Wake Bar Flyer | First Quarter 2020

20/20 Hindsight & 20/20 Vision: How established and newer lawyers view the profession entering a new decade...... 5 ___________________________________

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VOL. XLV • ISSUE 1 | FIRST QUARTER 2020

BAR FLYER A FUTURE FOR ALL OF US 2020 USHERS IN A NEW PROMISE OF POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THE PRACTICE, THE PROFESSION AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR LEGAL COMMUNITY

UPCOMING EVENTS WCBA LUNCHEON WITH JUSTICE MATTERS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LIBBY MAGEE COLES, ESQ. FEBRUARY 4 | 12:15 P.M. | THE WOMAN’S CLUB

BY CARMEN H. BANNON PRESIDENT, WAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

WE ARE MARKING THE NEW YEAR, the new decade and the nice round number of 2020 with a 20/20-themed Bar Flyer: Reflecting on our profession’s history and legacy via the theme of “Hindsight is 20/20” and considering our hopes and expectations for the future of the practice of law through the complementary theme of “20/20 Vision.”

In this Flyer, we honor the best traditions of the bar, try to learn from our past and celebrate the next era of the legal profession.

These days, when I reflect on lawyers’ most valuable long-standing traditions, I think first of our commitment to professionalism and objective evidence. It has come to feel like the justice system is the last bastion of reason and truth in a society poisoned by ugly rhetoric and “fake news.”

ASK A LAWYER – SOUTHEAST REGIONAL LIBRARY FEBRUARY 4 | MARCH 3 | 5-8 P.M. | GARNER DIVERSITY & INCLUSION SEMINAR FEBRUARY 6 | 8:30 A.M. – 1 P.M. | NC STATE BAR ASK A LAWYER – EAST REGIONAL LIBRARY FEBRUARY 18 | MARCH 17 | 5-8 P.M. | KNIGHTDALE BREAKFAST DISCUSSION SERIES: RAISE THE AGE FEBRUARY 19 | 7:30 A.M. | CAMPBELL LAW SCHOOL CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS FOR LAWYERS FEBRUARY 20 | 3:30 – 4:30 P.M. | WAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE SUBSTANCE USE, ABUSE, AND DISORDERS FEBRUARY 27 | 3 P.M. | HEALING TRANSITIONS UPCOMING WCBA LUNCHEONS MARCH 3 | APRIL 7 | 12:15 P.M. | THE WOMAN’S CLUB

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

In the courtroom, we can’t prove our cases with a conspiracy theory or internet rumor. In our profession, shouting the loudest or hurling the last insult does not win the day. Historically and today, lawyers revere the rule of law, respect the adversarial system of determining truth and understand that rigorous debate does not mean rancorous abuse.

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These principles allow us, as lawyers, to hold the line and demonstrate to the other branches of government (and society at large) that disputes need not be wars and that deliberative thought still has a place in our increasingly distracted consciousness. It is our legacy and our responsibility. It should also be a source of pride.

14 2019 IN REVIEW 15 50-YEAR LAWYERS

On the other hand, when I consider the future of our profession, I am encouraged by younger lawyers’ realism and innovation in figuring out how to best serve clients in the 21st century. With the cost of traditional by-the-hour legal representation beyond the reach of so many people, a new generation of lawyers is finding ways to provide legal services and access to justice by redefining representation and incorporating modern technologies.

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3 BOOMERS AND SNOWFLAKES 4 DIRECT EXAMINATION 5 20/20 HINDSIGHT & 20/20 VISION 13 2020 VISION FOR A 21ST CENTURY

16 2019 WAKE BAR AWARDS 22 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 23 MEMBER NEWS

These new visionaries of the legal profession are not just changing the practice of law for the benefit of clients — they will change it for the benefit of all of us. Today’s young lawyers join the bar at a time when women outnumber men in our nation’s law schools; when lawyers of color, lawyers from the LGBTQ community and lawyers with disabilities are the norm, not the exception.

They will usher in a new era in the practice of law where the voices in the courtroom — both at the bar and on the bench — better reflect the people we represent. The legal profession, which is so integral to the functioning of our society, is on its way to being representative of our community. The future of the practice of law is not just white, and male, and cisgendered, and straight, and non-disabled. It is all of us. I look forward to this future. WBF

WAKE BAR FLYER

FIRST QUARTER 2020

WAKE BAR FLYER VOL. XLV No. 1 | FIRST QUARTER 2020 Presidents CARMEN H. BANNON, WCBA ADAM M. GOTTSEGEN, TENTH J.D. BAR Presidents-elect DAVID E. HOLM, WCBA RUSSELL D. BABB, TENTH J.D. BAR Secretary CRYSTAL S. CARLISLE Treasurer JUDGE ASHLEIGH P. DUNSTON Immediate Past Presidents DAVID L. SHERLIN, WCBA NANCY L. GRACE, TENTH J.D. BAR Board of Directors YVONNE ARMENDARIZ DANIEL T. BARKER JULIE L. BELL JEAN GORDON CARTER ANNA M. DAVIS REBECCA A. EDWARDS WILLIAM F. FINN, JR. NIYA T. FONVILLE EVIN L. GRANT KATIE H. KING DEAN J. RICH LEONARD CHRISTINA M. MCCOY JOHN E. MCKNIGHT KIMBERLY T. MILLER ATIYA M. MOSLEY BRIAN P. OTEN JUDGE VINSTON M. ROZIER, JR. JOHN R. SZYMANKIEWICZ KRISTINA B. THOMPSON JESSICA B. VICKERS JOHN B. “BO” WALKER JOHN B. WARD BENJAMIN O. “BOZ” ZELLINGER Young Lawyers Division President JEREMY R. WILLIAMS Young Lawyers Division President-elect KENDRA N. STARK Executive Director WHITNEY D.G. von HAAM Wake Bar Flyer Editor BECKY B. JOHNSON Wake Bar Flyer Assistant Editor CANDACE B. MARSHALL Communications SARAH L. JUSTICE Wake Bar Flyer Designer CLAIR S. SMITH Tenth Judicial District Bar Councilors JULIE L. BELL HEIDI C. BLOOM WALTER E. BROCK THEODORE C. EDWARDS II KATHERINE A. FRYE FRED T. MORELOCK JUDGE ROBERT B. RADER WARREN T. SAVAGE

A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BY WHITNEY D.G. VON HAAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

WELL, IT’S OFFICIAL: We’re the proud new owners and residents of 712 West North Street. We’re still living among boxes and chaos, and there are a fair number of repair people who have been in and out of our place, but we’ve done it.

