Advance Lawyers

J. Thomas West, Attorney at Law, graduated cum laude and ranked second in his graduating class from Campbell University School of Law. While in law school he received the Corpus Juris Secundum Award for outstanding scholastic achievement; Am Jur Book Awards for Contracts, Wills, Trusts, Federal Estate Taxation and Federal Gift Taxation; Campbell School of Law Academic Scholarship; was awarded the J. Shepherd Bryan Scholarship; was a candidate member of the Campbell Law Review, a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He performed his undergraduate studies at Campbell also, where...

Christina E. Lollar is the founder of The Lollar Law Firm, PLLC located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ms. Lollar brings a dedicated, innovative and individualized approach to the representation of each and every client. She currently concentrates her practice in civil litigation, criminal law, college student defense and employment law. At The Lollar Law Firm clients will find a high degree of sophistication and professionalism combined with a genuine commitment to helping people face personal, legal and business challenges. The Lollar Law Firm specializes in civil litigation, criminal law, collections, college student defense, and employment...

Ever since I was a young child and even through college, I have personally witnessed family members and very close friends endure divorce, child custody battles, bankruptcy, civil lawsuits and even fraudulent criminal accusations. I both saw and experienced the stress such events can place on an individual, and I realized that everyone, at some point in their life, needs hope, comfort, and encouragement. In each one of those situations, the person that was best situated to provide that vital support was their lawyer. So that’s why I became an attorney. I understand what you are going through—and...

Joining Brent Adams & Associates in 2004, attorney Vance Jennings is now an owner/partner in the law firm. His practice mostly concentrates on Social Security Disability law, ERISA short and long-term disability claims, and private short and long-term disability claims. Attorney Vance is certified by the NC State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability law. Only a select number of attorneys receive this honor. He is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives. Vance speaks at...

*Education* Ric received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Honors Program at the School of Engineering at North Carolina State University in Raleigh (1973). He received his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1977). *Specialized Training* Ric has augmented his training in advocacy and mediation. In 1996 he was certified to conduct mediated settlement conferences in Superior Court Civil actions. In 1999 he was certified to conduct mediation of equitable distribution and other family financial cases in District Court actions. In 1999 he also completed a professional intensive training program by the National Institute for...

Workers' compensation attorney representing injured workers in and around Charlotte, North Carolina since 1993. Offering free consultations and accepting cases on a contingency fee basis.

With an engineering degree and MBA, I started my career as an in-house consultant in the aerospace industry. After a few years I transitioned to engineering and consulting positions in other industries. Eventually I returned to college for a law degree and have been a courtroom lawyer for more than 20 years.

Michael P. Thomas, Partner of the Firm, focuses his practice on advising and representing clients on complex business issues, especially in dealing with the regulatory environments created by the federal government. In litigation, Mr. Thomas has represented clients at hearings, trials, and appeals across the state and around the country. Away from court, he has advised clients on their most sensitive matters, whether selling an entire business, negotiating executive contracts, restructuring significant divisions, or acquiring new assets. Mr. Thomas represents health care providers in all aspects of their business, including contracting with vendors and other providers, financing, acquisitions, Stark and...

Michael J. Barnett is a partner with the Firm. He represents corporations and individuals, plaintiffs and defendants, in a wide variety of litigation matters in the areas of Business/Commercial Litigation, Estate and Trust Proceedings, Will Caveats, Incompetency and Guardianship Proceedings, Family Law, Real Estate and Construction Litigation, Collections, Plaintiff’s Personal Injury, and Bankruptcy-Creditors’ Rights. Mike has represented clients throughout the state in more than 20 trials, at arbitration proceedings and at the North Carolina Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and Business Court. He was named one of North Carolina’s Rising Stars for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 in...

Morenike Omole is the Founder of Omole Law Office. She is a Maryland licensed attorney who is very passionate about immigration and Naturalization law. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia, and later earned her Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law. Attorney Omole is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, and Maryland Bar Association. She is fully licensed to represent clients before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Courts, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. She has experience handling a...

Christian Ayers has been fighting for the rights of injured workers with the firm since 2014. On a typical day, Christian litigates cases before the North and South Carolina Industrial Commissions, takes client meetings and phone calls, and drafts court filings to get weekly payments and medical treatment for his clients. Christian was recently recognized by his peers and selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for 2019 and for 2020. This selection is based off of an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition and professional achievement in legal practice. He primarily assists injured persons with Workers’...

