Overview

Ken is a partner with Constangy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he focuses his practice on employment law.

His specific areas of emphasis include discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful discharge; trade secrets and unfair competition; drafting employment, confidentiality and noncompetition agreements; and FLSA/wage & hour matters – with serving as a mediator or arbitrator in each of those areas now constituting most of his practice. He is a senior litigator and trusted advisor to employers, providing practical guidance, workplace training, and other counseling to help strengthen legal compliance, reduce risk and better navigate complex workplace issues.

Ken is regularly named to Business North Carolina’s annual “Legal Elite”, North Carolina “Super Lawyers”, NC Lawyers’ Weekly “Power List” for employment law, and Best Lawyers in America for labor & employment law and/or alternative dispute resolution. He is also a repeat recipient of Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” recognition in employment law and/or alternative dispute resolution for the Winston-Salem/Greensboro metropolitan area.

Ken is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and an adjunct professor at the Wake Forest University School of Law, where he teaches negotiation and trade secrets/unfair competition. Over the years, he has also taught trial practice and advanced trial practice. He frequently speaks at continuing legal education seminars and has published on topics ranging from employment law and trade secret/covenant not to compete issues to best practices in mediation and arbitration. Ken continues to support employers by blending his deep legal knowledge with a practical approach for not only solving workplace problems but also avoiding them before they occur.

Honors & Recognition

  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow (2015 - present)
  • Chambers USA Guide (2007-2025)
  • Legal Elite, Employment Law, Business North Carolina (2013, 2018, 2023-2025)
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers (2006-2025)
  • Top 100: North Carolina Super Lawyers (2013, 2019-2021)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Arbitration, Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Labor and Employment, Mediation, and Trade Secrets Law (2007-2026)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® "Lawyer of the Year" for:
    • Employment Law - Management, Triad (2026)
    • Mediation, Triad (2023)
    • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Triad (2022, 2024)
    • Trade Secrets Law, Triad (2021, 2024)
    • Arbitration, Triad (2020)
    • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Greensboro (2015, 2017)
    • Arbitration, Greensboro (2013, 2016, 2018)
  • Named to North Carolina Lawyers Weekly's Power List in Employment (2023-2024)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent®
  • Top Lawyer for Trial/Litigation, Triad Business Leader Magazine (2008)

About Me

Ken is married to Melanie Carlson, and has three daughters, three sons-in-law and a growing number of grandchildren. He is a graduate of the Wake Forest University School of Law, the Divinity School at Yale University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He enjoys travel, reading, golf and most sports, anything related to his grandchildren, and especially likes to be outdoors, and hiking & camping where smartphones don't work.

Credentials

Education

Wake Forest University School of Law

  • J.D., 1990

Yale Divinity School

  • Master of Divinity, 1981

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • B.A., English Literature, 1976

Media

News

Professional & Civic Associations

Civic

  • Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, Government Affairs Committee, Former Member and Chairman
  • Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools – CTE Business Advisory Board and Executive Board
  • Scouting America (BSA), Old Hickory Council, Executive Board (President 2024-2026); Eagle Scout
  • Salvation Army of Greater Winston-Salem, Advisory Board Member and Former Chair
  • Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County, Inc., Former Board of Directors Member and Chair
  • Samaritan Ministries, Former Board of Directors Member
  • Centenary United Methodist Church, Chapel Class Teacher and Former Member of Staff-Parish Relations Committee

Professional

  • American Bar Foundation
  • American Bar Association
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Former Chair and Council Member; Labor & Employment Law Section, former Council Member
  • Forsyth County/31st Judicial District Bar Association
  • Wake Forest University School of Law, Adjunct Professor (1997-Present)

Admissions

  • North Carolina, 1990
    United States Supreme Court
    U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit 
    U.S. District Court - NC - E.D., M.D., W.D.

"A man can live profoundly without masses of things." 

Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Alone
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