Barrett & Farahany Taps Top Specialist for Major North Carolina Expansion

ATLANTA, GA – January 08, 2026 – National employee-rights law firm Barrett & Farahany has announced a significant expansion into North Carolina, a move anchored by the strategic addition of Kathryn Abernethy, a Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law. Ms. Abernethy joined the firm on January 5, 2026, signaling a major push to extend its renowned advocacy for workers into the key metropolitan markets of Raleigh, Charlotte, and the Piedmont Triad.

The move is seen as a calculated step by the Atlanta-based firm, which has built a national reputation for litigating complex workplace injustice cases. By bringing on an attorney with Abernethy’s deep regional expertise and unique career trajectory, Barrett & Farahany is positioning itself to meet a growing demand for sophisticated employee-side representation in one of the Southeast's most dynamic economic regions.

A Strategic Play in a Competitive Legal Landscape

Barrett & Farahany is already a formidable force in employment law. Consistently recognized by ranking bodies like Best Law Firms, which awarded its Atlanta office Tier 1 metro rankings for "Employment Law – Individuals" in 2025, and Chambers and Partners, the firm has long been considered one of the largest and most established employee-rights practices in the Southeast. This expansion builds on a solid foundation of offices in Georgia, Alabama, and Illinois, with licensed attorneys practicing across nine states and the District of Columbia.

The firm's entry into North Carolina is not merely an addition of territory but a strategic deepening of its regional influence. The state's major hubs—Raleigh's tech and research corridor, Charlotte's financial center, and the manufacturing and logistics backbone of the Piedmont Triad—represent a vibrant but complex employment environment. The market already supports established employee-side firms, including The Noble Law, where Ms. Abernethy previously served as a Partner, indicating a mature and competitive landscape for legal talent focused on worker advocacy.

By planting a flag with a high-profile specialist, Barrett & Farahany aims to immediately establish a strong presence and compete for significant cases involving discrimination, wage violations, and whistleblower retaliation, furthering its mission of "championing fairness, dignity, and justice in the workplace."

From Corporate Defense to Employee Champion

Central to this expansion is the unique and extensive background of Kathryn Abernethy. With a legal career spanning 25 years, her experience provides a rare 360-degree view of employment disputes. She spent over 15 years at major international law firms, where she represented and advised corporate clients in high-stakes litigation. This period on the defense bar gave her firsthand insight into the strategies and resources employers deploy in workplace conflicts.

In 2017, she transitioned her practice to focus exclusively on representing employees, eventually becoming a Partner at The Noble Law. This shift from corporate defense to employee advocacy is a defining feature of her career, equipping her with a formidable understanding of both sides of the aisle.

Her credentials underscore her expertise. A graduate of Washington University School of Law, she finished in the top 10% of her class, earning the prestigious Order of the Coif honor. In 2025, the North Carolina State Bar recognized her as a Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law, a distinction held by a small fraction of attorneys in the state. Her legal prowess is further evidenced by her successful appellate work, notably as lead counsel in Sempowich v. Tactile Systems Technology, Inc., a published Fourth Circuit decision that set an important precedent in Equal Pay Act litigation nationwide.

Responding to Evolving Workplace Challenges

The timing of Barrett & Farahany’s expansion aligns with several powerful trends reshaping the modern workplace. The post-pandemic normalization of remote and hybrid work has introduced a host of legal complexities for both employers and employees, touching on everything from multi-state wage and hour compliance to the virtual application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Ms. Abernethy’s expertise directly addresses these evolving issues. Her practice covers a wide array of federal and state statutes, including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the North Carolina Wage & Hour Act, which are critical in resolving disputes over pay for remote workers. Furthermore, her experience with whistleblower claims under statutes like the North Carolina Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act (REDA) is increasingly relevant as employees report misconduct in complex corporate and medical industries.

The firm's expansion is a direct response to the growing need for specialized legal counsel capable of navigating these intricate matters. From class and collective actions involving widespread wage violations to individual claims of discrimination and harassment under Title VII, the legal challenges facing North Carolina’s workforce are becoming more nuanced. Abernethy’s background in handling administrative matters before the EEOC and the Department of Labor further strengthens the firm’s ability to provide comprehensive representation from the initial complaint to federal court litigation.

Bolstering Worker Advocacy Across the Southeast

With Kathryn Abernethy leading its North Carolina operations, Barrett & Farahany is not only entering a new state but is also reinforcing its entire Southeastern network. Her admission to practice in both North Carolina and Illinois creates a bridge between the firm's established Chicago office and its growing presence in the Carolinas. This interconnected expertise enhances the firm's ability to handle cases for clients who may work for companies with a national footprint.

The addition strengthens the firm’s capacity to advocate for workers facing injustice, from wrongful termination and retaliation to complex violations of their civil rights. As a featured speaker for the North Carolina Bar Association and a media commentator, Abernethy brings a public-facing voice to the firm’s mission, helping to educate workers on their rights in an ever-changing legal environment.

This strategic hire and territorial expansion underscore Barrett & Farahany’s commitment to being a leading force for employee rights. By investing in top-tier legal talent in a key growth market, the firm is doubling down on its foundational goal of ensuring that fairness and dignity prevail in workplaces across the region and the nation.