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.
(See Legal Elite profile), Block Crouch Keeter Behm & Sayed
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor
FIRM: Crossley McIntosh Collier Hanley & Edes
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
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed
TITLE: Of counsel
EDUCATION: UNC Chapel Hill (A.B. 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,” said Brawley, who also has been voted by his peers into Business North Carolina magazine’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame in Litigation in 2012 and Best Lawyers for over 20 years.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Litigation, construction and admiralty
(See Legal Elite profile), Butler & Butler
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-General Litigation
FIRM: Block Crouch Keeter Behm & Sayed
TITLE:Partner
EDUCATION:Citadel (B.S.); John Marshall Law School (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:Crouch has been a Superior Court mediator and arbitrator 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
(See Legal Elite profile), Murchison Taylor & Gibson
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Transportation/Maritime
FIRM: Clark Newton & Evans
TITLE: Managing partner
EDUCATION: UNC; Campbell Law School; U.S.Naval Justice School
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Evans is a retired Navy JAG Commander, focusing on land and sea transactions, finance and litigation. While his firm conducts a general practice, it has particular strength in real estate, maritime law, business transactions and estates, Evans said, and it has two of North Carolina’s six or so proctors in admiralty. Evans also belongs to the Real Property Section of the N.C. Bar and represents developers and banks in eastern North Carolina, as well as having a significant wills and estates practice.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business transactions, maritime law, real estate, wills and estates
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Workers’ Compensation
FIRM: 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
(See Legal Elite profile), Hamlet & Associates
(See Legal Elite profile), McGuireWoods
(See Legal Elite profile), Kohut PLLC
CATEGORY: Super Lawyer-Family Law
FIRM: The Lea/Schultz Law Firm
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC Chapel Hill; Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Lea has practiced in family law for the past 32 years. He serves on the N.C. State Bar’s Family Council, a selected group of family lawyers that sets policy and recommends changes to family law on behalf of the N.C. State Bar. His firm was listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Law Firms in family law, tier one.
AREA OF FOCUS: Family law
(See Legal Elite profile), Lee Law Firm
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Workers’ Compensation
FIRM: Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo
TITLE: Managing Partner, Wilmington Office
EDUCATION: University of California, Davis (B.S.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Lewis founded the Wilmington office of Hedrick Gardner. Under her leadership, the practice has grown and continues to be one of the largest law firms in Wilmington. Lewis holds an AV rating with Martindale Hubbell and was recognized in the 2014 listing in The Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. Lewis has been a guest speaker at the NCADA Annual Conference, the N.C. Association of Women Attorneys and the N.C. PRIMA Educational Conference.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Workers’ compensation, appellate advocacy and employment law
(See Legal Elite profile), Law Office of Jean Sutton Martin
(See Legal Elite profile), Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor
FIRM: Murchison Taylor & Gibson
TITLE: Member
EDUCATION: Wake Forest University (B.A. and J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: McVey was nominated to Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite in 2013 and 2014 and Super Lawyers-Employment and Labor in 2015. He has been certified as a Superior Court mediator since 2000 and is a member of the N.C. Bar Association Labor
& Employment Law Section Council (2009-present). He is a recipient of the 2013 Addison Hewlett Jr. Award for Pro Bono Service. He coached North Carolina’s team to a No. 2 finish at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in 2000.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Litigation, mediation, employment and homeowners’ association representation
(See Legal Elite profile), Tin Fulton Walker & Owen
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense: White Collar
FIRM: W. James Payne Law Firm
TITLE: Attorney at law
EDUCATION: Campbell Law School (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: A retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, Payne has defended over 30 felony jury trials on the state and federal level and defended over 20 persons charged with death penalty first-degree murder. He is a member of the White Collar Committee for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and member of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section. Payne is chairman of the Commission on Indigent Defense Services for North Carolina.
AREAS OF FOCUS: White-collar crime, capital murder, military law-courts martial
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense
FIRM: Ramos Law Firm
TITLE: Owner, attorney at law
EDUCATION: UGA, UNC-Pembroke; Campbell Law School (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Ramos has practiced criminal defense law in Brunswick and surrounding North Carolina counties for 30 years plus, both in state and federal court. He carries a preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He was certified as a specialist in state and federal criminal law by the N.C. State Bar Board of Legal Specialization in 1997 and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He served honorably in the U.S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Division from 1972 to 1975.
