Marcus W. Trathen

First Amendment Law

4.0 (1 reviews)

Charlotte, North Carolina

17+ years experience

Updated: Jan 03, 2026

Contact Information

336-373-8850

https://www.brookspierce.com/our-people/attorneys/marcus-trathen

150 Fayetteville Street Suite 1700 Raleigh NC US

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Bio

W. Trathen provides comprehensive First Amendment Law legal services to North Carolina clients. W. Trathen's 17 years of experience includes extensive work in First Amendment Law law. Through Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP, Marcus W. Trathen provides comprehensive legal services. W. Trathen understands the stress legal issues create and works to ease client concerns. W. Trathen maintains active licensure in North Carolina and stays current with legal developments.

Local Legal Snapshot

Jurisdiction

North Carolina

State Capital

Raleigh

Highest Court

North Carolina Supreme Court

Bar Association

North Carolina State Bar

Typical Consultation

$150-$300

Typical Hourly Range

$250-$450/hr

Fee Model Notes

Hourly or flat-fee billing is common.

Estimates vary by market, complexity, urgency, and attorney experience.

Practice Areas

First Amendment Law

Awards & Recognition

Lawyer of the Year: First Amendment Law, Raleigh (2025)
Lawyer of the Year: First Amendment Law, Raleigh (2023)
Lawyer of the Year: First Amendment Law, Raleigh (2021)
Recognized: First Amendment Law
Recognized: Media Law
Recognized: Utilities Law
Practice Area: Communications Law
Practice Area: Government Relations Practice
Practice Area: Administrative / Regulatory Law
Practice Area: Litigation - Intellectual Property
Practice Area: Technology Law
Special Focus: COVID-19
Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in First Amendment Law (2008-2025) (Raleigh "Lawyer of the Year" 2021, 2023, 2025), Media Law (2023-2025), Utilities Law (2025)
Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Energy & Natural Resources Law (2025)

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008

Education

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, JD, graduated 1990
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, graduated 1987

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Reviews

Helen Morgan

3 months ago

Expert guidance on a complex media law issue

I consulted Marcus Trathen when our local news outlet faced a significant legal challenge regarding our reporting on a public official. His deep expertise in First Amendment law was immediately apparent. He drew on his 17 years of experience to provide a clear, strategic analysis of our position, referencing relevant North Carolina precedents. His recognition as a multi-time Lawyer of the Year in this field gave us great confidence. Marcus was thorough, patient in explaining complex legal nuances, and ultimately helped us navigate the situation successfully, protecting our publication. While his counsel was invaluable, there were a few instances where response times to non-urgent emails were slower than expected, which is my only minor critique. Overall, I highly recommend him for any media or free speech-related legal matters.