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 K. BEHM

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation 
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed LLP
See Behm's Legal Elite profile

NORWOOD BLANCHARD III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor 
FIRM: Crossley McIntosh Collier Hanley & Edes PLLC
See Blanchard's Legal Elite profile

DANIEL BRAWLEY 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction 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 
View Brawley in the Hall of Fame for Legal Elite in Litigation

SETH BUSKIRK

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Transportation/Maritime 
FIRM: Clark, Newton & Evans PA
See Buskirk's Legal Elite profile

ALGERNON L. BUTLER III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Bankruptcy: Business 
FIRM: Butler & Butler LLP 
See Butler's Legal Elite profile
 

STEPHEN COBLE

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-General Litigation
FIRM: Coble Law Firm PC 
TITLE: Attorney, manager
EDUCATION: Elon College (B.A.); Appalachian State University (MPA); University of Dayton (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Selected as an Emerging Legal Leader in 2010 by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly; as a Rising Star in 2012 and 2014 by Super Lawyers; a Legal Elite by Business North Carolina in 2013; Rated AV Preeminent (the highest possible rating) by Martindale-Hubbell 2015-24; as a top-rated general litigation attorney by Super Lawyers 2017-24.
AREA OF FOCUS: General civil litigation
 

RICHARD COOK 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Bankruptcy: Consumer
FIRM: Cape Fear Debt Relief 
TITLE: Owner and managing attorney 
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (undergraduate and J.D.) 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Cook is one of only a few attorneys in Wilmington recognized by the N.C. State Bar as a board-certified specialist in business and consumer bankruptcy law. He founded Cape Fear Debt Relief in 2011 as a boutique bankruptcy law firm that represents both debtors and creditors in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 cases. 
AREA OF FOCUS: Bankruptcy 
 

BRADLEY COXE 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff 
FIRM: Hodges & Coxe LLP 
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel; UNC School of Law (J.D.) 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: In 2005, Coxe started Hodges & Coxe P.C., with friend and fellow graduate Wes Hodges. Coxe has represented both plaintiffs and defendants with all types of civil litigation, including personal injury, medical malpractice, construction disputes, premises liability, dog bites, HOA law, employment and business disputes and other contract disputes. 
AREAS OF FOCUS: Personal injury-general: plaintiff, business litigation and personal injury-medical malpractice: plaintiff
 

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 is a board-certified workers’ compensation attorney. She has over 35 years of experience in workers’ compensation and Social Security disability law. Owner and manager of her practice located in downtown Wilmington, she has participated in many local charities including Habitat for Humanity, Dreams of Wilmington and local theater groups. She is an active leader in the N.C. Advocates for Justice’s Workers’ Compensation Section and Workplace Injury Litigation Group.  
AREAS OF FOCUS: Practice is limited to representing injured and disabled workers in workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability claims
 

MARK HAMLET 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation and Top 100
FIRM: Hamlet Law 
See Hamlet's Legal Elite profile
 

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 and named twice to North Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Power list for personal injury litigation. Hinnant is a Litigation Counsel of America Fellow.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Civil litigation 
 

GEOFFREY HOSFORD 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense 
FIRM: Hosford & Hosford PC 
TITLE: Attorney 
EDUCATION: Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D.) 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Selected to Super Lawyers, Hosford has taken more than 120 felony cases through jury verdict, including first-degree and capital murder cases. Practicing in the Wilmington area since 1997, he has been board-certified in state and federal criminal law by the N.C. State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 2001. 
AREA OF FOCUS: Criminal defense 
 

JUSTIN HUMPHRIES 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Business/Corporate 
FIRM: The Humphries Law Firm 
See Humphries' Legal Elite profile
 

MELODY JOLLY 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Professional Liability: Defense; Super Lawyers-Top 100 and Top 50 Women
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP 
TITLE: Partner 
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A. and J.D.) 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Jolly has successfully defended professionals, corporate directors and officers and other clients in complex business and malpractice litigation in North Carolina’s state and federal courts for her entire career. She regularly defends clients before professional licensing boards and she advises clients on risk management topics including ethics and compliance. Jolly leads Cranfill Sumner’s Professional Liability section and maintains an active leadership role in the Defense Research Institute’s Professional Liability Committee, serving as its chair from 2019-21. She was selected by Super Lawyers in the field of Professional Liability/Defense as a Rising Star from 2010 to 2019 and has been selected as a Super Lawyer since 2020. Additionally, she has been included among The Best Lawyers in America since 2018 in the field of Professional Malpractice Law, and she was recognized among the Benchmark 40 & Under 2019 Hot List in the field of Professional Liability Defense. 
AREAS OF FOCUS: Professional liability defense, management liability 
 