AREA OF FOCUS: Criminal defense
(See Legal Elite profile), Rhine Law Firm
(See Legal Elite profile), Block Crouch Keeter Behm & Sayed
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Shipman & Wright
TITLE: Senior 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; certified contract adviser-NFL and NBA
AREA OF FOCUS: Complex civil
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Speaks Law Firm
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: East Carolina University (B.S.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Speaks is the founder of his law firm. “We aggressively pursue the legal objectives of our clients. Our clients are those who are injured in accidents, accused of crimes, involved in civil or commercial lawsuits or facing divorce and custody disputes,” he said. Speaks said the firm represents individuals and corporations in state and federal court at all levels of the civil and criminal process.
AREA OF FOCUS: Personal injury
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation
FIRM: Ward and Smith
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC Chapel Hill (A.B.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “Highs and lows occur every day in the wide world of litigation and dispute resolution. A typical highlight for me is leading a client to a resolution that makes the most sense, whether it be an early settlement or courtroom trial,” Tayloe said.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Contract and lease disputes, eminent domain and construction
(See Legal Elite profile), Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard
A number of local attorneys also were named to Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list this year. To be eligible for the Rising Stars category, candidates have to be either 40 or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Transportation/Maritime
FIRM: Clark, Newton & Evans
TITLE: Lawyer
EDUCATION: Appalachian State University (B.S., cum laude); Campbell University (J.D., cum laude)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: The Maritime Law Association of the United States admitted Buskirk as a proctor in admiralty in May 2015. Buskirk has represented clients in numerous maritime and inland transportation matters including: vessel collisions, fixed structure and cargo damage, personal injuries, wrongful death, limitation of liability actions, vessel arrest and sale, towing and salvage, charter party disputes and shipboard investigations on behalf of protection and indemnity clubs. He has also represented clients in areas of commercial, real estate, employment and planned community governance law.
AREA OF FOCUS: Maritime and transportation law
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Workers’ Compensation
FIRM: Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo
TITLE: Special counsel
EDUCATION: NCSU (B.A.s); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Collins serves on the doard of directors for the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys and is co-chair of the legislative committee for the National Alliance of Medicare Set Aside Professionals. Collins provides legal expertise, consulting services and training in regard to Medicare compliance matters. In 2015, she traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with members of the Legislature regarding implementation of a re-review process for a CMS-approved workers’ compensation Medicare set-aside.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Civil litigation, workers’ compensation and Medicare secondary payer compliance
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Business Litigation
FIRM: Ward and Smith
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Coyne maintains a diverse litigation and general business practice. He has significant experience in corporate, construction, commercial, maritime and real property litigation, and regularly appears as lead or local counsel throughout the state and federal courts of North and South Carolina as well as in other jurisdictions.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business law and litigation
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Business Litigation
FIRM: Marshall, Williams & Gorham
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNC Chapel Hill (B.A. and J.D.)
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business and commercial litigation; community association law
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Business/Corporate
FIRM: Humphries Law Firm
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: University of South Carolina (B.S.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Humphries is dually licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina. He has appeared before the N.C. Court of Appeals on three occasions and has practiced maritime law in federal courts in Virginia and North Carolina.
AREA OF FOCUS: Business litigation
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Professional Liability (Defense)
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNC Chapel Hill (B.A. and J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Jolly has successfully defended non-medical professionals including attorneys, design professionals, real estate professionals, accountants, directors and officers in all stages of litigation. She is section leader for the firm’s professional liability practice group and has maintained an active leadership role in the Defense Research Institute’s Professional Liability Steering Committee since 2009, currently serving as its annual meeting chair. In 2013, Jolly was appointed to the Lawyers Mutual Eastern Carolina Community Board and still serves in that role.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Professional liability defense and civil litigation
(See Legal Elite profile), Hamlet & Associates
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Family Law
FIRM: Mason & Mason
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: University of Arizona College of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “For over a decade, Amanda has provided aggressive and thorough representation of her clients in both state and federal courts. Amanda fights for her clients’ rights and gets families through the process so that they can heal and move on to better days,” the firm stated.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Divorce, separation and child custody
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Personal Injury General/Plaintiff
FIRM: Shipman & Wright
TITLE: Associate attorney
EDUCATION: UNCW (B.S.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 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; certified contract advisor for the NFL
AREAS OF FOCUS: Wrongful death, personal injury litigation, construction litigation and mass torts
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Criminal Defense
FIRM: The Law Group
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNC Chapel Hill (B.A.); Elon University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Nettleman has practiced law in Wilmington since 2010, when he opened The Nettleman Law Firm. Since that time he has practiced primarily in criminal defense, personal injury and employment law. In 2015 Nettleman joined The Law Group in downtown Wilmington. He primarily practices in New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties.
