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J. Travis Hockaday

Attorney
Raleigh, North Carolina
AA Contact Info

Simone Faircloth
Phone: 919.838.2157
sfaircloth@smithlaw.com

Overview

Travis Hockaday has practiced with Smith Anderson since September 2003 and leads the firm’s Employment, Labor and Human Resources practice group. His practice focuses on providing employment-related counseling and risk management advice to clients in a variety of industries, both public and private, and identifying and managing employment-related issues in mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations. He also represents clients in state and federal courts and agencies throughout North Carolina and other jurisdictions. 

His experience includes defending employers against claims involving discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, harassment and civil rights claims; defending wage and hour, ERISA and other benefit-related claims; and representing clients in investigations conducted by, and proceedings before, both federal and state departments of labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, the North Carolina Industrial Commission and the North Carolina Division of Employment Security.

Travis is a frequent speaker on employment and labor law issues and regularly conducts training for human resources professionals and executive management. 

  • American Bar Association, Labor & Employment and Litigation Sections
  • North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Labor & Employment, and Litigation Sections
  • Member, North Carolina Bar Association Lawyer Effectiveness/Quality of Life Committee (2008-2012)
  • Member, Society for Human Resources Management
  • Wake County/Tenth Judicial District Bar Association
  • Class of 2003 Reunion Representative, University of North Carolina School of Law
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2011, 2018) 
  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation - Labor and Employment (2019, 2020) 

Experience

Experience

  • Advised a private equity fund and its contract research solutions portfolio company in their acquisition of a statistical programming, consulting, and data management company
  • Advised a company specializing in video game and software development in a definitive agreement to acquire a company that developed a presence-based social networking platform connecting users online through live video on mobile and desktop apps
  • Advised a private equity fund in its acquisition of a leading provider of staffing resources to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies for clinical trial needs
  • Defending employers against claims involving discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, harassment and civil rights claims
  • Defending wage and hour, ERISA, and other benefit-related claims
  • Representing clients in investigations conducted by both federal and state Departments of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice
  • Advised a leading CRO in Asia on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of CRO assets in the United States
  • Advised a publicly-traded health services company on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of a health services division of a privately-held company for $105 million in cash
  • Advised a leading healthcare services provider on the employment law aspects of its $60 million cash acquisition of a global sourcing company
  • Advised a private equity-backed medical device repair services company on the employment law aspects of its sale of its wholly-owned operating subsidiaries to a strategic buyer operating in the medical device repair services industry
  • Advised a publicly-traded health information technologies and clinical research company on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of a consulting business focusing on orphan drug designations
  • Advised a private equity fund on the employment law aspects of its acquisition of a specialty pharmaceutical company
  • Advised a frozen foods company on the employment law aspects of its definitive agreement to acquire a frozen snacks business
  • Representing clients before the North Carolina Employment Security Commission
  • Advising clients regarding the development of effective employee handbooks, policies and practices
  • Representing employers and individuals in connection with allegations of violation of non-compete agreements, unfair competition and tortious interference with contract
  • Providing training to management, human resource professionals and employees regarding numerous employment-related topics, including workplace discrimination and harassment, religion in the workplace, unemployment compensation, the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
  • Advising clients on variety of state and federal regulatory issues
  • Serving as outside counsel to a state licensing agency

