Derek M. Bast

Derek Bast is an attorney who works with clients facing significant professional challenges that often result in litigation. His practice focuses on assisting businesses, officers, directors, and other individuals in all types of business litigation, including cases involving internal corporate disputes, corporate governance, misappropriation of trade secrets, unfair competition, trademark and copyright infringement, and breaches of contract. Mr. Bast also regularly advises on key employee departures and cases involving employee raiding, non-competition, non-solicitation, and confidentiality agreements. Using his experience, Mr. Bast also counsels clients on matters of compliance, dispute avoidance, and alternatives to litigation. Mr. Bast has represented clients in all North Carolina state courts, in federal courts in North Carolina, and beyond. 

Mr. Bast began his legal career as a judicial law clerk to Judge Louis A. Bledsoe, III, Chief Judge of the North Carolina Business Court. Mr. Bast’s experience with this court, which is North Carolina’s specialized trial court venue for complex business cases, allows him to provide valuable counsel to his clients. Prior to joining Wagner Hicks, Mr. Bast practiced at a respected North Carolina firm, where he advised clients in a variety of industries on a wide array of litigation matters. Through his pro bono practice, Mr. Bast has successfully handled appeals before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court. Mr. Bast received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and his law degree from Wake Forest University. 

Mr. Bast is active in the bar and the larger Charlotte community. He serves on the Planning Committee for the Chief Justice Bobbitt Inn of Court and the Communications Committee of the Mecklenburg County Bar Association. He is also an active volunteer at St. John’s Episcopal Church.