AREAS OF FOCUS: State and federal criminal defense, DWI, drug offenses, violent crime, sexual offenses, state unemployment appeals, personal injury
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Employment & Labor
FIRM: Ward and Smith
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC Chapel Hill (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D. and M.B.A.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Oden’s practice focuses on employment, occupational safety and health and workers’ compensation. A former president of the New Hanover County Bar Association and Lower Cape Fear HR Association, he currently serves on NCSHRM’s Leadership Council. Oden also was appointed to serve as a founding member of the Campbell Law Alumni Association’s inaugural board of directors. He is certified as a manager of environmental safety and health programs.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Employment law, employment litigation, occupational safety and health and workers’ compensation
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: Smith Moore Leatherwood
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNCW (B.S.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Peters is a member of her trusts and estates team in Smith Moore Leatherwood’s Wilmington office. She assists clients in drafting and executing comprehensive estate plans, with specific emphasis on estate tax, gift tax and charitable gift planning.
AREAS OF FOCUS: The American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel; board-certified specialist in estate planning and probate law and CPA
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Civil Litigation/Defense
FIRM: Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo
TITLE: Associate
EDUCATION: B.A., Mary Washington College (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D., cum laude)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Regan has experience representing and counseling clients on various types of matters including mortgage- and foreclosure-related insurance claims, insurance coverage disputes, unfair and deceptive trade practices, contract disputes, shareholder/member derivative actions, veil piercing actions, construction defects and premises liability. Regan is active with the N.C. State and New Hanover County Bar Associations, as well as the Young Lawyers Division of the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys.
AREA OF FOCUS: Civil litigation
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Real Estate
FIRM: Murchison, Taylor & Gibson
TITLE: Member (partner)
EDUCATION: Duke University (B.A.); UNC Chapel Hill (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Sutton advises real estate developers in the acquisition, development, subdivision, zoning, leasing and sale of real property and assists with the formation and management of residential planned communities, commercial and residential condominiums, timeshare and fractional interest projects, shopping center facilities, office complexes and mixed-use developments.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Commercial real estate and development and agribusiness
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Immigration
FIRM: Helen Tarokic Law
TITLE: Attorney, Manager
EDUCATION: Lake Forest College (B.A.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Tarokic is one of two N.C. board-certified immigration specialists in Wilmington, obtaining humanitarian visas for victims of domestic violence and other crimes, as well as for juveniles who have been abused, abandoned or neglected. Her immigration practice includes specialized business visas, work permits, naturalization, green cards and deportation defense. She was voted a Top Young Attorney in North Carolina Rising Stars in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016. She is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
BAREAS OF FOCUS: N.C. board-certified immigration law specialist; fluent in Spanish, English and Croatian
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Business Litigation
FIRM: Ward and Smith
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: East Carolina University (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “Getting to know our clients on a personal level is the most rewarding aspect of what we do. We are charged with being the best advocates we can be, which only is possible when we become invested in and a part of our clients’ lives and businesses,” Trask said.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business, commercial, and securities litigation; construction litigation; zoning and land use; real estate, community associations and landlord-tenant litigation; trust and estates litigation
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Criminal Defense
FIRM: Wentz Law
TITLE: Founder
EDUCATION: East Carolina University (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Wentz is the founder of his law firm. “I started doing this to help people, and having the ability to do that on my own is one of the highlights,” he said.
AREA OF FOCUS: Criminal defense-state and federal
To see who was named to the 2016 Legal Elite list, click here.
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