Kiran H. Mehta

Kiran focuses his practice on representing clients in complex business litigation and multiparty litigation matters, including corporate and commercial disputes; securities and antitrust litigation; disputes related to private equity investments; construction litigation as well as real estate and land use litigation; ERISA litigation; product liability, false and deceptive advertising, toxic tort, pharmaceutical, mass tort, and environmental litigation.

In addition, Kiran has broad experience in the energy industry, representing operating utilities of the nation’s largest electric power holding company in significant matters before state regulatory commissions, including rate proceedings, energy efficiency and wholesale/retail power interface proceedings, and other regulatory matters. He has particular expertise with respect to the financial aspects of the industry, including rate of return and capital structure. Kiran 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 Chambers USA, Super Lawyers, and North Carolina Legal Elite. He was also named as “Lawyer of the Year” in 2012, 2017, and 2019 for Charlotte-area environmental litigation, and “Lawyer of the Year” from 2014-2018 for Charlotte-area construction litigation, by Best Lawyers in America®.

• 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 snack food company in multiple class action suits alleging false and deceptive product labeling arising from “Natural” label on food products.
• Represented software company in Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, unfair competition, copyright, and trademark, suit against competitor.
• Represented franchisee/shareholder in multijurisdiction 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 multinational chemical manufacturing company in suit arising from acquisition of rival chemical manufacturer.
• Represented multinational 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 multimillion-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 multinational 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 multinational engineering/startup subcontractor in connection with multimillion-dollar claim for payment arising from construction of cogeneration power plant, and defense of multimillion-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 multinational corporation; suit resulted in largest class action settlement then on record in North Carolina.
• Represented multistate 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.

• Chambers USA: Litigation: General Commercial, North Carolina (2017-2025) and Energy & Natural Resources, North Carolina (2021-2025)
• Best Lawyers in America®: Bet-the-Company Litigation (2007-2026), Commercial Litigation (2006-2026), Litigation – Construction (2011-2026), Litigation – Environmental (2011-2026), Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions (2011-2026), Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants (2024-2026)
• Best Lawyers in America®: “Lawyer of the Year” in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants (2022, 2024), Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions (2020, 2024), Litigation – Environmental (2012, 2017, 2019, 2025), and Construction Litigation (2014-2018)
• North Carolina Super Lawyers (2006-2023)
• North Carolina Business Magazine: “Legal Elite” in Environmental Law, Litigation
• North Carolina Bar Association: “Large Firm Pro Bono Services” Award (2005)
• The Charlotte Observer: “Guardian of the Environment” (2005)