Bar Admissions

• North Carolina

• South Carolina

• Pennsylvania

• Washington DC

• International Bar Association

Education

• Juris Doctor – Elon University School of Law

• International Law Study Abroad – The Hague, Netherlands

• Bachelor of Arts; Liberal Studies - Thomas Edison State University

  • Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society – Lambda Tau Chapter

  • President’s List for Academic Honors

• Associate of Science, Human Resource Management – Comm. College of the Air Force

• Associate of Science, Communications Technology – Comm. College of the Air Force

Certifications and Commissions

• Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification

• Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) Certification

• HRCI Subject Matter Expert (SPHR and GPHR Exam Question Writer)

• NC Superior Court Mediator Certification

• NC Notary Public

Volunteer Activities

• Vice Chair, Mecklenburg Bar Labor & Employment Section, 2026-2027

• Make-A-Wish of Central & Western North Carolina, 2018 – present

Military Service

• US Air Force, Active Duty, 1992 - 2016, Retired, Honorable Discharge

Meet the Founder

Before entering private practice, Crystal spent decades in human resources and executive leadership. She advised management teams on employment strategy, regulatory compliance, employee relations, workforce planning, business operations, and organizational change. Today, she draws on that experience to counsel and represent employers in labor and employment matters, contract disputes, civil litigation, and cross-border workforce issues. She also serves as a North Carolina Superior Court Certified Mediator.

Crystal’s international perspective is both professional and personal. During her 24 years of service in the United States Air Force, she held leadership positions in the United States and abroad. Crystal and her family lived in England for five years, where she worked alongside UK, European Union, and NATO counterparts on global workforce and compliance matters. During that time, her family developed a lasting affection for England, its culture, and its people. That experience continues to shape her ability to understand the expectations, communication styles, and practical concerns of UK and European companies entering the U.S. market.

Rooted in Family. Connected Across Borders.

Living in England gave Crystal and her family the opportunity to experience those cultural ties in a personal and meaningful way. Her connection to the United Kingdom runs through her family. Crystal’s maternal grandmother was English (surname Hathaway), and her maternal grandfather hailed from Scotland (surname Farquharson).

Crystal’s paternal heritage is deeply rooted in Puglia, Italy. Her paternal great-grandfather, the eldest son and one of eight brothers (the primo), immigrated to the United States from Alberobello during the early 1900s. Her paternal great-grandmother immigrated from Palermo, Sicily during that same time. They settled down in upstate New York and began the American branch of the Bagnardi family. Three more brothers followed Primo to New York and four stayed in Puglia, Italy.

For Crystal, reconnecting with her Italian roots and building strong relationships with her family in Puglia was a lifelong dream come true. She now returns to Alberobello and the surrounding region several times per year to spend time with her cousins, several of whom own and operate thriving businesses in the area. Through those relationships, she has developed an even deeper appreciation for the courage, discipline, creativity, and sense of community that sustain family-owned and entrepreneurial businesses across generations.

These connections are more than part of Crystal’s family history. They influence the way she practices law. She understands that behind every company is a personal story—and that building a business often represents years of sacrifice, risk, and hope. Whether she is advising an entrepreneur, defending a small business, or helping a UK or European company establish a U.S. workforce, Crystal approaches each relationship with integrity, empathy, transparency, and respect.

At Bagnardi Law, clients work directly with an attorney who understands both the legal issues they face and the human experience behind them.