Another legal industry accolade that comes out each year is the Super Lawyers list, which is a publication of Thomson Reuters. Super Lawyers is a rating service of lawyers across the nation. Peer nominations and evaluations along with third-party research are used to review candidates
 

CHRISTOPHER BEHM

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation (See Legal Elite profile), Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP

See Behm's Legal Elite list profile
 

NORWOOD BLANCHARD III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor
FIRM: Crossley McIntosh Collier Hanley & Edes PLLC
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: East Carolina University (B.S., B.A.); Duke University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Blanchard has argued numerous appellate cases at the N.C. Supreme Court, N.C. Court of Appeals and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Employment, general civil and municipal
 

DANIEL BRAWLEY

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation (Also part of Hall of Fame for Legal Elite in Litigation)
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP
TITLE: Of Counsel EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A. and J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Brawley was a visiting professor at the law school at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Poland. “The opportunity to work with law students and professors in a post-Soviet Union environment was educational and rewarding and confirmed my abiding appreciation of the American judicial system,” Brawley said.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Litigation, construction and admiralty
 

ALGERNON L. BUTLER III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Bankruptcy: Business (See Legal Elite profile), Butler & Butler LLP

See Butler's Legal Elite list profile
 

STEPHEN COBLE

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-General Litigation (See Legal Elite profile), Coble Law Firm

See Coble's Legal Elite list profile
 

PC AULEY CROUCH III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-General Litigation
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP
TITLE: Of Counsel
EDUCATION: Citadel (B.S.); John Marshall Law School (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Crouch has been a Superior Court mediator since 1993. His representative reported cases include: Sevigny v. Dicksey; Marina Food Associates Inc. v. Marina Restaurant Inc.; and Williams v. Houses of Distinction Inc.
AREAS OF FOCUS: General civil, including commercial/business disputes, construction litigation, personal injury and condemnation in federal and state courts
 

DON EVANS JR.

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Transportation/ Maritime
FIRM: Clark, Newton & Evans PA
TITLE: Managing Partner
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill; Campbell University (J.D.); U.S. Naval Justice School
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Evans belongs to the Real Property Section of the N.C. Bar Association and represents developers and banks in Eastern North Carolina, as well as having a significant wills, estates and maritime practice. Evans is also a retired Navy JAG Commander, providing him insight into land and sea transactions, finance and litigation. While his firm conducts a general practice, it has particular strength in real estate, maritime and transportation law, business transactions and estates.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business transactions, maritime law, real estate, wills and estates
 

JANET GEMMELL

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Family Law
FIRM: Cape Fear Family Law
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNCW (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Gemmell is a contributing writer and public speaker on divorce law topics for local publications and has been featured in national magazines. She also teaches continuing legal education classes for other attorneys throughout the state.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Divorce and family law, board-certified family law specialist
 

KATHLEEN SHANNON GLANCY

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Workers’ Compensation
FIRM: The Law Offices of Kathleen Shannon Glancy
TITLE: Founding Attorney
EDUCATION: University of California, Irvine (B.A.); Santa Clara University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Glancy served five years as staff and managing attorney at Legal Services in Fremont, Ohio, and in Wilmington. In 1985, she founded her own law firm. She is an active leader in the N.C. Advocates for Justice’s Workers’ Compensation Section and Workplace Injury Litigation Group as well as the Labor and Employment Section of the ABA.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Board-certified workers’ compensation specialist; Social Security Disability; personal injury-general: plaintiff
 

H. MARK H. HAMLET

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation (See Legal Elite profile), Hamlet & Associates PLLC

See Hamlet's Legal Elite list profile
 

JASON R. HARRIS

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Transportation/ Maritime
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: Auburn University (B.A.); Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D.); University of Miami School of Law (LL. M. Ocean and Coastal Law)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Harris represents and advises clients in a variety of general litigation, transportation, admiralty, maritime and corporate matters. In his litigation practice, Harris frequently represents clients and insurers in maritime and transportation cases, including the defense and prosecution of serious bodily injuries, fatalities, casualties and construction disputes. He also represents select clients facing state or federal criminal charges. He is the chair of the Cranfill Sumner LLP Admiralty and Maritime Law Practice Group.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Admiralty and maritime law; construction law; international business law; motor vehicle litigation; white collar, government investigations and special matters
 