I became a juvenile lawyer by accident but quickly discovered that this area of the law captured both my heart and brain. I practiced exclusively in juvenile court for over ten years.

I began representing children accused of breaking the law in order to ensure that they had a voice and were heard. Whatever the outcome in court, when children are given a voice and are heard, they begin to trust and feel respected and empowered. It is important to remember that "delinquents" are children, with undeveloped brains, and they and their families need to be shepherded through the court...

I am a Board Certified Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar in both State Criminal Law and Federal Criminal Law. Multiple times I have been selected by Super Lawyers and by Business North Carolina Magazine as Legal Elite. Also, I have selected by peer review in Best Lawyers in America in 2 different categories - White Collar Criminal Defense and Non-White Collar Criminal Defense. I have been practicing law since 1978 and seen just about every kind of case and client.

I am a State Bar Councilor at The North Carolina State Bar (the regulatory agency of all lawyers in...

James obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration with concentration in Trust Management from Campbell University in May, 1986. Prior to attending law school, James was a Personal Banker and Assistant Branch Manager with Wachovia Bank. He then obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1990 from Samford University, Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama. After working with another law firm for approximately two years, James started his own law firm in 1993, representing clients in almost every county of North Carolina. Vann Attorneys currently has attorneys who handle creditors’ rights, unmanned aircraft systems, construction litigation, contract law, business planning, business...

Kimberly H. Whitley, Managing Partner of the Firm, concentrates her practice in Business and Corporate Law, Estate Planning and Administration, and Elder and Special Needs Law. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. She received her undergraduate degree (B.A., 1990) with Honors and Distinction and a law degree (J.D., 1993) with High Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an undergraduate, Kim was a John M. Morehead Scholar, National Merit Scholar, and a Phi Beta Kappa member. During law school, she was a Staff Member of the North Carolina Law Review...

Marc E. Gustafson attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Political Science and Secondary Education in 1997. Mr. Gustafson received his law degree in 2001 from Indiana University. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Gustafson joined the law firm of Alston & Bird, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia. Alston & Bird is a national law firm with more than 900 lawyers and is recognized as one of the top law firms in the country. At Alston & Bird, Mr. Gustafson...

Jim Hickmon assists clients with wealth transfer, estate planning, trust, tax, and probate law issues. He also works with clients to resolve trust and estate related disputes, including representing beneficiaries and fiduciaries in litigated matters. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Committees on Estate Planning and Employee Benefits and is Vice Chair of the ABA’s Probate & Real Property Section’s Uniform Acts Committee for Trusts and Estates. He is a Council member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Section on Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law and also sits on the Section’s Legislative and Fiduciary...

Kelly was born and raised in North Carolina, and currently lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina with her wife and daughter. Kelly has worked with the seriously mentally ill, at risk youth, troubled families, domestic violence aggressors and victims and as an intake counselor for a four county area in NC. She has extensive training as a mediator As an attorney, she has represented defendants with serious felony offenses through negotiated pleas or jury trials to verdict. She has represented a wide variety of clients in negotiated and litigated family law matters and believes that negotiation should always be pursued...

My name is Laura C. Rivers, and I assist families living in North Carolina and South Carolina to create their comprehensive estate planning documents. I also help families navigate through the probate process after a loved one passes away. The estate planning and probate can be a time-consuming and intimidating process. At the same time, you know you need to do it, and perhaps it is something that has been lingering on your to-do list for far too long. Planning for yourself and for your family is one of the most important steps you can take...

Attorney Jack G. Lezman is a bankruptcy & Social Security Disability lawyer who proudly serves the residents of Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Grand Rapids Michigan and he earned his Bachelor’s Degree at Michigan State University. Attorney Lezman then attended the University of Dayton where he obtained his Juris Degree in 1995 and he was admitted to practice law in the state of North Carolina. Jack Lezman has been practicing law for over 15 years and he is dedicated to protecting the rights of people who are struggling financially. If you are overwhelmed with debt or you are...

