[System] Extract the following details from the provided HTML source code. Return only a valid JSON object. Do not include any other text.

[User]
{"html":"
Claudia Perez
\n
Attorney
\n                                                \n                            919.861.0481\n                        \n                                                                        \n                            cperez@wyrick.com\n                        \n                        Print This Bio \n                                \n
Claudia is a member of the firmâ€™s Licensing & Technology Transactions and Emerging Companies & Venture Capital practice groups. Her practice focuses on licensing, strategic partnerships, and other transactions involving intellectual property or technology and corporate matters, particularly for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies and other life sciences-related ventures.
\n
Claudia graduated from the University of Miami with a B.S. in Biology and received her J.D., with High Honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law. During law school, Claudia was a published staff member of the North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology and was a student practitioner in the University of North Carolina School of Lawâ€™s Intellectual Property Clinic. She was also a Deanâ€™s Fellow, Honors Writing Scholar, and received the Gressman-Pollitt Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy.
\n
Practice Areas
                    \n            \n                \n
Licensing & Technology Transactions
\n
Our Licensing & Technology Transactions practice group represents growth-oriented and technology-based companies of all sizes that seek to acquire, license, develop, commercialize, monetize, or otherwise exploit intellectual property or technology.
\n                                        \n    \n            \n                \n
Emerging Companies & Venture Capital
\n
Our mission is to help build and finance innovative companies. With a team of dedicated, energized professionals, we have built a legal services engine for the emerging companies and venture capital market that is systematic, knowledgeable and efficient.Â
\n                                        \n    \n","instructions":["'first_name' => 'Extract only the attorney\\'s first name.',\r\n'middle_name' => 'Extract only the attorney\\'s middle name or middle initial, as it is presented. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'surname' => 'Extract the attorney\u2019s last name or family name',\r\n'email' => 'Extract a valid email address for the profiled attorney. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'title' => 'Extract the profiled attorney\\'s job title. Ensure it is properly capitalized.The attorney can have multiple titles, in which case list them all as an array. If no title is found, return an empty array.',\r\n'location' => 'Extract the office name or city name in which this attorney works, as it is listed. The attorney may work out of two offices, in which case both should be listed. List them as an array. Do not include prior locations that may be mentioned as where the attorney may have worked in the past.',\r\n'direct_phone_no_1' => 'Extract the direct office phone number listed for this attorney. If multiple phone numbers are listed, select the one that is their direct line, not the main or central office number, nor a fax number. If the attorney works out of two offices and has a direct line for each office, list the first here. If a direct line is unavailable, but a main or central office number is listed with an extension, list that number followed by EXT and the extension number',\r\n'direct_phone_no_2' => 'Extract the second direct office phone number listed for this attorney, if it exists. If multiple direct phone numbers are listed because the attorney works out of two office, select the second number \u2013 not the one listed in the prior item. Select only a number that is the attorney\u2019s direct line, not the main or central office number, nor a fax number.',\r\n'image_url' => 'Extract the URL for the attorney\u2019s image file',\r\n'linkedIn' => 'Extract the URL for the attorney\u2019s LinkedIn profile, if it is listed. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'narrative_description' => 'Extract and combine all sections that provide a narrative overview of the attorney\u2019s biography and general work experience. Do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit information. Include the Biography/Bio section(s) and also include any Experience section that contains narrative descriptions of work (including sections structured as practice-area headings followed by descriptive paragraphs, e.g., \"Aging Services\" + paragraph text, \"Dental\" + paragraph text, etc.). Preserve headings and the order of content as it appears; you may convert embedded highlights into bullet points only if it helps preserve (not reduce) the information. EXCLUDE: any section (or subsection) that exclusively lists specific representative matters / representative experience items (typically a list of discrete matters, case captions like \"X v. Y\", deal/transaction bullet points, dated entries, courts/dockets, or similar itemized matter lists). If an Experience (or other) section contains BOTH narrative description AND a separate list of specific matters, include the narrative paragraphs/headings but omit the itemized matter list. Return the combined narrative text only. If no narrative bio or general-experience narrative exists, return an empty string.',\r\n'representative_matters' => 'Extract ALL representative matters (such as litigation cases, verdicts, transactions, or deals) that are listed as well any available descriptions of them, in both specified lists of representative matters, experience, and work highlights, as well as in the biographical text and list of news articles. If news articles for this attorney identify cases or transactions that can be inferred to be the work product of this attorney, include those matters as well. List the representative matters and their available descriptions as an array. Only pull from the text and do not paraphrase or make anything up. If no representative matters are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'news' => 'Extract news items ABOUT this attorney (not authored by them): e.g., firm/industry press releases, announcements, awards, rankings, deal/case results naming them, media coverage quoting or profiling them. List each item as \"Title (URL)\". If a \u201cNews\u201d section mixes authored content, include ONLY items that are clearly about the attorney or the firm, not implied to be authored by the attorney. Add base domain to relative links. Return an empty array [] if none.',\r\n'practice_areas' => 'Extract all the practice areas (aka departments, specialties, capabilities, services areas, areas of focus, etc.), if any, that are listed as ones that this attorney specializes in. Return them as an array. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school' => 'Extract the law school attorney attended. This is for their primary law degree, usually a JD, LLB, or, in the absence of those, the earliest LLM listed or the institution where they received an undergraduate law degree. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school_graduation_year' => 'Extract the year in which the attorney received their degree from the law school above (what year did they graduate?) If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school_honors' => 'Extract all honors this attorney received in or during law school. You must review all education and credentials sections that list their law degree AND ALSO the narrative bio, as well as all other sectiosn. These honors include: latin honors (cum laude, summa cum laude, magna cum laude); school specific honors (e.g. James Kent Scholars at Columbia Law); regular honors designations (e.g. Dean\u2019s List, High Honors, etc.); Order of the Coif; course prizes (such as book awards, CALI Awards, American Jurisprudence Awards, or course awards); membership in phi kappa phi; scholarships and fellowships; moot court awards; trial advocacy awards; best oralis; brief-writing honors or other writing honors; pro bono or service distinctions; commencement prizes and medals; or other types of academic law school honors (but list them specifically - do not list them as \"other honors\". Return this entire extracted list of specific honors as an array. If no honors are found, return an empty array.',   \r\n'law_journals' =>' Extract any law reviews or law journals listed for the attorney's time in law school. Also list if the attorney had any titles in such law reviews or journals, like Articles Editor for example. Return this entire extracted list of law reviews and journals, and associated titles, as an array. If no law reviews or journals are found, return an empty array.'\r\n'undergraduate_school' => 'Extract the attorney\\'s undergraduate degree-granting school, college, university, or institution. This is probably the institution from where they received a bachelors degree. If their undergraduate degree was an LLB listed for their law school above, return an empty string. If no undergraduate schools are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'undergraduate_school_graduation_year' => 'Extract the year in which attorney received their undergraduate degree from the undergraduate school above. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'undergraduate_specialty' => 'Extract the specialties or majors that are listed for the undergraduate degree (e.g. economics, computer science, etc.) This does not include degree type, like B.S., Bachelor of Arts or Science degree, etc. List the specialties or majors as an array. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'PhD_school' => 'If this attorney has a PhD, Extract the educational institution from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'PhD_subject' => 'If this attorney has a PhD, list the educational institution from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Masters_degree_school' => 'If this attorney has a masters degree, extract the educational institution from which they received it. But do not list schools from which the attorney received an LL.M. degree or a masters in law. If no masters degree schools are found, return an empty string. ',\r\n'Masters_degree_subject' => 'If the attorney has a masters degree, extract the subject or area of study of the masters. The subject area may be in the degree itself, such as an M.Div, which is a masters in Divinity. But do not include subjects for LL.M. degrees or masters in law degrees. DO NOT include honors or latin honors (e.g. cum laude, summa cum laude) in your answer. List subjects as array. If no masters degree subjects are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'MBA_School' => 'If the attorney has a Masters in Business Administration, extract the name of the business school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'MD_school' => 'If the attorney has an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree, extract the name of the medical school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'llm_in_tax_law_school' =>  'If the attorney has an masters in laws (LLM) degree, specializing in tax, extract the name of the law school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Other_LLM_school' => 'If the attorney has an masters in laws (LLM) degree, but not one that specializes in tax, extract the name of the law school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'bar_and_court_admissions' => 'Extract EVERY explicit admission to practice (bar + court/agency) anywhere in the page. Include bar jurisdictions (states/provinces/territories/countries) and court/agency admissions (e.g., U.S. Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals with circuit, District/Bankruptcy/Tax/Federal Claims courts with district, USPTO, tribal/military/foreign courts). For UK attorneys, specify whether they are a solicitor, barrister, advocate, or any combination if available; for Canada, specify the province or territory; for Australia, specify the state or territory and whether they are admitted as a solicitor or barrister. Pull items under headings like \u201cAdmissions,\u201d \u201cBar Admissions,\u201d \u201cCourt Admissions,\u201d or similar, and treat each