CHRISTOPHER HINNANT

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Civil Litigation: Defense
FIRM: Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms
TITLE: Member Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: As a commercial litigator, Hinnant has handled many types of cases involving corporations and businesses, from minor contract disputes to one of the largest real estate fraud cases in North Carolina history (his banking client was dismissed on a 12(b) (6) motion). He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for work in personal injury litigation-defense.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business law, civil litigation, construction litigation, medical malpractice defense, insurance coverage, personal injury defense, dram shop liability
 

MELODY JOLLY

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers: Professional Liability/Defense
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP
TITLE: Partner EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A. and J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Jolly has successfully litigated cases at the trial court level and before North Carolina’s State and Federal appellate courts for her entire career. She regularly represents clients in defense of disciplinary complaints before professional licensing boards. She is an active participant in the Defense Research Institute, currently serving her second term as chair of its professional liability committee, and she is co-chair of the firm’s professional liability practice group.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Community association law, construction law and professional liability
 

JEFFREY KEETER

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Real Estate (See Legal Elite profile), Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP

See Keeter's Legal Elite list profile
 

REBECCA A. KNUDSON

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation (See Legal Elite profile), Cranfill Sumner LLP

See Knudson's Legal Elite list profile
 

PAULA KOHUT

CATEGORY: Super Lawers-Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: Kohut & Adams PA
TITLE: Shareholder
EDUCATION: University of California, Irvine (B.A.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “I have the privilege to represent many individuals and business clients,” Kohut said. “Developing estate plans, assisting with the administration of the estates of loved ones, forming business entities, assisting business owners and volunteering with bar organizations each provide opportunities to make a difference.”
AREAS OF FOCUS: Trust and estate planning and administration; business law
 

JAMES W. LEA III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Family Law (See Legal Elite profile), The Lea/Schultz Law Firm

See Lea's Legal Elite list profile
 

MICHAEL LEE

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Real Estate (See Legal Elite profile), Lee Kaess PLLC

See Lee's Legal Elite list profile
 

JOHN D. MARTIN

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP
TITLE: Managing Partner, Wilmington office
EDUCATION: Wake Forest University (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Martin has successfully tried numerous medical malpractice and personal injury cases throughout North Carolina. Many of his cases involve brain injury, birth trauma, paraplegia and wrongful death. Martin also has experience with large construction litigation, premises liability and hospital/workplace security.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business disputes and litigation, medical malpractice and professional liability
 

BRUCE MASON 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense
FIRM: Mason & Mason
EDUCATION: West Virginia University (B.S.); UNC-Chapel Hill (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Mason founded Mason & Mason in 1993 as a general trial practice specializing in criminal defense with a concentration in personal injury representation. The N.C. State Bar recognizes him as a board-certified specialist in state criminal law. Mason has received the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating and has a 10 rating on AVVO. He practices extensively in federal court and is a member of the C.J.A. Panel.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Criminal defense, driving while impaired defense, traffic law and personal injury
 

JAMES MCGEE JR.

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
FIRM: The McGee Law Firm
TITLE: Owner
EDUCATION: UNCW (B.S.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: McGee was named the Best Lawyers 2021 DUI/DWI Defense “Lawyer of the Year” in Wilmington. He is also a published author and served as a faculty member for numerous DUI/DWI seminars in North Carolina and nationwide.
AREAS OF FOCUS: DWI defense, traffic offenses, criminal defense and personal injury
 

ANDREW MCVEY

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor (See Legal Elite profile), Murchison, Taylor & Gibson

See McVey's Legal Elite list profile
 

WILLIAM A. ODEN III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor (See Legal Elite profile), Ward and Smith PA H.

