About Michaela C. Holcombe

Michaela Holcombe anchors her litigation practice in high-stakes civil litigation and multifaceted dispute resolution. She counsels a diverse portfolio of clients in sophisticated commercial and financial markets disputes spanning complex contractual, manufacturing, real estate, financial services, and employment matters.

Delivering results in high-stakes litigation

Michaela's experience ranges from state and federal courts to domestic and international arbitration, where she has successfully defended and prosecuted high-stakes claims for a diverse group of clients, including manufacturers, technology companies, and broker-dealers.

Clients appreciate Michaela's deep commitment to understanding their business objectives and tailoring her approach to achieve the best possible outcome — whether that means prevailing at trial, securing a favorable settlement, or obtaining a dismissal in arbitration. She is known for her thorough preparation and strategic thinking, which have contributed to significant victories, including a defense verdict in a federal jury trial involving over $100 million in alleged damages and the successful prosecution of breach of employment agreement claims in state court.

While in law school, Michaela was a merit scholarship recipient and served on the North Carolina Law Review.

Practice Focus

  • Litigation

Representative Experience

  • Defended manufacturer against fraud and breach of contract claims in federal court case seeking over $100 million in damages and secured a finding of no liability after a multi-week jury trial.
  • Defended international manufacturer in multiple federal court cases involving employment claims.
  • Defended electronic broker-dealer against arbitration claims seeking tens of millions in damages and secured dismissal in FINRA arbitration.
  • Represented technology manufacturer on successful breach of contract claims in domestic arbitration.
  • Defended educational software company against allegations of fraud and breach of contract in federal court.
  • Prosecuted successful breach of employment agreement and non-solicitation claims against former senior employee of technology company in state court jury trial.

News

Practices
Education
  • The University of North Carolina School of Law, JD, with high honors
  • The University of North Carolina at Asheville, BA
Bar Admissions
  • North Carolina
Court Admissions
  • US District Court, Western District of North Carolina
  • US District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
  • US District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Best Lawyers in America
    Ones to Watch
    Commercial Litigation, 2021–2026
Award Methodologies