News & Publications

News

Publications

Speaking Engagements

Events

  • Co-Presenter, "Open for Business During the Times of COVID-19: Is Your Company Prepared?" Live Webinar hosted by the NCBA
    06.10.2020
  • Presenter, "COVID-19 Realities for the Small Business Finance Professional: People & Payroll Implications," Live Webinar hosted by ncaCPA
    04.22.2020
  • Co-Panelist, "Coronavirus-Employment Related Legal Topics on Changes Impacting Employers," North Carolina Bar Association
    04.07.2020
  • Presenter, "Recent Developments in Work Classification Law," NCACPA's 80th Annual Symposium, Greensboro, N.C.
    11.18.2019
  • Presenter, "Election Year Challenges for Employers," Smith Anderson 27th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    11.2019
  • Co-Presenter, "Preventing and Addressing Workplace Violence," Smith Anderson 27th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    11.2019
  • Co-Presenter, "Emerging Drug Trends, Laws, and Your Drug Policies and Testing Programs,” Smith Anderson 26th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    11.14.2018
  • Co-Presenter, "Shifting Sands in Labor Law: A Review of Recent Developments Under the New NLRB,” Smith Anderson 26th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    11.14.2018
  • Presenter, "Wage and Hour Update," Triangle Hospitality Human Resources Association, Raleigh, N.C.
    11.2017
  • Presenter, "A Time for Everything (A Time to Hire, and a Time to Fire) - Ten Common Sense (But Often Forgotten) Lessons for Complying with the Law and Mitigating Risk," Smith Anderson's 25th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    10.2017
  • Presenter, "Handling Unemployment Insurance Claims and Appeals Hearings: Employer Do's and Don'ts," Smith Anderson's 25th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    10.2017
  • Panelist, "USDOL Overtime Rule and Employee Classification Issues," North Carolina Defense Business Association, Raleigh, N.C.
    01.2017
  • Presenter, "A New Administration - A New World (for Employers)," Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce/Raleigh-Wake Human Resources Management Associations - Talent Strategies Workshop, Raleigh, N.C.
    01.29.2017
  • Presenter, "Worker Classification Law - The 2016 Edition," N.C. Association of Certified Public Accountants Annual Symposium, Greensboro, N.C.
    12.2016
  • Panelist, "Hot Topics in Employment Law (and Answers to Your Questions)," Smith Anderson's 24th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    10.2016
  • Presenter, "Faith and Politics - 2016 Edition," Smith Anderson's 24th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    10.2016
  • Panelist, "USDOL Overtime Rule and Employee Classification Issues," North Carolina Defense Business Association, Raleigh, N.C.
    09.2016
  • Panelist, "USDOL Overtime Rule, Worker Classification, and House Bill 2," Financial Executives Network Group, Raleigh, N.C.
    09.2016
  • Presenter, "Avoiding America's No.1 Employment Claim: Retaliation," UNC School of Government 2016 Public Employment Law Symposium, Chapel Hill, N.C.
    05.2016
  • Presenter, "To Be or Not To Be (An Employer): Developments in Worker Classification Law," NCACPA Symposium
    11.2015
  • Presenter, "Social Media Scramble," Smith Anderson's 23rd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    10.2015
  • Panel Moderator, "Today's Top Five Employer Mistakes (and Answers to Questions on Your Mind...)," Smith Anderson's 23rd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    10.2015
  • Presenter, "The Legal Ins and Outs of Hiring Troops, Hiring and Employing Troops: Translating and Transitioning Military Culture to Civilian Workplaces," USO of North Carolina's Workshop, Charlotte, N.C.
    03.2015
  • Presenter, "Contractor or Employee? The Million-Dollar Question and the Sometimes 'Clear as Mud' Tests for Classification," Smith Anderson’s 22nd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    10.2014
  • Presenter, "Social Media Accounts: Exploring Issues of Ownership and Solicitation," Smith Anderson’s 22nd Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    10.12.2014
  • Presenter, "North Carolina Unemployment Insurance Reform," Smith Anderson Live Webinar
    02.2014
  • Speaker, "North Carolina Unemployment Insurance Reform," Smith Anderson’s 21st Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    11.2013
  • Presenter, "Protecting Social Media Accounts and Contacts," Protecting Proprietary Business Assets: Strategies to Safeguard Your Company Seminar at Vaco, Raleigh, N.C.
    10.2013
  • Presenter, "Threats to Confidential Data on Mobile Devices," the NC Association of Defense Attorneys, 2013 Fall Seminar, Greensboro, N.C.
    10.2013
  • Presenter, "Effectively Managing Absences Under the FMLA and the ADA," Smith Anderson Live Webinar
    10.2013
  • Presenter, "From Unemployment to Reemployment: Preparing Your Business for HB4," Smith Anderson and N.C. Chamber Live Webinar
    06.2013
  • Presenter, "View from the Top: A Primer on NC Unemployment Insurance Reform for the C-Suite," Part 1 of a two-part webinar co-hosted by the North Carolina Chamber and Smith Anderson
    06.2013
  • Presenter, "Nuts and Bolts of Unemployment Insurance Law Changes: A Primer for Managers and Human Resources Professionals," Part 2 of a two-part webinar co-hosted by the North Carolina Chamber and Smith Anderson
    06.2013
  • Presenter, "Religion at Work: Best Practices for Avoiding Claims of Discrimination and Handling Requests for Accommodation," Smith Anderson’s 20th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    11.2012
  • Presenter, "Be Careful What You Ask For: Recent Developments on Background, Criminal History and Credit Checks," Smith Anderson’s 20th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    11.2012
  • Presenter, "North Carolina Update 2011," Smith Anderson’s 19th Annual Employment Law Update, Cary, N.C.
    11.2011
  • Presenter, "Small Business Workshop," Raleigh-Wake Human Resources Management Association
    2010
  • Panelist, "Changing Faces - Achieving Workforce Diversity," Raleigh-Wake Human Resources Management Association
    2009
  • Presenter, "North Carolina FMLA Update," Council on Education in Management
    2007
  • Presenter, "North Carolina FMLA Update," Council on Education in Management
    2005

Bar & Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina
  • All North Carolina State Courts

Education

University of North Carolina, J.D., 2003

Campbell University, B.A., summa cum laude, 2000

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