 or clearly separated entry as one item. Do not infer from memberships/education. Exclude governments as parties, and strip years and dates. Output a deduplicated array of exact admission strings; if none, return []. ',\r\n'Clerkships' => 'Extract every judicial or court clerkship held by this attorney, regardless of where it appears in the biography (including in lists of prior employment or mixed professional experience). Treat any role containing the word \u201cclerk,\u201d \u201cclerkship,\u201d \u201cjudicial law clerk,\u201d \u201claw clerk,\u201d or similar as a clerkship. For each clerkship, return the name of the court as an array item; if the biography provides the judge\u2019s name, DO NOT include it in your answer. Include clerkships in federal courts (including bankruptcy courts), state courts, appellate courts, supreme courts, magistrate judges, and any foreign courts. Do not skip clerkships that appear in long court titles. If no clerkships are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Clerkships_with_judge' => 'Extract every judicial or court clerkship held by this attorney, regardless of where it appears in the biography (including in lists of prior employment or mixed professional experience). Treat any role containing the word \u201cclerk,\u201d \u201cclerkship,\u201d \u201cjudicial law clerk,\u201d \u201claw clerk,\u201d or similar as a clerkship. For each clerkship, return the name of the court as an array item; if the biography provides the judge\u2019s name, include it in parentheses after the court name, and if no judge is named, return only the court. Include clerkships in federal courts (including bankruptcy courts), state courts, appellate courts, supreme courts, magistrate judges, and any foreign courts. Do not skip clerkships that lack judge names or that appear in long court titles. If no clerkships are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Memberships' => 'Extract any organizations the attorney a member of. List them as an array, with the attorney's role if available. If no memberships or organizations are listed, return an empty string.',\r\n'clients' => 'Extract the attorney's clients that are explicitly NAMED in the source code. You MUST review EVERY section (including explicit client lists, narrative biography, representative matters, experience, and news articles/titles) and then MERGE the results; do not stop after finding clients in any one section. If a list of representative matters or experience is present, extract NAMED clients from this list, and ignore any clients who are described in the list but who are not explicitly named in the list. Only include a client from the list of representative matters/experience or any other section if its name appears verbatim in the list and if the list clearly identifies the client as a real person, business, company, organization, or government entity. Do NOT include general descriptions, categories, roles, or descriptors that are not proper names (for example: \"Fortune 50 company\", \"medical billing company\", \"global bank\", \"mayoral candidate\", \"pharmacy\", \"trade association\", \"energy company\", or similar phrases). As an overarching rule, if the client is not identified by a proper name, do not include it. When pulling clients from lists of representative matters/experience and news articles, include clients which are named and which are implied to be represented by this attorney, their team or firm, and exclude parties adverse to such clients, opposing such clients, or on the other side of a case, deal or transaction from such clients. For example, if the representative matter/experience or news article's title mentions a lending transaction with both the lender and borrower, and the attorney or their team or firm represented the lender, do not list the borrower. If a litigation case is listed, do not assume that the lawyer represented the plaintiff. Use context or other language in the text to determine which party was represented by the attorney. If a matter lists the government as one party, assume the attorney represented the other named party and include that party if it is specifically named and not anonymous. As another example, if the representative matter/experience is a litigation case, and it is written that the attorney represented the defense (or \"defended\" his client), extract the defendant named in the case title. List all named clients as a deduplicated array of NAMES copied directly from the source text. Omit unnamed parties and anonymous parties and never guess identities. If no named clients are explicitly named anywhere in the source code, return an empty string.',\r\n'industries' => 'Extract ONLY industries/industry sectors or client-type categories explicitly named in the source code (especially, but not exclusively, under headings like \u201cIndustries,\u201d \u201cPractices & Industries,\u201d or in /industries/ links). Include items like \u201cSports,\u201d \u201cHealthcare & Life Sciences,\u201d \u201cTechnology,\u201d \u201cInfrastructure,\u201d \u201cPrivate Equity,\u201d etc. EXCLUDE practice areas, services, or deal/matter types (e.g., \u201cMergers & Acquisitions,\u201d \u201cPrivate Equity M&A,\u201d \u201cacquisitions,\u201d \u201cinvestments,\u201d \u201cdivestitures,\u201d \u201cjoint ventures,\u201d \u201cfinancing,\u201d \u201crestructurings\u201d). Return a deduplicated array of industry/client-type names as written. If none are explicitly named, return empty array.',\r\n'languages' => 'Extract the languages in which the attorney is fluent. List them as an array.',\r\n'Accolades' => 'Extract any accolades, awards, or other special recognitions this attorney has received, such as rankings in Chambers guides (like Chambers & Partners, Chambers Gobal, or Chambers Asia-Pacific), the Legal500 list, and SuperLawyers, among others. The accolades should be specific to this attorney or their work, not generalized to their practice or their firm. List these accolades as an array. If no accolades are listed, return an empty string.',\r\n'pro_bono_activities' => 'Extract the attorney's pro bono, community service, and volunteer activities, as well as any non-profit, ngo, community service organizations the attorney may be involved with. If a description of the work is provided, include that. List them as an array',\r\n'thought_leadership' => 'Extract ALL professional thought leadership attributed to this attorney in their narrative bio and in all \"Insights,\" \"Publications,\" \"Events,\" and similar sections. This includes all items with their authorship/co-authorship/speaking/hosting credit/(byline \u201cauthor,\u201d \"co-author,\" \u201cpresenter,\u201d \u201cspeaker,\u201d \u201cpanelist,\u201d \u201cwebinar,\u201d \u201cpodcast,\u201d \u201cblog,\u201d \u201carticle,\u201d \u201cpublication,\u201d \u201cchapter,\u201d \u201cCLE,\u201d etc.). This also includes any items that do not include their byline or credit, but which are implied to involve the attorney (for example, by being listed in a section on their profile for \"Insights,\" \"Podcasts,\" \"Events,\" \"Media,\" \"Thought Leadership,\" \"Webinars, etc.). If a \u201cNews\u201d or \u201cInsights\u201d section mixes third party news ABOUT this attorney, include only items implied to the attorney as creator/presenter. List each as \"Title (URL)\" when a link is present, otherwise just the title. Add base domain to relative links. Also include the publication, event/program, and date after the title if these are available. Return [] if none.'\r\n'adverse_parties' => 'Review all the source code, including the narrative bio and list of representative matters, and list EVERY identifiable and NAMED party that is adverse to this attorney\u2019s clients: litigation opponents and transaction counterparties (buyer vs seller, lender vs borrower, landlord vs tenant, licensor vs licensee, insurer vs insured, issuer vs underwriter/investor, etc.). You MUST pull from all sections in the source code - explicit lists of clients, the narrative biography, listed representative matters, or in news articles listed for this attorney, or the titles thereof. In M&A, if the attorney represented the buyer/acquirer, DO NOT list the acquired target as adverse (since it becomes the client); instead list only the selling side (seller, stockholders, founders, or divesting company). If the attorney represented the seller/target, list the buyer/acquirer. Use cues like \u201cto/with/from/against,\u201d \u201csale to/by,\u201d \u201cacquisition from/by,\u201d \u201cmerger with,\u201d \u201cfinanced by/loan to/from/credit facility with.\u201d In the attorney represented the owner or owning entity of a subsidiary/portfolio company (for example in the case of a restructuring or lending transaction), DO NOT list the subsidiary/portfolio company as adverse; Do not list governments/agencies/courts. Only include an adverse party if its name appears verbatim in the source code and clearly identifies a real person, business, company, organization, or government entity. Do NOT include general descriptions, categories, roles, or descriptors that are not proper names (for example: \"Fortune 50 company\", \"medical billing company\", \"global bank\", \"mayoral candidate\", \"pharmacy\", \"trade association\", \"energy company\", or similar phrases). If the text does not contain the adverse party's name, do not include it. Output a deduplicated array of exact names; omit unnamed parties and never guess.'\r\n 'affinity_groups' => 'Extract ALL affinity/identity-based organizations the attorney is affiliated with on the page, even if under generic headings like \u201cAssociations,\u201d \u201cMemberships,\u201d \u201cAffiliations,\u201d \u201cCommunities,\u201d or \u201cOrganizations.\u201d Check all sections of the source code. Include all bar or professional association whose name signals an identity/affinity or civil-rights focus (e.g., words like Black/African-American/AAPI/Asian/South Asian/Pacific Islander/Hispanic/Latino/Native/Indigenous/LGBT/LGBTQ/Queer/Women/Gender/Disability/Veteran/Jewish/Muslim/Christian/Hindu/Sikh/Interfaith/Civil Rights/Minority/Diversity/Inclusion). Exclude purely general trade/professional groups without such identity focus. Return a deduplicated array of exact organization names; if none, return empty array.'"]}


[System] Extract the following details from the provided HTML source code. Return only a valid JSON object. Do not include any other text.

