Richard Boyette

Richard Boyette is a partner in the Raleigh office of the firm who has enjoyed a broad civil litigation practice throughout his career. In recent years, Richard has placed particular focus on legal and appraiser malpractice defense, as well as on mediation. In addition, he maintains a substantive practice involving commercial real estate transactions and litigation. Richard developed an active mediation practice in the early 1990s and today is recognized as one of the top mediators in North Carolina. He has mediated over 1300 disputes in a broad range of subject matters, including personal injury and wrongful death, contract, construction defect, employment relations, medical and other professional liability, product liability, medical device liability, insurance coverage, condemnation, intellectual property and stockbroker/customer disputes. As outside general counsel to a commercial general contractor/developer, Richard provides representation in a range of issues that have included employment, construction and contract disputes, as well as transactions involving such matters as entity formation, land acquisition and construction, and permanent financing. Richard has been active for many years in DRI, the Voice of the Defense Bar, which is the 22,000+ member national defense trial bar organization He served as its president in 2004-2005 and currently serves as senior advisor and chair of the strategic planning committee. At his urging, DRI established the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, a charitable foundation having as its mission the education of state court judges. Richard has been accorded the top AV ranking by Martindale-Hubbell, the most prestigious rating organization of the legal profession. In addition, he is regularly listed among the top lawyers in North Carolina by Best Lawyers in America and NC Super Lawyers. Awards and Honors Honors Award for Professional Excellence presented by the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys, 2004 DRI Exceptional Performance Citation, 1991 DRI State Leadership Award, 1997 DRI Leadership Award, 1999 DRI Service Award, 2001 NC Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer (2007 - 2020) Selected as one of the top 100 attorneys in the State of North Carolina by "North Carolina Super Lawyers", 2007 Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Alternative Dispute Resolution (2007 - 2009); Mediation (2013 - 2023) Selected to "North Carolina Super Lawyers", 2008 Selected as a Charter Member of The North Carolina Academy of Superior Court Mediators Selected to NC Super Lawyers in the field of Professional Liability, Defense (2021, 2022) Selected for inclusion in Lawyer Of The Year in the field of Mediation (2017, 2019, 2022) Martindale-Hubbell, AV Rated NC Super Lawyers Business Edition (2014) Recipient, DRI B. Potter Professional Service Award (October 2010) NC Association of Defense Attorneys Award for Professional Excellence (2004)

• Of Counsel

• Trainer of other attorney mediators and a speaker at seminars on mediation and negotiation
• Presentation to North Carolina Bar Association Construction Law Section on CGL coverage
• Luncheon speaker on professionalism at joint professionalism seminar, North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Presentation to American Legislative Exchange Council on Judicial Selection
• Panelist for presentation entitled "Embracing ADR - Opportunities for Defense Lawyers", DRI annual meeting in San Francisco, 2006
• Panelist for presentation entitled “Mediation, Arbitration, Litigation – Oh My! What the Wizard Would Have Said About Implementing And Executing An Effective Plan For Conflict Resolution” at the 2011 IADC Corporate Counsel College in Chicago
• Panelist for presentation entitled “Buyer’s Remorse: The Plight of the Real Estate Professional” at the 2011 DRI Professional Liability Seminar in New York
• Mediation and negotiation presentation to staff attorneys of Legal Services of North Carolina, January, 2012

• Deacon and Ruling Elder, First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh
• YMCA of the Triangle, Inc. - Board of Directors, Executive Committee; Chair, Risk Management Committee
• Peace College Board of Visitors, 1993 - 1998
• Peace College Foundation, Inc. - Board of Directors, Current Vice President, 1994
• Step-Up Ministries, Inc. - Board of Directors, 1993 - 1996
• Life Experiences, Inc. - Board of Directors, 1984 - 1986
• Life Experiences, Inc. - Chairman, 1986
• Supporter - Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure
• National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, Director (2004 – present); President (2009 – 2010)
• Peace College Foundation, Inc., Board of Directors (1994 – 2008); Chair (2008)
• Peace College Board of Trustees (2008)
• Peace College Board of Visitors (1993 – 1998)
• Step-Up Ministries, Inc., Board of Directors (1993 - 1996)
• First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, Deacon and Ruling Elder
• YMCA of the Triangle, Inc., Board of Directors, Secretary, Executive Committee; Chair, Risk Management Committee
• Life Experiences, Inc., Chairman (1986); Board of Directors (1984 - 1986)
• Charter Member of The North Carolina Academy of Superior Court Mediators
• National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, Founding Director

• North Carolina, 1977
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1986
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, 1980
• U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina, 1984
• U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Specialties and Certifications
• Mediator, North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission
• NASD Certified Mediator

• DRI, 2004 - 2005 (Member, Immediate Past President; President)
• DRI, 2001 - 2003 (Officer)
• DRI, 1998 - 2001 (Board of Directors)
• DRI, 1998 - 1999 (ADR Committee Chair)
• DRI, 1995 - 1997 (NC State Representative)
• DRI, 1992 - 1995 (NC delegate to Standing Committee of State and Local Defense)
• NCADA, 1990 - 1991 (Member, President)
• North Carolina Bar Association - Litigation Section Council, 1996 - 1998 (Member)
• North Carolina Bar Association (Real Property, Construction Law and Dispute Resolution, (1997–1999, 2012–Present))
• Wake County Bar Association/Tenth Judicial District Bar, 1996 - 1997 (Member, Board of Directors)
• Wake County Bar Association/Tenth Judicial District Bar Grievance Committee, 2007 - 2009 (Committee Member)
• North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice, Legal Professionalism Committee Member
• DRI, Senior Advisor (2006 - Present); Past President (2005 - 2006); President (2004 – 2005); Officer (2001 - 2003); Board of Directors (1998 - 2001); ADR Committee Chair (1998 - 1999); NC State Representative (1995 - 1997); NC delegate to Standing Committee of State and Local Defense Organizations (1992 - 1995)
• NCBA: Litigation Section Council (1996 – 1998); Real Property, Construction Law and Dispute Resolution Section Council (1997–1999, 2012–Present)