North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law 2022

LEADERS LAW IN THE

2022

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A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR "Helping lawyers

practice better, more efficiently, and more profitably."

I

Celebrating our Leaders in the Law Class of 2022

t was such a pleasure to be in Greensboro on April 11 to celebrate and honor our North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Class of 2022. This was the first time we’ve been able to hold our event in person since 2019, and it was wonderful to be able to once again meet our honorees and present their awards to them in person.

As always, we had a tremendous group of lawyers to celebrate this year.

The 26 lawyers we honored drew from a great diversity of practice areas and parts of the state, but what they all had in a common was a tremendous dedication to their communities and to this great profession of ours. In this special section, we’ve chronicled each of their stories and sought their insights on what makes a great lawyer and a great leader, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading their stories as much as I have.

The event in Greensboro was an opportunity to see some old friends, some of whom I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic started, and

also meet some of our honorees in person for the very first time. It was a reminder of how important that face-to-face community really is, and hopefully a harbinger of a continuing return to normalcy. I’d like to thank everyone who came to share that night with us, and I’d like to especially thank our primary sponsor, Elon University School of Law, for helping to make the evening such a success.

I’d also like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate attorneys for this honor. We always have a deep pool of truly deserving lawyers to choose from each year, and I hope you’ll continue nominating more great attorneys for us to consider in 2023.

We hope to see you all again in person next year. Until then, stay safe, and please join us in celebrating and congratulating the North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Class of 2022.

David Donovan Editor-in-Chief

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LEADERS IN THE LAW

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Nana Asante-Smith

Associate, Parker Poe, Raleigh

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rior to joining Parker Poe in 2018, Nana Asante-Smith started her career as an assistant district attorney in Wake County, where she prosecuted a variety of criminal cases.

As an associate in Parker Poe’s Raleigh office, Asante-Smith focuses her practice on complex civil litigation—including breaches of contracts, unfair trade practices, and securities cases—and government and internal investigations.

“Serving others and litigating are my true passions,” she said. “Transitioning from being an assistant district attorney to my new areas of law has been natural and rewarding thanks to the people and culture at Parker Poe.” Asante-Smith was born in Accra, Ghana and grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Duke University, where she was president of the Black Student Alliance, she went on to earn her law degree from the UNC School of Law where she was president of the Student Bar Association, attorney general of the Graduate & Professional Honor System, a student speaker at the UNC School of Law Commencement, and inducted into the Davis Society, which recognizes eight graduates each year for extraordinary leadership, dedication, and character.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Following the dissemination of an unpublished study

by Duke University researchers that concluded Black students were more likely to switch to less difficult majors, I organized students to demand action and a commitment by the university to support Black students. I also led successful negotiation efforts with the university’s administra-

tion, resulting in a long-term financial commitment by the university to bolster the recruitment and retention of Black students.

FIRST JOB: I worked as a customer service associate at JCPenney in the children’s department.

I learned that being able to support and assist people who are frustrated or facing challenges is a rewarding experience.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Overcoming imposter syndrome as a Black woman.

ADVICE TO ASPIRING LAWYERS: Practicing law is not just something to do, it is a way of life that has the potential to inspire personal and interpersonal growth in incredibly meaningful ways.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE. Balancing your professional life and personal life is wholly within your control. You have to be intentional about demanding balance from yourself and others.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: When I was a child, I wanted to be a mortician, hair stylist, or taxi cab driver.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Accra, Ghana.

IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: I would continue to attend meetings, write-emails, go to brunch regularly, and binge watch all my favorite shows.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I consider myself to be an amateur photographer and event planner, and I am terrified of dogs, cats, chickens, and goats.

Ashley Kamphaus Brathwaite

Partner, Ellis & Winters, Raleigh

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shley Brathwaite has parlayed her experience as a public relations professional at a large hospital system into a career defending individuals and businesses involved in personal injury litigation.

“I started with a focus on defending healthcare providers, and this interest expanded to defending a broader range of personal injury claims from products, drug and medical devices, toxic exposures, and the business disputes that result from these issues,” she said.

Brathwaite is a partner in the Raleigh office of Ellis & Winters. She has a bachelor’s degree from Furman University and earned her law degree from Campbell University School of Law, where she served on the Moot Court board and Order of the Barristers.

A youthful entrepreneur who grew up in various cities around the country, Brathwaite recalls managing her own babysitting service, which she ran like a pro. “I was about 10 years old when I had my first set of business cards printed, which focused on my babysitting services,” she says.

Brathwaite’s firm calls her “a highly accomplished defense litigator who is well recognized and respected by judges, attorneys, and clients alike.”

She chairs the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee and has previously chaired its associate development and recruiting committees.

She is also active in the legal community as president-elect of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA) and slated to be sworn in as president this summer.

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FIRST JOB: I started working in a local clothing store at age 16 alongside mostly college stu-

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dents. The most important lessons I learned there were reliability and customer service.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Balancing professional and practice development goals is a constant challenge in private practice. It is rewarding to invest in professional and charitable organizations and take on leadership roles, such as my current position as president-elect of the NCADA. At the same time, being an entrepreneur who develops my own practice is equally fulfilling and requires a similar investment. Both require a strategic plan that I try to implement in some aspect every day.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: I encourage future and current law students to keep an open mind when evaluating opportunities. Finding a good network of mentors will help identify the realm of possibilities if you keep watching, listening, and learning.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: I read that a successful intersection of personal and professional life could be more like two concentric circles than distinct items that must be balanced at all times. In the circles metaphor, the personal life enlarges and is bigger than the professional life and vice versa.

This is consistent with my experience, which has taught me to stay afloat during waves in either direction and to embrace the opportunities when the personal and professional can intersect.

OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW: If you see me with ear buds, I am most likely listening to a book on Audible, and I recently joined a curling league, learning it is harder than it looks.

LEADERS IN THE LAW

Craig D. Cannon

Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend, Winston-Salem

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raig Cannon, a seasoned complex commercial litigator, was drawn to his innovative practice area because of his interest in technology and business.

“My practice focuses on e-discovery, privacy, cyber-security, and complex commercial and IP litigation,” he said. “I gravitated towards these areas because they all involve the intersection of law, technology and business.”

Cannon is the founder and team leader of the award-winning LitSmart E-Discovery Team at Kilpatrick Townsend, where he is a partner and practices in the firm’s Winston-Salem office.

Prior to joining Kilpatrick Townsend, Craig served as global discovery counsel for Bank of America, where he was responsible for leading several of the world’s largest and most complex e-discovery, data privacy, cross-border data transfer, information governance, and cybersecurity projects. He also managed a team of litigation attorneys and paralegals that was responsible for handling material litigation matters.

He received both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Iowa, where he has received the university’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He has an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Actively involved in pro bono activities and professional and community organizations, Cannon is a member of Kilpatrick Townsend’s national pro bono committee and is a past recipient of the American Bar Association’s national Pro Bono Publico and Star of the Year awards, the North Carolina Bar Association’s Charles F. Blanchard Award, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s national Distinguished Service Award.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Iowa and North Carolina. When I was in middle school, the roof of my house was torn off by a tornado. The tornado was so powerful that flying splinters of wood penetrated a baseball that was lying on the ground outside.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: My top personal accomplishment has been to raise three happy and healthy children with my wife, Kathleen.

FIRST JOB: Grocery store clerk. In addition to learning how to work hard, I learned how to interact with all types of customers, including unhappy ones.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Founding and leading the E-Discovery Team at Kilpatrick Townsend. After nine years, the team has grown to include 33 full time employees and 50+ contractors spread across the firm’s footprint.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Always look for ways to innovate and grow in your career and practice.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: Video game designer and physician.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT. Rome IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: I would travel somewhere I have not been before with my family.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW. I was a competitive BMX bike racer when I was a child. I am a WWII history buff and own several hand-painted aeronautical maps that were used by my grandfather during the war in the Burma-China theatre.