[User]
{"html":"

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<picture></picture>
Karla Kraft

Partner

Newport Beach

kkraft@stradlinglaw.com

D: 949 725 4060

Areas of Focus

Business Litigation

Consumer Litigation & Enforcement

Wage & Hour Class Actions

Employment Litigation

In a career marked by professional relationships that are both lasting and durable, Karla Kraft is frequently asked to litigate a wide variety of matters across the litigation spectrum. This is a testament, not just to the trust placed in her by long-term clients, but also to her comfort level in facing new challenges. As a consequence, she represents clients across a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters.

Much of Karlaâ€™s work focuses on employment-related issues, including defending single plaintiff lawsuits, wage-and-hour class actions, and PAGA actions, as well as helping clients navigate pre-litigation disputes, strategic policy decisions, and negotiation of executive employment agreements and separation packages. She also has extensive experience litigating a wide array of business litigation issues, including restrictive covenants, trade secrets, unfair competition and related statutory causes of action, false advertising, private company investment disputes, real estate development disputes, business contract and tort disputes, and defense of class action suits against consumer product companies and financial services providers.Â
\n
Clients credit Karla with an instinctive ability to balance the legal aspects of a lawsuit with the business considerations underlying them. She recognizes that the goals of each case are different, and that they donâ€™t necessarily fit within a standard win-or-lose scenario. Accordingly, she works with clients to define objectives up front, so that she can properly gauge the range of strategies available to achieve them. This approach leads to business-smart resolutions and ensures that matters are conducted efficiently, with small teams and reasonable amounts of research.
\n
KarlaÂ Kraft has been recognized with awards from multiple organizations. ExamplesÂ include beingÂ recognizedÂ with the Anti-Defamation Leagueâ€™s Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award, the Segerstrom Center for the Artsâ€™ Arts and Business Leadership Award, as aÂ Best LawyerÂ in AmericaÂ from 2019-2025,Â and as a Southern California Super Lawyer for the last decade.Â She currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees for Harbor Day School, on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Public Law Center, on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and on the Executive Committee of the Justice Sheila Prell Sonenshine (Ret.) Pro Bono Opportunities Reception.Â She is a pastÂ PresidentÂ of theÂ Board of Governors, Association of Business Trial Lawyers,Â Orange County,Â and for ten years served on theÂ Dean's Executive Board at University of California,Â Irvine,Â School of Law.
\n
Highlights of her career include:
\n
\n
She obtained a dismissal, with prejudice, of all claims against client Autoweb (formerly Autobytel)â€” a web-based automobile dealer â€” that had alleged fraud, negligence, and violation of a Florida advertising statue. The decision was upheld on appeal.
\n
When a former high-ranking employee of an online content provider started a competing business using the companyâ€™s client list, Karla first obtained a temporary restraining order, then reclaimed all of the companyâ€™s intellectual property, wrapping up the case in a matter of months.
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In a class action claiming that a publicly traded property management software provider had improperly collected tenant screening fees, Karla and her team won a voluntary dismissal of all claims.
\n
\n
Honors
\n
\n
\nSelected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in the area of commercial litigation since 2019\n
\n
\nSelected for Southern California's \"Super Lawyer\" since 2015Â and recognized in Super Lawyers' \"Women's Edition\" (a designation awarded to the top 5% of attorneys in California)\n
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\nSelected as a \"Southern California Rising Star,â€� Business Litigation by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine andÂ LawÂ & Politics for four consecutive years (this designation is awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys under the age of 40)\n
\n
\nRecipient, Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award from the Orange County/Long Beach Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League for significant contributions to the community and the legal profession\n
\n
\nRecipient, USC's Widney Alumni House Award for exceptional service to the university\n
\n
Co-Chair, USC Women's ConferenceÂ
\n
\n

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Much of Karlaâ€™s work focuses on employment-related issues, including defending single plaintiff lawsuits, wage-and-hour class actions, and PAGA actions, as well as helping clients navigate pre-litigation disputes, strategic policy decisions, and negotiation of executive employment agreements and separation packages. She also has extensive experience litigating a wide array of business litigation issues, including restrictive covenants, trade secrets, unfair competition and related statutory causes of action, false advertising, private company investment disputes, real estate development disputes, business contract and tort disputes, and defense of class action suits against consumer product companies and financial services providers.Â
\n
Clients credit Karla with an instinctive ability to balance the legal aspects of a lawsuit with the business considerations underlying them. She recognizes that the goals of each case are different, and that they donâ€™t necessarily fit within a standard win-or-lose scenario. Accordingly, she works with clients to define objectives up front, so that she can properly gauge the range of strategies available to achieve them. This approach leads to business-smart resolutions and ensures that matters are conducted efficiently, with small teams and reasonable amounts of research.
\n
KarlaÂ Kraft has been recognized with awards from multiple organizations. ExamplesÂ include beingÂ recognizedÂ with the Anti-Defamation Leagueâ€™s Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award, the Segerstrom Center for the Artsâ€™ Arts and Business Leadership Award, as aÂ Best LawyerÂ in AmericaÂ from 2019-2025,Â and as a Southern California Super Lawyer for the last decade.Â She currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees for Harbor Day School, on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Public Law Center, on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and on the Executive Committee of the Justice Sheila Prell Sonenshine (Ret.) Pro Bono Opportunities Reception.Â She is a pastÂ PresidentÂ of theÂ Board of Governors, Association of Business Trial Lawyers,Â Orange County,Â and for ten years served on theÂ Dean's Executive Board at University of California,Â Irvine,Â School of Law.
\n
Highlights of her career include:
\n
\n
She obtained a dismissal, with prejudice, of all claims against client Autoweb (formerly Autobytel)â€” a web-based automobile dealer â€” that had alleged fraud, negligence, and violation of a Florida advertising statue. The decision was upheld on appeal.
\n
When a former high-ranking employee of an online content provider started a competing business using the companyâ€™s client list, Karla first obtained a temporary restraining order, then reclaimed all of the companyâ€™s intellectual property, wrapping up the case in a matter of months.
\n
In a class action claiming that a publicly traded property management software provider had improperly collected tenant screening fees, Karla and her team won a voluntary dismissal of all claims.
\n
\n
Honors
\n
\n
\nSelected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America in the area of commercial litigation since 2019\n
\n
\nSelected for Southern California's \"Super Lawyer\" since 2015Â and recognized in Super Lawyers' \"Women's Edition\" (a designation awarded to the top 5% of attorneys in California)\n
\n
\nSelected as a \"Southern California Rising Star,â€� Business Litigation by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine andÂ LawÂ & Politics for four consecutive years (this designation is awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys under the age of 40)\n
\n
\nRecipient, Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award from the Orange County/Long Beach Chapter of the Anti-Defamation League for significant contributions to the community and the legal profession\n
\n
\nRecipient, USC's Widney Alumni House Award for exceptional service to the university\n
\n
Co-Chair, USC Women's ConferenceÂ
\n
\n

Experience
Currently defending a producer of nutraceutical and industrial enzymes in a false advertising matter in which the plaintiff claims that our client falsely claims their products contain enterically coated Serrapeptase or an enterically coated blend.Â Stradling secured a rare dismissal with prejudice in a lawsuit against the former Presiding Judge of the Mendocino County Superior Court in federal court in the Northern District of California.Represented a provider of online video network for style, fashion, beauty, and shopping, in prosecuting a trade secret matter involving a former employee who misappropriated confidential information regarding the influencers working with StyleHaul's social medial platform. We secured at TRO, and then reached a favorable settlement. View More
Credentials
Education

University of Southern California Gould School of Law, J.D.

