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.
H. MITCHELL BAKER III
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: Collins Law Firm
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: Wake Forest University (B.S. and J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Baker has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the N.C. Advocates for Justice. He has been a featured speaker at multiple seminars concerning personal injury trials and auto insurance coverage and “represented thousands of clients to ensure they received fair and equitable treatment under the law.” He serves as the firm’s chief civil and personal injury litigator.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Personal injury, estate litigation
CHRISTOPHER K. BEHM
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed LLP
See Behm's Legal Elite list profile
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
SETH BUSKIRK
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Transportation/Maritime
FIRM: Clark, Newton & Evans PA
See Buskirk's Legal Elite list profile
ALGERNON L. BUTLER III
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Bankruptcy: Business
FIRM: Butler & Butler LLP
See Butler's Legal Elite list profile
RICHARD P. COOK
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Bankruptcy: Consumer
FIRM: Cape Fear Debt Relief
See Cook's Legal Elite list profile
BRADLEY A. COXE
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Hodges & Coxe LLP
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill; 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
DON T. 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 has a busy practice both in marine and trucking litigation but also belongs to the Real Property Section of the N.C. Bar Association, representing banks and developers in Eastern North Carolina. 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
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
H. MARK HAMLET
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation
FIRM: Hamlet Law
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; 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. Hinnant has been inducted as a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America.
AREA OF FOCUS: Civil litigation
GEOFFREY W. 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 2017-20, 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
MELODY JOLLY
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Professional Liability: Defense
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP
See Jolly's Legal Elite list profile
JILL KAESS
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: Lee Kaess PLLC
See Kaess' Legal Elite list profile
JEFFREY P. KEETER
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Real Estate
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed, LLP
See Keeter's Legal Elite list profile
HENRY L. “HAL” KITCHIN JR.
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Business Litigation (Also named to Legal Elite-Hall of Fame)
FIRM: McGuireWoods
TITLE: Partner
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Kitchin concentrates his practice on business and real estate and land-use litigation and regulation. He represents clients in business, antitrust, breach of contract, condemnation and environmental cases. He represents landowners and project developers in land use and zoning/permitting proceedings. He also has experience in creditors’ rights and bankruptcy cases. Along with Legal Elite and Super Lawyers, Kitchin also has been included on The Best Lawyers in America list since 2009 in the area of commercial litigation.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business and commercial litigation; eminent domain and real estate litigation; land use and zoning permitting and disputes; environmental and regulatory; antitrust, business tort and breach of contract cases; creditors’ rights and bankruptcy cases; and lender liability lawsuits
PAULA KOHUT
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: Kohut, Adams & Randall PA
TITLE: Partner
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
FIRM: The Lea/Schultz Law Firm
See Lea's Legal Elite list profile
MICHAEL V. LEE
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Real Estate
FIRM: Lee Kaess PLLC
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A.); Wake Forest University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Lee started the Lee Law Firm in 2012. Lee joined with Jill Kaess to form the law firm of Lee Kaess PLLC. He has earned the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating; Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite 2007, 2009-21; North Carolina Super Lawyers 2009-22; and 2014 Best of the Best, Top 100 North Carolina Super Lawyers. He was also selected by his peers multiple years for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America and U.S. News’ Best Law Firm list and in 2020 was selected as a 26th Edition “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in real estate law in Wilmington. Lee served in the N.C. Senate 2014-18 and is currently serving in his third term in the N.C. Senate. Lee previously served on the N.C. Board of Transportation and N.C. State Ports Authority Board as its chairman.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Commercial real estate, land use and zoning
HELAYNE LEVY PAYNE
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Elder Law
FIRM: The Elder Law & Life Care Planning Center
See Payne's Legal Elite list profile
BRUCE MASON
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense
FIRM: Mason, Mason & Smith
EDUCATION: West Virginia University (B.S.); UNC-Chapel Hill (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Mason founded Mason, Mason & Smith 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. He maintains an “excellent” rating by the national lawyer rating service of Martindale Hubbell. Mason practices extensively in federal court and is a member of the C.J.A. Panel, made up of attorneys selected by the federal judiciary to represent clients in federal court by appointment.
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
FIRM: Murchison, Taylor & Gibson PLLC
See McVey's Legal Elite list profile
PATRICK MINCEY
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense: White Collar
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP
See Mincey's Legal Elite list profile
WILLIAM “WILL” A. ODEN III
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A.
See Oden's Legal Elite list 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 law for 30 years. He is certified as 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.