No one likes the process of moving. And, if you are someone like me who thrives on systems and processes, then moving shakes your world to its core. It had been more than a decade since the WCBA offices had moved, and not only did it predate all of the current staff, but it was also only from one floor to another at the NC Bar Center. Our move, which occurred at “low stress” date of December 20, went pretty darn smoothly overall. Sure, the movers showed up late, with fewer employees than we’d expected, and went later into the night than we’d prepared for. Maybe there wasn’t heat in the front half of the house for the first two weeks. Possibly, there’s one office that none of our current desks could physically fit through the door. And, wiring in an old house? Not for the IT weak of heart.

But, many more things went right than went wrong. In fact, the way that we went from conducting full business well into the week of December 16 and were able to get the key items unpacked and ready to be at full steam again on January 2 is testament to the teamwork consistently exemplified by your WCBA staff. I couldn’t be prouder at how much every single employee did to make our move into our new space happen without major incident, doing everyone’s best not to drop a single ball or let a member need go unanswered.

I hope you are as proud of the new WCBA and Tenth Judicial District Bar offices as we are, and we hope that you’ll stop by and say hello, particularly in a couple of weeks when we’ll be far more put together than we may be as of today. And, when you do stop by, make sure to tell the staff just how much you appreciate their commitment to the bar and its members. They make me proud every single day, and in times of extreme stress and higher than usual expectations, they do nothing but shine. WBF

© 2020 Wake County Bar Association & Tenth Judicial District Bar.

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FIRST QUARTER 2020

BOOMERS AND SNOWFLAKES

BY BRIAN P. OTEN, NORTH CAROLINA STATE BAR

THE LAST HALF OF 2019 WAS A DELIGHT TO BEHOLD. We had new iPhones, impeachment inquiries and somehow even more streaming services introduced to take my money. But of all the developments, one of my favorites was this simple retort: “OK, boomer.”

(Before we get into this, let the record reflect that I find myself with feet in two generations, as I’m classified as both a member of Generation X and a millenial, depending on the publication.) The phrase is meant to be a pointed, dismissive response from millennials to baby boomers when the boomers criticize the younger generation for their alleged sense of entitlement, lack of work ethic or any other unattractive aspect of their generation’s culture. It is the counter-response (at last!) to the oft-mentioned, snarky claim that millennials are “snowflakes.”

One of the interesting things about these quips is that those who call others “snowflakes” and those who respond with “OK, boomer” often levy these charges: (a) at members of their own generation and (b) while ignoring their own rigid, intolerant approach to different ideas and experiences. These insults are both the source of my personal entertainment and of my hope for the future. Before we get to that point, let’s go back 40 years. If you asked law students in 1979 why they were in law school, you may have heard students talk about helping people with their problems and making an impact on the community; you would have heard students talk about making a difference as a lawyer.

Between 2011 and 2018, I taught a first-year writing class at Campbell Law School, and every semester I asked my students why they chose to attend law school. The overwhelming response? Students said they wanted to help people and make an impact on their communities; they said that a person can make a difference as a lawyer.

And that is where my hope lies. Not in the responses to the question about law school, and not in the creative evolution of name-calling, but in the observation that the generations are more alike than they realize (or perhaps more alike than they want to admit).

Whether we’re talking about the desired impact of the dismissive insult or the desired impact of a career in law, the generations actually share many of the same principles and outcomes. The problem is, they each go about obtaining these shared goals in vastly different ways. And who can blame them? We are all products of the world in which we are raised, and we are products of the generations that precede us.

Without getting into the argument over whether the older generation fell short of preparing the younger generation for life, or whether the younger generation is overcomplicating life and should just figure it out, I can’t help but notice that, once again, we see two different approaches to the same end goal. Both generations are interested in basic life skills, and both generations have a different way of acquiring those skills. But rather than focusing on and celebrating these shared ideals, we levy criticism at each other with dismissive and snarky replies.

As lawyers and professionals, we cannot spin our wheels in the muck of generational differences. Professionalism is a cornerstone of the legal profession.

It is what we, as lawyers and as members of the community, must exude and rely upon when sorting out the most difficult of problems, when seeking change for the public good and when attaining all of the goals we set out to accomplish when we decided to go to law school.

The bad news for millennials is that, unlike basic life skills taught in those “adulting” classes, professionalism cannot be learned in a 60-minute class. It cannot be acquired by reading an article on your phone, tablet, laptop, smartwatch or in one of those dusty, vintage-looking books. Professionalism is learned through observation and personal interaction. It’s acquired by subjecting yourself to difficult situations and following the models of professionalism that you heard about at a bar lunch or in the halls of the courthouse.

This brings us to the bad news for baby boomers: Just as your generation may have some responsibility for the younger generation not having the basic life skills that necessitate (or at least promulgate) those “adulting” classes, you’re on the hook for serving as the model of professionalism for the next generation. Just as a lawyer may have taken you under his or her wing when you started out, you may need to proactively reach out to a younger lawyer and offer the same opportunity.

And if that younger lawyer — through insecurity veiled as confidence — says “No thanks” to your offer, it may be on you to initiate the conversation again. Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned about developing professionalism, it’s that professionalism takes time, persistence and a great deal of varied experience from both the student and the teacher.

What have you done lately to further your professional development? And what have you done to further someone else’s professional development?

To my millennials out there: Have you attended one of our bar’s memorial sessions at the courthouse? If not, why not? Our memorial sessions give you an opportunity to learn about real-life examples of supreme professionalism and to share that experience with your fellow lawyers.

To my boomers: When was the last time you participated in a YLD event or encouraged a younger colleague to get involved? When was the last time you sat down at the monthly lunch with a table of younger lawyers you did not know?

Don’t think you have the time? Does it require too much effort?

The world has changed significantly from when the baby boomers entered the workforce to the present day when millennials find themselves as the largest segment of our workforce. From technological advancements to reinvented work cultures, the generations bring different experiences and values to life and work every day, which can create a great deal of tension in the workplace. The fact that we pursue the same goals differently should not detract from the reality that we are pursuing the same goals.

Yes, professionalism can develop organically through unavoidable life experiences, but it can (and must) also develop through intentional actions. It’s our responsibility to put ourselves in a position to allow this personal growth as well as to foster that same growth in others.

Earlier this year, I saw some back-and-forth on Twitter about an article published by “The Daily Caller” titled “Millennials Are So Helpless They’re Taking ‘Adulting Classes’ To Learn How To Do Things Like Sew A Button.” I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw one Twitter user respond to the article with what he described as his title correction: “Millennials Are So Motivated They’re Taking Classes To Learn The Skills Older Generations Failed To Teach Them.”