Suzanne Chester

Managing Attorney, Legal Aid of NC–The Child’s Advocate,Raleigh

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s managing attorney for The Child’s Advocate at Legal Aid of North Carolina, Suzanne Chester has devoted her career to promoting children’s rights and representing clients who often have no voice.

The Child’s Advocate provides direct representation to children by attorneys who work on cases involving allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse and mental illness and other cases where it is essential for the court to understand the child’s perspective.

“Throughout my legal career, I’ve always wanted to provide better access to justice for disenfranchised groups,” Chester said. “Because of the profound impact of a custody decision on a child’s life, I see the role of the child’s attorney as vital to the recognition of the child as a full human being capable of expressing opinions and preferences that deserve to be given as much weight as those expressed by their parents.”

Chester grew up in Dublin, Ireland. She earned a bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish from University College Dublin, a Ph.D. in French literature with a minor in critical race and gender studies from Louisiana State University, and a law degree from UNC School of Law. FIRST JOB: My first job as a lawyer was with N.C. Prisoner Legal Services, where I primarily represented women prisoners. We engaged in individual and class actions to improve conditions for prisoners, including access to medical and mental health care. We also litigated for post-conviction relief—occasionally obtaining

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a new trial for an individual who had received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. I learned the importance of truly listening to what clients are saying. I have found that clients are often satisfied when they feel they have been listened to, even when they have not won their case.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: As a public interest/legal aid attorney, I have typically represented the underdog—prisoners, impoverished tenants facing eviction, victims of domestic violence, people with mental disabilities confronting homelessness, and children in custody disputes where their voices have been ignored. My biggest challenge, and one I have enjoyed, has been framing the case so the judge understands my client’s story and sees its relevance to the legal relief sought by my client.

ADVICE TO ASPIRING LAWYERS: Speak with attorneys who practice in a variety of different areas of the law so you can discover the advantages and disadvantages of a legal career and the type of lifestyle you can expect. Seek out both pro bono opportunities and paid internships. Don’t prioritize a big salary over a more modestly paid job where you get to make a real difference in the lives of your clients.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: My best tip for balancing work and personal life is to find a job you really enjoy, even if it does not carry the prestige or salary you may once have hoped for. If you are happy in your professional life, finding a balance with your personal life will come easily.

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J. Nathan Duggins III

Managing Partner, Tuggle Duggins, Greensboro

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s managing partner at Tuggle Duggins in Greensboro, Nathan Duggins has led the firm through a change in management from the founding generation, a strategic move to a brand-new building, and the challenges presented by the pandemic.

In his practice, he helps clients with litigation related to construction, complex business disputes, and real estate.

“I enjoy all aspects of real estate, including real estate development and real estate litigation, construction law and construction litigation,” he said.

Duggins also helps employers with a wide range of employment-related issues, including federal and state employment law compliance, hiring practices, termination procedures, and all forms of employee-related litigation. He is known for his technical expertise and his ability to navigate cases toward his clients’ expected outcomes.

He earned a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and his law degree at Wake Forest University School of Law. In 2021, Duggins served as the chair of the Guilford Merchants Association, a culmination of six years of service on the board. He currently chairs the American Heart Association’s Guilford Heart Ball and serves on the boards of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce and the Wake Forest University School of Law board of visitors.

FIRST JOB: My first job was as a newspaper carrier. I carried 54 papers and shared the route with another neighborhood kid. I learned how to get up early by always setting an alarm. I also learned that getting up early has lots of advantages, including an extra hour or so to get the day going.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Greensboro. I won the city-wide Easter egg hunt in Latham Park as 5-year-old, finding the golden egg. I received a huge Easter bunny bigger than me. It’s a fun memory.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I love to cook, which was brought on by the pandemic, and I can juggle.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: The last two years of leading Tuggle Duggins through the pandemic have been challenging but also rewarding.

We were in the process of upfitting a new office in downtown Greensboro when the pandemic started. We did not know how the “work from home – work from the office” would fall out, and that weighed on our organization during the early days. Ultimately, through the pandemic we grew stronger as a firm. The biggest lesson I learned was, good teammates make any challenge surmountable.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Work before you go to law school. It will help you in school, in pursuing a job, and will help to assure you that law school is what you want to do. Once in the practice, spend time with folks who have done it a long time and watch their bedside manner. Learn from it.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Go to bed early and get up early. It lets you leave work at a reasonable hour so you can spend time with your family at night, go to sports events, and pursue other fun activities.

Hon. Ashleigh Parker Dunston

Judge, Wake County District Court, Raleigh

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orn and raised in Hickory, Ashleigh Parker Dunston is the lead child support judge in Wake County.

“I serve in all courtrooms ranging from low-level felonies and misdemeanor criminal offenses to domestic matters,” she said. “I am one of two judges in our Abuse, Neglect, and Dependency Courtroom.”

Early in life Dunston did not aspire to be an attorney. Rather, she wanted to be a radiologist.

“I even went to Wake Forest with the hopes of going to medical school there,” she said. “Unfortunately (or fortunately) I didn’t do well in biology my first semester, so that dream ended early.”

Instead, she followed in her father’s footsteps.

Jason Parker is a retired prosecutor and a former Wake County assistant district attorney. He was the first African American attorney to practice law in Catawba County.

Like her dad, Parker Dunston became a Wake County assistant D.A. early in her career. She prosecuted hundreds of cases in district court including identity theft, misdemeanor child abuse, and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. She also joined the Juvenile Court and the Drug Treatment Court team, prosecuting delinquency matters and supported defendants in living drug-free lives.

She received a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and her law degree from N.C. Central University, graduating cum laude.

Among her many professional activities, she is president-elect of the 10th Judicial District and Wake County Bar Association and immediate past president of the NCCU School of Law Alumni Association.

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TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: My biggest personal accomplishment are my children (ages 11, 6, and 1). They are my pride and joy and I’m so blessed to be their mother. I strive to make this world a better place for them and all children.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: My biggest career challenge was my pursuit of the bench.

I was only 29 years old when I was seeking the appointment and did not receive it the first time I tried. I didn’t give up and was appointed at age 30 to serve. I am the third African American female district court judge in Wake County history and the youngest.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Identify someone you respect and ask them to be your mentor. It’s also important to find like-minded people and surround yourself with individuals who will encourage you and give you constructive feedback at the same time.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: The best way to balance your professional and personal life is by practicing compartmentalization—try not to bring work home or bring home to work—and selfcare—never stop doing what you love to do for yourself. Mine is working out, and so I carve out the time at 5 a.m. for quality time with myself and therapy. Don’t wait to find someone to speak to when you’re in the middle of a crisis or issue.

Seek out a therapist and stay consistent, even while you’re in “maintenance mode.”

LEADERS IN THE LAW

Denise M. Gunter

Partner, Nelson Mullins, Winston-Salem

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enise Gunter is managing partner of the Winston-Salem office of Nelson Mullins, where she serves as one of two chief diversity partners. She has more than two decades of experience representing clients in a variety of antitrust matters and handles certificate of need matters.

She decided to devote her career to antitrust after she was assigned to work on the defense side of a criminal price-fixing case at the first firm she worked for, Petree Stockton & Robinson.

“It was fascinating, high-stakes work, and I loved it,” she said. “I started in certificate of need around 2000 after one of my mentors, Noah Huffstetler, asked me to work on CON matters with him, and at the end of the day, if I have done my job well, there are tangible results in terms of additional health care services available in North Carolina.”

Gunter earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a law degree from George Washington School of Law, where she served on the Moot Court Board and the National Moot Court team.

