Columbus County Lawyers

With more than fifteen years of litigation experience, Caleb brings a broad base of legal knowledge to every single client encounter. Representative clients during that time include individuals, families, small businesses, and even large national corporations. Caleb integrates his keen understanding of human interactions with the complexities of legal matters to ensure effective and equitable results.

Jason is a 1993 graduate of Oak Ridge Military Academy. From there, he attended The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in business administration in 1997. Jason attended Cumberland School of Law, at Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama where he received his Juris Doctorate in 2000. He has been a member of the North Carolina State Bar since 2001. Jason has practiced law full time in the Iredell County and surrounding areas since 2001 and joined the firm of Gottholm, Ralston and Benton, PLLC in 2014. Jason practices primarily in...

Martin is a partner at Gottholm, Ralston and Benton, PLLC. In almost 20 years of practicing law, his experience includes roles as an assistant District Attorney and District Court Judge. Martin practices primarily in the area of criminal defense. He has represented clients on charges ranging from speeding tickets to first degree murder. Having been a former Judge and Prosecutor has brought Martin a varied perspective and wealth of experience as a criminal defense Attorney. That experience is both recognized by his peers and appreciated by his clients. You will find no one more zealous and committed to advocating on...

Born in Shelby, NC July 18, 1978. I grew up in Kings Mountain, NC. Appalachian State University, 2002; University of South Carolina School of Law, 2008. Member: North Carolina Bar Association; Iredell County Bar Association Bio: I taught US History for three years at Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia North Carolina. During my time as a teacher, I also coached the boys and girls soccer teams and participated in other school activities. I am an avid Appalachian State football fan and enjoy traveling to Boone, NC for the games. ...

I am a North Carolina native who was born in Marion, but grew up in Rutherfordton. While I was truly blessed to be raised in a loving, caring, and stable home, I realized at a young age that not everyone had that opportunity and always had a heart to help my friends who were hurting. Upon graduating high school, I began working with my father who has a real estate office in Bat Cave, North Carolina, while at the same time, attending Gardner-Webb University. I was seeking what direction to go with my career. At the...

Solo Attorney focusing on Family/domestic law and real estate law providing prompt, professional, courteous service since 1996.

Matthew Damon Byerley was born and raised in Alexander County, graduating from Alexander Central High School in 2003. Matthew is a 2007 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. He obtained his law degree from Elon University School of Law in 2011. While at Elon Law, Matthew concentrated his studies in general practice and litigation. He became a licensed attorney in North Carolina in August 2011, and has been practicing in Alexander and the surrounding counties since that time. Matthew and his wife, Catherine, also an attorney, reside in Conover, North...

In my years of practice as an attorney, I've learned that everyone wants to be heard and everyone wants to be respected. I take pride in my work and care about my clients. You can learn more about me by reading the reviews that clients have posted about my work. My law firm is focused on misdemeanors, lower level felonies, DWI, and traffic offenses. Call anytime for a free consultation. BAR ADMISSION: North Carolina (2011) MEMBERSHIPS: North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) EDUCATION: Elon University, School of Law, Juris Doctorate UNC-Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Arts

Christopher Layton is a practicing attorney in Charlotte, NC. He assists clients with filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions.

Daniel Christmann is an Immigration Lawyer in Charlotte NC and the owner of Christmann Legal Immigration Law. His international personal and professional background inspired him to implement a unique cosmopolitan approach to the practice of law. Mr. Christmann is dually trained and licensed both in Europe and the United States and fluently speaks both English and German. He has worked in government and corporate settings as well as private practice. His professional experience has taught him to analyze cases from all angles and produce honest work in an efficient manner. Mr. Christmann started his legal career in Germany, where he...

Attorney Winston S. Kirby is a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, an association of legal professionals working to protect people’s rights through the community, education, and advocacy. His areas of practice include wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, trucking accidents, automobile collisions, motorcycle collisions, sexual abuse, and products liability. Winston is an active member of the North Carolina Bar, The Tenth Judicial District Bar, The North Carolina Advocates for Justice, and The Wake County Bar Association. He is a graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., 2011) and Campbell Law School (J.D., 2015). He also...

If you have been accused of a criminal offense in Greenville or the surrounding areas, please contact Attorney Leslie S. Robinson of the Robinson Law Firm, P.A. With over 25 years of experience, Attorney Robinson is a valuable legal advocate to have on your side during these types of situations. He has tried over 2,500 bench and jury trials and has been able to successfully defend countless types of cases. Whether you have been accused of a drug crime, DWI, a traffic offense, or a probation violation, you can rely on Leslie Robinson and his team for the aggressive defense...

John Jensen is an accomplished trial attorney who over the course of his career, has helped his clients achieve record setting recoveries. John dedicates substantial time, energy and resources to helping victims of catastrophic injuries, as well as the families of wrongful death victims, obtain the compensation and justice they deserve. With more than 25 years practicing law, Mr. Jensen possesses sophisticated litigation and trial experience. He can evaluate your situation from every angle to determine the best course of action. During his years of practice, John has represented people who have been critically injured on...

