Jennifer Morris Jones

Jennifer Morris Jones is a Partner in the firm’s Raleigh office and Chair of the Risk Management & Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. A North Carolina Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Jennifer has earned a reputation for strategic and results-driven advocacy for her clients. She currently serves on Cranfill Sumner’s Executive Committee. She served an appointed term on the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Law Specialty Committee.

Jennifer works closely with her clients to develop innovative and cost-effective strategies for resolving workers’ compensation claims. Her approach is rooted in relationships. She believes that effective advocacy starts with understanding her clients’ business, culture, and goals. Through frequent communication and deep engagement, she develops long-term partnerships that allow her to anticipate needs, solve problems proactively, and provide guidance that extends beyond legal representation.

She takes a forward-thinking approach, leveraging strategic motion practice—including Form 24 Applications and Motions to Compel—to drive favorable outcomes. Her experience spans claims investigation, witness interviews, mediations, hearings, appeals, and medical depositions, with litigation experience extending from the Deputy Commissioner Level and Full Commission to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.

A recognized leader in the workers’ compensation field, Jennifer is actively involved in national organizations and frequently speaks at industry conferences. She serves on the Advisory Board for the National Workers’ Compensation Review and plays an integral role in the Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI), where she leads educational initiatives such as the “Friday Foundations” Webinar Series. At the Workers’ Compensation Institute (WCI) Annual Conference, she serves as both an instructor and presenter.

Jennifer’s leadership extends to the Defense Research Institute (DRI), where she has held multiple key roles, including Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Committee and several leadership positions within the Women in the Law Committee. She has also served as the Online Community Page and Social Media Chair for DRI’s Workers’ Compensation Committee, helping to drive engagement and thought leadership in the industry.

Jennifer is a Premium Member of Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), an industry organization dedicated to meeting the professional development needs of the claims and litigation management industries.  She is also a Certified Litigation Management Professional (CLMP), 2020, a designation from Litigation Management Institute (LMI) offered by CLM.

Jennifer is a member of the Planning Committee for the Triangle, NC Chapter of the Alliance of Women in Workers’ Compensation (AWWC). The AWWC is a national organization of engaged female leaders committed to discussing challenges and emerging trends in the Workers’ Compensation industry.

In addition to her extensive involvement in the legal community, she has also received several recognitions for her dedication to client service. Jennifer maintains an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell, a prestigious peer review rating that recognizes attorneys who have reached high levels of skill and integrity. She was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ® 2016-2027 for Workers’ Compensation – Employers, as well as the Best Lawyers Business Edition 2016-2019 Women in the Law list, and the 2014 and 2015 North Carolina Rising Stars® lists for Workers’ Compensation. In 2022, Jennifer was awarded the WorkCompCentral Comp Laude® Award for the Defense Attorney category. She was selected for the 2022 Workers’ Compensation Power List by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. Jennifer was also named a winner of the 2023 Triangle Business Journal’s Women in Business Awards. She is a 2024 North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Honoree.

In 2015, Jennifer was chosen to join the Emerging Leaders program presented by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. She graduated as part of the 31st class of Leadership Raleigh presented by the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

A passionate mentor and leader, Jennifer is committed to helping others grow and succeed. She credits much of her own professional development to the mentors who guided her early career and now dedicates herself to supporting the next generation of attorneys. Known for her positivity, strategic thinking, and client-centered approach, Jennifer combines legal expertise with a genuine commitment to helping people achieve the best possible outcomes.