She authored a chapter of the American Bar Association’s Messenger Model Handbook, focused on the “messenger model” utilized by healthcare provider networks to avoid antitrust prohibitions.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: At this point, I believe it’s longevity in my career. This year marks 33 years in practice for me.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, in the suburbs outside of New York City.

When I was about 4, I briefly worked as a child model. I hated it, so my modeling career didn’t last long.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I don’t like buffalo wings, but I prepare them very well (just ask my husband), and I occasionally read some of the same books I read growing up – I suppose it’s a form of time travel.

CONGRATULATIONS Nana Asante-Smith

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly

FIRST JOB: Aside from my brief childhood modelling career, one of my first jobs as a teenager was as a supermarket cashier. This was in the days before scanners, so we used cash registers to ring up purchases. It was hard work.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: In the early days, it was being taken seriously. I was very young, looked even younger, and I have always been very small in stature.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Recognize that a legal education is versatile—you’re not limited to practicing law. No matter how you use your degree, find something you love, and become good at it.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: No matter how hard you are working or what the personal and professional demands may be on your time, you must carve out time to do something just for yourself. Even if it’s just getting a little more sleep.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: I wanted to be an author.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Hawaii.

Congratulations, Melody!

2022 North Carolina Leaders in the Law Honoree

All of us at Cranfill Sumner LLP celebrate

Melody Jolly

on this well-deserved recognition!

Nana was selected by a panel of judges for her contributions to the community and legal industry

RALEIGH CHARLOTTE WILMINGTON WWW.CSHLAW.COM LEADERS IN THE LAW

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Anna R. Hamrick

Partner, Grimes Teich Anderson, Asheville

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nna Hamrick, a plaintiff-side workers’ compensation attorney, has been practicing law for over 25 years. She is a partner at Grimes Teich Anderson of Asheville and is a North Carolina board certified specialist in workers’ compensation law.

She chose her area of practice because it enables her to help others.

“I really like helping people get through a system that can otherwise be scary and confusing,” she said. “I hope helping to get them through this difficult time in their life can bring them some measure of comfort.”

Hamrick is serving her third term as North Carolina State Bar Councilor for Buncombe County and also serves as a Mountain Area volunteer attorney, representing people who are seeking Medicaid for the disabled. She previously served as president of the WNC Chapter of the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys, been a member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Medico-Legal Liaison Committee, been treasurer and a board member of Pisgah Legal Services, and been on the boards of Hanger Hall School for Girls and Pathways, Life After Cancer.

Hamrick is active in the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the North Carolina Bar Association. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Asheville and a member of the DAR, Ruth Davidson Chapter.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Chapel Hill, and always loved March Madness when everything would stop and my teachers would wheel a TV

into class during the ACC and NCAA tournaments to watch the Tar Heels play.

TOP PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Serving as a bar councilor for my district (Buncombe County) has been a very rewarding and educational experience. I have learned a lot and made some wonderful friends.

FIRST JOB. Working in a movie theater selling tickets and concessions. I hope I gained some skills in customer service and put them to use in all areas of my life.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS. I would advise young people considering a career in law to be open to practicing in different areas, at least at the beginning of your career. It may be hard to find a job in your preferred area at first, but no legal job you get will be wasted in terms of learning new things, and that will more likely than not make you a better lawyer in whatever kind of law you end up doing. I started out in a general practice answering calls from people about all kinds of things.

I was a new associate hired to handle calls from people who were members of a legal services plan, so they had all kinds of questions about matters such as divorce, estate, criminal, personal injury, contract law, traffic tickets and many others. I quickly learned how little I knew about anything after law school, but it was a great education in real life law which has helped me in my jobs since then.

Melody J. Jolly

Partner, Cranfill Sumner, Wilmington

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elody Jolly can’t remember a time when she didn’t want to be a lawyer, and she has dedicated her career to practicing professional liability defense at Cranfill Sumner.

She started out in the Charlotte office and now works in Wilmington.

“During my first year of practice, Richard Boyette (of counsel at Cranfill Sumner) asked me to help him on a legal malpractice case, and the rest is, as they say, history,” Jolly said. “It was so gratifying to help another lawyer out of a difficult spot, and I was immediately passionate about helping other lawyers defend not just their reputations, but their livelihood.”

From that case forward, Jolly knew she wanted to spend her career defending and vindicating lawyers and other professionals. Over the years, her practice has expanded to counseling professionals on risk management, helping them repair mistakes before mistakes turn into claims or lawsuits. She is a partner at Cranfill Sumner and section leader for its professional liability practice group. She has maintained an active leadership role in the Defense Research Institute’s Professional Liability Committee since 2009, serving as its chair in 2019-2020.

She earned both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from UNC-Chapel Hill.

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GROWING UP: When I was about 7 years old, I went to visit my aunt and uncle in Maryland. It had been snowing for days. It was the most snow I had ever seen. My uncle built an igloo that was

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big enough to sleep in and have a fire in without melting it, so we camped out in the igloo. It was coolest thing ever. Roughly 20 years later, I met my husband, who is from Alaska and regularly built igloos as a child.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: The practice of law is hard work. It takes guts and dedication.

But if you are passionate about your work and you enjoy what you do, I believe it can be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding career paths you can choose. Do your homework. Make sure it’s the right fit for you, and if it is, jump in with both feet and don’t look back.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: As a litigator and working mom, the work-life balancing act it is not easy, but it is important. Always have the next vacation planned so when it rolls around, the laptop stays off, the out-of-office message stays on, and your most trustworthy paralegal or associate knows how to reach you in case of emergency. Also, for litigators, embrace the ebb and flow of the work. When things ebb, which likely isn’t often, capitalize on that time by doing something you enjoy. Get outside, spend time with your family, and allow yourself the break.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: A few years ago, I was in a freak skiing accident. I caught my ski edge on ice and landed hard enough to break my pelvis and back. Two surgeries later and with some permanent hardware to show for it, I was back on the slopes.

LEADERS IN THE LAW

Byron Kirkland

Managing Partner, Smith Anderson, Raleigh

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or over 30 years, Byron Kirkland has led Smith Anderson’s corporate and private equity practice and has been called “instrumental” in the firm’s growth. He was elected managing partner of the Raleigh law firm in 2020.

Kirkland’s practice area is a perfect fit for him.

He has maintained a lifelong affinity for corporate law and mergers and acquisitions.

“I have always been interested in business and finance issues and really enjoy working with clients to achieve their financial goals,” he says.

Kirkland has developed extensive experience in private equity and venture capital transactions, domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate law and securities matters. He represents emerging and established companies, both privately and publicly held, across diverse industry sectors.

A Wilson native, Kirkland earned a bachelor’s degree, a law degree and an MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill. He has received numerous honors and recognitions and is an American Bar Foundation fellow.

Active in his community, Kirkland is vice chair of the United Way of the Greater Triangle board and serves on the boards of the North Carolina Technology Association and The Miracle League of the Triangle.

FIRST JOB: My first 9-5 job was in a brake shoe factory in high school. I worked with an interesting group of people, several of whom were on

Congratulations

Mona Lisa Wallace 2022 Leaders in the Law Honoree Wallace and Graham honors our partner Mona Lisa Wallace and all of the 2022 honorees.

work release day programs from prison. I learned that everyone deserves respect and that I was not supposed to take the work release prisoners home for lunch.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Convincing my wife to go out with me on our first date.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Living up to the standards of my colleagues.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Think carefully about it because it is hard and a long commitment, but the more you invest in it the greater the return.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: I have always tried to get the extra hours of work in when the family was sleeping, such as working in the early mornings or at night to minimize the impact on them.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: Pretty early on I wanted to be a lawyer.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Anywhere in the mountains.

IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: I would travel to Australia and New Zealand.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I love cooking weekend breakfasts and anything on a grill.

Congratulations to a true Leader in the Law!

Suzanne Chester Managing Attorney, The Child’s Advocate From everyone at Legal Aid of North Carolina Support equal justice for all North Carolinians

LEGAL AID of NORTH CAROLINA

www.wallacegraham.com | 704.633.5244 525 N. Main St, Salisbury, NC LEADERS IN THE LAW

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l e g a l a i d n c . o r g /g i v e - h e l p

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Matthew Nis Leerberg

Office Managing Partner, Fox Rothschild, Raleigh

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s the managing partner of Fox Rothschild’s Raleigh office, co-chair of its appellate practice group, and member of its executive committee, Matt Leerberg strives to grow the firm while serving his clients’ needs.

In 2018, when he was only 40, Leerberg helped lead the merger of Fox and his then-99 year-old law firm, Smith Moore Leatherwood. The merger added 130 new attorneys to Fox while setting up Leerberg and his colleagues to expand their practices into new states and sectors.

Today, Leerberg is working to reshape how the law firm handles appellate work, and he’s pushing more junior attorneys to take ownership of cases.

Fox’s appellate practice group now features more than 70 attorneys, including a half-dozen who are board certified specialists.

Together with his law partner, Beth Scherer, Leerberg co-authored North Carolina Appellate Practice and Procedure, a 1,500-page comprehensive discourse on the state’s system, published by LexisNexis.

“I found my calling to do appellate work with the help of some great mentors, including Chief Justice Jim Exum, Chief Judge Sid Eagles, and Beth Scherer, all of whom gave me opportunities early in my career to explore this highly specialized area of the law,” he said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Leerberg graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics. He earned his law degree at Duke University School of Law.

GROWING UP: I grew up just outside of Pittsburgh in a 1,200 square foot split-level home. I remember when a friend of the family got married, we offered to host the reception. I’m still astonished we managed to squeeze 93 guests into that space, but somehow, we did it.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: I was part of the management team for a blue-chip regional law firm. We saw an opportunity in the marketplace to expand our footprint and deepen our bench by merging with a national firm and ultimately found a great match with Fox. But it wasn’t easy. While I was pursuing the merger, I was also trying to grow my practice and write a 1,500-page treatise on appellate law with my colleague, Beth Scherer.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING ATTORNEYS: Don’t go straight from college to law school. Get a full-time job in the real world first and find out what lawyers do all day. Work in a law firm’s service center, get an internship, or find someone you can shadow. Think carefully about what is attracting you to the law, and make sure there are law jobs that will scratch those itches while allowing you to meet your other career and life goals.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Make the most of the flexibility offered by the profession. Schedule some calls for car rides. Take your kids to their appointments instead of trying to rack up face time. Get help from your colleagues when you are drowning in work, help at home if you can afford it, and help from mental health professionals when you need it.

Ashley N. Michael

Co-owner and Partner, Michael & Russell, Wilmington

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s a family lawyer, Ashley Michael sees her share of turmoil. In one case, her client was murdered by the other parent in a custody dispute because he had won custody of their children.

“The areas of law I work in are emotional, sensitive, and can be dangerous,” she said. “We have to be aware of domestic violence and truly listen to our client’s fears.”

Michael is co-owner and managing attorney at Michael & Russell, a collaborative family law firm and adoption firm in Wilmington. She is a board certified specialist in family law, a mediator certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission, and a certified Parenting Coordinator.

Her law partner calls her “one of the most dedicated and passionate attorneys I know who works with her clients to take control of the outcome of their legal path, keep them informed about their legal matter, be their vocal advocate, and act as their guide throughout representation.”

Michael earned her bachelor’s degree from UNC-Asheville and earned her law degree from Appalachian School of Law, where she was Journal of Law associate editor and served on the moot court board.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Statesville. I was in beauty pageants as a young child and when I was 6, I won “Little Miss Statesville.”

WHY I CHOSE LAW: I enjoy learning about people’s lives, building relationships, inter/multidisciplinary opportunities in the law, and problem

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solving. Domestic law enables attorneys to be creative. I have a lot of skills in my toolbox and enjoy the dynamic brainstorming the career brings. Each case is different, and it should be tailored to solutions for each family, each client, each child.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: As a teenager, I hiked the Grand Canyon from top to bottom in one 24-hour period. As an adult, I think my family is my biggest accomplishment. My husband and I are a great team and committed to support each other and our children. Our family is our job, and we have goals, rules, morals/values, and work together on them as a team.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Intern in the legal field, or at least spend a week or two in the summer before college or during college shadowing an attorney. Additionally, understand the financial ramifications of student loans if you need them. Research grants, scholarships, and financial aid in advance, as your work experience can benefit you prior to law school. I treated law school like a business and job, completely unlike the college experience.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: The North Carolina mountains. That is my retirement dream. Going hiking is how I can get back to nature and truly relax. No phones, no TV, no noise, no chaos. Plus, with two small children and an active law practice (my husband is an attorney as well), we can take a weekend and get away without having to take time off work.

LEADERS IN THE LAW

2021-2022 LEADERSHIP IN THE LAW AWARD Presented to the

Hon. James L. Gale Retired Chief Judge North Carolina Business Court

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he Honorable James L. Gale so distinguished himself on the North Carolina Business Court that his counsel has been sought around the nation over the past decade for the depth of knowledge he brings to adjudicating complex questions of corporate law.

Gale’s contributions to the legal profession include: • Authoring more than 200 opinions from 2011-2021 as a judge on the North Carolina Business Court • Serving for three years as chief judge before he was named in 2016 as Senior Business Court Judge, a position created by the North Carolina General Assembly • Counseling the American College of Business Court Judges, the American Bar Association’s Business Law section, The Sedona Conference, and the North Carolina Conference of Superior Court Judges • Mentoring dozens of North Carolina law school students and graduates who have joined his chambers adjacent to Elon Law as interns and clerks Gale started his legal career as a clerk for the Hon. Franklin T. Dupree, Jr. of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina before joining the firm of Smith Moore Leatherwood, the predecessor of today’s Fox Rothschild, where he practiced for 35 years and served as managing partner for its Raleigh and Tampa offices.

In 2011, Gale was appointed by Governor Bev Perdue to serve as a Special Superior Court Judge on the North Carolina Business Court, citing his litigation experience with disputes involving partnership, fiduciary duties, franchise, intellectual property issues, trade regulation and unfair competition claims.

Gale was recognized for his contributions to the legal profession with the NCBA Antitrust & Complex Business Disputes Law Section’s 2021 Distinguished Service Award, an honor bestowed every other year on recipients who demonstrate the highest ethical standards, professional competence, and contributions to the section and/or the fields of antitrust or complex business disputes law. He has been included in The Best Lawyers in American and has been named to Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” for Business Litigation.

Law and Politics Magazine had named Gale one of North Carolina’s top 100 “Super Lawyers” for several consecutive years prior to his judicial appointment.

An Alabama native, Gale earned a Bachelor of Arts in literature from Florida Presbyterian College (since renamed Eckerd College) before completing his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia where he graduated magna cum laude. He has been admitted to the bar in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Elon University School of Law, the nation’s preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law, established the Leadership in the Law Award to recognize lawyers who make outstanding contributions to the profession and to society.