Boomers and snowflakes, whether you’ve been practicing for five years or 50, we all have room to grow, and we all have something to contribute. The great thing is that, despite our different pathways or approaches, we’re heading in the same direction. WBF

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DIRECT EXAMINATION: EVIN L. GRANT CAMPBELL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

DIRECT EXAMINATION IS THE FIRST opportunity for the jury to meet a witness.

An effective lawyer will use the opportunity to personalize the witness, making the witness appear both likeable and credible. At the end of the day, the direct examination is a party’s best chance to tell his or her story.

5. Why did you become a lawyer?

I entered law school as a “non-traditional” student, having a six-year career before entering law school. During that six-year career, I spent time as a criminal magistrate judge in Wake County. That experience showed me how little our citizenry knows about the rights they do or do not have. Day in and day out, I encountered people who looked like me, some younger, many older, being put in jail with very little understanding of how or why. My initial interest in law was sparked by a desire to pursue criminal defense work and inform primarily individuals from underrepresented communities of their legal rights.

6. What has been the most surprising or unexpected development in your career?

Working in academia. I did not foresee myself working in higher education as a lawyer.

1. When you were in elementary school, what did you want to be when you grew up?

7. What is your favorite book?

Oddly, I have no clear idea. I do know, it likely wasn’t a lawyer. Not having lawyers in my family, I was not exposed to that as a career path. You go to school because it was what you do. I probably didn’t have career aspirations until late middle school or high school.

A book I often recommend is Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People.”

8. What is your most marked characteristic?

You would have to ask my reputation in the community.

2. What was the most important lesson your parents taught you?

9. What is your hidden talent?

“To whom much is given, much is required.”

I can juggle.

3. Who was your favorite teacher and why?

10. Who are your real-life heroes?

I struggle with picking a “favorite” anything. Teacher, food, song. Everything that This is hard. I would go back to the “favorite” question. There are so many touches our lives has individual value. Each thing is of its own importance, so each people I look up to for various reasons. After 34 years of life, that list has gotten teacher has instilled something particular in my life relevant to what they were pretty extensive. (I also don’t want to forget anyone who may be reading this.) meant to teach me, creating the whole of who I am and what I know.

11. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU HAPPIEST? 4. Did you love or hate law school?

Anywhere I can listen to music and sing. Mostly in my kitchen, cooking and I love it so much, I work at the law school I graduated from. singing.

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FIRST QUARTER 2020

20/20 HINDSIGHT & 20/20 VISION AS WE ENTER A NEW YEAR AND A NEW DECADE, WE ASKED LAWYERS FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT WHERE THE PROFESSION IS GOING – AND THE LESSONS THEY HAVE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.

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20/20 HINDSIGHT & 20/20 VISION 2020 HINDSIGHT & VISIONARY: JOHN SILVERSTEIN REFLECTIONS AND PREDICTIONS BASED ON 49 YEARS OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE

BY JOHN M. SILVERSTEIN | SATISKY & SILVERSTEIN LLP

FROM THE PERSPECTIVE of my 49th year in practice, it is easier to reflect on the past than it is to predict the future.

Unfortunately, hindsight is usually less interesting.

Predicting the future is not reliable, but it is certainly a popular and appropriate exercise as we begin a new decade.

There have been dramatic changes in technology over the past few years, and the way attorneys manage their practices have both influenced and been influenced by those changes — in positive and negative ways. I don’t believe that will change, and attorneys will continue to be encouraged to employ artificial intelligence, understand blockchains and become familiar with cybersecurity, while at the same time focusing on balance in their personal and professional lives.

Nor do I see much change in ongoing efforts to find new ways to increase productivity, but I also believe as studies of the legal profession continue to show unacceptable levels of dissatisfaction and depression, particularly among younger attorneys, an emphasis on wellness activities will become even more institutionalized in future years.

Another popular exercise is to consider whether there is a generational divide between seasoned and younger attorneys. As one ensconced in the seasoned group, a trend in the practice of law that is disturbing to me is the decreasing participation of newer attorneys in affinity bar groups. I don’t believe I would have enjoyed the practice of law nearly as much had I not benefitted by engagement in such groups.

I have belonged to or attended meetings of the WCBA, NCBA, NCATL (now NCAJ), NCDLA and NCAWA, as well as many district bars. Professionalism thrives when attorneys gather to pursue mutual interests. I believe membership in affinity bar groups enhances engagement in and enjoyment of the practice of law.

It has been my experience that attorneys working together to achieve common goals not only leads to greater achievements than could be attained by individual efforts, but the benefits include lasting relationships and genuine selfsatisfaction that extends to greater satisfaction with the practice of law. There is no better example than the Wake County Bar Awards, which has benefitted both the WCBA and the individual participants as much as it has benefitted Legal Aid. Technological advances can create efficiencies beneficial to attorneys and their clients. However, they can also lead some practitioners to become more isolated from their peers. It is easier to remain attached to our electronic devices than it is to take the time to interact with colleagues on a personal level.

I hope that in the future attorneys will resist the lack of personal contact that technology can bring, and that our affinity bars will continue to afford opportunities to establish meaningful relationships with peers to help navigate the changes that will inevitably occur in the practice of law. WBF

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20/20 HINDSIGHT & 20/20 VISION 2020 VISIONARY: SAVANNAH PERRY MENTORSHIP PROVIDES AN AVENUE FOR GROWTH IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION, WHICH FLOURISHES AND EXPANDS IN URBAN SETTINGS, DWINDLES IN RURAL AREAS

BY SAVANNAH B. PERRY | DEPUTY COUNSEL, NC STATE BAR

THE MOST SHOCKING thing to me when I started practicing law was how different practicing law can look to every lawyer. We all hold the same license, but none of us practice in the same area of law the same way, or under the same circumstances or with the same success.

The best way to learn and grow as a new lawyer is to call upon veteran lawyers to share their knowledge and experiences, and I would like to see more new lawyers find mentors to guide them through their practice. Newly-minted lawyers need to spend more time with veteran lawyers exploring the different ways they practice and asking questions. It’s the only way new lawyers are going to learn about the seemingly endless options and opportunities that the practice presents.

It’s been incredibly rewarding to me, personally and professionally, to talk to veteran lawyers at the State Bar (and their friends), build relationships and steal a little bit of the wisdom and practice ideas they’ve been collecting for so many years. I think veteran lawyers can reciprocally learn from new lawyers to better understand technology and the ways it can be used in the profession.