Jennifer regularly speaks on the state, regional, and national stages for clients and at industry seminars. Her recent speaking engagements include:

• 2026 NRRDA Annual Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Beyond the Surface: Strategic Investigations in Workers’ Comp and Liability Cases” in Amelia Island, FL.
• 2025 National Workers’ Compensation Conference, Panel Discussion “Critical Cases, Regs, and Legislative Changes Reshaping WC in 2025” in Nashville, TN.
• 2025 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion “What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There: Key Insights for Effective Communication, Persuasive Negotiation, and Compelling Influence and Executive Presence” in Orlando, FL.
• 2025 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion “General Session: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” in Orlando, FL.
• 2025 “Workers’ Comp Unplugged” Virtual Town Hall.
• 2025 RISE Professionals Wisdom Wednesdays Webinar, Presentation “Career Paths and Growth in Workers Comp”.
• 2025 NRRDA Annual Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Roping in Risks: Defending Against TBI Claims” in Fort Worth, TX.
• 2025 CLM Alliance Focus Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Driving Change: Innovation and Inclusion in Workers’ Compensation” in Buena Vista, FL.
• 2024 National Workers’ Compensation and Disability Conference, Presentation “Riding the Tides: The 2024 Cases, Regulations, and Legislative Changes Making Waves” in Las Vegas, NV.
• 2024 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Industry Trail Blazers and Women Ceiling Breakers Workshop:  Empowering and Elevating Leaders through Mentorship and Sponsorship” in Orlando, FL.
• 2024 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion “Orlando, We Have a Problem” in Orlando, FL.
• 2023 National Workers’ Compensation Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Women Leaders Across the Industry: Optimizing Results Through Innovation” in Las Vegas, NV.
• 2023 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Women Ceiling Breakers and Industry Trail Blazers Workshop:  Fostering Resilience at Work Together” in Orlando, FL.
• 2023 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Now You See Me, Now You Don’t” in Orlando, FL.
• 2022 WorkCompCentral Comp Laude Awards and Gala, Keynote Panel Discussion entitled “Tough Conversations About Comp” in Huntington Beach, CA.
• 2022 Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation Annual Education Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Same Sport- Different Rules?  A One-on-One Guide to Practicing Workers’ Compensation in Our Neighboring Jurisdictions” in Atlanta, GA.
• 2022 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Women Trail Blazers and Ceiling Breakers: LEAD During Uncertainty to Overcome Challenges Facing Our Industry” in Orlando, FL.
• 2022 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion, “CSI: Orlando Special Claims Investigation” in Orlando, FL.
• 2022 Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI) Webinar, Presentation “Cracking the Case in Your State.”
• 2022 Cranfill Conversations, Discussion “Defending Against Extended Compensation in NC Workers’ Compensation Claims: Deep Dive Into the Full Commission’s Recent Decision in Betts v. NC DHHS – Cherry Hospital.”
• 2021 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Women Trail Blazers and Ceiling Breakers:  Collaboration and Innovation for the Betterment of Our industry and All Served By It” in Orlando, FL.
• 2021 CLM Annual Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Work Comp Claims and Litigation Management in the Age of Technology” in Atlanta, GA.
• 2021 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, Virtual Panel Discussion, “Workers’ Compensation Claims and Litigation Management in the Age of Technology.”
• 2021 Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI) Webinar, Presentation “Tips from the Trenches.”
• 2021 Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI) Webinar, Presentation “COVID Claims, Compensability and Vaccines, Oh My!”
• 2020 Juge, Napolitano, Guilbeau, Ruli & Frieman’s Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Dallas Seminar, Panel Discussion entitled, “Multi-State Handling of Workers’ Compensation Claims- Multi-Tasking: Advice for Adjusters Handling Claims in Multiple States.”
• 2020 Virtual WCI Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “WCDI:  A Multi-State Analysis of Common Compensability Issues Confronting Workers’ Compensation Claim Handlers.”