I graduated from Elon University School of Law's charter class in 2009. I eventually made my way back to Carteret County, North Carolina, in 2013. My focus now is primarily on family law, including divorce, custody, spousal support, property division, and domestic violence. I also do some estate planning. When I am not advocating for my clients, I enjoy walks and relaxing on the beach, sports, reading non-legal books, and spending time with my spoiled dog, Curly.

Ava Lynch was born in Boone, North Carolina. In 2001, her family moved to Cary, North Carolina. Ava obtained her undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University and her Law Degree from Campbell University. In August 2017, after a six-year courtship, Ava married her husband, Colby G. Lynch. They live with their two dogs, Dixie and Sophie, in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Ava Lynch, Attorney at Law handles The Bishop Law Firm’s personal injury and worker’s compensation clients. She has appeared before Superior Court Judges in Wake County, Harnett County, Cumberland County, and Pender County. She also has experience in Federal Court....

The Law Office of Cheryl R. Watkins is a boutique estate law practice serving all 100 counties of North Carolina representing individuals, families, and small businesses in the provision of advice, counsel, and results in the following areas of law:

- Estate Administration (Probate Law)
- Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, etc.)
- Business Succession Planning
- Wrongful Death

Attorney Cheryl R. Watkins of The Law Office of Cheryl R. Watkins has a practice concentration in Estate Planning and Probate and has worked in those fields for over 20 years as a former CPA, auditor, Assistant Clerk,...

Now at a new law firm, I continue working with families to develop estate planning documents to provide peace of mind, and also help families with estate administration (probate) after a loved one has passed. I also have a wealth of experience with guardianships, having served as a Guardian ad Litem for Wake County guardianship hearings for over six years. I welcome the opportunity to assist my clients with the difficult process of having a guardian appointed for their loved one. An exciting new area of practice is surplus funds, where we help clients recapture funds resulting from foreclosure of real...

An established law firm based in Midtown Raleigh, Midtown Divorce & Family Law is a family owned domestic litigation practice providing high-quality legal services at affordable rates in the family law areas of separation, divorce, post separation support and alimony, child custody, child support, domestic violence, wills and other estate documents, and appeals.

Mr. Whiteman has represented clients in civil lawsuits and arbitrations for over three decades. The main focus of his practice is the representation of individuals in disputes with securities brokers and disability insurance companies.

Mr. Whiteman is admitted to practice before the federal and state courts in North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Whiteman holds a peer review rating of “AV” from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest available ranking in the areas of attorney competence and ethics.

Mr. Whiteman carefully evaluates potential cases based on their legal and factual merit, and welcomes all potential...

Blake specializes in representing individuals and businesses in bankruptcy cases filed under Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code, but often, he is able to find a resolution that allows his client to avoid filing bankruptcy. In addition to being one of the less than 65 attorneys in the State of North Carolina recognized as a Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy, Blake has knowledge and experience in other practice areas as well, such as tax, civil litigation, consumer protection litigation, and agriculture. Blake is especially proud of his extensive work with the farmers of...

Brandon is an attorney focused on representing technology and media clients in business, intellectual property, content clearance, privacy, commercial contracts, employment and internet regulatory matters. Why? Because of a passion for creativity and technology. Brandon is a so-so visual artist, a lousy programmer and a pretty-okay film editor, but he is a great lawyer. He keeps an old comic by Barbara Smaller that features a little boy in a cowboy outfit telling his father “Well if I can’t be a cowboy, I’ll be a lawyer for cowboys.” The creative and innovative clients Brandon serves are his cowboys.

Brandon volunteers as general...

For more than tow decades Mr. Dixon has been helping to fight for the rights of the injured. With a comprehensive skill set and a proven record of success, Kurt is a highly valued asset at the law offices of Riddle & Brantley.

Allen Murphy was born and raised in Eastern North Carolina. Born in Kinston, North Carolina, he later settled in New Bern after graduating from Law School in 1985. He lives with his wife of over 40 years, Jane, and son, Jordan. Their daughter, Lindsay, is also an attorney with Gillespie & Murphy, P.A. He has been practicing law since 1985, with experience in many areas of law. He helped form Gillespie & Murphy, P.A. in September 1991. His focus is primarily consumer bankruptcy law and debt relief. Allen graduated with honors from Mount Olive Jr. College and continued his education at...

Laura Edgerton has practiced immigration law for over twenty years. She brings a high level of corporate immigration experience to the firm along with a strong commitment to ethics and the desire and ability to help her clients achieve their goals. Ms. Edgerton is an immigration lawyer in Raleigh who is well known in the business, legal and immigration communities for her ability to solve complex problems involving the employment of international personnel in the U.S as well as her persistence and creativity in finding workable solutions for her clients. Ms. Edgerton has been selected by her peers...

Burton received his bachelor's degree from Harvard in 1971 and a Masters in Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina in 1974. After working as an administrator and consultant for rural health clinics in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, he received his law degree, with high honors, from UNC in 1980. Before entering private practice in Raleigh in 1984, Burton was a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He has served as President of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, President of the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina,...

