litigation matters before North Carolina’s state courts, including the North Carolina Business Court, and federal courts.  Her work has contributed to significant outcomes in personal injury cases, class actions, and commercial litigation. As a litigation attorney certified to practice in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Hillary also represents injured claimants before the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

Hillary’s interest in the law began while working for a member of European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.  Hillary was a member of Phi Beta Kappa at Furman University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, Magna Cum Laude.  At Wake Forest University School of Law, Hillary excelled academically and was an Articles Editor on the Wake Forest Law Review.  Hillary participated in the Appellate Advocacy Clinic at Wake Forest, winning a case in the Fourth Circuit that would eventually be heard by the Supreme Court.  In that case, Hillary and others represented a group of homeowners in the Asheville area who sought to bring a claim alleging that a nearby corporation had released TCA and other hazardous substances into the groundwater, contaminating their well water.  The homeowners had been unaware of this pollution until the EPA notified them, well after North Carolina’s ten-year window for bringing a claim had passed.  The case involved detailed interpretation of federal statutes and Congressional intent, and led North Carolina to amend its statutory system so that these types of claims would not be barred.  North Carolina residents can now bring personal injury and property damage claims related to the effects of hazardous substances despite learning of the problem years later.

Through her position as a Board Member with the Young Lawyers Section of the Greensboro Bar Association, Hillary coordinates volunteer opportunities and helps establish connections among young attorneys in the area.  Hillary enjoys spending her free time reading and traveling.


Education & Academic Honors

Education
  • J.D., cum laude, Wake Forest University School of Law, 2013
  • B.A., magna cum laude, Furman University, 2010
Academic Honors
  • Articles Editor, Wake Forest Law Review
  • Order of the Coif, Wake Forest University School of Law
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Furman University

Admissions

  • North Carolina, 2013
  • United States District Court, Middle District of North Carolina, 2013
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 2018
  • United States District Court, Western District of North Carolina, 2022
  • United States Court of Federal Claims, 2022

Professional Memberships & Leadership

  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • Greensboro Bar Association, Mentoring Program Committee Chair
  • Greensboro Bar Association, Board Member for Young Lawyers Section
  • NCBA Litigation Section Council Member, 2020-23
  • NCBA Litigation Section CLE Committee, 2015-2016

Achievements

  • North Carolina Super Lawyers, General Litigation Rising Stars (2022)

Presentations & Publications

  • Preston v. Leake: Applying the Appropriate Standard of Review to North Carolina’s Campaign Contributions Ban, 47 Wake Forest L. Rev. 875 (2012)