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Kiran H. Mehta

Partner
Charlotte
+1.704.331.7437
Fax +1..704.353.3137

Primary Practice

Secondary Practices

Education

  • J.D., Harvard Law School, 1981, (cum laude)
  • A.B., Cornell University, 1978, (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa)

Admissions

  • Bar of North Carolina
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
  • United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
  • Biography Overview
  • Additional Background
  • Representative Work
Mr. Mehta is a partner in the Charlotte office. He focuses his practice on complex business litigation and has handled a wide variety of complex and multi-party litigation matters, including corporate and commercial disputes, particularly disputes related to private equity investments; construction litigation; real estate and land use litigation; ERISA litigation; product liability, toxic tort, pharmaceutical, and mass tort litigation; and environmental litigation. Mr. Mehta also has extensive experience representing a major investor-owned public utility in matters before state regulatory commissions, particularly with respect to the financial aspects (rate of return and capital structure) of utility rate proceedings.

He is widely recognized as one of the premier litigation attorneys in North Carolina, and has been consistently honored as such by multiple legal ratings agencies, such as Best Lawyers in America® (recognized for “Bet-the-Company” litigation, commercial litigation, construction litigation, environmental litigation, and mergers and acquisitions litigation), Chambers USA, North Carolina Legal Elite and SuperLawyers. He was named as “Lawyer of the Year” in 2012 for Charlotte-area environmental litigation by Best Lawyers in America®.

Professional Background

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Mehta served as law clerk to the Honorable Frank A. Kaufman, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Maryland, 1981-1982.

Achievements

  • Best Lawyers in America, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Mergers and Acquisitions Litigation
  • Best Lawyers in America, “Lawyer of the Year – Environmental Litigation” (2012)
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers, Business Litigation,
  • Legal Elite, Business North Carolina Magazine, Environmental Law, Litigation,
  • Chambers USA: America's Leading Business Lawyers, Commercial Litigation,
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers, Business Litigation
  • Large Firm Pro Bono Services Award, North Carolina Bar Association, 2005
  • Named "Guardian of the Environment" by The Charlotte Observer, 2005

Professional/Civic Activities

  • American Bar Association, Construction Litigation Committee, Member, 1999-present   
  • Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Environmental School, Dean of Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste, 1991-1994   
  • Hazardous Waste/Superfund Committee, Environmental Section, Chair, 1992-1994   
  • Mecklenburg County Bar Association, Civil Courts Committee, 1994   
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Environmental Section Council, 1994-1997   
  • Charlotte Swim & Racquet Club, Board of Directors, 1991-1996; President, 1994-1996   
  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, Superintendent's Council, 1999   
  • Christ Episcopal Church, Peace & Justice Committee, Outreach Commission, Engaged Couples Workshop, Lay Reader, 1982-present   
  • Community School of the Arts, Board of Directors, 1997-present   
  • Harvard Law School Association of North Carolina, President, 1996-present

Speaking Engagements

  • “How to Keep the Deal You Think You’ve Negotiated,” CLE presentation to Association of Corporate Counsel, Charlotte Chapter, September, 2011
  • “A 'Consumer Guide' to Selecting International Arbitration Forums,” CLE presentation to North Carolina Bar Association 2011 Business Law, Corporate Counsel and International Law and Practice Sections Joint Annual Meeting, February, 2011
  • “CDO and CDS Litigation Trends,” CLE presentation, May, 2009
  • “International Dispute Resolution,” CLE presentation to North Carolina Bar Association, International Law Section, April, 2009
  • “Navigating Today's Deal Environment,” CLE presentation, March 2007
  • “Hazardous Waste: RCRA/CERCLA Workshop - CERCLA/RCRA Update,” presented to North Carolina Bar Association, Environmental Section, 1996
  • “A Primer on Environmental Law,” presented to the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, 1995
  • Represented public company in class action suit challenging merger transaction.
  • Represented public company in class action suit alleging securities fraud in the issuance of company’s equity securities.
  • Represented public company in design patent infringement suit against competitor.
  • Represented software company in Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, unfair competition, copyright, and trademark, suit against competitor.
  • Represented franchisee/shareholder in multi-jurisdiction dispute with franchisor involving breach of fiduciary duty, unfair and deceptive trade practice, and other business tort claims.
  • Represented manufacturer of high-end furniture in suit against dealer in connection with claims arising from dealer termination for violation of manufacturer’s internet commerce policies.
  • Represented merchant power plant owner/operator in suit brought by neighborhood group alleging negligence and nuisance in connection with the operation of the plant.
  • Represented utility in multiple suits arising from dam removal controversy.
  • Represented multi-national chemical manufacturing company in suit arising from acquisition of rival chemical manufacturer.
  • Represented shareholders of acquired company in earn-out dispute with acquiring company.
  • Represented multi-national equipment leasing company in earn-out dispute with acquired company.
  • Represented two private equity arms of major financial institutions in suit arising from sale of portfolio company; claims brought by recalcitrant member in portfolio company were virtually all dismissed by North Carolina Business Court.
  • Represented portfolio company of private equity firm in series of suits and arbitration proceedings alleging that portfolio company (a franchisor) had fraudulently induced franchisees to enter into franchise agreements.
  • Represented private equity fund in connection with multi-million dollar misrepresentation/ negligence/indemnification claim against former shareholders and auditors of entity acquired by fund.
  • Obtained permanent injunction in pro bono National Environmental Policy Act case against the United States Navy on behalf of two Eastern North Carolina counties to prevent construction of an outlying landing field.
  • Represented major investor-owned public utility in multiple matters before state utilities regulatory commission and on appeal from commission decisions in the North Carolina appellate courts.
  • Represented multi-national corporation in International Chamber of Commerce arbitration arising from disputes in connection with the construction, repair, and maintenance of the ARCOS ring, a fiber optic cable linking and providing telecommunications service to fifteen nations in the Caribbean basin.
  • Represented publicly held company in suit brought by competitor company alleging tortious interference with contract, breach of contract, and unfair trade practices in connection with acquisition targeted by our client and competitor; outcome generated definitive opinion by North Carolina Business Court on letters of intent in North Carolina.
  • Represented multi-national engineering/start-up subcontractor in connection with multi-million dollar claim for payment arising from construction of cogeneration power plant, and defense of multi-million dollar delay and defective work claim by contractor.
  • Represented plaintiffs in a class action alleging violation of ERISA in connection with amendments to a pension plan following leveraged buyout of publicly held multi-national corporation; suit resulted in largest class action settlement then on record in North Carolina.
  • Represented multi-state developer in suit brought by environmental activist groups challenging, based upon alleged violations of the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act, high-end lakefront residential development project.
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