Olin Lawyers

Leah Shellberg is a highly skilled and experienced trial attorney in Asheboro, North Carolina focusing on all areas of family law, as well as criminal defense and immigration matters. Ms. Shellberg appears in court weekly for her clients, and has an impressive record of success in even highly contentious family law matters. Although she is a fierce and zealous advocate in the courtroom, Leah Shellberg prioritizes exceptionally compassionate and kind client service. Ms. Shellberg practices in Randolph, Guilford, Forsyth, and Montgomery counties, and is currently accepting new clients in the areas of family law/divorce, criminal defense, and...

I am a graduate of DePaul University College of Law. After law school, I moved to Colorado and worked as a public defender for several years. Through this experience, I gained extensive advocacy skills and learned to effectively fight for my clients’ rights. In 2006, I relocated to Washington, D.C. to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board). During this time, I developed a passion for helping Veterans. Working for the VA, I learned how to effectively navigate through the VA process, fully develop claims and get positive results for Veterans....

Public Welfare and Poverty Law

I graduated from Elon University School of Law and have since dedicated my practice primarily to family law. I assist clients with custody issues, including high-conflict custody cases, and also manage divorce, separation agreements, domestic violence and 50B matters, and equitable distribution. I joined the team at Woodruff Family Law Group in 2025, where I was warmly welcomed.

I graduated from Elon University School of Law and now assist clients with various family law matters including child custody, child support, divorce, separation agreements, spousal support, and equitable distribution. I am passionate about my work and excel in working with diverse populations as a family law attorney. During my time at Elon, I was a Leadership Fellow and served as a student mentor for other law students. I was also an active member of the Moot Court Board and volunteered as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem. My commitment to volunteerism was recognized when I received the 2023 North Carolina State...

Paul Mengert II is a graduate of Elon University School of Law. During his eight-plus years of practice, Paul has accrued significant experience as a litigator and has handled all aspects of family law cases, including custody and divorce. Paul has a keen eye for big picture problem solving and a genuine desire to help his clients achieve their goals. Attorney Mengert is a native of Greensboro. As a young man, Paul achieved the highest rank in Scouting, the Eagle Scout Award. Paul has experience in acting, singing, and debate. While at Elon, Paul excelled at national-level mock trial competitions as...

Chad Garrett, a former prosecutor, is a founding partner of Garrett, Walker, Aycoth and Olson, a firm that seeks to help clients navigate criminal cases, personal injury matters, family law cases, and business and civil litigation issues. Mr. Garrett concentrates on criminal law, traffic tickets and DWI trials. He is the author of the NCBAR Association's "ABC's of Criminal Court," and "ABCs of Traffic Law," among other publications. He teaches regularly on the topic of DWI trials. Mr. Garrett and his partners pride themselves on returning every call, everyday, and are always here to help. ...

Nick Benjamin is a former police officer, prosecutor and North Carolina Assistant Attorney General. He has practiced for nearly a decade in Asheville North Carolina. The majority of his time practicing law came as a prosecutor in Buncombe County, where he has prosecuted everything from speeding tickets to first degree murder. Nick left the Buncombe County District Attorney's Office in July 2022 (when he was focusing on violent crimes and firearms offenses) to start his own practice. In addition to an extensive criminal law background which includes over 300 bench trials and over 40 jury trials, Nick was an assistant...

Following a successful 15-year career managing several well-known retail stores throughout the country, Mr. Lundell decided to refocus his passion for customer service and apply it to the practice of law. His determination to provide superior “customer” – or client – service is the keystone of his relationships with each and every client. “Whether carefully guiding parents through a highly emotional child custody dispute, or navigating a conflict between employer and employee, it is important to me that the people with whom I interact are provided sound legal advice in a language they understand. ‘You have to...

Emma Tillotson did not know she would find her calling in family law. Emma received her undergraduate degree from Clemson University cum laude in Psychology and Criminal Justice, with a minor in Sociology. She left her home state of South Carolina to attend the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University, where she graduated cum laude. During her legal studies she found her passion representing people going through difficult family transitions. She participated in the family law clinic representing underprivileged residents of Raleigh in their family law needs, was an active member of Law Students Against Sexual Assault...

Amanda Knight represents clients in a wide range of family law matters including divorce, child custody and support, domestic violence, spousal support, and equitable distribution proceedings. She also provides trusted counsel to clients throughout the estate planning process. A graduate of North Carolina Central University School of Law, Amanda brings a passion and commitment to achieving client goals, while maintaining civility and professionalism in the practice of law. “Changes in the family, especially ones involving legal proceedings, are always challenging. Our job as attorneys is to take as much of the burden off our clients as possible, and also reassure them that...

Sarah Gerow believes that the role of a family law attorney is that of a patient counselor and a staunch advocate. Sarah knew from a young age that she wanted to be a lawyer, and her desire to advocate for others developed while working with children with disabilities as a summer camp counselor during college. This led Sarah to the University of North Carolina School of Law, where she focused on education and family law. After marrying her husband, a member of the North Carolina Army National Guard, she worked as an associate at Sullivan & Hilscher Family Law, specializing...