PREVIOUS HONOREES The Hon. Albert Diaz (2020), judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

The Hon. Robert N. “Bob” Hunter Jr. (2017), associate justice, North Carolina Court of Appeals

Charles L. Becton (2013), attorney/judge/higher education leader in North Carolina

Janet Ward Black (2019), Greensboro attorney and former president of the North Carolina Bar Association

The Hon. Patricia Timmons-Goodson (2016),vice chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

Fred Lind (2012), Guilford County public defender

The Hon. Henry E. Frye (2018), chief justice (retired), Supreme Court of North Carolina

Leslie J. Winner (2015), executive director, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation The Hon. Mark Martin (2014), chief justice, Supreme Court of North Carolina

Michael T. Marshall and Karen McKeithen Schaede (2011), Greensboro attorneys and founding Elon Law preceptors

Jeff Nieman

Assistant District Attorney, 18th Prosecutorial District, Chapel Hill

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he son of a longtime public defender, Jeff Nieman believes a prosecutor’s role in the court system is to look at the facts and seek justice. An assistant district attorney for the 18th Prosecutorial District, Nieman is an advocate for rehabilitation, racial justice, and ending the criminalization of poverty.

He was drawn to criminal law in law school.

“I got an internship in my home county DA’s office, and immediately recognized that this was where I could make a positive impact on my community every day,” he said. “Also, state prosecutors try more cases than any other type of lawyer, and that appealed to me.”

Nieman is a candidate for election as district attorney for District 18, which encompasses Orange and Chatham counties.

In 2012 Nieman created Outreach Court in Orange County, which seeks rehabilitative alternatives to incarceration for defendants experiencing homelessness. He also co-founded the Driver’s License Restoration Project to provide indigent people with free counseling to recover their licenses.

Nieman holds a bachelor’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. He was president of the UNC Association of Student Governments and a student member of UNC Board of Governors. He earned his law degree from N.C. Central University School of Law, where he served as president of the Student Bar Association.

FIRST JOB: Fresh out of college I was a guerrilla marketer for a dotcom. While that job was fun most of the time, my heart wasn’t really in it. I learned I must truly believe in what I’m doing to be successful at it.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: In 2018, I tried a case of a one-year-old girl killed in a drive-by shooting on Christmas Day. She was the same age as my own daughter at the time. I couldn’t stop myself from crying during the closing argument. The jury returned a verdict of guilty to first degree murder. That case had a significant impact on all of us. The younger attorney trying the case with me literally collapsed and had to be treated at the hospital afterward.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Only go to law school if you have a passion for learning and practicing the law. If you’re just going because it seems like a good thing to do or that it’s the best path to financial success, stop. No amount of money can replace the satisfaction of doing something you love.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: My view on this is best summed up by Confucius’ quotation: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” If you are happy with what you are doing professionally, that will carry over into happiness in your personal life. I’m grateful for the work/ life balance my job in the DA’s Office affords me, and I wouldn’t trade that for any amount of money.

Anna O’Neal

Senior Counsel and Vice President, Wells Fargo, Charlotte

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summer internship at a law firm convinced Anna O’Neal to focus her law career on commercial real estate.

“I was drawn to the people in the real estate group and found the work interesting and challenging,” she said. “I found my passion in commercial real estate and love working with my clients and colleagues.”

O’Neal is now senior counsel and vice president with Wells Fargo’s corporate properties Group. The company celebrates her work, including her efforts involving the purchase of nearly 500,000 square feet of office space at 30 Hudson Yards in New York City. It serves as Wells Fargo’s Corporate and Investment Banking headquarters.

O’Neal earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill and her law degree from the University of Virginia.

She is a member of the Wells Fargo legal department’s Enterprise Functions Anti-Racism Committee, and its employee engagement council. In her community, she is on the Board of Directors for CREW Charlotte and serves on the community outreach committee of the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Charlotte chapter.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

There was nothing better than going to University of Michigan football, basketball, field hockey, and hockey games. I’ll never forget being on Main Street with hundreds of fans after Michigan won the football national championship 1997.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: In 2019, I led Wells Fargo’s community support campaign for the Charlotte legal department. Everyone in the department enjoyed healthy competition and

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camaraderie, and most importantly, we raised almost $13,000 for Pat’s Place Children Advocacy Center, which coordinates the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of the most serious cases of child abuse in Mecklenburg County.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: I worked on the purchase of an 11-story, 225,000 square foot building in the heart of London’s financial district.

It involved the purchase of shares, multiple foreign entities, building construction, local and banking regulations, Brexit implications, and employee issues. It was complex but rewarding to complete the purchase successfully.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Talk to everyone you can and don’t be afraid to ask questions. A career in law can mean so many different things—it doesn’t mean litigating in a courtroom or even working at a big law firm. There are so many possibilities and opportunities with a law degree.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: My parents have a cottage on Lake Michigan, which my great-grandparents built. My grandpa, mom, and I all grew up going there, and now we get to take my girls. It is so fun to see them play with the children of friends I grew up with (and the grandchildren of friends my mom grew up with).

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I served as the foreperson of a jury for a murder trial during one summer in college. And I love running. Five years ago, I saw how my husband looked forward to his workouts and decided to step up my game. He runs half marathons, and I run 5Ks.

LEADERS IN THE LAW

Kenneth B. Rotenstreich

Partner, Teague Rotenstreich Stanaland Fox & Holt, Greensboro

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enny Rotenstreich is a leading attorney who has been practicing insurance defense litigation since 1987. He has tried over 400 civil litigation cases.

A partner at Teague Rotenstreich Stanaland Fox & Holt in Greensboro, Rotenstreich was attracted to the business aspects of insurance defense and the opportunity to participate in jury trials.

“I have always been quick-minded and possess the ability to persuade others through my words,” he said. “Litigation and trial work was an obvious choice to me in law school, and I chose civil litigation over criminal defense because of my business background. I also have more exposure to jury trials than in the criminal defense world.”

Rotenstreich earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Birmingham Southern College and his law degree from Wake Forest.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Becoming a leader in my firm and in my community and mentoring others to be the best they can be at their job or practice. Everyone needs an opportunity to grow and prosper and be the best at what they do. Many people are in this world without direction. Mentoring others and seeing them grow is rewarding. This is true whether they are your children or people you meet and/or work with in your everyday life.

FIRST JOB: My first job was with a family business where I learned to work with others of many different backgrounds. I became aware that we are all equal in this world, whether we come from

a more privileged background or not. My first legal job was with Henson Henson Bayliss and Coates in Greensboro, where I learned to be a lawyer and work hard at this profession to achieve the goals I set for myself.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Maintaining a balance between my family life and work life. I am thankful I have a loving wife, Amanda, and a family that allows me to pursue my legal career to the fullest while at the same time maintaining a loving family relationship. As a result, at this time in my career I can say that this career challenge has been met and defeated. I have a great work life and an even better family life.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Follow your dreams and put forth the effort to be the best you can be. Set goals for yourself and meet them, but balance your work life with your family life and enjoy both.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Have a loving partner and an understanding family. Remember, the work will still be there tomorrow so take time off to refuel. Always remember, though, you get out of this career what you put into it.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Any peaceful place that allows me to relax, whether it’s the desert hikes of Arizona, the top of Grandfather Mountain, my back yard, or the turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos.

Alan Ruley

Director, Bell, Davis & Pitt, Winston-Salem

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lan Ruley is a seasoned civil trial and appellate lawyer who has been with Bell, Davis & Pitt of Winston-Salem for 30 years.

Over those three decades he has been an integral member of the firm and established a strong reputation as both a trial and an appellate attorney, handling all aspects of civil litigation with a niche practice area in insurance coverage.

At Bell, Davis & Pitt, Ruley heads the firm’s internal management committees and is a mentor to young attorneys. He led the firm’s litigation section for 10 years and now heads its marketing committee.

Ruley also chairs the North Carolina Bar Association’s insurance law section, a section that he helped to found several years, an effort that involved getting 100 members on board. Since then, Ruley has led many of the section’s activities, including an annual CLE and outreach work.

This year’s outreach work focused on the Driver’s License Restoration Project with the North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center.

