Heydt Philbeck concentrates his practice on complex civil litigation in the areas of civil rights, employment law, contract disputes, unfair business practices, state and federal personnel law, constitutional law, and occupational licensing. Heydt's primary practice area focuses on the representation of employees and individuals who have been harmed by the actual or prospective illegal actions of others. He has represented individuals from all walks of life, including professors, doctors, lawyers, judges, teachers, nurses, law enforcement officers, state employees, state agencies, federal employees, unemployed, and homeowners and small-business owners, among others.
Heydt is an experienced trial advocate who has tried over 100 trials to verdict. He has successfully represented clients before the North Carolina Supreme Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia. Additionally, he has appeared for clients in the United States District Court for all three federal districts in North Carolina.
Heydt's legal abilities and ethics have been recognized by his peers who voted him "Best Lawyers in America" (Woodard/White) (2010-Current) in four practice areas including Civil Rights, Employment Litigation, Employment Law, and Commercial Litigation. Based on peer ratings, Law & Politics has listed Heydt as a "Top 100 Lawyers in North Carolina" for multiple years (2009, 2014, 2015, 2019). Business North Carolina magazine has listed Heydt as among North Carolina's "Legal Elite" for more than 15 years (2007-Current) and Law & Politics has listed him as a "North Carolina Super Lawyer" for more than 18 years (2006-Current) based on peer ratings. Lawyers' Weekly publication has recognized him as a "Leader in the Law" for overall contributions and impact for North Carolina jurisprudence and community. In 2005, the Triangle Business Journal has named him as a Top "40 under 40" Leadership Award recipient. North Carolina Lawyers’ Weekly has also listed him for multiple years as a “Power Lawyer” for the employment law practice area. He is a fellow in the College of Labor & Employment Lawyers and the Melvin M. Belli Society. He is also a member of the Million-Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums.
Heydt regularly volunteers services pro bono for such programs as Project Together, which provides representation for victims of domestic abuse. He also mentors youth by serving as a judge for the Capital Area Teen Court program and as a judge for the Richard A. Lord Moot Court Competition at Campbell Law School. Heydt has been a long time fellow at Leadership North Carolina, Leadership Triangle, and at the North Carolina Institute for Political Leadership
Elon University, B.S., Magna Cum Laude; President of Student Government (1987-1988); Externship: U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Summer, 1987), 1989
Georgetown University, Certificate, Engalitcheff Institute of Comparative Political and Economic Systems, 1987
Valparaiso University, School of Law, J.D.; Externship: Hon. Sidney S. Eagles, Jr., North Carolina Court of Appeals (Summer, 1990), 1992
North Carolina State Bar
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
United States Court of International Trade
United States Tax Court
Biggs v. N.C. Dep't of Pub. Safety, 953 F.3d 236 (2020), (Court established that sovereign immunity inapplicable to Section 1981 claims seeking reinstatement under the Ex Parte Young exception).
Newberne v. Dept. of Crime Control & Public Safety, et al 192 N.C. App. 703, 666 S.E. 2d 195 (2008) (In a case of first impressions, N.C. Court of Appeals held that plaintiff's settlement of an administrative claim did not prejudice his ability to bring a Whistleblower claim in Superior Court even though the claim arose from the same termination).
Caldwell v. Johnson, Administrator, EPA 289 Fed. Appx. 579 (4th Cir. 2008) (Unpublished) (first U.S. Court of Appeals case in nation to hold that Title VII retaliation standard announced in the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Burlington Northern v. White applied to federal employees).
Trayford v. North Carolina Psychology Board 619 S.E. 2d 862 (2005); aff'd, 360 S.E. 2d 462 (2006) (Court affirmed petitioner's interpretation of statute over that of regulatory board, which interpretation is generally given substantial deference).
Newberne v. Dept. of Crime Control & Public Safety, et al 359 N.C. 782, 618 S.E. 2d 201 (2005) (landmark North Carolina Supreme Court case for claims under the state Whistleblower Act).
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice
National Employment Lawyers Association
Southern Trial Lawyers Association
North Carolina Bar Association
Wake County Bar Association
Melvin Belli Society
College for Labor and Employment Lawyers
Litigation Counsel of America
Multi-Millon Dollar Advocates Forum
Leadership North Carolina
North Carolina Institute for Political Leadership