See Oden's Legal Elite list profile
 

SCOTT OVERHOLT

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Overholt Law Firm PC
TITLE: Attorney, Founder
EDUCATION: University of Arkansas (B.A.); University of Arkansas (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Overholt has been practicing law for over 25 years. He specializes in personal injury and workers’ compensation. He is certified a Superior Court Mediator by the N.C. Dispute Resolution Commission. Admitted to practice before all North Carolina state courts, Overholt is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the U.S. Supreme Court.
 

JILL PETERS KAESS

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Estate Planning & Probate (See Legal Elite profile), Lee Kaess PLLC

See Kaess' Legal Elite list profile
 

JAMES PRICE

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Bankruptcy: Business
FIRM: Price & Williams
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); Campbell Law School (J.D.)
AREAS OF FOCUS: Wills and estates, probate, bankruptcy, contracts and business formation
 

JOEL RHINE

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers Top 100 list and Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff (See Legal Elite profile), Rhine Law Firm

See Rhine's Legal Elite list profile
 

LISA SALINES-MONDELL

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Elder Law
FIRM: Salines-Mondello Law Firm PC
TITLE: Principal Attorney
EDUCATION: (bachelor’s, J.D.) Boston University School of Law (LL.M. in taxation)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Licensed to practice in both North Carolina and Massachusetts, Salines-Mondello is certified as an elder law attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation and is a N.C. Bar-certified specialist in elder law. Salines-Mondello is a member of the North Carolina and Massachusetts bars, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the North Carolina chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys as well as the N.C. Board of Legal Specialization.
AREA OF FOCUS: Elder law
 

LINDA B. SAYED

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Family Law (See Legal Elite profile), Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP

See Sayed's Legal Elite list profile
 

GARY K. SHIPMAN

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury and General Plaintiff Litigation
FIRM: Shipman & Wright, LLP
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNCW (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Shipman has been practicing since 1980. He has handled more than 100 jury trials to verdict during his career. He is an NFL-, NBA- and, NCAA-certified agent. He also was recognized by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel as part of the Nation’s Top One Percent; and voted by his peers to be included in The Best Lawyers in America.
AREAS OF FOCUS: CGeneral civil, including complex commercial/business disputes, construction litigation, HOA law, nursing home negligence and wrongful death in federal and state courts
 

NICOLE SLAUGHTER

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation
FIRM: Hamlet & Associates PLLC
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: University of Memphis (B.B.A.); University of Tennessee (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Slaughter is licensed in North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. She serves as the chair of the Construction Section of the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys; is a member and former council member of the N.C. Bar Association’s Construction Section; is a founding member and serves on the board of the N.C. Civil Collaborative Law Association; and is a member of the N.C. Association of Women Attorneys, Coastal Women Attorneys chapter.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Commercial litigation, construction law, product liability, insurance defense and other complex litigation
 

HELEN TAROKIC

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Immigration
FIRM: Helen Tarokic Law PLLC
TITLE: Attorney, Manager
EDUCATION: Lake Forest College (B.A.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Tarokic is one of four North Carolina board-certified immigration law specialists in Wilmington. She was awarded the AILA National Sam Williamson mentorship award in San Francisco in June 2018 and co-authored the book “Ignite Your Practice with the T Visa,” which became a bestseller on Amazon for its category. She handles all types of immigration cases, ranging from investor and business cases to humanitarian and human trafficking cases.
AREAS OF FOCUS: N.C. board-certified immigration law specialist; fluent in Spanish, English and Croatian
 

RYAL TAYLOE

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation
FIRM: Ward and Smith PA
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); Wake Forest School of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Tayloe is an experienced litigator. He has handled a wide range of litigation cases in state and federal courts, many of them jury trials. Tayloe has extensive construction law experience, including lien law, federal and state bond claims and defective workmanship cases. He also has significant experience with agribusiness litigation, property owner association disputes, personal injury and all types of real estate disputes.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Contract litigation, eminent domain/condemnation, construction litigation, real estate litigation, personal injury litigation
 

BENTON L. TOUPS

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor (See Legal Elite profile), Cranfill Sumner LLP

See Toup's Legal Elite list profile
 

EDWIN L. WEST III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense (See Legal Elite profile), Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard D.

