J. Patrick Haywood Printer-Friendly

Patrick Haywood is a commercial litigator who leads the Carruthers & Roth Construction Industry team. He represents owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and other industry professionals in wide range of construction-related matters – from transactional contract development and disputes to contract and lien claims tried in the courts or settled through arbitration. 

In addition to his active practice in Construction Law, Patrick is experienced in zoning, land use and property tax valuation issues – representing his clients both in litigation and before local governing boards. His commercial litigation experience also includes breach of contract and business torts, unfair or deceptive trade practices, lender liability matters, estate disputes and personal injury or wrongful death claims, especially those involving the creation of trusts for minors.

Patrick is a senior fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of America’s lawyers. He frequently lectures on construction-related issues for trade organizations and for groups of contractors, developers and design professionals.

Representative Cases

• Successfully defended a commercial utilities contractor in complex double wrongful death case involving alleged underground petroleum leak.
• Successfully defended a waterproofing subcontractor in a civil action brought by a state university for damages allegedly caused by a project defect resulting in mold contamination.
• Represented regional residential construction supplier as plaintiff in a civil action for unfair and deceptive trade practices arising out of claim for fraudulent lien waivers. Verdict was entered in client’s favor, awarding treble damages and attorney’s fees.
• Represented a national commercial HVAC subcontractor in multimillion dollar delay and schedule compression claim.
• Has successfully defended several national lenders in a lender liability case.
• Represented a client in a commercial property tax valuation case that resulted in a $9 million reduction in tax value and a significant tax savings.
• Represented a client in a case involving a breach of a settlement agreement and breach of fiduciary responsibility. The client recovered punitive damages and a total reward exceeding $1 million.

Bar and Court Admissions

• North Carolina, 2001
• U.S. District Courts for Eastern, Middle, and Western North Carolina

Professional Memberships and Activities

• Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow, 2018-Present
• Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow, 2011-2018
• NCDRC Certified Superior Court Mediator
• American Bar Foundation, Fellow
• Greensboro Bar Association
• North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
• North Carolina Bar Association, Construction Law Section
• North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Construction Law Section Council
• The Guilford American Inn of Court

Awards and Recognitions

• Best Lawyers in America, 2018-2023
• Business North Carolina: Legal Elite, 2008-2021
• North Carolina Super Lawyers: Rising Star, 2010-2011
• North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2015-2021
• Triad Business Journal: 40 Leaders Under 40, 2010

Community Service

• Rotary Club of Greensboro, Current President