Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
North Carolina
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D., 2005
University of Montana, B.A., with high honors, 2002
Profile
Pearlynn Houck is a versatile litigator and adviser. She represents companies and executives in investigations and complex business disputes. She has experience in matters involving fraud, breach of contract, unfair trade practices, trade secrets and restrictive covenants, corporate governance, professional negligence and class actions.
Pearlynn regularly conducts internal investigations and assists clients in responding to government inquiries. She also co-chairs the firm’s Government and Internal Investigations Practice Group.
Pearlynn's clients benefit from her courtroom experience. She has argued injunctions, temporary restraining orders and dispositive motions, participated in multiple jury trials and arbitrations, and litigated appeals in the North Carolina Court of Appeals and U.S. Courts of Appeals.
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, commercial litigation, 2020-23
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, business litigation, 2022-23; Rising Star, 2013-20
- Benchmark Litigation, Labor & Employment Star, 2019-23; Top Litigator Under 40, 2016-19; Future Star, litigation, 2015-16
- Sports Business Journal, Outside Counsel Power Player, 2021
- Business North Carolina, Legal Elite, Young Guns, 2014, 2016; litigation, 2019-20
- The Mecklenburg Times, 50 Most Influential Women, 2020
- Charlotte Business Journal, Charlotte’s Forty Under 40, 2015
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, The Honorable N. Carlton Tilley Jr., Chief Judge, Middle District of North Carolina,
2005-06
Experience
Experience
Complex Commercial Litigation
Represents the Southeastern Conference in various multidistrict litigation putative class actions filed by former student-athletes challenging the validity of NCAA grant-in-aid and name, image and likeness rules, centralized in the Northern District of California, captioned In re National Collegiate Athletic Association Athletic Grant-in-Aid Cap Antitrust Litigation, Jenkins v. NCAA, House v. NCAA, et. al, and Oliver v. NCAA, et al.
Represents large health system in defense of class action claims related to emergency room billing disclosures.
Represents the Southeastern Conference in 11 "single-school, single-sport" putative class actions (MDL centralization in Illinois) filed by former football student-athletes related to concussions in college sports.
Represents an agricultural cooperative in the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court regarding appeal of trial court’s entry of partial summary judgment.
Successfully defended a national gas distributor in a case alleging unfair business practices and related claims. The case settled on favorable terms while our client's motion for summary judgment was pending.
Obtained injunction for a pharmaceutical company against defendants prohibiting them from wrongfully interfering in a pending arbitration between clients and its contract counterparty.
Represented estate in a wrongful death lawsuit relating to a CO2 paintball canister that exploded and killed a 38-year-old man.
Internal and Government Investigations
Represented a physician management service in a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging retaliation for reporting of allegations of submission of false reimbursement claims to Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers.
Represented telecommunications service provider in parallel government investigations by the Federal Communications Commission, U.S. Department of Justice and N.C. Department of Justice related to allegations of enabling malicious robocalls.
Represents multinational commercial and consumer products company in matters relating to grand jury subpoenas.
Conducted internal investigation for committee of board of local company and represented the committee in subsequent governance dispute.
Conducted internal investigation for manufacturing company regarding allegations of sexual harassment and disparate treatment of female employees.
Conducted internal investigations for health care provider regarding allegations of sexual harassment.
Conducted various internal investigations for multinational commercial and consumer products company relating to billings practices, safety issues and other internal issues.
Represents national bank in connection with subpoenas from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice and other government entities.
Financial Litigation
Represented national trust company in defense of claims arising out of allegations of wrongdoing by account holder's investment adviser.
Represented asset management firm in lawsuits arising out of placement agent services for an investment fund.
Represents national broker-dealer in arbitration matters before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Obtained summary judgment for national bank in defense of Sarbanes-Oxley whistleblower and other claims brought by former investment adviser.
Represented major financial institution, which arranged multiple financings for a defunct entity, in defending suits in New York, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh filed by bondholders, senior secured lenders, a bond trustee and a liquidating trustee in bankruptcy.
Employment and Executive Compensation
Represented worker's compensation insurance company in defense of claims of wrongful termination, securities fraud, discrimination and defamation relating to its termination of a former executive-level employee.
Represented water treatment company in appeal of multimillion-dollar trial court judgment involving trade secrets, employment covenants, covenants not to solicit and other employment-related claims, including punitive damages. GE Betz, Inc. v. Conrad, et al., 752 S.E.2d 624 (N.C. Ct. App. 2013).