See West's Legal Elite list profile
 

ROBERT WILLIAMS JR.

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Real Estate
FIRM: Price & Williams, P.A.
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); N.C. Central University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Williams has extensive experience in real estate law, having represented clients in thousands of residential and commercial transactions. His clients have included first-time homebuyers, small businesses, builders and developers. In addition, Williams regularly acts as an adviser and counselor to homeowners associations regarding assessments and other matters.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Real estate, estate planning and administration
 

MELISSA WRIGHT

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Family Law
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: Cumberland School of Law of Samford University (J.D.); Pfeiffer University (B.A.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Wright is an experienced family law litigator, Certified Family Financial Mediator, collaborative family law attorney and Parenting Coordinator. She practiced family law for 12 years in Mecklenburg County before moving to Wilmington in 2015. Wright litigates primarily in New Hanover and Brunswick counties. She is frequently appointed as a Parenting Coordinator to assist parents with complying with court orders and to communicate and cooperate more effectively about their children.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Custody and child support, alimony and equitable distribution, premarital and separation agreements, adoptions, family law mediation, parenting coordination, collaborative divorce

---

RISING STARS

A number of local attorneys also were named to Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list. To be eligible for the Rising Stars category, candidates have to be either 40 or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.
 

STEPHEN BELL

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business Litigation
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP
TITLE: Associate
EDUCATION: Clemson University (B.S.); Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Bell handles a range of litigation matters including complex commercial matters for plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts and before administrative bodies. This includes commercial litigation, class actions and multi-district litigation, securities litigation and arbitration, whistleblower actions, subrogation litigation, real property disputes, high-net-worth estate litigation, premises and product liability litigation, and professional liability litigation. Bell has a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating and is both a North Carolina and South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business disputes and litigation; construction law, premises liability; professional liability; white collar, government investigations and special matters
 

RICHARD P. COOK

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Bankruptcy/Consumer
FIRM: Cape Fear Debt Relief
TITLE: Owner and Managing Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (undergraduate and J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Cook is board-certified by the N.C. State Bar as a specialist in both business and consumer bankruptcy law. In 2020, Cook was named a Chapter 11 Subchapter V Trustee for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He has been selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers 2017-21 and was recognized by the American Bankruptcy Institute as a “40 Under 40” in 2020. Cook formerly served on the board of the N.C. State Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Section Council from 2013 to 2016.
AREA OF FOCUS: Bankruptcy
 

DAVID CREECH

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Immigration
FIRM: David Creech Law Firm
TITLE: Attorney at Law, Owner/Managing Partner
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); University of Miami (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Creech, who is fluent in Spanish, has practiced immigration and nationality law since 2010. He represents clients before the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration Customs Enforcement and other agencies. Creech handles a variety of immigration cases including family-based petitions, adjustment of status (green cards), temporary employment visas, victims of certain crimes, asylum, deportation or removal defense, naturalization, citizenship and DACA.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Immigration and criminal defense
 

NICKI ENGEL

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Elder Law
FIRM: Salines-Mondello Law Firm
TITLE: Associate Attorney
EDUCATION: Appalachian State University (B.S.); West Virginia University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Engel is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA) and is the president of the North Carolina chapter of NAELA. She is the vice chair of the N.C. Bar Association (NCBA) Elder and Special Needs Law Section and a member of the NCBA Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section. Originally from Charlotte, Engel practiced law in Asheville for eight years before moving to Wilmington in 2019.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Elder law
 