• 2020 CLM Workers’ Compensation and Retail, Restaurant & Hospitality Conference, Virtual Panel Discussion, “Age of Technology – Managing Workers’ Compensation Claims and Litigation Today.”
• 2020 Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI) Webinar, Presentation “WCDI Answers Your Coronavirus Claims Questions, Part II.”
• 2020 Cranfill Sumner Webinar, Presentation “Navigating the Devil’s Triangle:  Managing Claims under the ADA, FMLA, and NC Workers’ Compensation Act.”
• 2020 Workers’ Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI) Webinar, Presentation “WCDI Answers Your Coronavirus Claims Questions.”
• 2020 Cranfill Sumner Webinar, Presentation “Medicare & MSA Workers’ Compensation Update:  Current Issues & Settlement Strategies for Starting the New Year off on the Right Foot” with Mark Popolizio, ISO Claims Partners.
• 2019 Cranfill Sumner Fall Seminar, Presentation entitled “425 Weeks Out: What’s Next for North Carolina’s Limitation on Indemnity Benefits?” in Raleigh, NC.
• 2019 Juge, Napolitano, Guilbeau, Ruli & Frieman’s Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Dallas Seminar, Panel Discussion entitled, “Multi-State Handling of Workers’ Compensation Claims- Multi-Tasking: Advice for Adjusters Handling Claims in Multiple States.”
• 2019 WorkCompCentral National Webinar, Presentation entitled “425 Weeks out: What’s Next for North Carolina’s Limitation on Indemnity Benefits?”
• 2019 Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation Annual Education Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “…And Justice for All” in Alpharetta, GA.
• 2019 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Women Trailblazers and Ceiling Breakers in Workers’ Compensation” in Orlando, FL.
• 2019 CLM Workers’ Compensation Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “Workers’ Comp in the Age of Technology” in Chicago, IL.
• 2018 WCI Conference, Panel Discussion entitled “New Waves in Medical Treatment: Perspectives on Challenges and Out-Of-The-Box Approaches to Management of Opioids, Marijuana, and Telemedicine in Workers’ Compensation Claims” in Orlando, FL.
• 2018 North Carolina Association of Self-Insurers Conference, Presentation entitled “How to Handle and Investigate Claims Involving Idiopathic Conditions” in Wrightsville Beach, NC.
• 2017 Cranfill Sumner Fall Seminar, Presentation entitled “How to Handle and Investigate Claims Involving Idiopathic Conditions” in Raleigh, NC.
• 2016 Cranfill Sumner Seminar, Presentation entitled “Cost Containment: Tips and Tricks for Utilizing Social Media for Investigating and Defending Workers’ Compensation Claims” in Raleigh, NC.
• 2016 North Carolina Association of Self-Insurers Conference, Presentation entitled “Cutting Costs in Workers’ Comp: New Thoughts on an Old Nemesis” in Wrightsville Beach, NC.
• 2015 Inaugural DRI Workers’ Compensation Regional Seminar, Panel Discussion entitled “Compensability: We Really Aren’t All the Same!” in Atlanta, GA.
• 2015 DRI Annual Meeting, Panel Discussion entitled “Settlement of Medicare Eligible Workers’ Compensation Claims: Pitfalls and Practice Pointers” in Washington, DC.
• 2014 Cranfill Sumner Fall Seminar, Presentation entitled “Cost Containment Strategy: Utilizing the Misrepresentation Defense (N.C.G.S. §97-12.1)” in Raleigh, NC.

Representative Matters

Cases or matters referenced do not represent the lawyer’s entire record. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits. The outcome of a particular case cannot be predicated upon a lawyer’s or a law firm’s past results.

• Represented an employer and carrier to achieve a favorable Court of Appeals decision involving Statute of Limitations defenses, complex medical issues, and causation questions. Specifically, the Court of Appeals held the employee’s request for a second opinion evaluation on the permanent partial disability rating more than two years after the last payment of medical expenses was time barred.  The Court of Appeals affirmed the Full Commission’s determination that the employee failed to prove by the greater weight of the evidence that the alleged work accident aggravated a pre-existing condition.

• Successfully represented a self-insured employer to achieve a favorable Full Commission decision wherein the Full Commission determined the employee unjustifiably refused to return to suitable employment.  Specifically, the Full Commission determined the light-duty position was a real, non-modified position and was suitable based on the employee’s restrictions, wages, shift and opportunity for advancement.   The Full Commission determined the employee had not carried his burden of proving disability and was not entitled to any indemnity benefits.