William A. Oden III
Recognized since 2025
Wilmington, North Carolina
Labor Law - Management
Will's practice experience encompasses various areas of employment and workplace-related counseling and civil litigation in both federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels. He regularly represents employers and employees before the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL), the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC), the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Division of Employment Security (DES), and federal and state wage and hour divisions. He is a frequent lecturer and advises clients on a wide range of personnel issues, including Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act, WARN, COBRA, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and Fair Labor Standards Act.
Additionally, Will serves as a mediator and has been certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission since 2013.
- E-mail: wao@wardandsmith.com
- Direct Phone Number: 910.794.4813
- Lawyer Page: https://www.wardandsmith.com/attorneys/william-oden
- University Corporate Center
127 Racine Drive
P.O. Box 7068
Wilmington, NC 28406-7068
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., graduated 2001
- Campbell University, M.B.A., graduated 2004
- Campbell University, J.D., graduated 2004
- Virginia, Virginia State Bar, 2018
- North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association, 2004
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) - Member
- Safety and Health Council of North Carolina - (member, Board of Directors; Legal Counsel)
- North Carolina State Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission - Member
- North Carolina Society for Human Resource Management - (member, Leadership Council 2011-present; former Government Affairs Co-Chair)
- North Carolina Bar Association - Sections: Construction Law, Board Liaison; Dispute Resolution (Chair); Education Law; Labor and Employment Law (Section Council member; former contributing writer, Labor and Employment); Litigation; Workers' Compensation
- North Carolina Bar Association - Board of Governors
- Campbell Law Alumni Association - Founding Member, Board of Directors
- Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship - Inagural Member, Advisory Board
- United States Supreme Court
- United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- All state and federal courts in North Carolina
Ward and Smith, P.A.
56 The Best Lawyers in America® awards
14 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards
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- Labor Law - Management
"Labor and Employment Star," Benchmark Litigation, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
"Legal Elite," Business North Carolina, Employment, 2017, 2020-2024
"Super Lawyers," Employment & Labor, North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2020-2024
"Leaders in the Law," NC Lawyers Weekly, 2024
"Employment Law Power List," NC Lawyers Weekly, 2024
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Employment Law - Management
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