S. McKinley Gray, IIILabor and Employment AttorneyWard and Smith, P.A.Websitewww.wardandsmith.comOrganization ProfileFull ProfileConnectEmail252-672-5476 Professional Biography Ken leads the Labor and Employment practice. His practice experience encompasses various areas of employment-related litigation. He advises clients and litigates cases involving all forms of employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, and breach of employment contracts from small start-up companies to Fortune 500 corporations. Ken is a frequent lecturer on employment discrimination, workplace retaliation, workers' compensation, and wage and hour law issues. He has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his fields of law and serves in leadership roles with various legal and civic organizations. Ken is a former president of the Craven County Bar Association, a former two-term president of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Coastal Carolina, and Chairman of the Deacons of First Baptist Church of New Bern. More Legal and Business Bylines From S. McKinley Gray, III Key Employment Law Issues Employers Need to Watch in 2025 - (Posted On Tuesday, January 14, 2025) Part 1 in Heatwaves of Drama: A Case Study in "What Not to Do" for Southeastern HR Professionals - (Posted On Friday, December 13, 2024) Turning Back Overtime – Texas Judge Strikes Down Salary Threshold Increase - (Posted On Tuesday, November 19, 2024) Legal Showdown Continues: FTC Appeals Court Ruling Against Non-Compete Ban - (Posted On Thursday, October 24, 2024) Having the Talk: How Employers Should Prepare for Difficult Disciplinary Situations - (Posted On Tuesday, May 14, 2024) Raising the Rate: DOL Expands Overtime Protections to Millions of Workers - (Posted On Wednesday, April 24, 2024) The EEOC Issues a Proposed Rule Regarding the Pregnant Workers' Fairness Act - (Posted On Friday, September 15, 2023) NLRB Turning Up the Heat Over Employee Handbooks - (Posted On Monday, August 14, 2023) Employers Take Note: New Laws Provide Protections for Pregnant and Nursing Employees - (Posted On Wednesday, March 08, 2023) Confidentiality and Non-Disparagement Agreements with Non-Supervisory Employees: New Limitations from the NLRB - (Posted On Wednesday, March 01, 2023) Pagination Page 1 Next page Next › Current Legal Analysis IRS Workforce Reductions: Delays and Increased Legal Challenges by: Patricia A. Pileggi , Alex J. Becker Businesses Get a Break: DOL Won’t Enforce 2024 Independent Contractor Rule by: Justin R. Barnes , Jeffrey W. Brecher Federal Regulators Announce Non-Enforcement of the 2024 Rule for Mental Health Parity by: David Shillcutt , Kevin J. Malone Colorado’s Historic AI Law Survives Without Delay (So Far) by: Nathaniel M. Glasser , Eleanor T. Chung SEC Regulation in a Non-Regulatory Environment by: Margaret A Dale , Michael R. Hackett Understanding the Scope of “Artificial Intelligence (AI) System” Definition: Key Insights From The European Commission’s Guidelines by: Bartolome Martin AI Governance Remains Critical Despite Political Pendulum Swings by: Michael R. Justus Beyond the Forest: Navigating the EU’s Deforestation Rules by: John Verwey , Rachel E. Lowe Colorado Legislature Passes Amendments to Colorado Privacy Act by: Hunton Andrews Kurth’s Privacy and Cybersecurity A Quest Against Middle-earth: Lord of the Fries Successfully Registers LORD OF THE Mark by: Rachelle Downie , Thomas F. Meyer The Renaissance of HVDC for a Low Carbon Future: Part 2 by: Harry K. Brunt Court: Nevada Allows Controllers To Vote In Their Own Interest by: Keith Paul Bishop California Supreme Court Prohibits Contractual Limitation of Liability Clauses for Intentional Misconduct by: Richard B. Newman DOJ Moves for Voluntary Dismissal of Its Appeal of Decision Finding that Section 230 Offers Immunity to Online Retailers by: Lynn L. Bergeson , Carla N. Hutton Estoppel Estopped? by: Jason A. Engel , Erik J. Halverson Upcoming Events May 22 2025 Kidd Aitken & Chambers USA Q&A May 13 2025 What Conflicts Trigger an Insurer’s Duty to Provide Independent Counsel to Defend an Insured May 14 2025 Technology Forum: Contracting and Privacy Considerations Associated With AI, Software Compliance Audits, and Contracting and Procurement Efficiencies May 15 2025 Build Success: Save the Date for Ward and Smith’s 2025 Construction Conference Print