University of Southern California, B.A., journalism and international relations, magna cum laude

Memberships
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President and Board of Governors (2008 - 2020), Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Orange County
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Board of Directors and Co-Chair for Volunteers for Justice Committee, Public Law Center
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Dean's Executive Board, University of California, Irvine, School of Law
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Executive Committee, Sonenshine Pro Bono Opportunities Reception
\n
Past Member, Judiciary Committee,Â Orange County Bar Association (from 2013-2017)
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Past Member, Board of Governors, USC Alumni Association (from 2011-2016)
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Co-Chair, 2016 USC Womenâ€™s ConferenceÂ and Honorary Co-Chair, 2018 Women's Conference
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Co-Chair, Serious Fun, Human Optionsâ€™ annual gala (2014)
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Past Board of DirectorsÂ Member, Camp Fire USA Orange County Council
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Constitutional Rights Foundation (past team coach, high school mock trial competition (2004-2010)
\n
Past President, USC Alumni Club of Newport and Irvine and past Chair, USC Orange County Regional Board
\n
Bar Admissions

California

Washington

Court Admissions

United States Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Central District, CA

Eastern District, CA

Northern District, CA

Southern District, CA

Eastern District, WA

Western District, WA

Related Practices

Business Litigation

Consumer Litigation & Enforcement

Employment Litigation

Employment

Wage & Hour Class Actions

Real Estate Litigation

Litigation

Employer Counseling & Litigation Prevention

Related Industries & Initiatives

Banking & Financial Services

Technology

Life Science

Retail & Consumer Products

Related NewsSeven Stradling Attorneys Named to 2026 Super Lawyers31 Stradling Lawyers Recognized as Best LawyersÂ® Award Recipients for 2026Seven Stradling Attorneys Named to 2025 Super LawyersView All\n","instructions":["'first_name' => 'Extract only the attorney\\'s first name.',\r\n'middle_name' => 'Extract only the attorney\\'s middle name or middle initial, as it is presented. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'surname' => 'Extract the attorney\u2019s last name or family name',\r\n'email' => 'Extract a valid email address for the profiled attorney. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'title' => 'Extract the profiled attorney\\'s job title. Ensure it is properly capitalized.The attorney can have multiple titles, in which case list them all as an array. If no title is found, return an empty array.',\r\n'location' => 'Extract the office name or city name in which this attorney works, as it is listed. The attorney may work out of two offices, in which case both should be listed. List them as an array. Do not include prior locations that may be mentioned as where the attorney may have worked in the past.',\r\n'direct_phone_no_1' => 'Extract the direct office phone number listed for this attorney. If multiple phone numbers are listed, select the one that is their direct line, not the main or central office number, nor a fax number. If the attorney works out of two offices and has a direct line for each office, list the first here. If a direct line is unavailable, but a main or central office number is listed with an extension, list that number followed by EXT and the extension number',\r\n'direct_phone_no_2' => 'Extract the second direct office phone number listed for this attorney, if it exists. If multiple direct phone numbers are listed because the attorney works out of two office, select the second number \u2013 not the one listed in the prior item. Select only a number that is the attorney\u2019s direct line, not the main or central office number, nor a fax number.',\r\n'image_url' => 'Extract the URL for the attorney\u2019s image file',\r\n'linkedIn' => 'Extract the URL for the attorney\u2019s LinkedIn profile, if it is listed. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'narrative_description' => 'Extract and combine all sections that provide a narrative overview of the attorney\u2019s biography and general work experience. Do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit information. Include the Biography/Bio section(s) and also include any Experience section that contains narrative descriptions of work (including sections structured as practice-area headings followed by descriptive paragraphs, e.g., \"Aging Services\" + paragraph text, \"Dental\" + paragraph text, etc.). Preserve headings and the order of content as it appears; you may convert embedded highlights into bullet points only if it helps preserve (not reduce) the information. EXCLUDE: any section (or subsection) that exclusively lists specific representative matters / representative experience items (typically a list of discrete matters, case captions like \"X v. Y\", deal/transaction bullet points, dated entries, courts/dockets, or similar itemized matter lists). If an Experience (or other) section contains BOTH narrative description AND a separate list of specific matters, include the narrative paragraphs/headings but omit the itemized matter list. Return the combined narrative text only. If no narrative bio or general-experience narrative exists, return an empty string.',\r\n'representative_matters' => 'Extract ALL representative matters (such as litigation cases, verdicts, transactions, or deals) that are listed as well any available descriptions of them, in both specified lists of representative matters, experience, and work highlights, as well as in the biographical text and list of news articles. If news articles for this attorney identify cases or transactions that can be inferred to be the work product of this attorney, include those matters as well. List the representative matters and their available descriptions as an array. Only pull from the text and do not paraphrase or make anything up. If no representative matters are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'news' => 'Extract news items ABOUT this attorney (not authored by them): e.g., firm/industry press releases, announcements, awards, rankings, deal/case results naming them, media coverage quoting or profiling them. List each item as \"Title (URL)\". If a \u201cNews\u201d section mixes authored content, include ONLY items that are clearly about the attorney or the firm, not implied to be authored by the attorney. Add base domain to relative links. Return an empty array [] if none.',\r\n'practice_areas' => 'Extract all the practice areas (aka departments, specialties, capabilities, services areas, areas of focus, etc.), if any, that are listed as ones that this attorney specializes in. Return them as an array. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school' => 'Extract the law school attorney attended. This is for their primary law degree, usually a JD, LLB, or, in the absence of those, the earliest LLM listed or the institution where they received an undergraduate law degree. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school_graduation_year' => 'Extract the year in which the attorney received their degree from the law school above (what year did they graduate?) If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school_honors' => 'Extract all honors this attorney received in or during law school. You must review all education and credentials sections that list their law degree AND ALSO the narrative bio, as well as all other sectiosn. These honors include: latin honors (cum laude, summa cum laude, magna cum laude); school specific honors (e.g. James Kent Scholars at Columbia Law); regular honors designations (e.g. Dean\u2019s List, High Honors, etc.); Order of the Coif; course prizes (such as book awards, CALI Awards, American Jurisprudence Awards, or course awards); membership in phi kappa phi; scholarships and fellowships; moot court awards; trial advocacy awards; best oralis; brief-writing honors or other writing honors; pro bono or service distinctions; commencement prizes and medals; or other types of academic law school honors (but list them specifically - do not list them as \"other honors\". Return this entire extracted list of specific honors as an array. If no honors are found, return an empty array.',   \r\n'law_journals' =>' Extract any law reviews or law journals listed for the attorney's time in law school. Also list if the attorney had any titles in such law reviews or journals, like Articles Editor for example. Return this entire extracted list of law reviews and journals, and associated titles, as an array. If no law reviews or journals are found, return an empty array.'\r\n'undergraduate_school' => 'Extract the attorney\\'s undergraduate degree-granting school, college, university, or institution. This is probably the institution from where they received a bachelors degree. If their undergraduate degree was an LLB listed for their law school above, return an empty string. If no undergraduate schools are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'undergraduate_school_graduation_year' => 'Extract the year in which attorney received their undergraduate degree from the undergraduate school above. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'undergraduate_specialty' => 'Extract the specialties or majors that are listed for the undergraduate degree (e.g. economics, computer science, etc.) This does not include degree type, like B.S., Bachelor of Arts or Science degree, etc. List the specialties or majors as an array. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'PhD_school' => 'If this attorney has a PhD, Extract the educational institution from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'PhD_subject' => 'If this attorney has a PhD, list the educational institution from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Masters_degree_school' => 'If this attorney has a masters degree, extract the educational institution from which they received it. But do not list schools from which the attorney received an LL.M. degree or a masters in law. If no masters degree schools are found, return an empty string. ',\r\n'Masters_degree_subject' => 'If the attorney has a masters degree, extract the subject or area of study of the masters. The subject area may be in the degree itself, such as an M.Div, which is a masters in Divinity. But do not include subjects for LL.M. degrees or masters in law degrees. DO NOT include honors or latin honors (e.g. cum laude, summa cum laude) in your answer. List subjects as array. If no masters degree subjects are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'MBA_School' => 'If the attorney has a Masters in Business Administration, extract the name of the business school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'MD_school' => 'If the attorney has an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree, extract the name of the medical school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'llm_in_tax_law_school' =>  'If the attorney has an masters in laws (LLM) degree, specializing in tax, extract the name of the law school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Other_LLM_school' => 'If the attorney has an masters in laws (LLM) degree, but not one that specializes in tax, extract the name of the law school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'bar_and_court_admissions' => 'Extract EVERY explicit admission to practice (bar + court/agency) anywhere in the page. Include bar jurisdictions (states/provinces/territories/countries) and court/agency admissions (e.g., U.S. Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals with circuit, District/Bankruptcy/Tax/Federal Claims courts with district, USPTO, tribal/military/foreign courts). For UK attorneys, specify whether they are a solicitor, barrister, advocate, or any combination if available; for Canada, specify the province or territory; for Australia, specify the state or territory and whether they are admitted as a solicitor or barrister. Pull items under headings like \u201cAdmissions,\u201d \u201cBar Admissions,\u201d \u201cCourt Admissions,\u201d or similar, and treat each
