The national law firm of Baker Donelson continues to grow its Raleigh, North Carolina, office, adding two attorneys: Theresa M. Sprain, who joins as a shareholder in the Labor & Employment Group, and Destiney Parker-Thompson, who joins as an associate in the Corporate Restructuring and Bankruptcy Group.
Ms. Sprain and Ms. Parker-Thompson mark the latest additions to Baker Donelson's growing Raleigh office. Launched in 2021 with a team of health law attorneys, this location has since expanded to include more than a dozen attorneys with experience in numerous areas, including financial services, energy, commercial real estate, mergers and acquisitions, labor and employment, commercial and construction litigation, and general corporate advice and counsel.
Matthew W. Wolfe, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Raleigh office, said, "Theresa and Destiney are exemplars of the outstanding legal talent and incredible character we are attracting as we expand our presence in Raleigh and in the Carolinas. We're excited to build further on our momentum here and look forward to offering our clients an even broader base of experience to provide comprehensive counsel and trusted advice for virtually any legal need in the Carolinas and throughout the Firm's footprint."
Ms. Sprain represents businesses of all sizes in labor and employment litigation and provides advice and counsel to clients across various industries, including manufacturing, technology, health care, and retail. With more than 25 years of experience, she routinely represents employers in labor and employment disputes, such as discrimination or retaliation claims, drafting and litigating employment agreements and restrictive covenants, and reductions in force and separation agreements. Ms. Sprain also has extensive experience in conducting high-level, complex, and often urgent internal investigations on behalf of employers related to harassment, misconduct, and/or discrimination claims. She is also well-versed in guiding and counseling clients through employment-related agency investigations, such as those led by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Department of Labor (DOL).
Ms. Sprain regularly advises on general employer and HR-related needs in addition to specific needs resulting from corporate transactions, including ensuring compliance with relevant state and federal labor laws and the preparation of policies and handbooks.
A graduate of Willamette University in Oregon and Wake Forest University School of Law, Ms. Sprain is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Employment Law – Management as well as Litigation – Labor and Employment. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, she practiced labor and employment law at Womble Bond Dickinson.
Ms. Parker-Thompson represents financial services companies, lenders, and individuals in restructuring and insolvency matters, including collections and repossessions, loan workouts, and creditors' rights issues. She clerked for the Honorable Craig T. Goldblatt on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and for the Honorable Tamika Montgomery-Reeves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. After graduating from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, she represented clients in consumer and business bankruptcy proceedings across North Carolina. Prior to attending law school, she worked in various industries, including retail, gaming, and hospitality. Ms. Parker Thompson is a member of the Carolinas Network of the International Women's Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.