In the next five to 10 years, I expect to see the number of lawyers grow in urban areas and the number of lawyers dwindle in rural communities. Most newly-minted lawyers have a significant amount of student loan debt, and that debt makes them hesitant to hang their own shingle in rural communities because of the risk they may not have a paycheck at the end of the month.

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I was raised in a rural community and my family’s go-to lawyer was also the coach of my traveling basketball team. It was easy for us to take our legal issues to him because we already had a relationship with each other. As the profession continues to push access to justice initiatives, it’s unsettling to think that our profession may neglect the legal needs of rural communities if the local lawyers those communities know and trust are not replaced.

If the changes I expect to see in the next few years come to fruition, it’s going to be even more important for all lawyers to be honest, reliable and trustworthy. Therefore, I like to envision a future in which the public’s perception of lawyers and the profession will change for the better. WBF

FIRST QUARTER 2020

20/20 HINDSIGHT & 20/20 VISION 2020 HINDSIGHT & VISIONARY: ASA BELL JR. TECHNOLOGY BRINGS CONTINUOUS CHANGE, BUT PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS REMAIN THE HALLMARK OF A SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE

BY ASA L. BELL JR. | THE LAW OFFICES OF ASA L. BELL JR., P.A.

NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO, my friend and former partner Steve Epstein wrote a brilliant article on the future of technology and the law and presented it to our firm. At the time, there was no internet, snail mail was the primary mode of written communication, dictation with secretarial transcription was the norm and cell phones (bag phones) were reserved for the few who could afford them.

Steve wrote of a day when lawyers would be in the courtroom, a legal issue would arise, the issue would be sent to the firm by email where it would quickly be researched on Westlaw, and a brief would be quickly typed and emailed to the laptop at counsel’s table, printed out using a portable printer and handed up to the judge.

If this doesn’t sound like a big deal now, it’s because this happens every day in courtrooms around the nation.

However, in 1991, that was not the case. Typing was still on typewriters and huge desktop computers using DOS. There were no portable printers. Research was not computerized but conducted using advance sheets and the green and brown books.

Things sure have changed, and with that change has come the ability to accomplish more with less. However, there are some essentials that remain just as important today as they were 30 years ago.

GOOD MENTORS SHOULD BE SOUGHT. I was fortunate to have three mentors in Jim Fuller, Charles Becton and Anne Slifkin, each of whom practiced law with professionalism, zeal and excellence.

They modeled how law should be practiced and the necessity of maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Everyone needs someone who will show them the ropes, identify the potholes of practice and set a good example that will lead to longevity in the practice of law.

PARTNERS ARE ESSENTIAL. I use the term “partners” loosely to mean anyone with whom you can bounce ideas off of and run theories by and who will otherwise ensure that you aren’t missing something. One of the joys of my litigation practice was that I always had one or more colleagues with whom I strategized, and the results were always better than my original idea. Two (or three) heads are better than one. I believe this to be even more important now than in the past, given how rapidly the law is evolving. I believe isolation can be one of a lawyer’s worst enemies.

PROFESSIONALISM MATTERS. As with other professions, the legal practice has become less formal. It is not uncommon for attorneys to attend depositions, mediations or other noncourtroom proceedings in casual attire. While attire may have changed, the principles of honesty, integrity and reliability in our dealings with each other have not. At the end of the day, our clients benefit when we have good relationships with opposing counsel.

I am fortunate to have been a member of this noble profession for nearly 30 years and still wake up each day excited about what the new day will bring.

WBF

Two $1,000 gifts were donated to WakeEd Partnership to purchase books for Partners Read in honor of WCBA members John I. Mabe Jr., one of the founders of the program, Theresa J. Rosenberg and the law firm of Lynch & Eatman, as collectively these attorneys have continued to participate in the reading program during the protracted relocation of Stough Elementary.

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20/20 HINDSIGHT & 20/20 VISION 2020 VISIONARY: PREETHA RINI PURSUE CREATIVE PASSIONS OUTSIDE THE LAW TO FOSTER PASSION AND COMPASSION WITHIN THE PRACTICE

BY PREETHA S. RINI | ELLIS & WINTERS LLP

AT MY LAW SCHOOL GRADUATION our commencement speaker’s advice was, “Hold on to those things that drive your passion for life.”He encouraged us to have a hobby — watercolor painting, playing the violin, practicing hot yoga — activities you actually want to be doing on a Saturday morning.

I hope the next generation of lawyers heeds this advice because our legal profession needs a group of passionate and compassionate individuals.

The legal profession that I entered four years ago was mostly homogeneous; a lot of older (and mostly white) male attorneys dominate this profession. I’ve met hundreds of attorneys in this state during my short career thus far. They have been far kinder than I expected, more generous than I anticipated and willing to give me opportunities I could never have dreamed of.

I never imagined that by 2020 I would have a two-year clerkship, a federal trial and a U.S. Supreme Court appearance under my belt — not to mention the hundreds of other opportunities that these attorneys have afforded me.

I initially thought the best way to bond with older attorneys was to adopt their interests. (At one point, my husband suggested I scroll through ESPN.com for conversation starters.) Four years ago, I thought I needed to change my own interests to fit in to what many women perceive as an “old boys’ club.”

I soon realized that success in this profession is not about fitting in but is often measured by the qualities that set you apart.

When I was in law school, I started drawing again. It was one of my favorite hobbies growing up and remained a form of stress relief that pulled me away from endless hours of outlining. When I started clerking at the N.C. Court of

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Appeals, I used my drawings to brighten up my workspace and as a way to gift or sell something unique to my colleagues.

It wasn’t long before my prints were the one thing that people remembered about me. Today, thanks in large part to my helping husband, I have a full art business, Prints

By Preetha. I’ve been lucky enough to be featured in the WCBA silent auction, a lawyers’ art show and too many charity galas to count. Best of all, my colleagues have always been supportive of my small business.

So much about the legal profession is about the small connections: the moment when someone realizes that you aren’t just an attorney but sees that you’re creative, an artist, a small business owner. It is my hope that the next generation of lawyers does not fall back to the ways they think are necessary to help them fit in but leans into the ways they can follow their passions and stand out. Because, as my commencement speaker told us in 2016, passionate people make for great lawyers. WBF

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20/20 HINDSIGHT & 20/20 VISION 2020 HINDSIGHT & VISIONARY: NANCY GRACE PROFESSIONALISM REMAINS AN ONGOING LESSON AND AN ATTRIBUTE THAT DEFINES BOTH THE ATTORNEY AND THE PRACTICE

BY NANCY L. GRACE | WAKE FAMILY LAW GROUP

THE NEW YEAR is an important time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past and to anticipate and set goals for the future. As we begin a new decade, and as I begin my 24th year in practice, I pause a moment to reflect on the lessons I’ve learned over the years.