E. STEWART POISSON
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Poisson, Poisson & Bower
TITLE: Managing member
EDUCATION: UNC-Chapel Hill (B.A. and J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Stewart has fought on behalf of the injured for over 18 years. She routinely appears before the N.C. Industrial Commission in workers’ compensation cases and the general courts of justice in jury trials. She regularly appears before the Court of Appeals of North Carolina and the N.C. Supreme Court. Stewart also authors amicus briefs on behalf of the N.C. Advocates for Justice, and she is a former chair of the organization’s Workers’ Rights Section.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Board certified in workers’ compensation, personal injury, wrongful death
CONOR REGAN
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
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. 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 R. RHINE
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Rhine Law Firm
See Rhine's Legal Elite list 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 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 (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
LINDA B. SAYED
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Family Law
FIRM: Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed LLP
See Sayed's Legal Elite list profile
NICOLE B. SLAUGHTER
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation
FIRM: Hamlet Law
See Slaughter's Legal Elite list profile
R. CLARKE SPEAKS
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
HELEN TAROKIC
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Immigration
FIRM: Helen Tarokic Law PLLC
See Tarokic's Legal Elite list profile
RYAL TAYLOE
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Construction Litigation
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A.
See Tayloe's Legal Elite list profile
BENTON L. TOUPS
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Employment & Labor
FIRM: Cranfill Sumner LLP
See Toups' Legal Elite list profile
WOODY WHITE
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Criminal Defense
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; and New Hanover County Board of Health member 2019-20. 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, DWI/DUI
JEREMY WILSON
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Personal Injury General: Plaintiff
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A.
See Wilson's Legal Elite list profile
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.
DAVID ANDERSON
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Estate Planning & Probate
FIRM: David E. Anderson PLLC
See Anderson's Legal Elite list profile
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 E. GAGE
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Construction Litigation
FIRM: Hamlet Law
TITLE: Associate Attorney
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
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, assists 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.
AREA OF FOCUS: Immigration law, fluent in Spanish
JAMES HENSON
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Personal Injury General/Plaintiff
FIRM: Christina Rivenbark & Associates
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: UNC-Greensboro; Elon University School of Law
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Represented hundreds of individuals in personal injury, workers’ compensation and social security disability matters
AREAS OF FOCUS: Personal injury, workers’ compensation and Social Security disability
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.)
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
JESSICA SOLES HUMPHRIES
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Civil Litigation/Defense
FIRM: Hamlet Law
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.); N.C. Central University (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Ihnat has served as vice president of the Parks Conservancy of New Hanover County Inc.’s board of directors; volunteer judge for New Hanover County Teen Court, and participant with the Legal Aid of North Carolina-Lawyers on the Line volunteer program .
AREAS OF FOCUS: Estate planning, litigation
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, Marcilliat & Mills
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
TITLE: Associate
EDUCATION: St. John’s University (B.S.); Campbell University School of Law (J.D.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: O’Malley focuses her practice on bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation and appellate advocacy. She has represented clients in appeals in both the state and federal courts. O’Malley represents bankruptcy clients in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcies, and related debtor/creditor litigation and appeals. She was selected as a North Carolina Rising Star by Super Lawyers in business bankruptcy 2020-23. She is on the board of the Carolinas chapter of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation.
AREAS OF FOCUS: Business bankruptcy, bankruptcy litigation and appeals
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
EMILY JONES QUEEN
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Criminal Defense
FIRM: Burney & Jones
See Queen's Legal Elite list profile
ZACHARY RIVENBARK
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Family Law
FIRM: Law Office of Zachary S. Rivenbark PLLC
TITLE: Attorney/owner
EDUCATION: Methodist University; Appalachian School of Law
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: “Returning home to 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
AUSTIN SISTRUNK
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: 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: Class and collective actions; cyber liability and privacy law; medical malpractice; premises liability
WILLIAM GRAY SMITH
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Criminal Defense
FIRM: Mason, Mason & Smith
TITLE: Attorney
EDUCATION: Randolph-Macon College; Campbell University School of Law
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: In addition to all criminal matters, Smith provides representation in administrative hearings, school disciplinary hearings, restraining orders, firearm restorations and expunctions.
AREA OF FOCUS: Criminal defense
ALLEN N. TRASK III
CATEGORY: Super Lawyers-Rising Stars: Business Litigation
FIRM: Ward and Smith P.A.
See Trask's Legal Elite list profile
To see who was named to Business North Carolina's Legal Elite list this year, click here.
