North State Law has focused on helping licensed professionals keep their professional license since being founded by Nicholas Dowgul in 2019. Mr. Dowgul has been engaged in the practice of law since 2008. He has practiced in front of the NC Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors, NC Board of Nursing, NC Medical Board, NC Social Work Certification and Licensure Board, and NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, just to name a few. In 2008, Mr. Dowgul started his legal career as an attorney with the Harrison County, Mississippi public defender’s office where he found his professional passion litigating cases. He loves being in the courtroom but believes that resolving cases, when they can be resolved, is typically in a client’s best interest. That said, when it’s time to present his case, Mr. Dowgul is well-prepared to obtain the best results for his clients.

Professor Rauf has over 25 years of experience in teaching undergraduate and post graduate engineering, science, math, business administration and MBA courses, seminars, and workshops. He earned his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering, with honors, from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Professor Rauf earned his Executive MBA degree from Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina. He is a registered professional engineer in the States of Virginia, Wyoming, and North Carolina and is a Certified Energy Manager. Professor Rauf holds a patent in process controls technology. His last full-time engineering employment in the corporate world, was at PPG Industries, Inc., where he served as a senior staff engineer. Professor Rauf was inducted as “Legend in Energy” by AEE, in 2014. He is a member of ASEE, the American Society of Engineering Education. Professor Rauf has developed and instructed Professional Engineering and Fundamentals of Engineering Exam (NCEES) Prep Courses over the past 20 years. He develops and instructs PDHs (Professional Development Hours) and continuing education, engineering skill-building seminars and courses. Professor Rauf is also an adjunct professor at Gardner-Webb University. He has published multiple texts over the last 10 years. Professor Rauf also provides text editorial services to River Publishers.

Mr. Strong’s experience has stretched across many areas of litigation, including construction and design defect claims. He has represented professionals including architects and structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil engineers in disputes involving large-scale multi-family, mixed-use, commercial, and residential projects throughout North Carolina. Mr. Strong received his bachelor of science degree from Appalachian State University and went on to earn his juris doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law. At Washington and Lee, he contributed to the Journal of Energy, Climate, & the Environment as a staff writer and went on to serve as editor-in-chief of the publication. Upon graduation, Mr. Strong moved back to Raleigh to start his liability practice. He is married and a father of three boys, all of whom share his passion for hockey.

Attorney, Moore & VanAllen
A frequent author and speaker on intellectual property law developments and a trained mechanical engineer, Mr. Ward focuses his practice on preparing and negotiating technology and commercial agreements and counseling clients in connection with patent, trademark, copyright, advertising regulations and litigation matters. He has extensive experience with information technology agreements and is actively representing a number of publicly-traded companies in transactional and other intellectual property matters in a variety of industries, including the health care and telecommunications industries. Mr. Ward is a member of the firm’s EHR Task Force. He is also a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), North Carolina Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, American Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Mecklenburg County Bar Association.

Attorney, Conner Gwyn Schenck PLLC
Tim Wyatt handles litigation and appeals involving construction disputes and geotechnical failures, with a particular emphasis on representing government contractors and subcontractors on public projects. He also performs federally funded research involving legal issues affecting contractors on public construction projects, such as environmental review and domestic preference requirements. He has represented government contractors seeking to protect their intellectual property used or developed on public projects. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Wyatt spent more than ten years practicing as a professional engineer and government contractor in Raleigh, managing large federal research projects and performing geotechnical research involving tunnels and highways.