I have also seen an increasing focus on professionalism within the practice of law, perhaps because of the deteriorating perception of the legal profession from without. As I look to the future, I anticipate that this heightened focus on professionalism will continue.

In these divisive times, attorneys can be role models, demonstrating how to disagree with an opponent while at the same time treating that opponent with courtesy and respect. That lesson is one of the most valuable ones that I’ve learned in my years of practice. WBF

As a first generation attorney, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect about the practice of law, what it would be like. I was pleasantly surprised by the collegiality of the profession. Over the years, I have made lasting friendships and enjoyed warm, collegial relationships with many attorneys, including with opposing counsel. I believe this is the hallmark of professionalism.

You know how it feels to be ready.

So do we. Let’s talk.

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20/20 HINDSIGHT & 20/20 VISION 2020 VISIONARY: JONATHAN BOGUES EFFECT CHANGE IN THE PROFESSION THROUGH SELF-CARE, MENTORSHIP AND LEARNING FROM YOUR MISTAKES

BY JONATHAN M. BOGUES | MOORE & ALPHIN, PLLC

SO, YOU’VE GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL and passed the bar.

Congrats! This is a huge accomplishment, and you should be proud. You’ve made it, right? You’re on the fast track to partner status and the corner office, right? Not so fast. Pump your breaks and think again.

You may have clients who feel as if they are your only or most important client and demand you drop everything for them. You may have a boss who’s always in a bad mood and brings down office morale, or your work environment may be toxic in general. The stressful, competitive and demanding nature of the legal profession is well-known, as is the statistic that lawyers have a high proclivity for alcohol and substance abuse, depression, suicide and high burnout rates.

How do you deal with these issues that law school may not have prepared you for?

As with each new year, we enter 2020 with renewed focus, clarity and a vision of what lies ahead for the legal profession. While I have not been practicing for long, I want to share some tips that have helped me along the way.

MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF. Carve out time to indulge in a personal hobby, whether it’s exercising, catching up on your favorite TV show, crafting, staying rooted in your spirituality — whatever it is you like to do. Just clear your mind and try not to think about whatever work problems you may be facing.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES. No one is perfect. There isn’t an attorney out there that hasn’t made a mistake.

Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from honing your skills and perfecting your craft. The key is not to let the mistake make or break you, but to learn and grow from it.

FIND A MENTOR. A mentor can be vital to the success of your legal career.

A good mentor can share their personal experiences, trials, and tribulations and provide priceless advice on avoiding or working through potential career pitfalls.

Whatever issue or problem may arise, an experienced and open mentor has probably gone through it before and can provide invaluable insight.

CONFIDE IN YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND LOVED ONES. These are the people who have championed you since the very beginning. They have loved and supported you for years and only want to see you succeed, so don’t be afraid to confide in them.

RUN YOUR OWN RACE. Theodore Roosevelt is credited with saying, “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Don’t compare yourself to your law school classmates or other associates in your firm. Run your own race and perfect your craft. There is a lesson in everything that you do.

I truly believe our generation can be the generation to effect positive change in our profession, and I believe we all have greatness in us, but we must first take care of ourselves. WBF

YLD NEWS PRESIDENT JEREMY R. WILLIAMS PRESIDENT-ELECT KENDRA N. STARK TREASURER STACY S. LITTLE

YLD SOCIALS 2ND THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH FEBRUARY 13 | LITTLE CITY BREWING MARCH 12 | TOBACCO ROAD APRIL 9 | NEUSE RIVER BREWING

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Pictured L-R: Carmelle Alipio (Teague Campbell), Lindsay Underwood (Teague Campbell), YLD Public Service Co-Chair Carly Baker (New Directions Family Law), Kimberly Dixon (Ragsdale Liggett), Mary Kathryn Kurth (Edwards Kirby), Dan Strong (Teague Campbell)

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED AND VOLUNTEERED FOR THE 2019 YLD CLOTHING DRIVE! More than 90 bags of clothing, shoes and bedding were sorted and given to local charity organizations including House of Mercy Clothing Closet, First Baptist Church on Salisbury, Helping Hand Mission and Note in the Pocket. Special thanks to 2019 YLD Public Service Co-Chairs Connor Crews and Carly Baker for organizing everything!

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2020 VISION FOR A 21ST CENTURY LAW PRACTICE

BY CAMILLE STELL | PRESIDENT & CEO, LAWYERS MUTUAL CONSULTING & SERVICES

THE MERE MENTION OF CHANGE causes us to feel discomfort. Yet change has us hurtling towards a new future in law firms.

Twenty-first century clients will drive a revolution in the delivery of legal services. Clients will demand transparency, innovative problem solving and client teams that can deliver timely results at appropriate pricing.

Twenty-first century lawyers will rely on a more modern skill set that includes collaboration, change management, cultural competency, leadership, project management, business acumen, high risk tolerance, technology, social networking, communication, presentation and delivery, effective team building and problem solving.

Today’s law students and next generation lawyers expect alternatives to the traditional workplace and work style.

I predict this collision of forces will result in clients, lawyers, legal professionals and business innovators who are allies rather than adversaries and creative solutions will abound.

There are small steps you can take today to build a law firm for the future.

START THE CONVERSATION IN YOUR LAW FIRM. Do you have a long-range planning or strategic planning committee? If not, form one. At your next partners meeting or law firm retreat, talk about what the future is going to look like and how you are going to get there. If you are a solo practitioner, you are the long-range planning committee. Schedule time to identify goals and action items that move your firm forward.

Camille Stell is the president of Lawyers Mutual Consulting & Services. Continue this conversation by contacting Camille at camille@ lawyersmutualnc.com or 800.662.8843.

COLLABORATE WITH EVERYONE IN YOUR FIRM. Traditionally, there are separate roles for lawyers and everyone else. Recognize that there are professionals without a law degree who can bring strategy and process to better your firm. Conversations should extend beyond partners meetings and include associates and other legal professionals in the firm. If you need to add to your team, you should consider hiring for new skill sets, such as business development or strategic planning.

BUILD A NETWORK OUTSIDE OF LEGAL. Have coffee or lunch with your business and professional friends from other industries and ask what they are doing to address changes in their professions.

