To visit Michael Best’s website, click here. Michael Best is pleased to announce the addition of 23 lawyers and 13 professionals from Forrest Firm in a strategic combination to expand the firm’s presence in North Carolina. In addition to Michael Best’s established Raleigh office, the firm will gain seven offices throughout the state, in Asheville, Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Greenville, Wilmington, and Winston-Salem. Forrest Firm is a full-service business law firm with offices across North Carolina. Since its inception in 2011, the firm has proudly represented clients all over the globe i ..read more

To visit Michael Best’s website, click here. CLIENT SERVICE When will Forrest Firm officially become a part of Michael Best? Forrest Firm joins Michael Best on January 1, 2022. Who will be my main point of contact? You will still be working with the same great team. We are just joining a larger platform to increase our ability to serve your needs. What will happen to the files of my previous work completed at Forrest Firm? These files will be archived for six (6) years and subject to disposal in accordance with the rules of the North Carolina State Bar after that time. If you need a document ..read more

Over the past decade, it has been our privilege to provide strategic, proactive legal services to help our clients achieve their full potential. We have assisted thousands of people and organizations since our inception and are grateful for each client that has entrusted us to be their legal partner. Our approach has been simple – treat others the way they want to be treated, provide predictable pricing, and deliver proactive and qualitatively excellent legal services. This approach has resonated with our clients and has allowed us to grow from a firm of one to a firm of over fifty attorneys ..read more

This Giving Tuesday, we are thrilled to announce the selection of two start-up organizations for Practicing with Purpose, 321 Coffee and Durham Success Summit! Both organizations align with Forrest Firm’s purpose to empower others to reach their full potential. They will each receive up to $5,000 in pro bono legal services provided by Forrest Firm attorneys, and $1,500 in accounting services provided by Durham-based accounting firm DMJ & Co., PLLC.  321 Coffee is on a mission to demonstrate the value of an inclusive business model by employing individuals with intellectual and develo ..read more

This month Forrest Firm attorney Jonathan Bogues is in the spotlight! Jonathan joined the Firm earlier this year, bringing strong ties to the community and exceptional client service. He currently counsels both our non-profit and commercial real estate clients.  North Carolina Central University’s Forty under Forty Alumni Awards Bogues recently selected Bogues as a 2021 honoree. “It was humbling to be notified of my nomination for NCCU’s 40 under 40 alumni award. I consider it an honor to be recognized alongside so many prestigious fellow alumni from this year and years past,” remarked B ..read more

This fall, we are excited to be awarding $5,000 in pro bono legal services to two North Carolina start-up organizations! In addition, we are partnering with Durham-based accounting firm DMJ & Co., PLLC, who will be providing $1,500 in accounting services to our selected start-ups. We are incredibly grateful to have three exceptional leaders selecting this year’s Practicing with Purpose award recipients.  Adam Klein is Director of American Underground and the American Tobacco Campus, a campus for entrepreneurs started by Capitol Broadcasting. The American Underground is home to more t ..read more

By Nicole Murphey Employers with 100+ employees must begin rolling out new COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements, per OSHA Emergency temporary Standard (ETS) Please NOTE: The following points do not apply to federal employees, federal contractors or subcontractors, or employers in the health care industry, as these groups are subject to different requirements and deadlines.  If you have not done so already, Employers should:  Nicole Murphey Determine the total employee headcount within the company as of November 5, 2021.  The headcount should be done at the firm- or co ..read more

At Forrest Firm, we believe in empowering the people in our communities to reach their full potential. Last spring, we launched “Practicing with Purpose,” a platform for giving away $5,000 in free legal services to two non-profits in North Carolina.  We were grateful for the opportunity to partner with winning organizations Designed for Joy and Wake Smiles. This fall, we are excited to be launching a similar campaign that will be awarding $5,000 in pro bono legal services to two North Carolina start-up organizations! As a Certified B Corporation®, we are passionate about finding way ..read more

By Keith Richardson and James Forrest Over the past 18 months, American religious organizations, like much of the country, have experienced deep division over numerous issues: politics, race, COVID, abusive leadership, cancel culture, etc. Our clients have handled these issues differently from organization to organization – some addressing issues head-on, others touching upon sensitive subjects peripherally, and others avoiding the topics all together. It has been a difficult season. Regardless of the varied approaches, one thing is clear: religious organizations seem to be quite divided ..read more

By Janean Dunn In an effort to promote fair competition in the American economy, on July 9th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed Executive Order 14036 (Promoting Competition in the American Economy). The EO encourages the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) to engage in statutory rulemaking to curtail the unfair use of non-compete clauses.  Additionally, the EO includes 72 initiatives to address unfair competition across various industries, and the EO implores over 12 federal agencies to take action.   The White House has opined that companies and corporations stifle competition in t ..read more