As a kid, Ruley worked mowing yards and shoveling snow, and through this experience learned the value of having a good education. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 1982, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and earned his law degree from Stanford University in 1986.

In addition to his leadership in the NCBA’s insurance law section, Ruley has been selected for two important professional statewide organizations, the Local Rules Committee for the U.S. District Court of the Middle District of North Carolina and the American College of Trial Lawyers, where he is among only 1 percent of attorneys in

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the state who have been invited for membership.

Ruley has also served on the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys’ board of directors and on the council for the appellate practice and the antitrust and complex business disputes sections of the NCBA. A community leader in the Triad, Ruley has served as co-president of the parent-teacher associations at several local schools. He also helped to start Salem Montessori School and was on its board of directors. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Leo Catholic Church.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: I really don’t like focusing on personal accomplishments, but if I had to answer, I would say my family.

BIGGEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Balancing work and non-work life.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Learn how to be a good writer.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Have an understanding spouse.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: To become a baseball player.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: I would visit family.

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Emily S. Sherlock

Shareholder, Robinson Bradshaw & Hinson, Charlotte

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ith her deep knowledge of state and federal environmental regulations, Emily Sherlock chairs the environmental practice group at Robinson Bradshaw.

A self-proclaimed outdoor enthusiast, lover of nature, and sportswoman, Sherlock gravitated to classes on environmental law as a student at the University of Florida, where she earned her bachelor’s and law degrees and was also on the university’s equestrian team and served as western team captain and club vice president.

“Our firm allows first-year lawyers to try a little bit of everything and I did that,” she said. “During my first year, I sought out an environmental project and was staffed on a very complicated Resource Conservation and Recovery Act matter, helping the client navigate hazardous waste regulations. I loved it and continued to grow the environmental portion of my practice from there.”

In her role at the firm, Sherlock facilitates strategy, business development, and workflow, leading a group of attorneys as they guide clients in this increasingly important area of law. Under her leadership, the practice group has grown and increased its profile among North Carolina firms.

At Robinson Bradshaw, she is in her eighth year serving on the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee and the first-year associate committee.

GROWING UP: I grew up in New Port Richey, Florida, just north of Tampa. Nearly every weekend of my early childhood was spent with my

mom and dad on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico fishing or in the woods hunting.

FIRST JOB: I was a hostess at Texas Roadhouse.

I learned that I am a lousy line dancer, although I know the words to every song in the jukebox and learned that “hangry” should be diagnosed as an actual medical condition.

GREATEST PERSONAL CHALLENGE: Navigating the delicate balance between motherhood and the practice of law, both of which are demanding roles. I primarily taught school during the day and lawyered at night when my kids were sleeping, with plenty of overlap in between. Mom’s conference call often meant an unmitigated free-for-all outside the home office door. There were many days I felt like I had failed at both my jobs. We managed to persevere, and I suppose we are all a little stronger.

IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: I actually do have a month off. Our firm has a wonderful benefit for lawyers after 10 years of service. We get an extra three weeks of vacation that must be taken as a block and can be paired with regular vacation. The intent is to unplug and get away. Last summer, I took a month off and traveled out west to explore national parks with my family. I stayed behind an extra week at a working cattle ranch in Paradise Valley, Montana with my best friend from undergrad. We worked cattle on horseback each day, and went wade fishing in Yellowstone National Park and float fishing on the Yellowstone River.

Lars P. Simonsen

Founder and Attorney, Simonsen Law Firm, Edenton

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ver the course of his 30-year career, Lars Simonsen has covered a wide swath of sectors, becoming a well-rounded attorney in the small town of Edenton, where he owns Simonsen Law Firm. Environmental law, business law, and general civil litigation are his current focus, but over the years, he has represented municipalities, homeowners’ associations, tech companies, hog farmers, hemp growers, and many other areas of practice.

Simonsen is partial to environment law, an area of practice he has focused on since he graduated from law school. He is especially drawn to the petroleum marketing and convenience store industry and coastal area management issues.

“I’ve always been interested in science, and environmental law allowed me to work closely with engineers, geologists, and wetlands scientists,” he said. “Many of my cases involve technical issues of chemistry, geology, hydrogeology, and biology, all of which I still find very interesting.”

Simonsen earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Raleigh, often going to Reedy Creek State Park (now part of Umstead State Park) to adventure. Once, when Highway 40 was being constructed, my parents took us all on a bike ride on the finished highway that had not yet been opened to traffic. To me, it was four unused lanes of concrete that made for a magical ride on a banana seat bike. We rode from our

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house near the Crabtree Valley Mall area all the way to Reedy Creek State Park. I recall that my parents brought along rope so they could tow us when we got tired.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Leaving the law firm I had been with for 16 years to open my own solo practice in 2006. I had never thought of myself as someone suited to be a sole practitioner. I liked having partners and a large staff, but the pressures of the practice of law began to take a toll on me and on my family, and I decided to “go solo.” It was not only the most exciting business risk I ever took; it was also the most rewarding.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Being a lawyer is not for everyone. Don’t choose the law as a career path solely because you think you can make a lot of money. Some of the skills and personality traits that are necessary to be a good lawyer are not necessarily skills and personality traits that make you a better spouse or parent.

You have to be committed to being both a good person, and a good lawyer. You must commit yourself to maintaining balance in your life.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I am an artist who has been featured in several solo art exhibits. I enjoy oil painting and sculpture in wood, stone, and metal. I also enjoy blacksmithing. I also enjoy collecting wild edible mushrooms from the forests and fields around my house.

LEADERS IN THE LAW

Amy E. Simpson

Senior Attorney, Sodoma Law, Charlotte

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ver her 20-year career, Amy Simpson, a senior attorney at Sodoma Law of Charlotte, has tried a myriad of family law cases, including complex child custody, alimony, and equitable distribution, and she has built a reputation as a fierce litigator and compassionate alternative dispute resolution attorney. She is also a founding member and past president of the Charlotte Women’s Bar. Active in the IVF community, she has counseled and done pro bono work over surrogacy related issues. She feels drawn to this because of her own experience with surrogacy.

“My biggest personal accomplishment is having my twins, Joey and Lyla Fiorenza, via surrogate, and they are the loves of my life,” she said. “After struggling for years with infertility, the decision to use a surrogate forever changed my life for the better, proving that sometimes our greatest miracles are born of our greatest struggles.”

Simpson earned her bachelor’s degree from Duke, an MBA from the UNC Kenan-Flagler School of Business, and her law degree from the UNC School of Law.

family on the other side of the state. My client was distraught. No one would take the case despite the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act, which makes it illegal to discriminate in adoption cases based on race, and this lawsuit would be one of the first of its kind. Little did we know when I accepted her case where the journey would take us—all the way to Congress to meet with the House Means and Ways Committee. After receiving their full support, we had decided to move forward with the lawsuit before meeting with an expert who told us they believed it would be more emotionally damaging to the child to try to reverse the change. Happily, mother and child were eventually reunited. Once the child turned 16, she sought out my client, and to this day they consider themselves family.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Years ago, I was contacted by a local woman who was in a foster-to-adopt situation but DSS decided the child needed to grow up in a household with parents of the same skin color, removed the child from her care, and rehomed her with another

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW. I learned how to drive when I was 12. We grew up in a rural area and my dad wanted me to learn to drive in case of emergencies. Also, I’m a bit of a comedian, and you might even stumble across me at an open mic one day.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING ATTORNEYS: You cannot just be a jack of all trades. The age of the generalist is over. Find what you are passionate about and do that. Figure out what you as a person are wired to do and do that. Law is beyond a full-time job—if you don’t love what you’re doing you’re going to spend a lot of time being unhappy in your career and life is too short for that.