THINK LIKE A BUSINESS OWNER. Train yourself to think in a new way by exposing yourself to new ideas. Subscribe to “Fast Company” or “The Harvard Business Review.” Explore the world of podcasts and listen to some of the brightest business minds share their tips for building sustainable businesses. Subscribe to podcasts such as StartUp, Skimm’d from the Couch, How I Built This or WorkLife with Adam Grant. Look for help outside your law firm by hiring consultants, coaches or business professionals to enhance the skill set of your lawyers.

READ, ATTEND, STUDY. Show up where people are talking about things you don’t typically hear at the local bar meeting. Attend the 2020 Clio Conference in San Diego, October 15-16 or the ABA Legal Tech Show in Chicago, February 26-29. Or, on a local level, join the Legal Marketing Association’s Raleigh city group for monthly networking events.

“IT’S ALL HAPPENING.” This is a quote from one of my favorite movie characters, Penny Lane, in one of my favorite movies, “Almost Famous.” While the movie is about rock ’n’ roll, it is also a story of change, a coming-of-age adventure. In some ways, law is having a coming-of-age moment. Penny’s quote signifies that everything is falling into place, as if fate brings destiny to its ultimate fruition. In today’s changing legal market, lawyers cannot afford to be complacent. The tools are available and the future is here — it’s all happening. WBF

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2019 IN REVIEW

6 WCBA SOCIALS, 12 YLD SOCIALS

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! 712 WEST NORTH ST.

RECORD-SETTING BAR AWARDS RAISED $127,500 FOR OUR FRIENDS AT LEGAL AID OF NC!

OFFERED MORE THAN 40 HOURS OF CLE

PROVIDED MORE THAN 60 HOURS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES

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2019 IN REVIEW 50-YEAR LAWYERS IN 2019, WE RECOGNIZED 20 WAKE COUNTY LAWYERS CELEBRATING THEIR 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEING LICENSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

William E. Anderson McDaniel & Anderson LLP

Garland L. Askew Dement Askew LLP

Chief Justice Burley B. Mitchell Jr.

Paul Lennon Cranfill Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP

Robert F. Paige Crisp Page & Currin LLP

John Hill Parker Cheshire Parker Schneider & Bryan

Chief Justice Sarah E. Parker

William H. Potter Jr. Sink & Potter LLP

Howard P. Satisky Satisky & Silverstein LLP

John L. Shaw

James Peeler Smith

Judge A. T. Small

Samuel O. Southern Fox Rothschild LLP

Charles P. Wilkins Broughton Wilkins Sugg & Thompson PLLC

Frank Alton Russell

David C. Worth Jr.

NOT PICTURED: James G. Billings, Andrew S. Martin

Thomas C. Worth Jr.

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Samuel T. Wyrick III Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP

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2019 IN REVIEW 2019 WAKE BAR AWARDS SETS A NEW RECORD

BY SEAN DRISCOLL | DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS, LEGAL AID OF NORTH CAROLINA

VICTOR BOONE, senior managing attorney of our Raleigh office, holds a check for the record-breaking total raised for the 2019 Wake Bar Awards, the Wake County Bar Association’s annual fundraiser for Legal Aid of North Carolina. A significant portion of this year’s haul came from contributions to Cindy’s Fund, established by John Sarratt (standing next to Victor) of Harris Sarratt & Hodges, LLP, in honor of his late wife, Cindy Wittmer of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP. At left is Kimberly Turner Miller, chair of the 2019 Bar Awards Committee. At right is Heidi Bloom of Wyrick Robbins, the event’s Firm of the Year supporter.

MEMBERS OF THE WAKE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION AND THE TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT BAR RAISED A RECORD-BREAKING $129,492 for Legal Aid of North Carolina as part of this year’s Wake Bar Awards, the Wake County legal community’s annual fundraiser to support our mission.

This year’s haul is the largest amount ever raised at the event, which was first held in 2008, and is the largest amount brought in by any fundraiser for Legal Aid in recent memory.

Victor Boone, senior managing attorney of our Raleigh office, accepted a check for the proceeds at a bar luncheon on December 3. The awards event was held October 23 at the NC Museum of History.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Wake County Bar Association for organizing this event, and to all the attorneys who turned out to make it the huge success that it always is,” said Victor Boone, senior managing attorney of Legal Aid’s Raleigh office. “Every year, the generosity of this community allows us to serve many more clients than we otherwise could. Your support protects victims of domestic violence, saves families from eviction and homelessness, defends senior citizens from financial exploitation, and much more. We sincerely thank you.”

A significant portion of this year’s haul came via donations to Cindy’s Fund, established by John Sarratt of Harris Sarratt & Hodges, LLP, in honor of his late wife, Cindy Wittmer of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP. “Cindy Wittmer was an exemplary member of the legal profession and a great friend to Legal Aid,” said George R. Hausen, Jr., executive director of Legal Aid of North Carolina. “Her commitment to social justice was inspiring. We are honored that her colleagues in the Wake County legal community are giving us the opportunity to carry out that commitment in her name. We thank John Sarratt and all of our supporters for their generosity.”

Special thanks to Wyrick Robbins, the event’s Firm of the Year sponsor, and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the Community Sponsor of the year.

The need for our work continues to be great in Wake County. Roughly a quarter of county residents are poor enough to qualify for at least some of our services, yet current funding levels permit us to serve only a fraction of those in need. This “justice gap” is plainly evident every day at the Wake County Courthouse, where tenants are routinely evicted without legal representation, domestic violence victims seek protective orders pro se, and others are forced to navigate our complex judicial system without expert help. WBF BECOME A SPONSOR TODAY AND HELP US SET ANOTHER RECORD WITH THE 2020 BAR AWARDS! MULTIPLE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE. CONTACT BAR AWARDS SPONSORHIPS CHAIRS JOHN WARD (JWARD@YMWLAW.COM) AND DAVID BOAZ (DAVID.BOAZ@REPLACEMENTS.COM) FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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2019 IN REVIEW THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 BAR AWARDS SPONSORS FIRM OF THE YEAR Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton

Frye Law Offices Gammon, Howard & Zeszotarski, PLLC Howard Stallings From Atkins Angell & Davis PA Janvier Law Firm The Jernigan Law Firm Lesnik Family Law McCollum Law, PC McGuireWoods LLP Nichols Choi & Lee PLLC Nicholls & Crampton, P.A. Safran Law Offices Satisky & Silverstein LLP C McMillan Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLP Troutman Sanders LLP Vitale Family Law Wall Templeton & Haldrup PA Ward and Smith, PA Whiteman Law Firm Whitfield Bryson & Mason, LLP

