Wade Kolb

Appellate Advocacy

Class Action Litigation

Education

Employment

Governmental Representation

Health Care

Internal Investigations

Litigation

Outside General Counsel

Plaintiff’s Personal Injury Practice

Real Estate Litigation

Shareholder Oppression

Data Privacy and Cybersecurity

Wade’s practice centers on advising educational institutions and employers of all types in navigating complex legal problems. His career handling litigation and appellate work informs the analysis he provides and facilitates his role as trusted outside general counsel.

A former teacher, Wade leads Wyche’s education law practice, providing guidance to secondary schools and institutions of higher education on policy and handbook reviews, student discipline and honor code matters, and regulatory compliance, including Title IX. Wade also leads Wyche’s internal investigations group, helping clients promptly and efficiently collect facts and find solutions to a range of issues.

Prior to joining Wyche, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ed Carnes on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Active in the community, Wade is a member of numerous boards and non-profit organizations, including the Rotary Club of Greenville, of which he served as president from 2022-2023.

United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, 2016

United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, 2016

United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, 2016

United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, 2012

South Carolina Bar, 2012

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2011

North Carolina Bar, 2010

National Association of College and University Attorneys, Member

EDUCATION:

Obtained dismissal of a lawsuit filed against a college by a donor seeking return of monetary gifts after the college made a strategic decision with which the donor disagreed

Successfully defended a private college in an action seeking an injunction to block demolition of a college building

Filed amicus curiae with S.C. Court of Appeals and successfully argued that courts should not interfere in core academic decisions by schools, resulting in reversal of a lower court decision

Assisted a public school district in an investigation by the South Carolina Inspector General

INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS:

Conducted investigation for international company into alleged fraud in foreign operations

Conducted internal investigation of sexual harassment allegations against a college administrator

Conducted review of financial aid policies and practices of a public university

Assisted an international company in investigating an alleged retaliatory discharge

Assisted a private university in investigating alleged sexual harassment within an athletic program

Guided a private university in investigating and responding to an alleged racial harassment incident

Served as an investigator and adjudicator in numerous Title IX matters for public and private universities

Investigated allegations of sexual harassment under Title VII and Title IX against a private university administrator made by a member of the university community

Worked closely with an educational institution in aftermath of incident involving student health

GENERAL LITIGATION & APPELLATE ADVOCACY

Represented plaintiff retirees in an ERISA class action against retirement plan trustees, resulting in settlement in excess of $7.6 million

Obtained two temporary restraining orders against a local business involved in a trade secrets dispute with a Fortune 500 client

Defended an international corporation against South Carolina antitrust and unfair trade practices claims

Successfully defended a manufacturer in an action seeking an injunction to block delivery of multi-million dollar equipment

Drafted a petition for a writ of certiorari before the United States Supreme Court concerning novel issues of federal jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act

Successfully represented minority shareholders in an oppression action involving ownership interests in multi-million dollar corporations, resolved in favor of our clients through arbitration

Successfully represented plaintiff farmer in a week-long jury trial challenging the defendant’s breach of a long-term contract for the purchase of goods

Successfully defended a South Carolina county before the S.C. Supreme Court in an action challenging the county’s proposed sales tax referendum. The action was brought by the state attorney general and a state agency and involved matters of first impression under the Capital Project Sales Tax Act.

Defended out-of-state public authority against claims brought under South Carolina and federal environmental laws

Successfully represented South Carolina county in appeals to the S.C. Court of Appeals and S.C. Supreme Court, seeking invalidation of severance agreement with former county administrator and reversal of trial court opinion

Represented S.C. Senate in an action before the S.C. Supreme Court, challenging appointment powers of the Governor of South Carolina

Duke University School of Law