DEEDEE GASCH

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Personal Injury General/ Defense ‘FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); Florida Coastal School of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Gasch focuses her practice on cases involving serious personal injury or death. She routinely defends and advises clients on matters involving premises liability, dram shop liability, trucking and transportation, medical malpractice and products liability. Gasch maintains an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell, a prestigious peer review rating that recognizes attorneys who have reached high levels of skill and integrity.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Medical malpractice; motor vehicle litigation; premises liability; professional liability; retail, restaurant and hospitality; trucking and commercial transportation
 

KATHERINE HADDOCK

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Immigration
FIRM: Helen Tarokic Law PLLC
TITLE: Senior Associate Attorney EDUCATION: N.C. State University (B.A.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Haddock prepares U visas, assisting victims of crime and domestic violence, and fights for a spectrum of immigrant rights. Under President Clinton’s Violence Against Women Act 1994 (VAWA statute), Haddock has obtained legal status for immigrant victims of extreme battery and cruelty at the hands of their U.S. citizen spouses.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Immigration law, fluent in Spanish
 

BRITTANY HALL

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Family Law
FIRM: Cape Fear Family Law TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: Campbell University (B.A.); Elon University School of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Aware that she serves as the voice of her clients in the legal process, Hall focuses on being a dedicated advocate, she said. Described by her peers as tenacious, ethical and thorough, Hall said she values her reputation in the community. She is continuously seeking to grow in her profession.
AREA OF FOCUS: Family Law
 

DEVLIN HORTON

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Civil Litigation/Plaintiff
FIRM: Horton & Mendez, Attorneys at Law, PLLC
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Charlotte (B.A.); UNCW (MBA); UNC-Chapel Hill (J.D.)
AREA OF FOCUS: Personal injury litigation, business and commercial litigation
 

JESSICA SOLES HUMPHRIES

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Civil Litigation/Defense (See Legal Elite profile), Hamlet & Associates PLLC

See Humphries' Legal Elite list profile
 

JUSTIN K. HUMPHRIES

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business/Corporate (See Legal Elite profile), The Humphries Law Firm

See Humphries' Legal Elite list profile
 

MARK IHNAT

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: Atlantic Coast Law
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); NCCU (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Ihnat serves as Parks Conservancy of New Hanover County Inc. board of director’s vice president; volunteer judge for New Hanover County Teen Court and with Legal Aid of North Carolina-Lawyers on the Line Volunteer Program
AREAS OF FOCUS: Estate planning, litigation
 

PAIGE INMAN

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Family Law
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A.
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Inman practices family law and estate litigation from the firm’s Wilmington office. She helps families and individuals navigate complicated family law legal processes during times of family upheaval and transition, both in the context of divorce and death. Her family law practice is multifaceted, encompassing such areas as divorce, mediation, equitable distribution, pre-separation planning, separation agreements, alimony and spousal support, children’s rights, domestic violence and neglect, paternity and prenuptial agreements.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Family law, divorce, custody, child support, alimony, property division, separation agreements, premarital agreements
 

ANDREW “ANDY” JONES

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business Litigation Jones
FIRM: Forrest Firm PC
TITLE: President and Attorney
EDUCATION: Davidson College (A.B.); Elon University School of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Forrest Firm PC (2017-present); Rountree Losee LLP (2013-17)
AREA OF FOCUS: Commercial disputes and complex business cases in North Carolina state and federal courts; general business law and transactional representation to businesses and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries
 

HEATHER DOLAN KAEMMER

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Family Law
FIRM: Kaemmer Law Firm PLLC
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: Elon University School of Law
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Kaemmer opened her practice in Hampstead in 2017. Other highlights: Rising Stars, Super Lawyers (2018); Pro Bono Publico: New Hanover County Bar Association (2014- 16, 2018-20); Client Satisfaction Award, 10 Best: American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (2016); Top 10 Attorneys Under 40, North Carolina: National Academy of Family Law Attorneys (2014-15); Legal Elite, Family Law: (2015, 2020); Client’s Choice, Family Law: Avvo (2014)
AREA OF FOCUS: Family law
 

