Alan Ruley is a seasoned civil trial and appellate lawyer. He represents clients in a wide variety of disputes in federal and state court, focusing primarily on business litigation, intellectual property, insurance, banking and employment.
Alan has been a part of the Bell, Davis & Pitt team for 30 years. Before joining the firm, he completed a two-year clerkship for the Honorable John T. Copenhaver, Jr., in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia in Charleston, West Virginia. He is licensed in both West Virginia and North Carolina.
Alan is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was named as the 2020 Lawyer of the Year in the Triad area for “Bet-the-Company” litigation by The Best Lawyers in America. He has also been named as one of the Top 100 lawyers in North Carolina by NC Super Lawyers.
Alan handles all aspects of civil litigation in both state and federal courts, from the pre-lawsuit investigation through the appeals process. He has tried numerous cases in state and federal court, and argued appeals in both state and federal appellate courts. Alan has experience in virtually any type of civil litigation. In recent years, his focus has been on business disputes and torts (fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, tortious interference with contract, trade secret misappropriation, unfair trade practices), insurance coverage matters, and employment matters.
Alan is also active in the N.C. State Bar Association, serving on the councils of the Antitrust/Complex Business Dispute Section and the Insurance Section. He was a founder of the Insurance Section, and served as its Chair in 2021-2022. He is a frequent speaker and planner at CLE events. He also serves on the Local Rules Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.
Alan is active in the community, having served as co-president of the R.J. Reynolds High School PTSA. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Leo Catholic Church, and also has been on the board of directors for the Salem Montessori School.
Alan was born and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Duke University, and his law degree from Stanford University. He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha.