Dare County Lawyers

Mary Aiken Barrow, a Raleigh native and Broughton graduate, is a partner at Tharrington Smith. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law.

Prior to joining Tharrington Smith in 2012, Ms. Barrow earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2006 and subsequently received her law degree from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University in 2012. During her time at Campbell Law School, Ms. Barrow served as a member and as submissions co-editor of the Law Review. Additionally, she was a family law research assistant for Professor Jean...

Wade Smith has been one of North Carolina’s best known and most acclaimed lawyers for nearly 50 years. His trials are recounted in books, magazines and journals. A renowned story teller, Wade insists that within each case there is a compelling story waiting to be told. In seminars and bar meetings Wade has shared the art of story telling. His cases offer a fine collection of North Carolina Courtroom lore. In 1979, Wade served as counsel to Dr. Jeffrey McDonald in the much studied and discussed Green Beret Murder case. Most recently he was lead counsel for Collin Finnerty, one...

Jill Schnabel Jackson originally is from Wisconsin. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1996. Ms. Jackson graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1999. While in law school, Ms. Jackson was a staff member for the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation and a member of the Holderness Moot Court National Team. She also received the Gressman-Pollitt Award for outstanding oral advocacy during her first year of law school. Before joining the firm, Ms. Jackson served for two years as a law clerk to the Honorable...

Alice C. Stubbs is a partner in the firm. She joined Tharrington Smith in 2006 after having served for eight years as a Wake County District Court judge. First appointed in 1997 by Governor Jim Hunt, she was elected to the judgeship in 1998 and 2002. During her time on the bench, Ms. Stubbs presided primarily in domestic court. She was certified as a juvenile judge in 2001 and was designated and presided as a family court judge from 2002 until she came to Tharrington Smith.

Ms. Stubbs is a native of New Bern. She graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover,...

Parker grew up in the Raleigh & Wake County, North Carolina. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 1975. After graduation, Parker worked in public relations at Duke University Medical Center for several years before enrolling in law school at Wake Forest School of Law, where she completed her Juris Doctor in 1985. As a law student, Parker was a member of the Moot Court Board and was elected to the Order of the Barristers. She was a member of the school’s National Appellate Team and...

Carter Whittington concentrates his practice in North Carolina workers’ compensation law, helping injured workers seek the benefits they need and deserve after sustaining a job related injury. Whittington started working at Hardison & Cochran while he was a third-year student at Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. After graduating cum laude and receiving his J.D. in 2016, he joined Hardison & Cochran as a full-time attorney. A North Carolina native, Whittington grew up in Winston-Salem and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received a B.A. in political science in 2012. In law school, Whittington was...

Matthew Stauff believes the practice of law is a privilege that requires him to fight for those needing advocacy during life’s most trying times. He represents clients in divorce proceedings, child custody hearings, and defends those who have been wrongfully terminated from their jobs. During his nearly seven years with Legal Aid of North Carolina he developed extensive experience in family law, employment law, and civil litigation. While court is an option in many cases, Matthew believes that working matters out amicably through settlement leads towards a longer lasting outcome that is more cost-effective and efficient outcome.

Born and raised in...

2020 will be the 14th year that I have practiced law exclusively in criminal defense. My legal career began as a deputy public defender in Los Angeles County where I received extensive training and experience. During my tenure as a public defender, I tried approximately 18 jury trials and more than 50 juvenile cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies and strikes, including one murder case in the juvenile system. Now in private practice in North Carolina, I maintain the original passion and dedication to my clients that drew me to this work while still in law...

Bryan's practice focuses primarily on probate, estate administration and estate planning matters. He guides his clients through the probate process including qualification of personal representatives, estate inventories and accountings, and special proceedings. Bryan's practice also includes representation of individuals and families in guardianship matters.

Barri Hilton Payne was born in High Point, North Carolina and grew up in Davidson County. She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she majored in Religious studies and Sociology. Barri practiced for the last twelve years as a founding partner in the firm Brock, Payne & Meece, P.A. before opening her own solo law and mediation practice in 2013. Barri was involved with the Holderness Moot Court while in law school at UNC and earned her law degree in 1999. She has practiced in Durham, North Carolina since that time and concentrates her practice on...

John E. Nobles, III focuses his practice on criminal defense. Like his partner Jim Lupton, he handles everything from traffic violations to serious felonies, including homicides. John is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Prior to Law School, John served in the United States Marine Corps as a Force Reconnaissance Platoon Commander. He served three combat tours for our country. After being Honorably Discharged as a Captain, John attended Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. John has defended numerous clients and understands the importance and seriousness of an accusation. He strives to get the best possible...

Mysty Blagg is a second-career Health Law Attorney that brings 20 years of previous health care industry experience into her practice of law. She has lived the full health care life cycle. In her previous career, Mysty was a health dental hygienist, Medicaid Appeals Specialist, and a Health Care Compliance Investigator. Mysty is uniquely positioned to understand the business of health care, the power of health care innovation, and the pressures the intense regulatory environment. She advises health care clients on issues stemming from regulatory matters, licensing disputes, health care fraud and abuse, digital health matters,...

Aden Wilkie, managing partner of the Wilkie Law Firm, represents members of the various branches of the U. S. military throughout the United States. He also represents criminal defendants throughout southeastern North Carolina. Before starting the Wilkie Law Firm, Aden served 22 years in the United States Marine Corps. While in the Marines, Aden was known for his unwavering integrity and tenacious personality that translated into many successes both in and outside the courtroom. He has extensive experience in representing clients in a wide variety of military and federal matters. Aden has the experience to understand that while some cases may call...

Steven J. Goralski is an experienced military defense attorney, with court martial trial experience in Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force courts. He served on active duty in the Marine Corps for over 11 years, attaining the rank of Major. He spent several years as an active-duty military lawyer in the criminal defense office at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, in Jacksonville, NC; one of the busiest defense offices in the Marine Corps. He also spent time as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (legal advisor) to the Commanding General of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. He also has experience...

Steven Matthew Laird has been licensed to practice law in North Carolina since August 2009. Mr. Laird's practice areas include criminal and civil litigation. Mr. Laird has experience defending Class C and lower felonies and defends all classes of misdemeanors, DWIs, probation violations and all other traffic offenses. He has also done court appointed work In Onslow and Pender Counties since he started practicing law. His court appointed work includes Class B1 and lower felony cases, all classes of misdemeanors, DWIs, probation violations (misdemeanor and felony), juvenile delinquency, domestic violence cases, and misdemeanor appeals. Mr. Laird handles cases in...

Ms. McCray loves the practice of law and enjoys helping people. She was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina and attended South Carolina College (the University of South Carolina's honors college) receiving undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology. Ms. McCray graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia, South Carolina. During law school, she clerked for Judge C. Tolbert Goolsby at S.C. Court of Appeals and interned one summer in Raleigh for the North Carolina Family Policy Council where she gained intimate knowledge of the legislative process in North Carolina. During her third year, she clerked...

Len C. Mueller graduated in 1982 from North Carolina State University with a B. S. in English, and graduated in 1985 from The Campbell University School of Law with her J. D. She has been practicing domestic law in Wake County since that time. Ms. Mueller was certified as a specialist in the area of family law by The North Carolina State Bar in 1994. Ms. Mueller is also certified as a Family Financial Mediator. Ms. Mueller credits her former law partners, prominent local attorneys, Richard (“Rick”) Gammon and Russell W. DeMent, for her success as a trial lawyer. She...

With over a decade of experience practicing family law in the Triangle area, she has cultivated a stellar reputation for her genuine kindness and unwavering dedication to her clients' well-being. Holly's approach is deeply rooted in building meaningful relationships with each of her clients. By understanding their individual priorities, she crafts tailored case strategies that reflect their needs. Armed with a formidable skill set in negotiation and litigation, she consistently goes above and beyond for her clients at Breeden Law, earning admiration for her thorough preparation and tireless advocacy.

I founded Ellis Family Law, PLLC in 2008 with a clear mission to deliver top-notch legal representation to individuals in North Carolina grappling with complex family law issues. Since then, my firm has successfully advocated for numerous husbands, wives, children, grandparents, and other family members in courts throughout the state. Our efforts have been recognized with awards from both national and local entities including Super Lawyers, Martindale Hubbell, North Carolina’s Legal Elite, NC Lawyer's Weekly Power List, NC Leaders in the Law, and the BBB, among others. As a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in family law with over two decades...

Raleigh corporate lawyer Bob Morton is a true business and civil litigation generalist. He has successfully tried multiple civil jury trials. He regularly assists his business clients with planning, litigation avoidance, employment matters and virtually all other legal matters that his business clients face.

Bob believes that providing personal service and going the extra mile for clients isn’t just a good way to do business — it’s the only way to do business.

He has been featured as a consumer advocate on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” has served Three Terms as Chairman of the local Better Business Bureau (BBB), been recognized as...

Chris Hyland is an experienced personal injury lawyer and managing partner at Hyland, Padilla, & Fowler, PLLC. He is committed to protecting the rights of injury victims in Raleigh and Durham. Chris attended the College of Wooster for his undergraduate degree and earned his Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law. Active in the legal community, he is a current member and former Durham County Bar Association president. He is also a part of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the Fourteenth Judicial District, the North Carolina Bar Association, and more. For his dedication and success, he was awarded...

Ana S. Nuñez practices in both our Criminal Defense and our Immigration practice areas. She was recruited from the Public Defender’s office in Wake County. Being an immigrant herself, she understands the importance of having an advocate in your corner when you need it the most. Fluent in Spanish, Ana serves on the Governor’s advisory council on Hispanic/Latino affairs, she has been named a Top 40 Under 40 Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers, and she was recognized with the Citizen Lawyer Award by the NC Bar Association for exemplary public service to her community. She is a graduate of...

David Coolidge is a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney at Coolidge Law Firm, based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Coolidge is dedicated to defending the rights of clients throughout the area who have been charged with crimes, including DWI, drug charges, sex crimes, domestic violence and a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges. Coolidge graduated in the top 5 percent of his class from the Duke University School of Law, which is one of the top law schools in the country. There he received top-notch training both inside the classroom and in the field as a student. ...

I serve as the managing attorney at Maginnis Howard, a civil litigation firm based in Raleigh, NC, in Wake County. Our firm is unique in that we represent both plaintiffs and defendants in legal disputes. On the plaintiff side, my work primarily involves consumer class actions and business litigation. I previously held the position of chair for the Consumer Areas of Practice at the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. Our firm handles consumer cases on a contingency basis, covering issues under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and related...

Hello! My name is Bradley Trexler. Before graduating from Campbell Law School and pursuing a career in criminal law, I received my bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before joining Matheson & Associates, I worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the Wake County DA’s Office. During my time there, I handled thousands of cases ranging from traffic tickets, to assaults, to DWIs, and anything in-between. I also spent time previous to that working in private criminal defense. A Wake County native born and raised, I strive to use my legal knowledge to give back to...

Kellie Corbett chose the University of South Carolina for her undergraduate degree for two reasons: the pageantry of big-time college football and the fact she hates snow. She got the pageantry but it came with snow – a freak storm, 8” of the stuff, her freshman year.

There’s a lesson there but we’re not exactly sure what it is — yet.

Kellie was accepted at the University of North Carolina School of Law where she became the first law student in the history of American law schools (that dates back to 1793) to fall in love with Trusts and Estates while taking...

Joel Rhine has handled cases involving construction issues, trucking accidents, products liability and wrongful death for over 27 years. He has tried numerous cases successfully to verdict as well as obtained recoveries through arbitration, settlement or alternative dispute resolution. He is often called upon to serve on arbitration panels for construction litigation matters.

John A. Price has over four decades of legal experience, including first chair trial experience on a variety of complex business and commercial litigation matters with special emphasis on the areas of antitrust and unfair/deceptive trade practices, business torts, securities fraud, intellectual property, minority shareholder, regulatory, products liability, environmental, and a wide spectrum of business disputes. He is ranked AV Preeminent with 5 out of 5 for legal ability and ethics by Martindale-Hubbell in a peer-reviewed rating. He is certified in civil litigation by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, licensed to practice law in Kansas, Texas and...

Attorney J. Wallace Pierce was born in the Republic of South Africa. In the course of his tenure as a scholar, he spent much of his time studying, exploring and grasping the complexity that surrounds South Africa's race relations. In early 2001, Attorney Wallace Pierce relocated to Durham, North Carolina with his family. Attorney J. Wallace Pierce acquired his Bachelors in History, Concentration in African American History, from North Carolina Central University in 2006. Attorney Pierce finished this four yearlong program in only three years. His determination and enthusiasm to furthering his involvement in the local community grew as...

For the last ten years I have dedicated myself and my practice to fighting for my clients who have been accused of criminal misdeeds and for others who have been injured by someone else's negligence. I am in the courtroom most every day fighting for my clients, whether they have been charged with DWI or drug offenses or major felonies. I also stand up to the insurance companies who may not want to pay what you deserve after being injured. I have helped my clients navigate through some of the toughest and most trying times of their lives. I am...

Matthew Burkert was raised in Durham, North Carolina, and still resides in the same area he grew up in. He is a graduate of East Carolina University, where he received a bachelor’s degree majoring in Criminal Justice in 2008. Matt then attended North Carolina Central University School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 2012. He passed the North Carolina Bar Exam in February, 2013, becoming a licensed attorney in the State. Matt joined the Constantinou Law Group, PA as a law clerk while in law school in 2010. He remained at the firm after passing the bar, becoming...

David Russotto began his legal career as an attorney with the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps. He was stationed at Naval Base Norfolk as Defense Counsel and then as Trial Counsel and Legal Services Attorney at Naval Air Station Oceana.

After attending Staff Judge Advocate School, David went on to work as staff Judge Advocate at FCTCLANT Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, providing legal advice to the base commander. In 1991, he went into private practice and in 2000, Mr. Russotto helped found Marcari, Russotto, Spencer & Balaban.

David’s long familiarity with the military and respect for the sacrifices made...

Mr. Jacob Goad is a workers’ compensation and personal injury attorney with Law Office of Jacob Goad, PLLC. Mr. Goad graduated from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill where he majored in Spanish and minored in Social and Economic Justice. At UNC, Mr. Goad earned membership in Sigma Delta Pi, a Hispanic Collegiate Honor Society. After earning his undergraduate degree, Mr. Goad lived and worked in Peru, where he got involved with environmental advocacy and also coordinated international delegations. He accompanied CNN producers and Dr. Sanjay Gupta to the town of La Oroya where Mr. Goad introduced Dr. Gupta...

Shelia Huggins is a North Carolina licensed attorney with almost 20 years of experience in working with businesses in a variety of capacities. Her extensive experience includes business formation, contracts, government relations, entertainment law, and social media. She also has a YouTube channel with free information about contracts, legal issues, and scams and frauds. Her YouTube channel has over 500 videos available to the public. You can view it at https://www/youtube.com/mslegalista. Shelia is a former adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University where she taught Entertainment and Business Law, and she has spoken at numerous events including the Long Leaf Pine Film...

I practice personal injury law focusing primarily on motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, construction accidents, and slip and falls. After many years of representing injured clients, I have have a unique understanding of the difficulties and stresses an accident and injury can place on a person's life. I am very passionate about helping my clients through these difficult times and I fight to ensure all of my clients are fairly compensated for their losses. My goal is to provide all of my clients with a boutique law firm experience - I purposefully keep my client list low so...

Attorney Peace is a managing partner at the Law Office of Peace & Squires, PLLC practicing in the areas of Business, Contracts, and Personal Injury Law. Attorney Peace has worked extensively negotiating North American and International contracts, and has used her notable negotiations skills to effectuate first-rate results for her clients.

Attorney Peace earned her Juris Doctor degree from North Carolina Central University in 2008, her Master of Business Administration, Cum Laude, from North Carolina Central University in 2004, and her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Magna Cum Laude, from North Carolina Central University in 2002. While attending North Carolina...

Billie Guthrie has spent more than 20 years working with people experiencing challenging life situations and fighting for social justice, first as a social worker and later as an attorney. Billie, who has a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina, worked in the mental health field as an administrator and social worker. One of her primary roles was as a policy advocate, fighting for legal and systemic changes to improve outcomes for disabled adults and people dealing with persistent mental health issues and homelessness. As an attorney, Billie helps her clients navigate the complicated and often frustrating...