Annemarie Pantazis, a Board-Certified North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Specialist and co-founder of the Wilder Pantazis Law Group, was inducted as a Fellow to The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at the organization’s 15th Annual Induction Dinner on December 12, 2021.
Annemarie was actually selected as a Fellow last year (2020), but she couldn’t attend the ceremony because of the pandemic.
Only 3 workers’ compensation attorneys from North Carolina were chosen to become Fellows in 2020, and none from the Tarheel State were selected in 2021, indicating how rare and prestigious this designation is.
“I’m honored to be inducted into The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers, among such a respected group of peers,” said Annemarie Pantazis. “Recognition from trusted, non-profit organizations like CWCL are important tools for injured workers who are looking for ethical attorneys with the right expertise, experience and professionalism to secure the best possible outcome in their claim.”
About The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
CWCL is a national, non-profit organization based in Maryland that honors workers’ compensation plaintiff’s attorneys, defense attorneys, professors, and judges nationwide. Fellows are recognized as distinguished members of the workers’ compensation legal community.
In order to be eligible for this highly selective award, Fellows must practice for at least 20 years and be peer-reviewed, so only a small fraction of practicing work injury attorneys have gained recognition as Fellows to The College.
Some of the qualities and characteristics that Fellows are expected to possess include:
- Professionalism and leadership that serves as an example to newer attorneys
- Respect of judges and the legal community at large
- Civility when negotiating and litigating with “adversaries” such as defense lawyers and employers, despite ideological differences
- Passion for resolving their clients’ legal issues and advocating for their rights
- Continuing interest in being a student of the law and furthering their professional education
- Active participation in their respective local, state and national bar associations
- The highest ethical standards and professional integrity
- Scholarship and proven expertise in the field by writing or lecturing on a workers’ compensation topic
According to CWCL, Fellows are nominated based on “the highest professional qualifications and ethical standards, character, integrity, professional expertise and leadership.”
A career dedicated to injured workers
Annemarie earned her J.D. degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1999, and she has been representing clients across North Carolina ever since. During law school, she was a published member of the Wake Forest Law Review and Chief Justice of the Moot Court Board. She has since authored several publications on workers’ compensation, and she frequently teaches continuing legal education classes on the subject.
On top of representing her clients, Annemarie is active in numerous professional organizations. She has served on the Executive Committee of the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG)—another nationwide organization of workers’ compensation advocates—as well as a member of the Executive Committee for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ). She also served on the NCAJ Board of Governors from 2008-2014.
In addition to this recent honor of being named a Fellow, Annemarie has been the recipient of numerous other notable awards, including:
- US News Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year Award – Workers’ Compensation Claimants” (2019, 2021)
- Lawyers Weekly Women in Justice Award (2019)
- Super Lawyers Top 25 Attorneys in Charlotte (2014-2022)
- Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Award (2017)
- Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG) Rising Star Award (2013)
- AVVO Client’s Choice Recognition in Workers’ Compensation and 10.0 “Superb” Rating
- Charlotte Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award (2011)
- “Standout Charlottean” Award by Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (2010)
- NC Advocates for Justice Order of Service Award Winner (2009-2017)
- National Association of Professional Women Award Winner
Annemarie is licensed to practice law in all state courts in North Carolina, the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.