Steve Hayes was born in Winston-Salem, NC in 1965. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1988 and his JD degree from Campbell University School of Law in 1991. Throughout his career, Steve has focused on personal injury and worker's compensation law, authoring a chapter on ad valorem taxation for the Minister's Legal Desk Reference. He has practiced law in Charlotte since 1991, and continues to be a trusted legal resource for individuals and businesses across North Carolina. Steve has extensive experience representing clients who have been involved in a wide range of accidents,...

I am the senior shareholder of Gorman & Associates, P.A., a five attorney firm located in Ballantyne Corporate Park in the southern suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina. I practice in the areas of Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, and Estate and Trust Administration. I also work with small and medium sized businesses in forming corporations and LLC's, mergers, acquisitions, and workouts. In the commercial real estate area, I assist with everything from lease reviews to apartment and shopping center development.

Gibbons Law Group, PLLC is a Charlotte NC employment and disability law firm representing clients throughout the state of North Carolina. We assist employees who are owed overtime and unpaid wages, as well as individuals who have suffered wrongful discharge, retaliation, and harassment. We also help people whose long term disability benefits are denied by insurance companies.

Amanda D. Phillips Roux is a seasoned attorney, licensed to practice in both Georgia and North Carolina, with nearly two decades of legal experience in personal injury, probate law, contract law, and general civil litigation. Known for her honest communication and client-first approach, Attorney Roux has successfully represented clients in complex litigation and settlement negotiations. With offices based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Charlotte, North Carolina, Attorney Roux is dedicated to achieving justice for her clients by combining a sharp legal strategy and empathetic guidance.

In 1997, Attorney Lee Schwilm founded his bankruptcy law firm, Schwilm Law Firm, PLLC. Since then, he has been devoted to helping individuals get their life back on track by helping them obtain relief from their debts. Over the last 15 years, Mr. Schwilm has successfully handled thousands of bankruptcy cases. To learn more about working with Attorney Schwilm and the counsel he may be able to provide you with, be sure to contact the firm today!

Deirdre A. Farrington is a family law attorney and NCDRC-certified family financial mediator in Boone, North Carolina. She accepts cases in Watauga County and surrounding counties, including Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Mitchell and Yancey Counties. She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the Watauga County Bar Association, the Virginia State Bar, and the Florida Bar Association.

Kellie Mannette has been dedicated to defending the rights of the accused her entire career. As a law student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she was the co-president of the Innocence Project. While interning at the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence, Ms. Mannette investigated post-conviction claims of innocence. Additionally, Ms. Mannette interned at the Wake County Public Defender’s Office, assisting in the representation of indigent individuals in district court. Ms. Mannette defended juveniles in delinquency proceedings while completing the Juvenile Justice Clinic. After graduating from law school, Ms. Mannette joined the Fair Trial Initiative as an...

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I help new and established businesses solve their legal challenges. My practice includes entity formation, corporate documentation, drafting and negotiating contracts and leases, and general corporate counsel. I also represent businesses and individuals in litigation in the state and federal courts throughout North Carolina.

Eva Freeman was born in upstate New York and raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Tau Delta honor societies. Eva consistently made the Dean's List and Chancellor's List, graduating summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. After obtaining her paralegal certificate from Duke University, she worked as a paralegal in family law, where she discovered her passion for helping clients navigate challenging situations. Eva then pursued her Juris Doctor at The University...

Corey McManus was born in Monroe, North Carolina where he attend Monroe High School and graduated in 1994. Corey attended the University of North Carolina Central in Durham, North Carolina on an academic scholarship. At North Carolina Central he majored in Political Science and minored in English and graduated with Honors in 1998. He then attended Law School at Campbell University as a Campbell Law Scholar and Robert A. Dyer Scholar. While there, Corey was a Campbell Law Observer Case Writer, competitor in the Judge Conrad Duberstein National Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers member and...

Annie Edmond is licensed to practice law in Florida and North Carolina. She is committed to the idea that no one should be lost in the shuffle of justice and continuously strives to advocate for her clients. Ms. Edmond is continuously involved in the community by assisting in pro bono efforts through Legal Aid, Justice Mattes and Wills for Heroes. Ms. Edmond received her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School and her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Florida. While in law school, she was an active member of the Public Interest Law Organization,...