Gib Irons is the managing partner of Irons & Irons, P.A. in Greenville, NC. He is in charge of running the day to day operations of the business including but not limited to implementing firm policy related to cash flow and profitability, staffing, client development, time management, and productivity systems. His practice is focused on family law and personal injury litigation. He does extensive screening before accepting a family law or personal injury case. He seeks to limit the number of active clients that he is representing at any given time in an effort to streamline the litigation process....

I grew up Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where I lived most of my life. I moved to North Carolina to be closer to family and have lived here 13 years. In 2009, I began private practice concentrating in the areas of debt resolution/negotiation, estate planning and probate.

Adam focuses primarily on business/corporate and construction law. As at partner of Felton Banks, PLLC, Adam understands the importance of quality, affordable legal advice. Felton Banks is structured to be the first stop for a small business's legal needs. In 2011, Adam, a lifelong North Carolinian, joined the North Carolina National Guard. He spent a short time as an engineering officer, and was then selected to serve as a North Carolina National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, focusing specifically on soldier defense.

Michael Weisel concentrates his legal practice on corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial real estate, venture capital, business and corporate law, government relations, administrative and regulatory law, campaign finance and election law, and securities arbitration Representing corporations, financial institutions, insurance companies, associations and individuals before the N.C. General Assembly, U.S. Congress, agencies and regulators, he brings a unique blend of legal, legislative, business and political skills to successfully navigate his clients through governmental squalls. Mr. Weisel also employs his distinctive experience and expertise in business representation, believing clients need clear, concise and practical counsel from their lawyer...

Neil Riemann tries, arbitrates, and takes appeals in business disputes. He has handled cases in federal and state courts as well as cases before arbitrators and governmental agencies. Most of his cases involve construction disputes, disputes between customers and their financial advisors, claims for insurance coverage, and claims of fraud or unfair practices.

Attorney Edd K. Roberts III is a board certified specialist who has handled thousands of criminal cases and has over twenty years of trial experience. As a former Assistant District Attorney, he has gained a specialized knowledge and he will relentlessly fight for the best possible outcome in your case. His focus has been on defending those accused of a crime and advocating for professionals that have been charged with wrong doing by their licensing board. He provides criminal defense and representation of professionals throughout North Carolina, with a large part of his practice covering Wake County, specifically in the...

Cumberland Law Firm, LLC is a Better Business Bureau accredited law firm, which still strives to develop and maintain strong personal relationships with each client. Our tax attorneys in Atlanta have helped hundreds of individuals and businesses solve IRS and State tax issues. We take the time to listen to find out what is important to you, whether that be saving you time by dealing with the IRS on your behalf, resolving your matter quickly so that it does not interfere with your business, or minimizing the amount you have to pay to the IRS. At our firm, only an...

Mr. Oliver received his undergraduate and law degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a board certified specialist in Business Bankruptcy Law, certified by the North Carolina State Bar and the American Board of Specialization. Mr. Oliver has received numerous awards including: AV Preeminent Lawyer from Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, 2013 Legal Elite’s “Young Guns Award in North Carolina”, 2009-2015 North Carolina “Super Lawyer” and 2009-2015 Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite.” He was the Co-Managing Editor of the North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual in 2006 and has served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the Bankruptcy Court since 2009. In...

Jackie Bedard’s estate and long term care planning practice is focused on guiding clients through the complicated, often confusing, maze of balancing family protection, long-term care planning, wealth preservation, and cherished family values in the planning process.

Jackie determined early on that traditional estate planning has primarily focused on what happens upon death, but a far more pressing concern for many families today is—what happens if you don’t die suddenly, but instead need long term care for several months or years? A comprehensive estate and long term care plan should address both of these concerns.

Jackie is a member of WealthCounsel...

Tom Wright is a trial lawyer. His practice focuses on a wide area of litigation matters, including environmental litigation, employment law, insurance defense, personal injury, real estate and construction litigation, and estates and trust litigation. He represents clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and before federal and state administrative agencies. Mr. Wright advises clients in corporate, environmental and real estate matters and handles transactional matters for a variety individuals and corporations. Mr. Wright graduated from Haverford College with a A.B. in Political Science. In 1975, he received his J.D. with honors from the Law...

Attorney Val Cesanelli handles family law cases for our firm, with a focus on child custody cases and matters arising out of the process of separation and divorce, such as separation agreements and questions of spousal and child support. Val also handles other family related cases, such as paternity actions, legitimations, name changes and changes in birth certificates, as well as provides drafting services of powers of attorneys and simple wills.

Val is as much a litigator as she is a counselor at law for her clients. As a mother of three children and three stepchildren, Val is both professionally and...

Having practiced at both an international law firm and as in-house counsel at a large publicly traded company, Rich McAvoy has a history of providing superior litigation and other legal services to some of the most discerning clients. By engaging the Law Office of Richard McAvoy, PLLC, you or your business can receive the same quality representation that the world's largest corporations receive, but at a fraction of the cost, right here in Apex, North Carolina.

Relevant Experience
-Represented Fortune 50 client in state and federal court litigation at both the trial court and appellate court level
-Negotiated $70 million investment in...