 or clearly separated entry as one item. Do not infer from memberships/education. Exclude governments as parties, and strip years and dates. Output a deduplicated array of exact admission strings; if none, return []. ',\r\n'Clerkships' => 'Extract every judicial or court clerkship held by this attorney, regardless of where it appears in the biography (including in lists of prior employment or mixed professional experience). Treat any role containing the word \u201cclerk,\u201d \u201cclerkship,\u201d \u201cjudicial law clerk,\u201d \u201claw clerk,\u201d or similar as a clerkship. For each clerkship, return the name of the court as an array item; if the biography provides the judge\u2019s name, DO NOT include it in your answer. Include clerkships in federal courts (including bankruptcy courts), state courts, appellate courts, supreme courts, magistrate judges, and any foreign courts. Do not skip clerkships that appear in long court titles. If no clerkships are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Clerkships_with_judge' => 'Extract every judicial or court clerkship held by this attorney, regardless of where it appears in the biography (including in lists of prior employment or mixed professional experience). Treat any role containing the word \u201cclerk,\u201d \u201cclerkship,\u201d \u201cjudicial law clerk,\u201d \u201claw clerk,\u201d or similar as a clerkship. For each clerkship, return the name of the court as an array item; if the biography provides the judge\u2019s name, include it in parentheses after the court name, and if no judge is named, return only the court. Include clerkships in federal courts (including bankruptcy courts), state courts, appellate courts, supreme courts, magistrate judges, and any foreign courts. Do not skip clerkships that lack judge names or that appear in long court titles. If no clerkships are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Memberships' => 'Extract any organizations the attorney a member of. List them as an array, with the attorney's role if available. If no memberships or organizations are listed, return an empty string.',\r\n'clients' => 'Extract the attorney's clients that are explicitly NAMED in the source code. You MUST review EVERY section (including explicit client lists, narrative biography, representative matters, experience, and news articles/titles) and then MERGE the results; do not stop after finding clients in any one section. If a list of representative matters or experience is present, extract NAMED clients from this list, and ignore any clients who are described in the list but who are not explicitly named in the list. Only include a client from the list of representative matters/experience or any other section if its name appears verbatim in the list and if the list clearly identifies the client as a real person, business, company, organization, or government entity. Do NOT include general descriptions, categories, roles, or descriptors that are not proper names (for example: \"Fortune 50 company\", \"medical billing company\", \"global bank\", \"mayoral candidate\", \"pharmacy\", \"trade association\", \"energy company\", or similar phrases). As an overarching rule, if the client is not identified by a proper name, do not include it. When pulling clients from lists of representative matters/experience and news articles, include clients which are named and which are implied to be represented by this attorney, their team or firm, and exclude parties adverse to such clients, opposing such clients, or on the other side of a case, deal or transaction from such clients. For example, if the representative matter/experience or news article's title mentions a lending transaction with both the lender and borrower, and the attorney or their team or firm represented the lender, do not list the borrower. If a litigation case is listed, do not assume that the lawyer represented the plaintiff. Use context or other language in the text to determine which party was represented by the attorney. If a matter lists the government as one party, assume the attorney represented the other named party and include that party if it is specifically named and not anonymous. As another example, if the representative matter/experience is a litigation case, and it is written that the attorney represented the defense (or \"defended\" his client), extract the defendant named in the case title. List all named clients as a deduplicated array of NAMES copied directly from the source text. Omit unnamed parties and anonymous parties and never guess identities. If no named clients are explicitly named anywhere in the source code, return an empty string.',\r\n'industries' => 'Extract ONLY industries/industry sectors or client-type categories explicitly named in the source code (especially, but not exclusively, under headings like \u201cIndustries,\u201d \u201cPractices & Industries,\u201d or in /industries/ links). Include items like \u201cSports,\u201d \u201cHealthcare & Life Sciences,\u201d \u201cTechnology,\u201d \u201cInfrastructure,\u201d \u201cPrivate Equity,\u201d etc. EXCLUDE practice areas, services, or deal/matter types (e.g., \u201cMergers & Acquisitions,\u201d \u201cPrivate Equity M&A,\u201d \u201cacquisitions,\u201d \u201cinvestments,\u201d \u201cdivestitures,\u201d \u201cjoint ventures,\u201d \u201cfinancing,\u201d \u201crestructurings\u201d). Return a deduplicated array of industry/client-type names as written. If none are explicitly named, return empty array.',\r\n'languages' => 'Extract the languages in which the attorney is fluent. List them as an array.',\r\n'Accolades' => 'Extract any accolades, awards, or other special recognitions this attorney has received, such as rankings in Chambers guides (like Chambers & Partners, Chambers Gobal, or Chambers Asia-Pacific), the Legal500 list, and SuperLawyers, among others. The accolades should be specific to this attorney or their work, not generalized to their practice or their firm. List these accolades as an array. If no accolades are listed, return an empty string.',\r\n'pro_bono_activities' => 'Extract the attorney's pro bono, community service, and volunteer activities, as well as any non-profit, ngo, community service organizations the attorney may be involved with. If a description of the work is provided, include that. List them as an array',\r\n'thought_leadership' => 'Extract ALL professional thought leadership attributed to this attorney in their narrative bio and in all \"Insights,\" \"Publications,\" \"Events,\" and similar sections. This includes all items with their authorship/co-authorship/speaking/hosting credit/(byline \u201cauthor,\u201d \"co-author,\" \u201cpresenter,\u201d \u201cspeaker,\u201d \u201cpanelist,\u201d \u201cwebinar,\u201d \u201cpodcast,\u201d \u201cblog,\u201d \u201carticle,\u201d \u201cpublication,\u201d \u201cchapter,\u201d \u201cCLE,\u201d etc.). This also includes any items that do not include their byline or credit, but which are implied to involve the attorney (for example, by being listed in a section on their profile for \"Insights,\" \"Podcasts,\" \"Events,\" \"Media,\" \"Thought Leadership,\" \"Webinars, etc.). If a \u201cNews\u201d or \u201cInsights\u201d section mixes third party news ABOUT this attorney, include only items implied to the attorney as creator/presenter. List each as \"Title (URL)\" when a link is present, otherwise just the title. Add base domain to relative links. Also include the publication, event/program, and date after the title if these are available. Return [] if none.'\r\n'adverse_parties' => 'Review all the source code, including the narrative bio and list of representative matters, and list EVERY identifiable and NAMED party that is adverse to this attorney\u2019s clients: litigation opponents and transaction counterparties (buyer vs seller, lender vs borrower, landlord vs tenant, licensor vs licensee, insurer vs insured, issuer vs underwriter/investor, etc.). You MUST pull from all sections in the source code - explicit lists of clients, the narrative biography, listed representative matters, or in news articles listed for this attorney, or the titles thereof. In M&A, if the attorney represented the buyer/acquirer, DO NOT list the acquired target as adverse (since it becomes the client); instead list only the selling side (seller, stockholders, founders, or divesting company). If the attorney represented the seller/target, list the buyer/acquirer. Use cues like \u201cto/with/from/against,\u201d \u201csale to/by,\u201d \u201cacquisition from/by,\u201d \u201cmerger with,\u201d \u201cfinanced by/loan to/from/credit facility with.\u201d In the attorney represented the owner or owning entity of a subsidiary/portfolio company (for example in the case of a restructuring or lending transaction), DO NOT list the subsidiary/portfolio company as adverse; Do not list governments/agencies/courts. Only include an adverse party if its name appears verbatim in the source code and clearly identifies a real person, business, company, organization, or government entity. Do NOT include general descriptions, categories, roles, or descriptors that are not proper names (for example: \"Fortune 50 company\", \"medical billing company\", \"global bank\", \"mayoral candidate\", \"pharmacy\", \"trade association\", \"energy company\", or similar phrases). If the text does not contain the adverse party's name, do not include it. Output a deduplicated array of exact names; omit unnamed parties and never guess.'\r\n 'affinity_groups' => 'Extract ALL affinity/identity-based organizations the attorney is affiliated with on the page, even if under generic headings like \u201cAssociations,\u201d \u201cMemberships,\u201d \u201cAffiliations,\u201d \u201cCommunities,\u201d or \u201cOrganizations.\u201d Check all sections of the source code. Include all bar or professional association whose name signals an identity/affinity or civil-rights focus (e.g., words like Black/African-American/AAPI/Asian/South Asian/Pacific Islander/Hispanic/Latino/Native/Indigenous/LGBT/LGBTQ/Queer/Women/Gender/Disability/Veteran/Jewish/Muslim/Christian/Hindu/Sikh/Interfaith/Civil Rights/Minority/Diversity/Inclusion). Exclude purely general trade/professional groups without such identity focus. Return a deduplicated array of exact organization names; if none, return empty array.'"]}


[System] Extract the following details from the provided HTML source code. Return only a valid JSON object. Do not include any other text.

