Kelly Margolis Dagger

Overview

Kelly Margolis Dagger is a trial and appellate lawyer focusing on business litigation, employment litigation, and criminal defense. Kelly is an experienced trial lawyer, having tried a variety of civil and criminal cases in North Carolina state and federal courts. She also regularly appears in federal district court, the North Carolina Business Court, and other North Carolina state trial courts on, a wide range of pre- and post-trial matters. She has argued multiple cases in the Fourth Circuit, and she has briefed cases in the Fourth, Fifth, and D.C. Circuits. Kelly’s extensive trial experience gives her a unique perspective on appellate practice—she understands how decisions are made at the trial court level and how the outcome of an appeal may impact further proceedings at the trial level. She represents clients on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the United States Supreme Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and the North Carolina Supreme Court. 

Kelly is an energetic and committed advocate. She is a disciplined, tireless worker in all aspects of her life. When she is not working for her clients, she loves to run, competing at the marathon and half-marathon distances. She applies her long-distance runner’s work ethic to her cases. She protects her clients by knowing their cases and working efficiently to gain every possible advantage. She supports her clients at all stages of the litigation process by listening to their needs and communicating directly about what they can expect.

In her civil practice, Kelly represents clients in contract disputes, antitrust and unfair competition claims, trademark disputes, trade secret misappropriation claims, and other commercial litigation. Kelly defends employers against labor and employment law claims, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage, hour, and benefits claims.

She works with employers and executives to reduce the risk of employment-related claims against their businesses by counseling her clients on handling internal employee complaints, accommodation requests, and issues related to hiring, firing, and employee discipline.

Kelly also defends clients in federal felony criminal cases, including a variety of fraud, money laundering, theft, bribery, robbery, controlled substance, immigration, and firearm offenses. Kelly is committed to equal access to justice. She believes that every person facing criminal charges deserves exceptional and effective legal representation. She serves on the Criminal Justice Act panels for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the Fourth Circuit, regularly accepting court appointments to represent clients who cannot afford to retain a lawyer. Kelly also serves on the Eastern District of North Carolina Criminal Justice Act Committee, which oversees the panel and ensures that defendants receive effective representation. In addition, Kelly serves on the Eastern District of North Carolina Local Criminal Rules Committee, the body that reviews and recommends changes to the local rules governing criminal practice in the district. 

Before joining Ellis & Winters, Kelly earned her undergraduate degree in religious studies, with highest distinction, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After college, she worked as a research analyst for a pharmaceutical business intelligence firm in Research Triangle Park and as an intern at Equality North Carolina in Raleigh. She received her law degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif and served as an editor of California Law Review.

Kelly loves animals of all kinds. While in law school, she served as the president of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund. During her career at Ellis & Winters, she has represented animal welfare organizations and served on the Board of Directors of the SPCA of Wake County. Kelly also volunteers her time for other organizations, currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Lung Transplant Foundation.