Wood Lay Head of Employment and Labor Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

Wood Lay assists regional and national employers in meeting employment law challenges across multiple states. As head of employment and labor at Moore & Van Allen, he assembles and leads teams of attorneys to provide counsel on issues ranging from disciplinary decisions to restrictive covenants to workplace diversity, equity and inclusion considerations.

With more than three decades of experience, he regularly defends companies against employment claims, including Title VII, FLSA, ADEA, ADA, FMLA and related state claims. His practice encompasses advice and counseling on wage-and-hour disputes, OSHA investigations and noncompete concerns.

Lay is recognized for his ERISA litigation experience, handling denial of benefits and breach of fiduciary duty claims. When litigation develops in court or arbitration, he often leads teams handling matters filed nationwide.

Since joining Moore & Van Allen in January 2023, Lay has expanded the employment group by hiring three new attorneys to meet increased demand. The team now includes 25 affiliated attorneys.