Leann Alaine Gerlach

Leann Alaine Gerlach

Ricci Law Firm • Raleigh, NC
Workers CompensationImmigrationInsurance

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Professional

About

Leann grew up in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, but moved south for college in order to be closer to family. She graduated summa cum laude from Washington and Lee University in 2009, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Spanish. In college, she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies. In 2012, she earned her J.D. and graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina’s School of Law in Chapel Hill. During her time in law school, Leann worked as both a staff writer and a contributing editor of the North Carolina Law Review, a volunteer coordinator for Carolina Street Law, and a member of the Faculty Selection Committee. She was elected to serve as an Honors Writing Scholar and council for the graduate honor court. She also received the Gressman-Pollitt Oral Advocacy Award during her first year. Leann began her career defending employers, insurance companies, and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation claims, so she brings a unique and informed perspective to her cases on behalf of injured workers. She has successfully handled cases at both the Deputy Commissioner and Full Commission levels before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, as well as before the Court of Appeals of North Carolina. She has experience with all types of workers’ compensation cases, including traumatic injury by accidents, repetitive motion injuries, occupational diseases, and catastrophic claims. Leann has an AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and she was elected to The Best Lawyers in America for 2020 and 2024 due to her work in workers’ compensation law*. In 2022 and 2023, she was also selected to the North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars® list. She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Wake County Bar Association, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and the Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group, and she recently spoke at a continuing legal education seminar about the impact of immigration on workers’ compensation claims in North Carolina. Leann uses her prior experience and her broad knowledge of workers’ compensation law to help her clients obtain all the benefits they deserve and need to continue their lives after being hurt on the job.

About Workers Compensation Law

Workers' compensation attorneys help injured workers obtain benefits for workplace injuries. They navigate the claims process and fight for fair compensation. Common matters include workplace injuries, occupational illness, denied claims, disability benefits.

Credentials

Education
2012 University of North Carolina School of Law JD - Juris Doctor 2009 Washington and Lee University BA - Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude
Languages
English | Spanish

Recognition & Involvement

Awards
2025 Rising Star, Super Lawyers 2024 Rising Star, Super Lawyers 2023 Rising Star, Super Lawyers 2022 Rising Star, Super Lawyers N/A Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell®
Associations
North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys Member North Carolina State Bar Member North Carolina Bar Association Member Wake County Bar Association Member Junior League of Raleigh Membership Development Committee
Speaking
2018 GS Client Presentation, Greensboro, NC "Opioid Reduction in North Carolina: Using the Expedited Medical Motion Procedure" (Co-Presenter) 2018 Goldberg Segalla CE presentation "The Upper Extremity - Anatomy and Intervention in Workers' Compensation Claims" (Co-Presenter) 2018 Beaufort County (NC) Society For Human Resources "Acceptance and Denial of Claims in Workers’ Compensation: Investigation and Best Practices" (Co-Presenter) 2018 Bank of America, Charlotte, NC "Opioid Reduction in North Carolina: The Opioid Task Force and the New Utilization Rules" (Co-Presenter) 2017 - "The Basics: Navigating Workers' Compensation Claims in North Carolina"
Updated: Mar 08, 2026