Casey Burke, Esq. is the Executive Director of CLIMB, or Charlotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Businesses, Inc. Casey is passionate about bringing the legal community together to address systemic inequalities and effect long term change. In Charlotte, access to legal services can be the key to a small business’s success and sustainability, yet legal services are financially unattainable for many. This is especially true for historically marginalized small business owners living and working in underserved areas, who often are left with no choice but to build their businesses without any input from an attorney, leaving them vulnerable and more likely to struggle to succeed. CLIMB provides a way for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs to overcome access to justice barriers in order to create thriving, sustainable, and vibrant businesses within a more equitable community. Casey earned her Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law in 2008, and her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Virginia in 2002. She spent over a decade as a criminal defense attorney, primarily in the Bronx, New York, which was critical in shaping her views on social justice issues, particularly issues of racial inequity in the legal system. Prior to joining CLIMB, she ran the Pro Bono Unit of Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, a civil legal services organization in Charlotte, NC.

Julian Wright practices in the areas of employment law, business litigation, and government and internal investigations. In employment law, he provides counseling and litigation guidance to employers and executives around the country. Julian's experience includes contract negotiation, day-to-day advice on employment matters, and litigation in the Southeast and nationwide about discrimination, harassment, noncompetition covenants, trade secrets, and wrongful termination matters. As a business and commercial litigator, Julian assists clients with disputes over breaches of contract, shareholder rights, business valuations, landlord-tenant issues, unfair competition, and securities matters. He regularly litigates in North Carolina’s Business Court, state courts around the country and extensively in the federal court system. Julian also represents clients in SEC, DOL and other government investigations. In addition, he has successfully conducted multiple internal investigations for clients involving employment, securities and other issues. Julian earned his AB in History from Davidson College. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Vanderbilt Law Review while getting his JD from the Vanderbitl Law School, and he also graduated as the Founder' Medalist when earning his M.Div. from the Vanderbilt Divinity School. Julian is a certified Superior Court mediator. He regularly represents houses of worship in disputes in various tribunals. Julian also maintains an active pro bono practice, including in the area of criminal post-conviction work, and he is Robinson Bradshaw’s director of pro bono services.