Allen C. Smith

Partner, Hedrick Gardner, Charlotte

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llen C. Smith, a partner in Hedrick Gardner’s Charlotte office, has tried 100 civil cases before juries so far in his career.

Earlier in his career, he tried workers’ compensation cases before the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Smith has argued cases before the North Carolina Court of Appeals, North Carolina Supreme Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals.

He uses his vast experience to teach and mentor young attorneys.

At Hedrick Gardner, Smith is chair of the trucking and transportation practice group and co-chair of the civil litigation practice group.

He devotes most of his time defending serious personal injury and wrongful death claims associated with truck accidents and other motor vehicle accidents. He also defends products liability, construction defects, and premises liability claims, and his client list includes insurance companies, Fortune 500 companies, motor carriers, retailers, contractors, and manufacturers.

He received his bachelors’ degree in history from Davidson College and his law degree with honors from the UNC School of Law, where he qualified for the dean’s list all six semesters.

Rather than choosing a career in law, Smith believes his career chose him.

“I went to law school because I liked the idea of problem solving and being the member of the profession,” he said. “While in law school, I enjoyed trial advocacy.”

Smith is immediate past president of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys and

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member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, Transportation Lawyers Association, and Defense Research Institute (DRI).

FIRST JOB: My first job was mowing lawns. I learned the importance of hard work and showing up on time.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Mixing work and family time. Technology makes it easier to work at home now, and my kids are grown, so I’m not as concerned about working on weekends now.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Learn to write well and be willing to work hard. Working in the law is very deadline driven, so set aside time to meet all of your deadlines. Use your ears: you can absorb a lot of useful information if you are a good listener.

CHILDHOOD DREAM: I wanted to be a pro wrestling announcer. My favorite wrestler was Roddy Piper.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: I like going to Boston. I also enjoy visiting Colorado and the South Carolina beaches.

IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: I’d go to the United Kingdom and France. I’d spend one part playing a lot of golf and I’d spend the other part touring WWII museums and visiting Normandy.

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Eric Spengler

Partner, Spengler & Agans, Charlotte

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lthough Eric Spengler has only been practicing for about ten years, he has quickly garnered broad recognition as a top lawyer in Charlotte.

He leads the labor and employment and civil litigation practice groups at Spengler & Agans, representing plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of employment disputes, ranging from whistleblower claims to fiduciary litigation and contract disputes.

“I took the path less traveled in my professional life,” he said. “I’m proud that the law firm I started with my best friend—fresh out of law school—is still going strong almost a decade later.”

Spengler is also the Executive Director of a non-profit called Queens Park Charlotte, which he co-founded in 2019 to bring a “Central Park” to Charlotte for all of the city’s residents to enjoy.

His dream for such a park is coming close to fruition and is gaining substantial political support.

Spengler was also named Sustain Charlotte’s volunteer of the year in 2016 for his service on a city council-appointed task force for its stormwater ordinance and served as a supervisor on the Mecklenburg Soil and Water Conservation District from 2016 to 2019.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver, where he graduated magna cum laude. He also has a Master of Public Administration from the Indiana University School of Public Affairs and earned his law degree, graduating magna cum laude, from the Indiana University –

Bloomington Michael Maurer School of Law. FIRST JOB: I worked at Steak & Shake when I was 15. My job was to put the pickles and condiments on the burgers before the plates went out of the kitchen. I can’t say that I learned much from the experience, other than an appreciation for the hard workers in the service industry.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Transitioning from a law graduate in 2012 to a practicing lawyer in a small firm. It is not easy to start a law firm at any stage in a career, but the degree of difficulty is particularly high when you do not have much in the way of experience, but it has been rewarding.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Before going to law school, find a lawyer who is doing work that you would like to do. And if you can’t find that lawyer, then you probably shouldn’t go to law school. It’s not as glamorous as it looks, and most legal jobs are nothing like they appear on TV. CHILDHOOD DREAMS: I was 15 during the Bush v. Gore legal saga. I found myself glued to cable news each night, and I would report back all the details to my parents at breakfast the next morning. That’s when I knew I wanted to be involved in civic engagement. A career as a lawyer was a natural path for me. Nobody else in my family is a lawyer, though, so I’m the black sheep.

Hon. Donna Stroud

Chief Judge, North Carolina Court of Appeals, Raleigh

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udge Donna Stroud began her law career in private practice in 1988 and for 16 years primarily focused on civil litigation in superior court with an emphasis on eminent domain.

She also handled family law cases in district court before becoming a district court judge in Wake County, serving from 2004 until her election to the Court of Appeals in 2006. She was re-elected without opposition in 2014 and was sworn in as chief judge on Jan. 1. 2021.

She says her experience in private practice and presiding over family court led her to appreciate that area of the law.

“I have always enjoyed family law because helping families and children in crisis is important work, and although it is challenging, it is also rewarding,” she said.

Stroud, a native of Kinston, has a bachelor’s degree in government from Campbell University, graduating summa cum laude. She continued her education at Campbell School of Law, where she earned her law degree, graduating magna cum laude. She went on to earn a Master of Laws degree in judicial studies from Duke University School of Law. GROWING UP: During summers, my family took long RV trips all over the United States, eventually visiting all the 48 contiguous states. I was about 9 when we started these trips, and I wanted to collect something from every state. Rather than collecting souvenirs made somewhere else and just labeled with the state name I wanted something made in each state. My mother suggested

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collecting dirt. I think she was probably joking. But I took it seriously, so I now have a dirt collection from all 50 states.

FIRST JOB: My first real job was working in The Villager gift shop at Neuse Sport Shop in Kinston.

I learned not to judge anyone based on appearance. One night when I was alone in the shop, a rather large and dangerous-looking motorcycle rider came in, covered in leather and carrying a gun on his belt. He looked around before approaching me at the cash register, brandishing a small porcelain Beatrix Bunny figurine. He bought it and I’m guessing he took it home and made a little girl happy.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: I’m in the middle of it right now. Just like other organizations, the Court of Appeals is facing challenges and opportunities as we work on returning to “normal” after the pandemic and adapting to more remote work and changes to digital processes. I’m doing that while running for re-election statewide.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT. My favorite is Smokemont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I’ve been there nearly every year since I was 3, and it’s like my second home.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW. I have practiced yoga for many years and have trained to be a yoga teacher, although I’ve never had time to teach. I’ve also been to Antarctica, where I was pecked by a penguin.

LEADERS IN THE LAW

Jennifer Van Zant

Partner, Brooks Pierce, Greensboro

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s a child, Jennifer Van Zant thought about becoming a doctor, but encouraged by family members who recognized her talent for arguing, she opted to become an attorney instead.

Today, she is a partner at Brooks Pierce in Greensboro who practices complex litigation and is recognized as a successful and well-organized litigator who understands that the best way to advance the common interest is often through negotiation among different groups with competing interests.

Van Zant believes her role is a perfect fit for her personality.

“I like to sort things out, and I enjoy complicated problems,” she said. “Litigation suits me.”

Van Zant earned her bachelor’s degree from Duke University and her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law, graduating magna cum laude.

At Brooks Pierce, Van Zant has served as chair of the associates committee and participates in the firm’s mentoring program, where she fosters newer attorneys in and outside the courtroom.

She also serves as an unofficial mentor to many litigation attorneys, helping them decide how to staff cases and how to best work with their team and clients. She chaired the taskforce that implemented an affiliate group structure for Brooks Pierce, preserving the firm’s flat organizational structure while achieving efficiencies and creating opportunities for attorney development. She is also a key member of the firm’s Women’s Success Task Force.

