UNC hires external counsel to investigate GM Michael Lombardi. What we know

A University of North Carolina spokesman confirmed the names of three lawyers assisting with investigating football general manager Michael Lombardi to the News & Observer on Wednesday, as first reported by The Assembly.

Vice Chancellor for Communications Dean Stoyer said that starting Wednesday, August 5, Nate Huff and McNair Nichols of Barnes & Thornburg, formerly with the law firm K&L Gates and transitioning work related to the investigation to Barnes & Thornburg, will assist the process. Wes Camden, a partner with Williams Mullen, will also advise the probe.

Huff also led the university’s investigation into its controversial School of Civic Life and Leadership — a $1.2 million undertaking the results of which the university then it would not release. By the end of that investigation, Huff was charging UNC $1,170 per hour for his services.

The News & Observer and other outlets are suing for the release of the SCiLL report, which UNC says is full of “privileged personnel information” and also protected by attorney-client privilege. K&L Gates also closely controlled what participants in that investigation were allowed to publicly say about it.

The University’s Office of University Counsel is leading the investigation into Lombardi, and Stoyer added that no public funds will be used toward the outside counsel.

“The University is committed to conducting a comprehensive yet expedient review,” Stoyer wrote.

UNC announced on July 27 that Lombardi was placed on paid administrative leave. The Athletic reported that the leave came following a human resources complaint from a former front office employee. The College Sports Commission, which looks into name, image and likeness and revenue-sharing violations, is also looking into the university, the report added.

Lombardi is a longtime confidant of coach Bill Belichick and is the highest-paid general manager in college football, making $1.5 million a year.

Huff is a former federal prosecutor, now focusing on healthcare and commercial litigation, representing hospitals, according to his page at K&L Gates. Nichols mainly deals with “government enforcement defense, internal investigations and securities regulatory compliance,” according to the same website.

Tom Mars, from Mars Law Firm, announced Friday that he was representing Lombardi as the university investigates the embattled general manager.

The trial lawyer said the school had not told Lombardi any details of the investigation at the time.

“(Lombardi) is fully cooperating with UNC,” Mars said in a statement, “and expects the investigation to be swift, thorough and fair.”

This story was originally published August 5, 2026 at 8:21 PM with the headline “UNC hires external counsel to investigate GM Michael Lombardi. What we know.”