Kirsten Alderdice grew up in New England and Charlotte, NC, and relocated to the Triangle in 2014. She obtained her BS degree in English Education from Boston University and her M.Ed. from North Carolina State University. Kirsten then spent eight years teaching middle and high school English. During her public school teaching experiences advocating for children with different educational needs, she decided that law school would be her best path to help families navigate transitions and the court system. She joined Ellis Family Law while attending North Carolina Central University School of Law’s Evening Program in 2022. To family law,...

Joe Ferikes began his practice in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, representing such entities as the County of Dekalb. In 1983, Joe and his wife moved back to their hometown of Asheville to continue his law practice and raise their family. He has been a private practice trial lawyer since 1981, and was a solo practitioner until forming Ferikes & Bleynat in 2001.

Joe’s representative clients include the Towns of Woodfin and Fletcher, North Carolina, as well as the ABC Boards for Fletcher, Woodfin and Black Mountain. Joe has been actively involved in the Greek community and has coached youth sports for...

Craig Law Firm, PLLC, provides legal services, including counsel; document and contract drafting, review, and enforcement; and negotiation and litigation assistance in State and Federal courts, in the following areas of law: Business Law: We work with small and medium-size business, including start-ups, in their formation, management, and transfer or dissolution. We work with sole proprietors, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations (S or C designations, and "B" corporations). Real Estate Law: We work with property owners and occupiers in ownership, leasing, and use issues. We assist in developing lease, purchase or sale, and other agreements. We also work with title,...

Brian is a Western North Carolina native, having been born and raised in Asheville. He attended Enka High School and then UNC-Chapel Hill for college. Brian attended Wake Forest University School of Law. After passing the Bar Exam, Brian practiced law in the Raleigh area, focusing his practice on serious personal injury, catastrophic injury cases, and wrongful death cases, for almost 20 years. He then moved his family and his law practice back to Asheville. Brian is an aggressive litigator who enjoys trying cases in the courtroom. He is very direct with his clients and with opposing counsel, does not...

Family and relationships are so important to me and I know they are for you as well. It’s one of the reasons that, after practicing many types of law, I’ve settled into the areas of law that we all will eventually face: including end-of-life planning and estate administration. I know these are often difficult topics with challenging decisions for individuals and families, especially for adult children of elderly parents, the terminally ill or those who are in domestic partnerships not legally recognized as marriage under North Carolina law. My job is to provide you with clarity on the law and...

Time spent as an insurance claims adjuster made me realize that people need advocates to fight for them, and to fight for what matters most. Being on both sides of the claims process now as a personal injury attorney has taught me valuable information about how insurance companies will try to get you to settle for less than what you deserve. Whether it’s a personal injury attorney you need, medical malpractice, wrongful death, auto accident, workers compensation, or a matter involving civil litigation, my mission to get you what you are owed under the eyes of the law and...

Edward L. Bleynat, Jr. began his legal career by clerking for James G. Exum, Jr., then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. He later went to work with a major Greensboro law firm in a general litigation practice, focusing on business litigation and tort law.

In 1995, Ed, his wife and children relocated to Asheville, North Carolina to continue his law practice and to raise their family in Western North Carolina, where Ed grew up. After Ed started his own firm in 1997, he and Joe Ferikes merged their practices into Ferikes & Bleynat, PLLC in 2001.

Ed...

Serge Semirog holds degrees in Finance and Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he graduated cum laude. His law degree Mr. Semirog earned at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he was a member of the Hastings Business Law Journal. Mr. Semirog’s experience includes work at the Hampden County Superior Court in Springfield, Massachusetts, as well as at several medium sized firms in California and Massachusetts. Mr. Semirog also worked at the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI) where he drafted legislative proposals for the Massachusetts State Assembly. For his work...

James O. Rice, Jr. is an experienced criminal defense attorney in Asheville, who can provide you with the strong legal representation you need to fight the charges against you. When your future is on the line, it’s critical that you have someone on your side who will fight zealously for your freedom. Attorney Rice has assisted numerous clients against criminal charges, and can offer you his expertise and resources in order to help you develop a solid legal defense against the prosecution. Attorney Rice has experience with a variety of criminal law matters in North Carolina, including but not...

Anthony’s dedication to service began at 17, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Yeoman. Over the course of his military career, he deployed twice to the Middle East and once to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ultimately retiring from the JAG Corps. As a JAG officer, Anthony prosecuted several courts-martial and advised on multi-million-dollar contracts and large-scale environmental impact projects. After earning his law degree, Anthony began his civilian legal career with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in Chicago—the second-largest prosecutor’s office in the nation—where he handled 10 to 30 hearings a day for 18 months. Assigned to the...

