“In my view, there is no greater honor
than to have a person who is facing a
significant life crisis come to me and
ask me to represent him or her.”
I have been a trial lawyer for more than 40 years. Throughout my professional career, I have represented individuals faced with significant, personal crises – serious injury, the death of a loved one, loss of a job, financial loss, breakup of a marriage or deprivation of fundamental rights. Helping people deal with these difficult issues is the reason I became a lawyer. I grew up in upstate New York. I came to North Carolina to attend Duke University in the late 60’s and never went back. I graduated from Duke in 1972, spent a few years in the U.S. Army, and returned to Duke Law School, graduating in 1977. While at Duke Law, I served as the Article Editor of the Duke Law Journal (which is a big deal in law school, but doesn’t mean much when you enter the real world).
My law practice has taken me to most of the counties in the State, and I have tried more than 50 cases to verdict. I had the privilege of serving as the President of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, North Carolina’s trial lawyer association, in 2009 – 2010. I’ve also served as an adjunct professor at Wake Forest Law School for 20+ years, and spent a semester teaching legal writing at University College Cork in Ireland.
While I appreciate the recognition of my peers – I am listed in Best Lawyers in America and North Carolina Super Lawyers and was rated as an AV Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell – my greatest satisfaction comes from successfully resolving a deserving client’s dispute and knowing that I have assisted him or her in overcoming a personal tragedy.
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Duke University, 1972
- Juris Doctor, Duke University School of Law, 1977
- Adjunct Professor, Wake Forest Law School
- Teacher, Legal Writing, University College Cork, Ireland
AWARDS:
- Super Lawyers: 2006, 2008-2023
- AV Preeminent Lawyer, Martindale-Hubbell
- Best Lawyers in America
MEMBERSHIP/LEADERSHIP:
- President, North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- North Carolina State Trial Lawyer Association, 2009-2010