JILL PETERS KAESS

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: Lee Kaess PLLC
See Peters Kaess' Legal Elite profile

JEFFREY KEETER

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Real Estate 
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed LLP
See Keeter's Legal Elite profile

PAULA KOHUT

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Estate Planning & Probate 
FIRM: Kohut, Adams & Randall PA
See Kohut's Legal Elite profile
 

JAMES LEA III

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Family Law 
FIRM: The Lea/Schultz Law Firm
See Lea's Legal Elite profile
 

BRUCE MASON

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense
FIRM: Mason, Mason & Smith
See Mason's Legal Elite profile
 

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 
FIRM: Murchison, Taylor & Gibson PLLC 
See Mcvey's Legal Elite profile
 

PATRICK MINCEY 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense: White Collar
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP 
See Mincey's Legal Elite profile
 

LISA SALINES-MONDELLO 

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 n 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 (including in officer roles) as well as the N.C. Board of Legal Specialization and the New Hanover County Estate Planning Council. 
AREAS OF FOCUS: Elder law, estate planning and special needs planning 
 

WILLIAM “WILL” ODEN III 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A. 
See Oden's Legal Elite profile
 

H. SCOTT OVERHOLT 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff 
FIRM: The Overholt Law Firm PC 
TITLE: Attorney, founder 
EDUCATION: University of Arkansas (B.A. and J.D.) 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Overholt started his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Malcolm J. Howard, U.S. District Court Judge, and has been practicing personal injury and workers’ compensation for 30 years. He is certified a Superior Court Mediator by the N.C. Dispute Resolution Commission and admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States; all North Carolina state courts; and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts.  
 

MARTIN RAMEY

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff 
FIRM: Rhine Law Firm
 

CONOR REGAN

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Civil Litigation
FIRM: The Regan Law Firm PLLC
TITLE: Founder
EDUCATION: Mary Washington College (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Regan represents businesses and individuals 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. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army having served as a noncommissioned officer in the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne).
AREAS OF FOCUS: Litigation, business law, real estate, construction law
 

JOEL RHINE 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff 
FIRM: Rhine Law Firm 
See Rhine's Legal Elite profile
 

GRADY RICHARDSON

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-General Litigation
FIRM: Law Offices of G. Grady Richardson Jr.
 

JENNIFER RODEN 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Elder Law 
FIRM: Craige & Fox PLLC 
See Roden's Legal Elite profile
 

JAMES RUTHERFORD

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense 
FIRM: James Rutherford Attorney at Law
See Rutherford's Legal Elite profile
 

LINDA SAYED

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Family Law
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed LLP
See Sayed's Legal Elite profile
 

NICOLE SLAUGHTER 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation 
FIRM: Hamlet Law 
See Slaughter's Legal Elite profile

HELEN TAROKIC

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Immigration
FIRM: Helen Tarokic Law PLLC
See Tarokic's Legal Elite profile
 

RYAL TAYLOE 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation/Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation: Business 
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A. 
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, eminent domain and all types of real estate disputes.  
AREAS OF FOCUS: Contract litigation; eminent domain/condemnation; construction litigation; real estate litigation

WOODY WHITE 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Woody White Law Firm PLLC 
TITLE: Senior partner 
EDUCATION: Southern College (B.A.); University of Nebraska (J.D.) 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: White is a board-certified specialist in state and federal criminal law. He has served as a New Hanover Regional Medical Center trustee 1999-2002; Cape Fear Community College trustee 2012-15, 2017; Port, Waterway & Beach Commission member 2016-18; NCW Board of Trustees member 2018-21; state senator in 2004; Lower Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity board member 2006-07; New Hanover County Board of Commissioners 2012-20, including as chairman 2012-14 and 2016-18; Legion Stadium Commission 2012-17; New Hanover County Board of Health member 2019-20; New Hanover Community Endowment board member. White was appointed to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors in 2023. White is also AV rated by Martindale Hubbell.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Criminal (both state and federal), serious personal injury cases, wrongful death, civil, business consulting and crisis management
 

JEREMY WILSON

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A. 
See Wilson's Legal Elite profile
 

WILLIAM WRIGHT 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Shipman & Wright
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNCW (B.A.); Campbell University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Wright has been practicing since 1999. He is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in North Carolina. He is certified a Superior Court Mediator by the N.C. Dispute Resolution Commission. AREAS OF FOCUS: Complex civil, workers’ compensation, domestic and alternative dispute resolution 
 

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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.
 