SUPREME ADVOCATES K&L Gates LLP Morningstar Law Group SUPERIOR ADVOCATES Manning Fulton & Skinner PA Owens & Miller PLLC Raleigh Divorce Law Firm Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP Tharrington Smith LLP Weatherspoon & Voltz LLP Yates McLamb & Weyher LLP TRIAL LAWYERS, DEAL LAWYERS AND REAL LAWYERS Abrams & Abrams, PA Anders Newton PLLC Bailey & Dixon, LLP Edwards Kirby LLP Everett Gaskins Hancock LLP Graebe Hanna & Sullivan PLLC Hardison & Cochran Holt Sherlin LLP Jackson Family Law Lynch & Eatman, LLP Millberg Gordon & Stewart PLLC Miller Monroe & Plyler, PLLC Monroe Wallace & Morden PA Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Parker Bryan Britt & Tanner, PLLC Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP Polsinelli PC Rosen Law Firm Stauff, Gross & Privette PLLC The Sanderson Law Firm Wake Family Law Group Womble Bond Dickinson LLP Young Moore & Henderson PA

COMMUNITY SPONSOR OF THE YEAR NC Advocates for Justice PLATINUM SPONSORS Campbell University School of Law Lawyers Mutual SILVER SPONSORS CaseWorks, A Veritext Company Morehead Title Company Settlement Planning Services - Tacker LeCarpentier BRONZE SPONSORS Maiolo Investigations Noteworthy Reporting Services, LLC Sterling Title Company INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS Anna Davis Nicolette Fulton Jefferson & Katye Griffin Pam Keenan (Kirschbaum Nanney Keenan & Griffin)

BAR STARS Adams Howell Sizemore & Lenfesty Allen Moore Rogers Barwick Mediatin Blanchard Miller Lewis & Isley Brown, Crump, Vanore & Tierney, LLP Jacqueline R. Clare, DRC Superior Court Certified Mediator Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP

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2019 IN REVIEW CINDY’S FUND

THANK YOU TO OUR 2019 BAR AWARDS SPONSORS - CINDY'S FUND Catharine Arrowood Ron and Susan Aycock H. Clifford & Mary Baggett Patti Bartis Jeffrey A. Batts John & Carolyn Beard Steven & Dorothy Bernholz Bill and Eileen Blancato Brandon Bordeaux George Brady Ashley Brathwaite Walter Brock LeAnn Nease Brown & Charles Gordon Brown Lynn P. Burleson Jay Butler Colleen Louise Byers Bill Bystrynski Henry Campen Kevin Chignell Ran Coble & Jane Kendall Stephen D. Coggins Betty S. Cowan Catherine Clodfelter Colleen Coleman Neal Cook & Joy Hord Brian Cromwell Michael Crook Mr. Auley M. Crouch, III & Karen P. Crouch Jody R. Darden Brian Darer Melanie Dubis Bartina Edwards Joy Edwards Steve Epstein Peggy R. & James T. Fain Simpson Fant Bill and Linda Farthing Sarah Ford Michelle Frazier Sheryl Friedrichs Global Collaborative Law Council Bettie H. Goodwin Jane Gray Kimberly Grande Tom Griffin Al Guarnieri Spencer Guld Nan Hannah Aida Doss Havel Amanda Hayes Jason Herndon

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Kay Hobart A. Lee Hogewood, III Graham and Jane Holding David Holm Michael & Debra Hostetter Robert B. & Margaret H. Hunt Bob and Susan Hunter Deborah Hylton Lucy Inman Ray Jones Shannon Joseph Ellen Devereux Joslin Rebecca Joyner The Kastner-Davis Charitable Fund Nancy Holland Kerr Russell Killen Meghan Knight Betsy and Steve Levitas Steven Lowry Maria Lynch Greer and Chuck Lysaght Mac McCarley Terri McGaughey Judge Linda McGee Barbara B. Weyher & Dan McLamb Caryn McNeill John McTyeire Molly Martinson Martha J. Mason William G. Mason, Jr. & Laura H. Mason Charles Meeker Robert Meynardie Jason and Kimberly Miller Alice Neece Mine John Mitchell Jody Moore Fred M. Morelock Mary Morgan Jacob Morse MaryAnne Murray Charles Neely John O’Neil John W. Ong John Ormond Will Owens Bill & Debbie Pappas The Honorable Sarah Parker Janet and Carl Patterson Family Fund Stacey Phipps Dr. James M. Poole & Lillian M. Poole Karen M. & Joseph C. Porter

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Raleigh Neurology Associates, P.A. Charles Raynal James and Kimball Rice Anita RichardsonJulie Richardson Elizabeth Riley Frank L. & Andrea Roediger Morgan Rogers Theresa Rosenberg Katherine Ross Todd Rubin John Sarratt Patrick Schell Jamie Schwedler Senter Stephenson Johnson, PA Lynne Piper Shackelford Ruth Sheehan Frank Silber Hannah Silver Marguerite M. Silver John M. Silverstein Genevieve Sims Janata Sims Nicole B. Slaughter S. Kyle Woosley & Mary Nelle Smith Bettie and David Sousa Mark A. Springfield Hugh Stevens Gray Styers Lynn Sullivan Bruce Thompson Whitney von Haam Cathy Ward Margaret Westbrook Cindy and John Wieland Danae Christina Woodward Stacy Wood Maureen Zyglis

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2019 IN REVIEW WAKE COUNTY HOLIDAY PARTY 2019

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Bonnie Thompspn Russell Thornton | Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, Inc. Geoffrey Tilford Aidan Toland | The Law Office of Aidan Toland, PLLC Anna Claire Turpin | Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers LLP Charles Vail | Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo LLP Kathryn Van Tol Aaron Vodicka | NC Judicial Fellowship John Whittington | Hardison & Cochran PLLC Tallah Wilson | Dauntless Discovery Jennifer Ashton Landis Barber | Sanfran Law Offices Michael Boykin | Michael A. Boykin, Attorney at Law, PLLC Kevin Butterfield | NC Department of Commerce Jonnell Carpenter | Campbell Law School Patrick Clare | Holder Padgett Littlejohn & Pricket, LLC Katelyn Dryden Rebecca Eden | Legal Aid of NC Lucy Edmonson | Public Staff - North Carolina Utilities Commission Tanisha Folks Elizabeth Forrest | NC Department of Justice Davis Fussell | Smith Anderson Blount Dorsett Mitchell & Jernigan LLP Felicia Hoover Samuel Kellum | Dauntless Discovery Kathleen Kerr Tyson Leonhardy | Williams Mullen Catherine Matoian | North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission Truth McDavid | McDavid Law PLLC Janet Miller Michael Morrison | Bailey & Dixon LLP James O’Neill | Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP Joseph Parker | Solo Practitioner Michele Pennington | The Law Office of Chelly Pennington Anderson Pinto | Pinto Coates Kyre & Bowers PLLC Tara Polston Robert Rader | Miller Monroe & Plyler PLLC William Ramos Patrick Scott | Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLP Megan Shook Ames Simmons | Equality North Carolina McKensie Skeens Ayeshinaye Smith | Smith Dominguez, PLLC Jonathan Speight | The Speight Law Firm PC Tatiana Terry | Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo LLP Cory Tischbein | NC Prisoner Legal Services Luke Tompkins | Ward and Smith PA Robert Tucci Wesleigh Vick | Howard, Stallings, From, Atkins, Angell & Davis PA Graham Whittington | Brooks Pierce McLendon Humphrey & Leonard LLP James Wyatt | ProVantage Corporate Solutions, LLC