[User]
{"html":"\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\tKimberly\n\t\t\t\t\tM.\n\t\t\t\t\tMarston \n\t\t\t\t
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Greensboro

t: 336.271.3145

f: 336.232.9145

kmarston@brookspierce.com
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Print PDF

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\n\t\t\t\t\tOverviewCredentialsNewsroomProfessional & CivicAbout Me\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Overview
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Kim Marston litigates contract and commercial disputes, including unfair trade practices, trade secrets, unfair competition and breach of fiduciary duty claims, on behalf of businesses and professionals in all levels of state and federal courts, including the North Carolina Business Court.

My Practices
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<button>Complex Commercial Litigation</button>
When things go wrong in your business, I help resolve disputes through negotiation and the courts. During litigation, I work to quickly understand your business so that I can effectively handle and focus on the dispute, letting you focus on your business.
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Kim represents professionals and businesses in a variety of industries in complex litigation matters, including matters involving breach of contract, unfair trade practices, trade secrets, and the False Claims Act. Whether itâ€™s a single contract or a long-term business relationship that unexpectedly goes bad, Kim has experience helping clients resolve disputesâ€”litigating through trial when necessary. She has significant experience in all stages of litigation from pre-suit resolution through appeal and has tried cases in all levels of state and federal courts, including the North Carolina Business Court.
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Kim is particularly skilled at navigating cases with high volumes of documents and extensive discovery needs. She works with our in-house e-discovery staff and utilizes the latest technology to efficiently and effectively manage and analyze documents that can number in the millions. Kim gets to the key information without incurring undue expense.

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<button>Business Ownership Disputes</button>
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When a trusted business partner does something to hurt the company or disputes arise about the ownership or control of your company, LLC, or partnership, I help you understand your options and litigate when necessary.
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Kim counsels and represents business owners when disputes over ownership and control arise. She has experience representing clients in litigation over ownership, dissolution, breach of fiduciary duties, and constructive fraud in the North Carolina Business Court.

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<button>Professional Liability Litigation</button>
I counsel lawyers and law firms when they are faced with thorny issues and defend them when they are accused of malpractice. I handle the issues they face so they can focus on their own clients.
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Kim counsels North Carolina lawyers in carrying out their professional responsibilities and defends professionals when faced with allegations of malpractice. She has successfully defended lawyers and law firms in North Carolina in state and federal courts, securing dismissal of claims on behalf of the Firm's clients in numerous recent cases. Kim also represents out-of-state lawyers and firms when they are hauled into North Carolina courts.

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When things go wrong in your business, I help resolve disputes through negotiation and the courts. During litigation, I work to quickly understand your business so that I can effectively handle and focus on the dispute, letting you focus on your business.
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Kim represents professionals and businesses in a variety of industries in complex litigation matters, including matters involving breach of contract, unfair trade practices, trade secrets, and the False Claims Act. Whether itâ€™s a single contract or a long-term business relationship that unexpectedly goes bad, Kim has experience helping clients resolve disputesâ€”litigating through trial when necessary. She has significant experience in all stages of litigation from pre-suit resolution through appeal and has tried cases in all levels of state and federal courts, including the North Carolina Business Court.
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Kim is particularly skilled at navigating cases with high volumes of documents and extensive discovery needs. She works with our in-house e-discovery staff and utilizes the latest technology to efficiently and effectively manage and analyze documents that can number in the millions. Kim gets to the key information without incurring undue expense.

Services
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Complex Business Litigation
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Federal Litigation
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Insurance & Professional Services
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Litigation
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Litigation Support Technology
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Manufacturing
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North Carolina Business Court
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Professional Liability Litigation
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Technology
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Credentials
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Honors & Recognitions

Selected by her peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina's \"Legal Elite\" in the Young Guns category (2022)
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Member, North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society (2021-2023)
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Recognized as a \"Rising Star\" by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (2021)
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Selected by herÂ peers for inclusion inÂ The Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ© \"Ones to Watch\" for Commercial Litigation (2021-2026), Insurance Law (2023-2026), Legal Malpractice Law (2024-2026), Municipal Law (2024-2026)
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Recognized inÂ North Carolina Super LawyersÂ  (Thomson Reuters) as a â€œRising Starâ€� in Business Litigation (2021-2026)
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Recognized in Benchmark Litigation on their â€œ40 & Under Listâ€� (2023)

Education
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Washington and Lee School of Law, J.D., 2013,Â magna cum laude; Order of the Coif; Lead Articles Editor,Â Washington and Lee Law Review
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Duke University, B.A., 2009
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Admissions

North Carolina
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U.S. District Court for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina
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Newsroom
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News
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newsTwenty-two Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized by 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers02.18.2026
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news73 Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ®Â 2026 Guide08.21.2025
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RecognitionTwenty-two Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized by 2025Â North Carolina Super Lawyers02.19.2025
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newsBrooks Pierce Receives Top Ranking in 2025 Edition of Benchmark Litigation10.23.2024
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news72 Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized inÂ The Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ® 2025 Guide08.15.2024
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newsTwenty-seven Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized by 2024 North Carolina Super Lawyers01.18.2024
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news74 Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ® 2024 Guide08.17.2023
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RecognitionBrooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized by the North Carolina Supreme Court for Pro Bono Work06.22.2023
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newsBrooks Pierce Sponsors Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Centerâ€™s Anniversary Gala03.13.2023
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newsKim Marston Named to Triad Business Journal's Forty Leaders Under 4002.23.2023
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RecognitionTwenty-seven Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized by 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers01.18.2023
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RecognitionBenchmark Litigation Recognizes 16 Brooks Pierce Attorneys10.13.2022
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RecognitionBrooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ® 2023 Guide08.18.2022
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RecognitionBrooks Pierce Attorneys Give Back: Ten Recognized by the North Carolina Supreme Court for Pro Bono Work06.20.2022
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RecognitionTwenty-seven Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized by 2022 North Carolina Super LawyersNorth Carolina Super Lawyers, 01.13.2022
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RecognitionThirty Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized in Business North Carolinaâ€™s 2022 â€œLegal Eliteâ€� and â€œHall of Fameâ€�Business North Carolina, 01.03.2022
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Recognition72 Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ® 2022 GuideThe Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ®, 08.19.2021
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RecognitionBrooks Pierce Lawyers Named North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Rising StarsNorth Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 05.04.2021
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RecognitionThirty Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized by 2021 North Carolina Super LawyersNorth Carolina Super Lawyers, 01.14.2021
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Media MentionBrooks Pierce Partner Authors Article for North Carolina Bar Association BlogNorth Carolina Bar Association Blog, 12.11.2020
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Press ReleaseKim Marston Named to Board of Directors for the National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad10.13.2020
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Press ReleaseBrooks Pierce Announces Four New Partners09.22.2020
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Recognition73 Brooks Pierce Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ® 2021 GuideThe Best Lawyers in AmericaÂ®, 08.20.2020
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Press ReleaseKim Marston Named to NC Association of Defense Attorneys Board of Directors06.26.2020
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Press ReleaseBrooks Pierce Attorneys Win Chemical Company a $75 Million Verdict12.02.2019
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Media MentionBrooks Pierce Attorney Quoted by Triad Business Journal Regarding Partnerships for Young AttorneysTriad Business Journal, 04.29.2019
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Media MentionBrooks Pierce Case Recognized As One of N.C.â€™s Largest Eminent Domain Verdicts in 201803.11.2019
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Media MentionNorth Carolina Lawyers Weekly Reports on Recent $2.6 Million Verdict for Brooks Pierce ClientNorth Carolina Lawyers Weekly , 01.25.2019
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Press ReleaseBrooks Pierce Attorney Kim Marston Named to Board of Directors of the Guilford Green Foundation11.26.2018
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RecognitionBrooks Pierce Attorneys Receive Greensboro Bar Associationâ€™s 2014 Pro Bono Award12.11.2014
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Press ReleaseJoint News Release from Brooks Pierce, Legal Aid of North Carolina and Mary's House07.29.2014
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Speaking Engagements
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Speaking EngagementsBrooks Pierce Partner Presents at Mecklenburg County Barâ€™s 8th Annual North Carolina Business Court CLE10.09.2020
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Publications
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PublicationChanges to the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure Take Effect Oct. 1, 202009.30.2020
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Potential Insurance Coverage for COVID-19 LossesCOVID-19 Response Resource Center: Timely Counsel for your Business, 03.26.2020
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Reviewing Business Contracts in Light of the COVID-19 CrisisCOVID-19 Response Resource Center: Timely Counsel for your Business, 03.25.2020
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Professional & Civic
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Professional & Civic Activities

