Jeffrey Steven McConnell Warren

Overview

Jeff is a trial lawyer in the litigation group at Ellis & Winters. He maintains a national practice focused on medical malpractice defense, product liability defense, and the representation of educational and religious institutions. Jeff also has extensive experience defending and prosecuting 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims, and regularly advises law enforcement officers and public officials across North Carolina on constitutional issues. In addition to courtroom work, he represents licensed professionals in investigations before their occupational licensing boards.

Jeff has developed a national reputation in emerging areas of constitutional law. He has successfully litigated multiple issues of first impression under the North Carolina Constitution and has represented both organizations and individuals as amici before North Carolina’s appellate courts on matters ranging from election law to the facial constitutionality of statutes and regulations. His research has been cited by courts and constitutional litigators in multiple jurisdictions, including in briefing before the U.S. Supreme Court. His cases have also received media coverage, and he has been quoted in front-page articles published by the Raleigh News & Observer, the Charlotte Observer, and the Asheville Citizen Times.

Beyond litigation, Jeff advises clients on legislative strategy and government affairs. He drafts legislation, explains complex legal issues to legislators and committees, and guides clients in advancing their policy goals. Bills he has authored have been introduced and passed in the North Carolina General Assembly with bipartisan support. He also assists clients with political candidate screening to help align electoral efforts with legislative priorities.

Jeff graduated cum laude from Rhodes College with a B.A. in History, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Rhodes Historical Review and president of his class. He earned his J.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the Sarah Graham Kenan Scholar, where he was inducted into the Order of the Barristers for excellence in appellate advocacy, and again served as class president.