GROWING UP: I grew up in Lexington, famous for its barbeque. My favorite food from home is birthday cake from the Fancy Pastry Shop. My

mother used to bring me birthday cakes from there when I was in college at Duke, and I still drive down to Lexington to get cakes for my children’s birthdays.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: I have three great kids. They are all nice people. I’m grateful they are kind, and I probably can’t take credit for that.

FIRST JOB: I was a lifeguard in high school, but my first continuous gig was as a camp counselor.

It taught me that as much as I love people, I also love being alone.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Figuring out how and when to say no. If I take something on, I want to be able to dedicate my full attention and energy to it.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: You have to love it, or it will feel like it takes over your life. But if you love it, you will be great.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Pay attention to yourself. If your energy is depleted, figure out how to re-charge it in the short term and in the long term.

There isn’t always time for a vacation, but there is always time for a run or a book break.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT: It is a tie between Cherry Grove and Lake Tahoma outside of Marion.

IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: I would read, run, and throw things away.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I’ll read almost anything, but I enjoy young adult fantasy fiction.

Mona Lisa Wallace

Founding Partner, Wallace & Graham , Salisbury

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otivated by representing those less fortunate, Mona Lisa Wallace has devoted her career to giving her clients their greatest chance to access justice.

“Early on, I was one of the first attorneys in the Southeast to represent asbestos victims,” she said. “This commitment to representing workers eventually resulted in my representation of thousands of individuals who suffered from occupational illnesses, including work-related cancers.”

As a result of Wallace’s litigation, many companies improved their working environments and began medical monitoring of workers, she said.

Wallace is founding partner of Wallace & Graham in Salisbury, and recently celebrated her firm’s 40th anniversary.

She is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and earned her law degree at Wake Forest University School of Law. She also participated in the Harvard Law Advocacy Course in 2011.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: Along with my law partner, Bill Graham and others, I have been able to help build an incredible law firm that has helped improve the lives of thousands of families, and that has been very rewarding. While building the firm, my husband, Lee, and I have raised two successful and kind daughters, Whitney and Lane.

FIRST JOB: When I graduated from law school, I returned to Salisbury. At that time, there were very few female litigation attorneys, and I had a

LEADERS IN THE LAW

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difficult time finding a job. Graham Carlton, a fine gentleman attorney, hired me and turned over to me an active domestic practice that kept me in court daily. He further allowed me the opportunity to take on cases including asbestos claims that were at that time considered novel and difficult to win. He trusted me and gave me the independence to follow my passion for fighting big companies that were not providing safe workplaces.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: During the early 1980s until the early 1990s, I consistently tried hundreds of asbestos cases. This was back when asbestos litigation was an emerging area.

The companies dragged the cases out and appeals were taken for years before the clients or the law firm received any compensation. During those years, I took on all types of cases to help cover the overhead. I can recall doing title searches at night to help keep the lights on and appearing at incompetency hearings at the local VA hospital.

Fortunately, the asbestos cases began resolving as a result of favorable court rulings.

IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: I currently have plans to spend several weeks on a cruise of the Greek islands with my family.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I am an excellent pianist. I can hear a song and play it by ear.

Despite years of trying, I am a terrible snow skier, and my family’s ski name for me is “the little red caboose.”

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Carolyn Woodruff

Owner/Family Law Specialist, Woodruff Family Law Group,Greensboro

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fter starting her law career as an attorney in a general practice firm and spending several years honing her skills, Carolyn Woodruff branched off and formed a law firm focusing on family law. Today, she is owner and family law specialist at Woodward Family Law Group in Greensboro.

Woodruff developed her independent spirit as a child growing up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and traveling alone by bus to visit her grandmother, who lived at the beach in Gulf Shores. Her trip included a change of buses in Mobile.

“My mom would give me careful instructions not to talk to strangers,” Woodruff said. “I was a very responsible child and felt grown up making the trip alone. This travel experience fostered my adventurous spirit and helped build my independence.”

Woodruff earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Purdue University and her law degree from Duke University School of Law, where she was research and managing editor of the Duke Law Degree and graduated with high honors.

She is a board certified specialist in family law, a North Carolina CPA, and a certified valuation analyst with the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts. She holds a 2021 FinTech certification from Harvard Business School, where she did her capstone paper on central bank digital currency and holds AICPA badges in Blockchain and Cybersecurity.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: I am a multi-engine instrument-rated airplane pilot. I was mentored by some of the best instructors and the entire experience has been both exciting and

fulfilling. I frequently fly my B58 Baron plane and enjoy quick weekend getaways.

FIRST JOB: While in high school, I worked as a lifeguard during the summer. It was challenging to be responsible for keeping people safe, and I learned the importance of staying focused on the task at hand.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Envisioning the future of practicing law and running a large firm in a post-Covid world and embracing the emerging technology in a way that works for everyone. In 2020, at the start of the pandemic, my team adapted to remote capabilities, and we remained open for business, meeting the changing needs of our clients throughout the pandemic.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Approach life with a curiosity and gain knowledge from a wide range of experiences, including volunteering in your community to get a better sense of the needs that are out there. Strive for continuous learning.

IF I HAD A MONTH OFF: My late husband, Dwight Ensley, and I established the Woodruff Ensley Foundation in 2020. Its goal is to assist families in need. I would devote my month off to traveling around the state to see first-hand what vital opportunities our foundation might impact.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I am a retired ballroom dancer. I was a three-time Fred Astaire National Dance Champion in open smooth. I starred in a reality television show called Ballroom Blitz in 2013 that aired in the U.S. and in 10 other countries.

Kimberly Easter Zirkle

Member, Moore & Van Allen, Charlotte

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imberly Zirkle was a paralegal in corporate law for almost 10 years before going to law school, and her exposure to many different types of transactions influenced her decision to practice corporate law as an attorney.

Today, as a member at Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte, Zirkle primarily counsels lenders and borrowers in loan transactions.

“I was drawn to the finance practice and have worked with some of my colleagues for more than 20 years,” she said.

Zirkle also serves as co-chair of MVA’s pro bono and public service committee and participates in the Charlotte Pro Bono Triage. Zirkle’s firm credits her leadership for developing a 60 percent increase in volunteers with the Human Trafficking Pro Bono Project, increasing visibility for MVA’s pro bono Champions, and combining MVA’s resources and expertise to offer increasing support to individuals in need of life-changing civil legal remedies at no cost.

Zirkle earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and her law degree from the University of North Carolina, graduating with honors. She served as editor-in-chief of the N.C. Banking Law Journal.

GROWING UP: Many of my early years were spent in Wildwood, Georgia, just outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. We had a front porch swing and a treehouse where I would spend hours devouring books and dreaming about the places I would go one day.

TOP PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: I’ve been invested in launching the CLIMB project (Char-

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lotte Legal Initiative to Mobilize Business). Together with other local firms we are providing pro bono transactional legal service to small businesses owned by persons of color, women, members of the LGBTQ community, disabled persons, veterans, and other historically under-resourced entrepreneurs. It’s rewarding to be able to do what we do best for some of the businesses who need our help the most.

GREATEST CAREER CHALLENGE: Finding my lane. There are so many interesting practice areas and so many talented lawyers whom I get to work with every day. Carving a path that fit took years of taking on different types of projects and clients and working with different people at the firm.

ADVICE FOR ASPIRING LAWYERS: Practicing law is challenging. The rewards can be wonderful, and I can honestly say I am grateful to be doing what I am doing and that I get to live and work in Charlotte. Whatever you decide to do, be sure that it is something that inspires you to gratitude every day.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE: Prioritize. Every day I ask myself what I must accomplish today, both personally and professionally. Some days the to-do list is simply too long, so if it is not a top priority then it may need to wait for another day. It’s important to embrace the notion that not everything needs to be or will be done today.

MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW: I collect Christmas ornaments from every place I travel to with a goal to have a “travel tree” one year. And I am terrified of spiders.

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