Donald Bardes
Donald Bardes is a native New Yorker. Born and raised in the Borough of Queens and Nassau County, New York. He is the grandchild of Italian Immigrants on his mother’s side. He set down roots in North Carolina in 2003 to advocate on behalf of people who have been injured through no fault of their own.
Bardes received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from St. John’s University in 1990. After working for a time in hospital administration and finance in the New York City area, he moved to Arizona. Bardes, looking to make a fresh start, became a paralegal while also working in a hospital in Scottsdale, Arizona. Bardes accelerated and became passionate about the law and helping others. He loves fighting for the individual, especially against big insurance companies and corporate giants. He moved to North Carolina, then enrolled in Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in 1999.
After completing his legal studies in just 2 ½ years he received his Juris Doctor Degree, then returned to Arizona to work as an attorney in the firm where he had been a paralegal. However, he had grown fond of North Carolina. He decided Wake Forest was a good place to raise a family. In 2003 he returned to North Carolina with his family and became licensed to practice law in the Tar Heel State.
Bardes has worked on his own and with other lawyers in North Carolina over the years. He has handled many personal-injury cases including; auto accidents, trucking collisions, motorcycle crashes, product liability cases (including defective automobile tires and wheels, seat belts, and airbag cases), represented many workers injured by accident in Worker’s Compensation cases, claims against insurance companies for unfair claims settlement practices, Social Security Disability cases, and some criminal defense. He has argued before the full Industrial Commission of North Carolina. Bardes prevailed against the State of North Carolina in a case before the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
In 2014, he joined Hardison & Cochran, where his primary focus is on pre-litigation, which involves reviewing claims and consulting with clients to evaluate the suitability of their cases. Having practice law in all of the firm’s practice areas he is well suited for his role with Hardison & Cochran. In 2024, Bardes was named Partner at Hardison & Cochran.
Bardes takes pride in his maintenance of a personal commitment to provide his clients the best possible opportunity to achieve good results.
Bardes is involved in his community with commitments as a Scoutmaster for a troop of girls in the BSA, as Assistant Leader with the Sea Scouts, and volunteering at the local American Legion.
Bardes is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts in both North Carolina and Arizona and has been active in the American and North Carolina associations for trial attorneys. He is also a co-author of the book, “Personal Injury Practice in North Carolina,” published by LexisNexis, 2011.
