Family Law
Charlotte Office
801 East Trade Street
Suite 100
Charlotte, NC 28202
Lake Norman Office
107 North Main Street
Suite 200
Davidson, NC 28036
Wake Forest University School of Law
Vanderbilt University
North Carolina
South Carolina
Practice Philosophy
"When I was asked to describe my practice philosophy I sat down and wrote, and then rewrote, my answer. Over and over again. I struggled to put into words why I am a family law attorney and how I approach family law cases. No matter how eloquently I tried to put it, I kept coming back to these simple words: I really care about my clients and I want to help them. It sounds corny even as I write it now. But, it really does come down to that. There is no magical formula or high browed reasoning behind it. Quite the opposite, I think people either like what they do for a living or they don’t. I do.You see, I really never chose to be a family law attorney, family law chose me. When I graduated from law school I was not sure what type of law I wanted to practice, but I knew it was not family law. I could not imagine being embroiled every day with squabbling husbands and wives airing their dirty laundry in the courts. There was more power and prestige in other areas of law, I thought. This was my jaded and uninformed opinion for the first years of my professional life as I dabbled in these supposedly more attractive areas of the law. It was not until I was forced to take over a few family law cases for another attorney in my firm who went out on leave that my prejudices collided with the realities of the needs of my clients. For the first time in my legal career, someone actually needed my help and I could make a difference in that person’s life."
Publications, Presentations and Awards
- *Super Lawyers Magazine - named among the North Carolina Super Lawyers in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013
- Martindale-Hubbell - received AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating in 2012, the highest possible rating for ethical standards & legal ability
- Business Leader North Carolina - named as a Mover & Shaker Honoree in 2012
- Business North Carolina - named among the Legal Elite in 2007, 2009 and 2010
- Business Leader Magazine - named Impact Law Leader 2008
- Program Moderator: "What Family Court Judges Want You to Know," National Business Institute's Judicial Forum, October 19, 2012
- Speaker: "Cross Examination of Business Valuation Expert", North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, "Family Law: Mastering the Experts", August 28, 2004
- Speaker: "Miscellaneous Evidentiary Issues", Seventh Annual Food for the Mind and Body: Evidentiary Issues in Family Law, April 23, 2004
- Speaker: "Family Law", Mecklenburg County Bar Association Academic Internship Program, December 10, 2002
- Speaker: "Practical Child Support Problems", North Carolina Bar Association Seminar "What About the Children?: Child Custody and Support in 2002", September 13, 2002
- Speaker/Moderator: "Trial Skills--Family Law 2001: Fourth Annual Food for the Mind and Body", Mecklenburg County Bar Association Family Law Section, December 7, 2001
- Speaker: "Managing Your Case", North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Family Law Seminar, September 7, 2001
*Super Lawyers is a rating service that selects outstanding lawyers based on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Each year, the published list represents no more than 5% of lawyers in North Carolina. See the following link for more information about Super Lawyers: www.superlawyers.com/about/
Professional, Civic and Community Involvement
Professional- **Board Certified Specialist in Family Law
- North Carolina State Bar
- Family Law Council: Former Co-Chair Domestic Violence Sub-Committee
- Young Lawyers Division: Former Judicial District Representative
- North Carolina Bar Association
- General Enrollment: Member
- Family Law Section: Member
- South Carolina Bar Association
- Mecklenburg County Bar Association
- General Enrollment: Member
- Family Law Section: Member
- Young Lawyers Division: Former Board Member
- Ask A Lawyer Program Committee: Former Chair
- Long Term Planning Committee: Former Member
- Sports and Social Committee: Former Member
- Mecklenburg County Courts
- Family Law Committee: Member
- Domestic Violence Court Committee: Former Member
- Justice Bobbitt Inns of Court: Member
- Mecklenburg County Collaborative Law Group: Member
- North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
- Appointed as a Parent Coordinator in 2008
- Blue Ribbon Panelist for the 2013 North Carolina Super Lawyers List
- The Mecklenburg County Women's Commission: Divorce Clinic Guest Lecturer
- Men For Change: Former Chair and Current Board Member
- Business Leaders of Charlotte: Member
- Morrocroft Homeowners Association: Board Member
- Myers Park Baptist Church: Member
- Myers Park Baptist Church Through-The-Week School: Board Chair
- Myers Park Country Club: Member
- Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce: Member
**A Board Certified Specialist in Family Law is a specialty certification, identified by the North Carolina State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization or a certifying organization that has been approved by the American Bar Association. The specialty certification allows consumers to identify lawyers that have skills and experience in a certain area of law, and encourages lawyers to continuously improve their expertise. To become a Board Certified Specialist, a lawyer must pass a written examination, qualify as a specialist through peer review, take a specific number of continuing legal education credits in their specialty during the three years prior to application, be substantially involved in the practice area (usually at least five years), and be licensed and in good standing to practice law in North Carolina. A Board Certified Specialist must apply for recertification every 5 years and demonstrate all of the above requirements, with the exception of the written exam.
