Justin M. Hardy

336.714.4169
100 N Cherry St, Suite 600
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
jhardy@belldavispitt.com
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Justin M. Hardy

Justin Hardy focuses his practice on property tax appeals, intellectual property law, tax controversy law, and general business law.

Justin has practiced law in Winston-Salem since 2008, when he joined Bell, Davis & Pitt immediately after earning his law degree. The majority of Justin’s professional time is dedicated to:

  • Appealing excessive real and personal property tax values to North Carolina County Boards of Equalization, the North Carolina Property Tax Commission, and the North Carolina Court of Appeals
  • Guiding clients through creation, management, protection, and use of their intellectual property assets
  • Assisting clients in tax controversy matters, including audit defense work and resolving return and payment disputes with the Internal Revenue Service and North Carolina Department of Revenue
  • Advising clients in general business matters, including the formation and dissolution of business entities, the sale, purchase, and financing of businesses, and drafting and review of all types of business agreements

Justin serves as a member of the Tax Section Council of the North Carolina Bar Association and as a vice chair of that section’s Continuing Legal Education Committee. He serves on the Community Advisory Board of 88.5 WFDD and is a volunteer reader at Diggs-Latham Elementary School. 

Justin co-authors The North Carolina Property Tax Law Monitor with John Cocklereece, and The Trademarketing Blog with Art DeBaugh.  Follow him on Twitter @JustinHardyBDP

Justin and his wife, Carrie, are DIY home improvement aficionados, Michigan State University Spartans fanatics and avid fans of Detroit’s professional franchises (even the Lions). Along with their two sons, they reside in Clemmons with their dogs and fish.

The legal profession is a customer service profession, existing to help people prevent and solve problems. That’s why I became a lawyer, and that’s what I try to do every day for every client.
Practice Areas
Property Tax Attorneys, Intellectual Property Attorneys, Tax Attorneys, Business and Corporate Attorneys

Education

Central Michigan University (B.S., 2005)

Michigan State University College of Law (J.D., Magna Cum Laude, 2008); Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Business & Securities Law (2006-2008); Moot Court & Trial Advocacy Board (2007-2008)

Bar & Court Admittance

2008, North Carolina

United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina

United States Tax Court

Professional & Community Activities

Forsyth County Bar Association

North Carolina Bar Association (Tax Section Council, Chair of the Tax Section Membership Committee)

Volunteer at Diggs-Latham Elementary (Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce Corporate Volunteers Program)

YMCA Youth Sports Coach

88.5 WFDD Community Advisory Board, Vice Chair (2017 - Present)
 

Representative Experience

Represented owner of two manufacturing facilities in property tax appeal, including 3 successful appeals to the North Carolina Court of Appeals, resulting in tax refunds in excess of $500,000

Represented owner of corporate headquarters in property tax appeal, resulting in a $60M+ reduction in assessed value

Represented national retailer in property tax appeal related to a business personal property discovery assessment, resulting in the elimination of a $1M+ assessment of tax and penalties and a refund of excess taxes paid pre-discovery audit

Represented small business in connection with Internal Revenue Service audit, resulting in a near elimination in the Internal Revenue Service’s proposed assessment

Represented small business in connection with North Carolina Department of Revenue Sales and Use Tax audit, resulting in roughly 50% reduction in initial proposed assessment

Represented biotech entity with the registration, maintenance and protection of its trademark portfolio

Awards

North Carolina Super Lawyers® Rising Star (2019)

As the Property Tax Manager for a very large corporation that has an incredibly vast real estate portfolio in all 50 states, I must find the absolute best legal talent to not only represent our properties for ad valorem tax issues/appeals, but a firm that I can trust without exception. John and Justin have done a magnificent job throughout the state of North Carolina per their real estate analysis and appeal / litigation process.  Their talent, integrity and professional conduct allows me to recommend the firm Bell, Davis & Pitt for all North Carolina property tax issues.

Recent Blog Posts by Justin Hardy