KEVIN MARCILLIAT

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Criminal Defense
FIRM: Roberts Law Group
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: Auburn University (B.S.) Campbell Law School (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Also rated “AV Preeminent” by his peers for the highest level of professional excellence, Marcilliat focuses his practice on defending individuals who are targets of government investigations or who are facing serious criminal charges. In 2019, two notable case outcomes included securing the outright dismissal of a charge of first-degree murder and securing early release from federal prison for a client convicted of a complex multi-state fraud scheme.
AREA OF FOCUS: Criminal defense in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina
 

AMANDA MIARS

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business/Corporate
FIRM: Murchison, Taylor & Gibson PLLC
TITLE: Partner/Member
EDUCATION: UNCW (B.A. and B.S.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Miars’ practice experience includes a wide range of business and transactional, estate and trust-related matters. Her practice is primarily devoted to representing privately owned businesses and business owners, counseling them in all phases of their business life, from formation or acquisition, to planning, strategy and growth, through sale and transition.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business law and taxation; mergers and acquisitions; estate planning and probate; estate and trust litigation
 

PATRICK M. MINCEY

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Criminal Defense/White Collar (See Legal Elite profile), Cranfill Sumner LLP

See Mincey's Legal Elite list profile
 

JAMES T. MOORE JR.

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Personal Injury General/Plaintiff
FIRM: Shipman & Wright, LLP
TITLE: Associate Attorney
EDUCATION: UNCW (B.S.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Moore was named to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 under 40 and National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys Top 10 Attorneys under the age of 40 in North Carolina. He also is a certified contract adviser for the NFL.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Wrongful death, personal injury litigation, construction litigation and mass torts
 

ADDISON PALANZA

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business/Corporate
FIRM: Atlantic Coast Law
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: Virginia Military Institute (B.A.); Campbell University School of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A former field artillery officer and veteran of the Iraq War, Palanza brings a substantial military background to the firm that complements his legal experience. Professional memberships include the N.C. Bar Association and New Hanover County Bar Association.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business law, contract law, civil litigation and special proceedings
 

CONOR REGAN

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business Litigation
FIRM: The Regan Law Firm
TITLE: Founder
EDUCATION: Mary Washington College (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Regan represents businesses and individuals in transactions as well as in litigation before North Carolina’s trial and appellate courts, including the N.C. Business Court and all three of the state’s federal district courts.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Litigation and real estate
 

ZACHARY RIVENBARK

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Family Law
FIRM: Law Office of Zachary S. Rivenbark, P.L.L.C. Rivenbark
TITLE: Attorney/Owner
EDUCATION: Methodist University; Appalachian School of Law
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “Returning home practice law and being able to help the community through a variety of legal needs and situations [and] securing my first million-dollar resolution in a medical malpractice case,” are among highlights for Rivenbark, who also serves as attorney for the town of Burgaw.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Family law/divorce, personal injury, medical malpractice, traffic tickets, wills and estate planning
 

CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL THERIAULT

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Real Estate
FIRM: Theriault Law
TITLE: President
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Theriault has been selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2010 and from 2015 through 2021. He first received the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating in 2014. He also was named among The National Trial Lawyers top 40 trial lawyers in North Carolina under the age of 40 from 2012 to 2017.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Real estate and civil litigation
 

ALLEN N. TRASK III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business Litigation
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A.
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: East Carolina University (B.S.); Campbell Law School (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Trask focuses his practice on assisting those who own, manage and invest in real estate and common interest communities. He has experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including depositions, hearings, mediations, arbitrations, trials and appeals. He is the leader of Ward and Smith’s Agribusiness practice, where he coordinates the firm’s resources to address the specialized issues facing clients in the agribusiness community.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business, civil, and commercial litigation; real estate and developer litigation; community associations disputes; zoning and land use; agribusiness
 

THOMAS VARNUM

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Intellectual Property (See Legal Elite profile), Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard

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JEREMY M. WILSON

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Personal Injury General/Plaintiff (See Legal Elite profile), Ward and Smith P

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Correction: This version has been updated to change Melody Jolly's Super Lawyers category name.