Member, Board of Directors, National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad
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Member, Board of Directors, Guilford Green FoundationÂ & LGBTQ Center
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Member, Board of Directors,Â North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys
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Member, Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Future Fund
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Co-coach, Guilford College Mock Trial TeamÂ (2013-2015)
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Therapeutic Horseback Riding Volunteer & Exercise Rider, Harmony Farms, Inc.Â (2009-2010)
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About Me
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In my free time, I try to enjoy the beautiful weather and variety of interesting places North Carolina has to offer. Youâ€™re most likely to find me outdoors with my wifeâ€”hiking with our dogs or exploring North Carolinaâ€™s waterways in our kayaks. Although the pandemic has grounded us for now, we are also excited to get back to traveling in search of new adventures and great food!
\n","instructions":["'first_name' => 'Extract only the attorney\\'s first name.',\r\n'middle_name' => 'Extract only the attorney\\'s middle name or middle initial, as it is presented. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'surname' => 'Extract the attorney\u2019s last name or family name',\r\n'email' => 'Extract a valid email address for the profiled attorney. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'title' => 'Extract the profiled attorney\\'s job title. Ensure it is properly capitalized.The attorney can have multiple titles, in which case list them all as an array. If no title is found, return an empty array.',\r\n'location' => 'Extract the office name or city name in which this attorney works, as it is listed. The attorney may work out of two offices, in which case both should be listed. List them as an array. Do not include prior locations that may be mentioned as where the attorney may have worked in the past.',\r\n'direct_phone_no_1' => 'Extract the direct office phone number listed for this attorney. If multiple phone numbers are listed, select the one that is their direct line, not the main or central office number, nor a fax number. If the attorney works out of two offices and has a direct line for each office, list the first here. If a direct line is unavailable, but a main or central office number is listed with an extension, list that number followed by EXT and the extension number',\r\n'direct_phone_no_2' => 'Extract the second direct office phone number listed for this attorney, if it exists. If multiple direct phone numbers are listed because the attorney works out of two office, select the second number \u2013 not the one listed in the prior item. Select only a number that is the attorney\u2019s direct line, not the main or central office number, nor a fax number.',\r\n'image_url' => 'Extract the URL for the attorney\u2019s image file',\r\n'linkedIn' => 'Extract the URL for the attorney\u2019s LinkedIn profile, if it is listed. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'narrative_description' => 'Extract and combine all sections that provide a narrative overview of the attorney\u2019s biography and general work experience. Do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit information. Include the Biography/Bio section(s) and also include any Experience section that contains narrative descriptions of work (including sections structured as practice-area headings followed by descriptive paragraphs, e.g., \"Aging Services\" + paragraph text, \"Dental\" + paragraph text, etc.). Preserve headings and the order of content as it appears; you may convert embedded highlights into bullet points only if it helps preserve (not reduce) the information. EXCLUDE: any section (or subsection) that exclusively lists specific representative matters / representative experience items (typically a list of discrete matters, case captions like \"X v. Y\", deal/transaction bullet points, dated entries, courts/dockets, or similar itemized matter lists). If an Experience (or other) section contains BOTH narrative description AND a separate list of specific matters, include the narrative paragraphs/headings but omit the itemized matter list. Return the combined narrative text only. If no narrative bio or general-experience narrative exists, return an empty string.',\r\n'representative_matters' => 'Extract ALL representative matters (such as litigation cases, verdicts, transactions, or deals) that are listed as well any available descriptions of them, in both specified lists of representative matters, experience, and work highlights, as well as in the biographical text and list of news articles. If news articles for this attorney identify cases or transactions that can be inferred to be the work product of this attorney, include those matters as well. List the representative matters and their available descriptions as an array. Only pull from the text and do not paraphrase or make anything up. If no representative matters are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'news' => 'Extract news items ABOUT this attorney (not authored by them): e.g., firm/industry press releases, announcements, awards, rankings, deal/case results naming them, media coverage quoting or profiling them. List each item as \"Title (URL)\". If a \u201cNews\u201d section mixes authored content, include ONLY items that are clearly about the attorney or the firm, not implied to be authored by the attorney. Add base domain to relative links. Return an empty array [] if none.',\r\n'practice_areas' => 'Extract all the practice areas (aka departments, specialties, capabilities, services areas, areas of focus, etc.), if any, that are listed as ones that this attorney specializes in. Return them as an array. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school' => 'Extract the law school attorney attended. This is for their primary law degree, usually a JD, LLB, or, in the absence of those, the earliest LLM listed or the institution where they received an undergraduate law degree. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school_graduation_year' => 'Extract the year in which the attorney received their degree from the law school above (what year did they graduate?) If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'law_school_honors' => 'Extract all honors this attorney received in or during law school. You must review all education and credentials sections that list their law degree AND ALSO the narrative bio, as well as all other sectiosn. These honors include: latin honors (cum laude, summa cum laude, magna cum laude); school specific honors (e.g. James Kent Scholars at Columbia Law); regular honors designations (e.g. Dean\u2019s List, High Honors, etc.); Order of the Coif; course prizes (such as book awards, CALI Awards, American Jurisprudence Awards, or course awards); membership in phi kappa phi; scholarships and fellowships; moot court awards; trial advocacy awards; best oralis; brief-writing honors or other writing honors; pro bono or service distinctions; commencement prizes and medals; or other types of academic law school honors (but list them specifically - do not list them as \"other honors\". Return this entire extracted list of specific honors as an array. If no honors are found, return an empty array.',   \r\n'law_journals' =>' Extract any law reviews or law journals listed for the attorney's time in law school. Also list if the attorney had any titles in such law reviews or journals, like Articles Editor for example. Return this entire extracted list of law reviews and journals, and associated titles, as an array. If no law reviews or journals are found, return an empty array.'\r\n'undergraduate_school' => 'Extract the attorney\\'s undergraduate degree-granting school, college, university, or institution. This is probably the institution from where they received a bachelors degree. If their undergraduate degree was an LLB listed for their law school above, return an empty string. If no undergraduate schools are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'undergraduate_school_graduation_year' => 'Extract the year in which attorney received their undergraduate degree from the undergraduate school above. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'undergraduate_specialty' => 'Extract the specialties or majors that are listed for the undergraduate degree (e.g. economics, computer science, etc.) This does not include degree type, like B.S., Bachelor of Arts or Science degree, etc. List the specialties or majors as an array. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'PhD_school' => 'If this attorney has a PhD, Extract the educational institution from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'PhD_subject' => 'If this attorney has a PhD, list the educational institution from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Masters_degree_school' => 'If this attorney has a masters degree, extract the educational institution from which they received it. But do not list schools from which the attorney received an LL.M. degree or a masters in law. If no masters degree schools are found, return an empty string. ',\r\n'Masters_degree_subject' => 'If the attorney has a masters degree, extract the subject or area of study of the masters. The subject area may be in the degree itself, such as an M.Div, which is a masters in Divinity. But do not include subjects for LL.M. degrees or masters in law degrees. DO NOT include honors or latin honors (e.g. cum laude, summa cum laude) in your answer. List subjects as array. If no masters degree subjects are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'MBA_School' => 'If the attorney has a Masters in Business Administration, extract the name of the business school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'MD_school' => 'If the attorney has an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree, extract the name of the medical school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'llm_in_tax_law_school' =>  'If the attorney has an masters in laws (LLM) degree, specializing in tax, extract the name of the law school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Other_LLM_school' => 'If the attorney has an masters in laws (LLM) degree, but not one that specializes in tax, extract the name of the law school from which they received it. If not found, return an empty string.',\r\n'bar_and_court_admissions' => 'Extract EVERY explicit admission to practice (bar + court/agency) anywhere in the page. Include bar jurisdictions (states/provinces/territories/countries) and court/agency admissions (e.g., U.S. Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals with circuit, District/Bankruptcy/Tax/Federal Claims courts with district, USPTO, tribal/military/foreign courts). For UK attorneys, specify whether they are a solicitor, barrister, advocate, or any combination if available; for Canada, specify the province or territory; for Australia, specify the state or territory and whether they are admitted as a solicitor or barrister. Pull items under headings like \u201cAdmissions,\u201d \u201cBar Admissions,\u201d \u201cCourt Admissions,\u201d or similar, and treat each
