Karen Gerber

Background

Karen Gerber is a respected criminal defense attorney with extensive experience in state and federal criminal courts. Her practice focuses on complex criminal litigation, including multi-count, multi-defendant criminal conspiracies, murder, sexual misconduct, and white-collar cases. While highly experienced with handling big cases, Karen frequently represents clients with misdemeanor charges and traffic infractions.

Karen brings her vast experience and attention to detail to every client, no matter what their situation. She understands that each client's case is the most important case to them. She is a fierce advocate, whether it is fighting for the best result on an infraction or arguing a felony case before a jury, or addressing complex legal matters federal court. Karen has tried dozens of cases to jury verdict and utilizes that experience to bring her clients the best possible results.

Education

• J.D. 2005 - Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston Salem, North Carolina

  • Honors: 2005 Faculty Scholarship Recipient

  • Honors: 2004 Zeliff Trial Bar Competition Semi-Finalist and Member

• B.A. 2001 - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

  • Honors: Dean's List

  • Major: Economics

Bar Admissions

• North Carolina, 2005

• U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina, 2005

• U.S. District Court Western District of North Carolina

• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit

Past Positions

• Public Defender's Office, Attorney

• Private Practice, Attorney

Certified Legal Specialties

• Federal Criminal Law, North Carolina State Bar, 2017

• State Criminal Law, North Carolina State Bar, 2017

Litigation

• 100%

Honors

• Martindale-Avvo Rated Top Lawyer

• 2024 AV Preeminent Attorney - Judicial Edition

• National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Criminal Defense

• AV Preeminent Attorney - Judicial Edition

• America's Most Honored Lawyers - Top 1%

• Faculty Scholarship Recipient, Wake Forest University School of Law

• Zeliff Trial Bar Competition Semi-Finalist and Member, 2004

• Selected to Super Lawyers

Professional Associations

• North Carolina State Bar Association, member, 2005 to Present

• American Bar Association, Present

• 21st Judicial District, member, 2013 to Present

• Forsyth County Criminal Defense & Trial Attorneys of the Forsyth County Bar, Member

• Forsyth County Criminal Defense & Trial Attorneys of the Forsyth County Bar, President, 2019

• Forsyth County Criminal Defense & Trial Attorneys of the Forsyth County Bar, Vice President, 2018

• Professional Women of Winston-Salem, Board of Directors, 2016 to Present

• United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Federal CJA Panel

Classes & Seminars

• Guest Lecturer, Litigation Clinic, Wake Forest University School of Law, 2016

• Speaker, Public Interest Law Forum, Wake Forest University School of Law, 2014

Pro-Bono Activities

• Annual Run Leo Road Race, Race Director, 2017 to 2019

• United States Pony Club, 2019 to 2023

• PWWS Annual Gala & Silent Auction benefiting PWWS Scholarship Fund & Dress for Success, 2017 - 2019

Other Talents and Hobbies

Outside of court Karen is an avid equestrian (horse-riding), competing in the sport of three day eventing. Three day eventing is the equestrian version of a triathlon. Karen has been riding, training and competing horses since she was a young person. While at college at Carolina she competed on the UNC Equestrian Team, earned her U.S.P.C. National B rating and taught riding lessons. In between college and law school at Wake Forest, Karen spent a year training and working full time at an Olympic training facility in Florida. By the time she started law school, she had competed through preliminary level eventing and 4th level dressage on her self-made horses. While she is now focused on her law practice and family, she still enjoys the discipline of the training process and works to continue to improve herself everyday.