Tonya L. Mercer

Tonya has broad litigation and regulatory experience, having worked on matters involving healthcare antitrust claims, tax fraud, securities violations, charitable trust disputes, energy regulatory compliance, accounting fraud, bribery, aggravated assault, defamation, constitutional claims, employment litigation, the export of short supply materials, technology, and defense articles, and more. She has represented clients through criminal and administrative investigations, pre-trial litigation, appeals, administrative enforcement actions, mediation, arbitration, and the federal and state pardon processes.

Before joining the firm, Tonya practiced with a Washington, D.C.-based firm and focused her litigation practice on criminal defense, complex civil litigation, and export controls.

Representative Experience

• First Charter Bank, Trustee of Last Will and Testament of Joseph F. Cannon v. American Children's Home, et al., 692 S. E. 2nd 457 N.C. App., (2010). Successfully represented trustee in proceeding to determine final disposition of trust assets at expiration of the 99-year term of a charitable trust and to modify trustee compensation provision.
• Represented the Bank of America Corporation in  connection with the investigation of its merger with Merrill Lynch by the Attorney General of North Carolina.
• United States v. Alamoudi, No. 05-4359 (4th Cir. 2006). Argued the appeal of a criminal forfeiture matter before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the government’s authority to seek the forfeiture of substitute assets following the entry of a plea agreement and a consent order of forfeiture.

Notable

• Worked for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. prior to attending law school.
• Served in the Antitrust Division, Telecommunications Task Force of the Department of Justice, working on matters involving the provision of local and long distance telephone service and the review of proposed mergers and acquisitions of large telecommunications companies.
• Served for three years in the Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, the U.S. Department of Justice, where she assisted state and local governments in the administration of federal grant programs targeted at the design and implementation of criminal justice and public safety initiatives. 

Affiliations

• North Carolina Bar Association
• District of Columbia Bar Association