ABBY ADAMS

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: Kohut, Adams & Randall P.A.
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: Ferris State University (B.A.); University of Detroit Mercy (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Adams has practiced in Wilmington since 2011 and is a member of the N.C. Bar Association Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law and Elder and Special Needs Law sections. She has served on the boards of the New Hanover County Estate Planning Council and Coastal Women Attorneys.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Estate planning, trust and estate administration, guardianships, elder law and special needs planning
 

STEPHEN BELL 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business Litigation 
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP 
TITLE: Partner 
EDUCATION: Clemson University (B.S.); Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D.) 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Bell handles a range of litigation and investigatory 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, government 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; white collar, government investigations and special matters, including whistleblower representation; class actions; large estate disputes 
 

SARAH GAGE 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Construction Litigation 
EDUCATION: University of California, San Diego (B.S.); New England Law (J.D.)
AREAS OF FOCUS: Construction law, commercial litigation, insurance defense and other complex litigation
 

MATTHEW GEIGER

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Family Law 
FIRM: Cape Fear Family Law
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: West Virginia University (B.S.); Campbell University (J.D.)
 

DEVLIN HORTON

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Personal Injury General/Plaintiff
FIRM: Horton & Mendez, Attorneys at Law PLLC
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Charlotte (B.A.); UNCW (MBA); UNC-Chapel Hill (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Horton spent the early part of his career handling personal injury litigation focusing on large loss claims for a large insurance defense firm. He uses his expertise in insurance-related matters, litigation and trial work to assist plaintiffs in personal injury matters.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Personal injury litigation, workers’ compensation
 

GINT KRULIKAS

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI 
FIRM: Minick Law
See Krulikas' Legal Elite profile
 

KEVIN MARCILLIAT 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Criminal Defense 
FIRM: Marcilliat & Mills PLLC
TITLE: Managing 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. Two recent notable case outcomes include securing the outright dismissal of a charge of first-degree murder and securing early release from federal prison for a client who was convicted of a complex multi-state fraud scheme.           
AREA OF FOCUS: Criminal defense in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina
 

NICK MENDEZ 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Personal Injury General/Plaintiff 
FIRM: Horton & Mendez, Attorneys at Law PLLC 
TITLE: Attorney 
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); University of Richmond (J.D.) 
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Mendez has extensive experience in personal injury law. He was formerly an insurance defense attorney at a large law firm and handled hundreds of cases for national insurance companies. He now brings his intimate knowledge regarding the inner workings of insurance companies to help his injured clients successfully navigate the insurance claims and litigation process.   
AREAS OF FOCUS: Motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, vacation rental accidents, premise liability cases 
 

KATHLEEN O’MALLEY  

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Bankruptcy/Business 
FIRM: Stevens Martin Vaughn & Tadych PLLC
See O'Malley's Legal Elite profile
 

ALLIE MOORE

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Family Law 
FIRM: Cape Fear Family Law
TITLE: Associate attorney, mediator and parent coordinator
EDUCATION: College of Charleston (B.S.); Campbell University School of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Moore’s prior work in family law includes practicing with several prestigious law firms and district attorney’s offices throughout North Carolina. She has extensive experience with high-conflict cases and situations involving domestic violence and/or child abuse. As a trained parent coordinator, she is appointed in high-conflict custody cases to serve as a resource for separated parents who need help creating and respecting separate households. This is Moore's sixth year being named to the Super Lawyers-Rising Stars list.
AREA OF FOCUS: Family law

DIANE PAPPAYLIOU  

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Insurance Coverage   
FIRM: Butler Snow   
TITLE: Attorney   
EDUCATION: Davidson College (bachelor’s); Elon University School of Law (J.D.)  
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Pappayliou practices in the firm’s Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation group. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the N.C. Bar Association, the N.C. State Bar, the New Hanover County Bar Association, Coastal Women Attorneys and the Defense Research Institute. 
AREAS OF FOCUS: Civil litigation, including maritime law, corporate law, insurance defense, municipal law and transportation law
 

AUSTIN SISTRUNK 

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Star: Personal Injury Medical Malpractice/Defense 
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP 
TITLE: Associate
EDUCATION: University of Alabama (B.S.), University of Alabama (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Sistrunk represents health care providers in complex medical malpractice cases, as well as investigations before the N.C. Medical Board. Sistrunk also litigates premises liability and cybersecurity claims in the health care sector. Additionally, Sistrunk has experience representing pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and distributors in product liability claims. 
AREAS OF FOCUS: Medical malpractice; premises liability; product liability; retail, restaurant and hospitality; class and collective actions; cyber liability and privacy law
 

WILLIAM GRAY SMITH

CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Criminal Defense 
FIRM: Mason, Mason & Smith
See Smith's Legal Elite profile

To see who was named to Business North Carolina's Legal Elite list this year, click here.