Defeated motion for preliminary injunction against former employee of asset management firm for breach of noncompetition provisions in employment agreement.
Represents executives and businesses relating to the negotiation and finalization of comprehensive executive compensation agreements, including employment contracts and severance arrangements.
Represented public company sued by former executive arising from alleged promises of executive compensation and unfair trade practices. Cole v. Champion Enterprises, Inc., 496 F. Supp. 2d 613 (M.D.N.C. 2007).
News & Events
News
- Jan. 20, 2023
- Oct. 27, 2022
- Aug. 23, 2022
- Jan. 14, 2022
- Nov. 1, 2021
- Oct. 12, 2021
- Aug. 26, 2021
- Dec. 16, 2020
- Aug. 20, 2020
- April 13, 2020
- April 3, 2020
- Feb. 21, 2020
- Jan. 22, 2020
- Jan. 3, 2020
- Oct. 17, 2019
- Aug. 15, 2019
- Aug. 5, 2019
- Jan. 28, 2019
- Jan. 2, 2019
- Nov. 16, 2018
- Aug. 31, 2018
- July 9, 2018
- Jan. 30, 2018
- Nov. 2, 2017
- Aug. 15, 2017
- Jan. 26, 2017
- Nov. 9, 2016
- Aug. 17, 2016
- Aug. 8, 2016
- June 3, 2016
- May 18, 2016
- Jan. 27, 2016
- Jan. 5, 2016
- Oct. 21, 2015
- Robert W. Fuller Quoted in Law360 Article "Broadcasters Escape NCAA Athletes' Publicity Rights Suit"June 4, 2015
- March 13, 2015
- Jan. 21, 2015
- More Ranked Attorneys Than Any Other North Carolina Firm for Fifth Consecutive YearOct. 29, 2014
- Jan. 21, 2014
- Jan. 6, 2014
- Jan. 2, 2014
- Dec. 9, 2013
- Six Shareholders Among State’s Top 100 Attorneys, Two in Top 10Jan. 18, 2013
- July 20, 2009
- Nov. 20, 2006
Events
Virtual conference
Oct. 22, 2021Via webinar
April 23, 2021Via webinar
Feb. 9, 2021- Duke Future of College Sports Conference
Duke University Fuqua School of Business
100 Fuqua Drive
Durham, NC 27708March 7, 2020 Queens University of Charlotte
Feb. 19, 2020Byron's South End
101 W. Worthington Ave.
Charlotte, NC 28203Jan. 8, 2020Mecklenburg County Bar & Foundation Center
2850 Zebulon Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28208Oct. 25, 2019Grand Bohemian
11 Boston Way
Asheville, NC 28803Oct. 4, 2019Robinson Bradshaw
101 N. Tryon St., Suite 1900
Charlotte, NC 28246Feb. 7, 2019Sheraton Charlotte Hotel + Le Meridien Charlotte Hotel
555 S. McDowell St.
Charlotte, NC 28204April 3, 2017North Carolina Bar Center
8000 Weston Parkway
Cary, North Carolina 27513Nov. 14, 2014Smith Moore Leatherwood
300 N. Greene Street, Suite 1400
Greensboro, North CarolinaMay 1, 2014
Insights
- Jan. 26, 2021Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- Oct. 3, 2016Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- Starting Out on the Right Foot: Early Efforts Regarding Electronically Stored InformationSept. 12, 2014Antitrust & Complex Business Dispute News, a newsletter from the NCBA
- Jan. 15, 2009Robinson Bradshaw Publication
- Jan. 15, 2009Robinson Bradshaw Publication
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
- Mecklenburg County Bar, Nominating Committee, 2018
- North Carolina Bar Association, Judicial Performance Evaluation Committee, 2014-19
- Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, Grant Review Committee, 2014-17
- North Carolina Business Court, Advisory Rules Committee, 2015
Community Affiliations
- Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center, Board of Directors, 2020-present
- Women Executives, 2018-present
- Women’s Impact Fund, Grants Committee, 2008-09, 2012-16; Grants Team Co-Chair, 2014-16; Grants Task Force Co-Chair, 2016-17; Spark Committee, 2017-18; Board of Directors, 2017-20
- Leadership Charlotte, Class 38