After 10 years prosecuting, former US attorney joins Charlotte law firm
After spending a decade as a prosecutor, former U.S. Attorney Dena King is switching sides.
As the the first person of color and fourth woman to serve as the top federal prosecutor for the Western District of North Carolina, King previously represented government agencies in civil and criminal cases.
Now, at Charlotte law firm Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, she’ll advise and represent clients who face government and internal investigations, according to a news release from the law firm.
“For many individuals, that’s an incredibly scary process,” King said in an interview Monday with The Charlotte Observer.
But as a former assistant district attorney, attorney in the N.C. secretary of state’s office, and U.S. attorney, King will be able to “really advise businesses and [the] firm’s clients on what that process looks like, what government investigations entail,” she said.
She’ll also advise people facing criminal white collar charges and regulatory and compliance issues, according to the news release.
The rule of law
While she’s in a new role, King said it’s still “the same principles.”
“As a prosecutor, one of the things that was incredibly important to me was enforcing the rule of law,” King said. “Now, as a defense attorney, I’ll be holding prosecutors to that same standard and making sure that in every case the rule of law is actually followed.
“That’s the beauty of the judicial system,” King said. “There are so many different key players that are a part of the system, and everyone has a role to play in order for justice to be effectively pursued.”
Brian Cromwell, another Charlotte partner at Parker Poe, said in a statement that King can take the lead in addressing regulatory authorities like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or criminal investigations originating from the Department of Justice.
Former federal prosecutor stays in Charlotte
Since stepping down as U.S. attorney in February, King has toured Charlotte and the Southeast, speaking at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, during community forums and at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
As a Parker Poe partner, King will represent people across the country. But the South Mecklenburg High School graduate will work mostly out of the Charlotte office.
“I’m staying here, y’all,” she told a small group gathered for her appearance at Charlotte’s Sarah Stevenson Tuesday Forum in March. “I’m a hometown girl.”
This story was originally published April 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