Sarah Abdelmessih | Legal Aid of NC Agatha Akers Carmelle Alipio | Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLP Elliott Andrews | Anders Newton, PLLC Sage Boyd Abigail Breedlove | Adams Howell Sizemore & Lenfestey PA Joseph Brewer | Joseph B. Brewer PC Kayla Britt Elizabeth Brown | McCullers Whitaker & Hamer PLLC Rachel Brunswig Caitlin Bush | McCullers Whitaker & Hamer PLLC Drew Erdmier | PRA Health Sciences Josef Ewendt Emily Fertig Montgomery Fletcher Charisma Fozard Zachary Goldberg | PRA Health Sciences Samuel Gray Markham Gunter | The Gunter Law Firm, PLLC Shannon Gurwitch | Henson & Fuerst PA Cherell Harris | Duke Human Vaccine Institute Erich Howard Tayler Hudson | Marzella Law Group Torrie Humphreys Matthew Jackson | The Law Corner Jackie Keener | The Bishop Law Firm Katherine Kelly Kori Klustaitis | Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP Elizabeth Lane | Ellis & Winters LLP Adam Langino | Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC Lenore Livingston Carlos Manzano | Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP Alexia Martin | Montgomery Family Law Geoffrey McIver Jonathan Miller | UnitedLex Jonathan Patton Linda Rocchetti | City of Raleigh Alexander Ruzzier | Dauntless Discovery Carlton Ryals Michael Schietzelt | John Locke Foundation Patrick Scott | Teague Campbell Dennis & Gorham LLP Taylor Scruggs-Smith | McCullers Whitaker & Hamer PLLC Matthew Sellers Djaouida Siaci Joseph Silva | Credit Suisse Madison Skeens Sarah Skinner | Adams Howell Sizemore & Adams PA Tyler Stiles | McGrath Danielson Sorrell & Fuller Miranda Tarlton Ashley Terrazas | Fox Rothschild LLP Philip Thomas

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WCBA MEMBER NEWS Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP (CSH Law) announced that Josh Hiller has joined its Raleigh office in an Of Counsel role. He will focus his practice in the area of Business Disputes & Litigation and Professional Liability, Defense.

Stephanie Gaston Poley, a partner at Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP (CSH Law), was elected to membership in the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC).

FDCC membership is by nomination only and must be approved by the organization’s Board of Directors. There are 1,400 members from the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe and Puerto Rico.

Poyner Spruill LLP, is pleased to announce partner Mike McIntyre was named Lawyer of the Year during North Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2019 Leaders in the Law awards ceremony in October. Three Poyner Spruill lawyers — McIntyre, Saad Gul, and Kelsey Mayo — were recognized in the 2019 class of Leaders in the Law, more than any other firm or legal organization in the state.

Smith Anderson has been recognized as a leader in client service for the fifth year in a row by the BTI Client Service A-Team 2020, ranked as a “Standout” firm for both investing in client relationships and client-facing communication.

the Corporate/Strategic Deal of the Year ($10-$25 million) and was a finalist for the Healthcare and Life Sciences Deal of the Year ($10-$100 million) and M&A Deal of the Year ($10-$25 million) categories.

Smith Debnam has announced the addition of veteran bankruptcy and creditors’ rights attorney Ron Jones to the firm, with plans to open an office in Charleston, South Carolina in early February.

Jones joins Smith Debnam as a partner and will concentrate his practice and over 30 years of experience in the areas of commercial law and bankruptcy litigation, including all areas of creditors’ rights.

Tharrington Smith LLP is pleased to share that Alice Stubbs has been admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Alice made the trip to Washington, DC with a group of friends and alumni from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Triangle Smart Divorce is pleased to announce the addition of attorney Lisa LeFante to their legal team, effective September 1, 2019. Lisa practices in a wide variety of family law areas, including divorce, child custody, child support, equitable distribution, alimony, paternity, and pre-marital and post-marital agreements.

Williams Mullen is pleased to announce that 13 attorneys have been named to Business North Carolina magazine’s 2019 Legal Elite. Business: M. Keith Kapp, Aaron G. Spencer; Construction: Gilbert C. “Gib” Laite, III; Employment: Michael C. Lord, Edward S. Schenk, III; Intellectual Property: Richard T. “Rick” Matthews, Andrew R. “Drew” Shores, Robert C. “Rob” Van Arnam; Litigation: Elizabeth Davenport Scott; Young Guns (Under 40): Jennifer A. Morgan.

In addition, M. Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Davenport Scott were inducted into the Legal Elite Hall of Fame as the top vote-getters in their respective categories.

Williams Mullen has also received four National First-Tier and 71 Metropolitan First-Tier rankings in the 2020 edition of the U.S. News-Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” report. Nationally, the firm’s Banking and Finance, Construction, Construction Litigation and Trusts & Estates practices received Tier 1 rankings.

Tyson Leonhardt has joined the firm as an associate in the Business & Corporate section.

Amber Duncan has been recognized as one of 100 Women Who Inspire Us by the American Bar Association (ABA). She was honored at the 2019 ABA Women in Litigation Joint CLE Conference in Chicago, November 13-15.

Womble Bond Dickinson is pleased to announce that nine attorneys, including three in their Raleigh office, have been named to Business North Carolina magazine’s 2019 Legal Elite. Construction: Liz LeVan Riley; Tax/Estate Planning: Elie J. Foy, Larry Moye. WBF

The 18th Annual M&A Advisor Awards named Smith Anderson as a winner for its role representing client CiVentiChem in its acquisition

by Sterling Pharma Solutions. This transaction won

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