 or clearly separated entry as one item. Do not infer from memberships/education. Exclude governments as parties, and strip years and dates. Output a deduplicated array of exact admission strings; if none, return []. ',\r\n'Clerkships' => 'Extract every judicial or court clerkship held by this attorney, regardless of where it appears in the biography (including in lists of prior employment or mixed professional experience). Treat any role containing the word \u201cclerk,\u201d \u201cclerkship,\u201d \u201cjudicial law clerk,\u201d \u201claw clerk,\u201d or similar as a clerkship. For each clerkship, return the name of the court as an array item; if the biography provides the judge\u2019s name, DO NOT include it in your answer. Include clerkships in federal courts (including bankruptcy courts), state courts, appellate courts, supreme courts, magistrate judges, and any foreign courts. Do not skip clerkships that appear in long court titles. If no clerkships are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Clerkships_with_judge' => 'Extract every judicial or court clerkship held by this attorney, regardless of where it appears in the biography (including in lists of prior employment or mixed professional experience). Treat any role containing the word \u201cclerk,\u201d \u201cclerkship,\u201d \u201cjudicial law clerk,\u201d \u201claw clerk,\u201d or similar as a clerkship. For each clerkship, return the name of the court as an array item; if the biography provides the judge\u2019s name, include it in parentheses after the court name, and if no judge is named, return only the court. Include clerkships in federal courts (including bankruptcy courts), state courts, appellate courts, supreme courts, magistrate judges, and any foreign courts. Do not skip clerkships that lack judge names or that appear in long court titles. If no clerkships are found, return an empty string.',\r\n'Memberships' => 'Extract any organizations the attorney a member of. List them as an array, with the attorney's role if available. If no memberships or organizations are listed, return an empty string.',\r\n'clients' => 'Extract the attorney's clients that are explicitly NAMED in the source code. You MUST review EVERY section (including explicit client lists, narrative biography, representative matters, experience, and news articles/titles) and then MERGE the results; do not stop after finding clients in any one section. If a list of representative matters or experience is present, extract NAMED clients from this list, and ignore any clients who are described in the list but who are not explicitly named in the list. Only include a client from the list of representative matters/experience or any other section if its name appears verbatim in the list and if the list clearly identifies the client as a real person, business, company, organization, or government entity. Do NOT include general descriptions, categories, roles, or descriptors that are not proper names (for example: \"Fortune 50 company\", \"medical billing company\", \"global bank\", \"mayoral candidate\", \"pharmacy\", \"trade association\", \"energy company\", or similar phrases). As an overarching rule, if the client is not identified by a proper name, do not include it. When pulling clients from lists of representative matters/experience and news articles, include clients which are named and which are implied to be represented by this attorney, their team or firm, and exclude parties adverse to such clients, opposing such clients, or on the other side of a case, deal or transaction from such clients. For example, if the representative matter/experience or news article's title mentions a lending transaction with both the lender and borrower, and the attorney or their team or firm represented the lender, do not list the borrower. If a litigation case is listed, do not assume that the lawyer represented the plaintiff. Use context or other language in the text to determine which party was represented by the attorney. If a matter lists the government as one party, assume the attorney represented the other named party and include that party if it is specifically named and not anonymous. As another example, if the representative matter/experience is a litigation case, and it is written that the attorney represented the defense (or \"defended\" his client), extract the defendant named in the case title. List all named clients as a deduplicated array of NAMES copied directly from the source text. Omit unnamed parties and anonymous parties and never guess identities. If no named clients are explicitly named anywhere in the source code, return an empty string.',\r\n'industries' => 'Extract ONLY industries/industry sectors or client-type categories explicitly named in the source code (especially, but not exclusively, under headings like \u201cIndustries,\u201d \u201cPractices & Industries,\u201d or in /industries/ links). Include items like \u201cSports,\u201d \u201cHealthcare & Life Sciences,\u201d \u201cTechnology,\u201d \u201cInfrastructure,\u201d \u201cPrivate Equity,\u201d etc. EXCLUDE practice areas, services, or deal/matter types (e.g., \u201cMergers & Acquisitions,\u201d \u201cPrivate Equity M&A,\u201d \u201cacquisitions,\u201d \u201cinvestments,\u201d \u201cdivestitures,\u201d \u201cjoint ventures,\u201d \u201cfinancing,\u201d \u201crestructurings\u201d). Return a deduplicated array of industry/client-type names as written. If none are explicitly named, return empty array.',\r\n'languages' => 'Extract the languages in which the attorney is fluent. List them as an array.',\r\n'Accolades' => 'Extract any accolades, awards, or other special recognitions this attorney has received, such as rankings in Chambers guides (like Chambers & Partners, Chambers Gobal, or Chambers Asia-Pacific), the Legal500 list, and SuperLawyers, among others. The accolades should be specific to this attorney or their work, not generalized to their practice or their firm. List these accolades as an array. If no accolades are listed, return an empty string.',\r\n'pro_bono_activities' => 'Extract the attorney's pro bono, community service, and volunteer activities, as well as any non-profit, ngo, community service organizations the attorney may be involved with. If a description of the work is provided, include that. List them as an array',\r\n'thought_leadership' => 'Extract ALL professional thought leadership attributed to this attorney in their narrative bio and in all \"Insights,\" \"Publications,\" \"Events,\" and similar sections. This includes all items with their authorship/co-authorship/speaking/hosting credit/(byline \u201cauthor,\u201d \"co-author,\" \u201cpresenter,\u201d \u201cspeaker,\u201d \u201cpanelist,\u201d \u201cwebinar,\u201d \u201cpodcast,\u201d \u201cblog,\u201d \u201carticle,\u201d \u201cpublication,\u201d \u201cchapter,\u201d \u201cCLE,\u201d etc.). This also includes any items that do not include their byline or credit, but which are implied to involve the attorney (for example, by being listed in a section on their profile for \"Insights,\" \"Podcasts,\" \"Events,\" \"Media,\" \"Thought Leadership,\" \"Webinars, etc.). If a \u201cNews\u201d or \u201cInsights\u201d section mixes third party news ABOUT this attorney, include only items implied to the attorney as creator/presenter. List each as \"Title (URL)\" when a link is present, otherwise just the title. Add base domain to relative links. Also include the publication, event/program, and date after the title if these are available. Return [] if none.'\r\n'adverse_parties' => 'Review all the source code, including the narrative bio and list of representative matters, and list EVERY identifiable and NAMED party that is adverse to this attorney\u2019s clients: litigation opponents and transaction counterparties (buyer vs seller, lender vs borrower, landlord vs tenant, licensor vs licensee, insurer vs insured, issuer vs underwriter/investor, etc.). You MUST pull from all sections in the source code - explicit lists of clients, the narrative biography, listed representative matters, or in news articles listed for this attorney, or the titles thereof. In M&A, if the attorney represented the buyer/acquirer, DO NOT list the acquired target as adverse (since it becomes the client); instead list only the selling side (seller, stockholders, founders, or divesting company). If the attorney represented the seller/target, list the buyer/acquirer. Use cues like \u201cto/with/from/against,\u201d \u201csale to/by,\u201d \u201cacquisition from/by,\u201d \u201cmerger with,\u201d \u201cfinanced by/loan to/from/credit facility with.\u201d In the attorney represented the owner or owning entity of a subsidiary/portfolio company (for example in the case of a restructuring or lending transaction), DO NOT list the subsidiary/portfolio company as adverse; Do not list governments/agencies/courts. Only include an adverse party if its name appears verbatim in the source code and clearly identifies a real person, business, company, organization, or government entity. Do NOT include general descriptions, categories, roles, or descriptors that are not proper names (for example: \"Fortune 50 company\", \"medical billing company\", \"global bank\", \"mayoral candidate\", \"pharmacy\", \"trade association\", \"energy company\", or similar phrases). If the text does not contain the adverse party's name, do not include it. Output a deduplicated array of exact names; omit unnamed parties and never guess.'\r\n 'affinity_groups' => 'Extract ALL affinity/identity-based organizations the attorney is affiliated with on the page, even if under generic headings like \u201cAssociations,\u201d \u201cMemberships,\u201d \u201cAffiliations,\u201d \u201cCommunities,\u201d or \u201cOrganizations.\u201d Check all sections of the source code. Include all bar or professional association whose name signals an identity/affinity or civil-rights focus (e.g., words like Black/African-American/AAPI/Asian/South Asian/Pacific Islander/Hispanic/Latino/Native/Indigenous/LGBT/LGBTQ/Queer/Women/Gender/Disability/Veteran/Jewish/Muslim/Christian/Hindu/Sikh/Interfaith/Civil Rights/Minority/Diversity/Inclusion). Exclude purely general trade/professional groups without such identity focus. Return a deduplicated array of exact organization names; if none, return empty array.'"]}