Melissa Duncan is a member of the family run Duncan Law, PLLC. Our firm is family run and we do all that we can to treat our clients as if they were part of our own family. Duncan Law's Commitment To You: Free Consultation: The first time that you come to our office to talk with an attorney it will be completely free. You deserve to have your case heard without having to pay. Your free consultation will allow you to explain your situation to an attorney so that he can best explain your legal options. Personal Attention: We treat you as a...

Attorney - 18 years of experience handing Workers' Compensation (job injury) and Personal Injury claims (such as serious injury due to the fault of another person/company, car accidents, slip and falls). My office is strictly focused on helping those that have been hurt. We provide high-quality legal representation and client satisfaction. The injured deserve a highly aggressive and experienced attorney - one they can speak with whenever they wish, one that will get results, a lawyer you can actually trust. Accept no less. We provide a free consultation to review your claim. Our number is (704) 334-1312. There is no...

Dr. Ted Greve, a doctor and a lawyer, founded the Law Office of Ted A. Greve in 1993, which turned into Ted A. Greve & Associates, P.A. in 1995. Ted A. Greve & Associates, P.A. has turned into one of the most reputable North and South Carolina personal injury law firms with offices located in Gastonia, Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, Monroe, Shelby, and Rock Hill, South Carolina. Dr. Ted has also expanded operations into neighboring Georgia opening offices in Augusta and Atlanta. Dr. Ted is a platinum member of the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina. He has been happily married for...

Fred focuses his civil litigation practice on representing individuals and companies involved in complex business disputes. Fred’s trial experience, when coupled with his educational background in the areas of finance and accounting, provide him with a distinctive ability to counsel clients on business litigation issues. Fred is uniquely qualified to assist individuals and businesses involved in complex disputes in areas such as: securities fraud, derivative actions, dissolutions, waste of assets, minority shareholder rights, controlling shareholder obligations, dissenting shareholder rights, officers’ and directors’ liability, executive compensation, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, employee stock ownership plans, business valuation issues, financial products, and estates...

I have been practicing federal and state criminal defense in Charlotte for over 20 years. Since 2010, I have been a State Bar Board Certified Specialist in State and Federal Criminal Law. Since 2012, I have been selected each year as a North Carolina Super Lawyer and have received the highest peer rating (AV preeminent) from Martindale-Hubbell. I have handled every type of criminal case and have always striven to obtain the best possible results for my clients. Unlike many criminal defense lawyers, I do not run a high volume practice where the client is expected...

Jason E. Payne is a highly accomplished personal injury lawyer and founder of Payne Law Firm. With an office in Charlotte, North Carolina, Payne Law Firm provides comprehensive personal injury representation to victims of serious accidents. Attorney Payne is a native of Port Arthur, Texas and earned his legal degree from the University of Houston Law Center in 2002. He has largely focused his legal practice on personal injury litigation and has also represented numerous Fortune 500 clients in various legal proceedings. In addition to his legal practice, he has served as a consultant to numerous small businesses and elected...

If there is one word to describe Shawntae Crews, it would be “fighter”. She will fight for her clients; utilizing her resources to achieve the most favorable outcome possible. On her journey to become an attorney, she has had to face several obstacles. She did not back down from any of them. She pulled herself up by her bootstraps and fought until she accomplished her goals. As an attorney, Ms. Crews now channels all that energy into representing her clients whether in court or at the negotiation table. She is a fierce advocate and will represent her clients with grace,...

Attorney at Rosensteel Fleishman Car Accident & Injury Lawyers since 2005.

Matthew Myers and his father Lee Myers started practicing law together in 2006 and formed the Charlotte-based Myers Law Firm, PLLC on January 1, 2007. Matt is a life-long North Carolinian. He grew up in Matthews, North Carolina, attended public schools in North Carolina from elementary through law school, and currently lives in Charlotte. Matt’s wife, Allison, is also a Charlotte native. The two have two children. When not spending quality time with the family, Matt enjoys listening to music, reading, hiking, mountain biking, and running. Matt is a member of the North Carolina Bar and is also...

Ron is the founder of Skufca Law and leads the firm’s litigation group representing businesses and individuals in the areas of business, construction, motorsports, and family law. He has substantial experience in the construction industry, NASCAR, and advising a wide range of businesses in all aspects of their legal issues. Ron currently serves as outside general counsel to several of his long-time business clients while continuing to work with individuals starting their own business or to resolve disputes that may arise. Ron is dedicated to helping both new and longtime business owners in a cost effective and efficient manner. Some...

Dealing with family law issues can be overwhelming—especially if you are looking to file for divorce. The Collins Family & Elder Law Group is a law firm committed to helping individuals file for divorce and find solutions for their other family law matters. The team has over 200+ years combined legal experience, and has the ability to take on even the most complicated cases. If you are about to file for divorce, the team can assist you; regardless of if your situation calls for mediation, negotiation, or litigation. The team understands how difficult and emotionally draining it can be to...