Edward J. McNaughton

EDWARD J. 'NED' McNAUGHTON is the founding attorney of the firm McNaughton & Associates, PLLC. He is admitted to practice law in both North Carolina and Georgia. Law is a second career for Mr. McNaughton. Before attending law school, he worked as material logistics coordinator for a national construction equipment manufacturer. In that role, Mr. McNaughton managed and coordinated an entire shop floor containing six separate lines of construction equipment. He has managed a Toys R Us store and a regional record/tape/CD distribution center, as well as having served in the United States Marine Corps. His real world experience allows him to better understand and represent his client's needs and expectations.

Mr. McNaughton graduated cum laude from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) School of Law, where he joined the Lamar Society of International Law and served on the Journal of National Security Law staff. While at Ole Miss, Mr. McNaughton was listed twice in Who's Who: American Law Students. Mr. McNaughton received his bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Christian Brothers University, School of Business, in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was awarded Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key, the School of Business' highest possible honors. While at Christian Brothers, Mr. McNaughton managed to simultaneously earn an associate's degree in Productivity and Quality Control (TQM) from the State Technical Institute at Memphis, once again graduating at the top of his class.

Mr. McNaughton is a member of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Mecklenburg County Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association and the State Bars of Georgia and North Carolina. He is an active member of the ABA Forum on the Construction Law Section and NCBA Litigation Section, the American Subcontractors Association of the Carolinas, the Associated Builders and Contractors, the North Carolina Utility Contractors Association, and the Carolinas Historic Aviation Commission. He has represented clients in both state and federal courts in North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia (pro hac vice) and South Carolina (pro hac vice), including oral argument before the Eleventh Circuit. Mr. McNaughton represents clients in both private and government contract cases.

Mr. McNaughton is a frequent seminar speaker at various trade associations on subjects such as "The Top Ten Profit Eating Contract Clauses," "Oops! I Didn't Notice That- The Importance of Notice Requirements in North Carolina Construction Claims," and "The North Carolina [2006] Lien Law Changes ." Mr. McNaughton has also authored articles on construction law issues and was a chapter editor on the Second Edition of Common Sense Construction Law.

Mr. McNaughton began his legal career with the Atlanta, Georgia construction law firm of Smith, Currie & Hancock, LLP. In 2000, he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to help the firm start their North Carolina office. Mr. McNaughton started his own practice in 2004, which he operated as sole equity member until forming McNaughton & Associates, PLLC in October of 2005.

Mr. McNaughton has been married since 1984, and has three children, three cats and a parakeet.