BRADLEY FRIESEN
Brad is an experienced litigator who focuses on real estate rights and business litigation.
"Protecting Property Rights" is the theme of Brad's real estate rights practice. He represents property owners, easement holders, and commercial lease parties in the following kinds of matters:
- Commercial Lease Disputes
- Transaction and Contract Disputes
- Government Takings (Eminent Domain, Condemnation): Municipal, State, and Federal Takings
- Encroachment (Boundary Disputes, Easements, Adverse Possession)
- HOA and Restrictive Covenant Disputes
- Government Regulation (Land Use, Zoning, Variances, Special Use Permits, etc.)
- Family Ownership Disputes, including Partition
- Title Problems
- Access Problems
- Residential Landlord Representation (Brad has handled more than 100 contested residential evictions throughout North Carolina and helps residential landlords with Problem Evictions, Property Manager Questions, Master Leases, Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disability Act issues, Discrimination Claims, DOJ Complaints, Animal Issues, and many more topics)
- Environmental Litigation
- Other Problems (e.g., storm water problems, cell tower leases, "what do I do about my neighbor's tree," etc.)
- Property Tax Appeals
Brad also helps his clients resolve business disputes. He has experience litigating contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, unfair or deceptive trade practices, fraud, and other business torts in North Carolina's state and federal trial and appellate courts. He has helped business owners through contentious business breakups, including those that end up in court.
Having practiced law with Bell, Davis & Pitt throughout North Carolina since 2002, Brad has been involved with many more types of litigation. He has represented municipalities and municipal officials, and banks in lender liability disputes. He has defended § 1983 cases, multiemployer pension fund withdrawal liability claims, and much more.
Brad devotes his free time to his family and to various nonprofits in the Winston-Salem community.
"In 1999, I went to law school because I wanted to help people. More than 20 years later, that is still the reason I practice law."
EDUCATION
Wheaton College, B.A., cum laude, 1999
University of Kansas, J.D. 2002
BAR & COURT ADMITTANCE
2002, North Carolina
United States District Courts for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Past YLD board member and treasurer, Forsyth County Bar Association
Board of directors, Winston-Salem Symphony
North Carolina Bar Association (Technology Committee)
AWARDS
Best Lawyers in America® - Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Insurance; Litigation - Land Use and Zoning; Litigation - Real Estate (2025)
Best Lawyers in America® (Recognized since 2021)
Business North Carolina Legal Elite in Litigation (2019)
Super Lawyers, Rising Star (multiple years)
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
Representation of dozens of commercial and agricultural landowners in condemnation cases
Zoning map amendment for residential developer in Forsyth County. Representation of other land owners throughout central North Carolina in land use matters
Successful representation of bank in trial and appellate courts against unfair trade practices and tort claims
Defense of fifth-percent business owner against claims for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and unfair and deceptive trade practices in North Carolina Business Court
Represented real estate developer in arbitration to decision in commercial lease dispute
Defense of real estate developer against claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation and other tort and contract claims related to the sale of twelve office buildings. The case was designated as "exceptional" under Rule 2.1 of the General Rules of Practice. Summary judgment obtained on all claims
Defense of trucking company and shareholders against claims for multi-employer pension fund withdrawal liability