Checking In: April 22, 2025
Compiled by Jessica Junqueira
Brooks Pierce Welcomes Of Counsel Attorney
Michael Jones has joined the firm’s Greensboro office as of counsel. His practice is focused on complex litigation, election law, and state and local government law. Before joining the firm, he served as Deputy National Director of Voter Protection and Access on the Harris for President campaign. Jones previously was an attorney in Atlanta and Washington, D.C. Jones has served as an aide to two members of Congress, including former U.S. Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law and from Yale University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science with an Interdisciplinary Concentration in Urban Studies.
Young Moore Announces New Of Counsel Attorney
Alicia L. Bray has joined the firm. She has previous experience in defending long-term care facilities, nursing homes, physicians, nurses, and hospitals. Bray is a native of Danville, Virginia. She has more than 14 years in the health care industry in North Carolina. She has litigated insurance defense matters involving premises liability and motor vehicle accidents. She holds a J.D. from Elon University School of Law and received her undergraduate degree in English with a minor in psychology from Averett University, where she graduated magna cum laude.
Richard A. Waugaman has been named the first Assistant Dean of Experiential Education. Waugaman began the role on March 1 and will manage the clinical programs at Campbell. He will work with faculty and staff to expand the opportunities for experiential learning. He will seek to offer students hands-on education, which will prepare them for future roles. Prior to his position at Campbell, he practiced as a managing partner with a focus on family law. He represented clients who had experienced domestic violence and clients in matters of child support, spousal support, child custody and more. Waugaman holds a J.D. from Campbell Law School and a B.A., summa cum laude, from Campbell University.
Kathleen (Kat) McDonald has joined the firm. McDonald is a 2023 graduate of Campbell Law School, where she served on the Women In Law Executive Board. While in law school, she was a peer mentor and received a Book Award for Family Law Planning in spring 2023. McDonald also served with the Restorative Justice Clinic and Gailor Family Law Litigation Clinic. McDonald is licensed as a Notary Public in Wake County. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from North Carolina State University.
Jennifer Louis-Jeune has joined the firm, where she will practice with the litigation team. Louis-Jeune has prior experience practicing law as a criminal defense attorney in New York City. After serving as a magistrate for the State of North Carolina, she moved to plaintiff mass tort litigation. She founded a nonprofit, 704 Cares, which provides help for individuals who are incarcerated. Louis-Jeune holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. While in law school, she was a Stein Scholar and received the Robert Aram Renzulli Prize in Criminal Law. She graduated from Emory University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Spanish.
Catherine Hill has joined the firm’s Raleigh office, where she is a member of the Litigation Department. Hill has practiced as an assistant city attorney for Raleigh and Asheville for more than ten years. She currently represents local governments, private businesses and developers in North Carolina. She serves as the vice chair of the NCBA Zoning, Planning & Land Use Section. She holds a J.D. from Campbell Law School and a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University.
J. Elliot Millner has joined the firm. He holds a J.D. from Elon University School of Law, where he was named a Leadership Fellow. While he was in law school, he was a participant in the NCBA Minorities in the Profession Summer Associate Program. He received third place in the Black History Month 2022 Essay Contest. Before joining the firm, he served as an extern with the ACLU of North Carolina and as an intern with IQVIA. He received a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from the University of North Carolina in 2020.
Leah Campbell is now a partner with the firm. She counsels banking clients in regulatory issues, transactions, warehouse lending, pre-litigation risk, compliance with federal and state laws, and financial technology contracts. Campbell has practiced banking law for more than 22 years. She earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Tulane University Law School, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and received the Ray Forrester Award for Constitutional Law. She holds a B.A. from The Evergreen State College.
Charlie Raphun is an attorney in the firm’s Raleigh office. He practices commercial and technology law and has over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Raphun offers transactional services and advises businesses and individual clients. He has experience in compliance programs, intellectual property portfolios, litigation, and risk management systems. He holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, a master’s degree from the U.S. Army War College, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
Chris Gelwicks has practiced law for more than 25 years. He has represented homeowners and condominium associations with their formation, operations, collections, and litigation. He has completed more than 60 jury trials and numerous bench trials, and he has served as a mediator across North and South Carolina and has represented clients in both trial and appellate courts. He serves on the Case Law Update Team for the Community Associations Institute. He received a J.D. from Regent University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Towson State University.
Jacqueline Ferrell focuses her practice on employment litigation and counseling. Her practice is focused on employment litigation and counseling. She represents national and regional companies in court, arbitration, and administrative agencies against employment claims. She works with clients on a range of matters related to labor and employment law. She holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Duke University.
Elena Mitchell focuses her practice on complex litigation in matters that include business torts, commercial contracts and mortgage loan disputes, estate litigation, and antitrust litigation. Mitchell assisted the firm in creating the DEI Advice, Audits & Assessments practice and provides counsel to companies, government entities, and nonprofits regarding DEI programs and investigations. She holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina, where she graduated from the honors college.
Laura (Boorman) Truesdale focuses her practice on environmental risk and compliance issues in matters of business and real estate transactions, redevelopment projects, and regulations. She assists developers, lenders and financial institutions, contractors, and buyers/sellers of contaminated properties on environmental considerations. She provides counsel to investors in environmental matters connected to acquiring large-scale renewable energy project portfolios. She received a J.D. with honors from the University of Richmond School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.
Amy Clay is a partner with the firm. She works with school systems in matters of education law. She focuses on issues related to the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and she is a Title IX investigator. She is a member of the Board of Directors for HOST (Housing Options for Students Today). Clay holds a Ph.D. in school psychology from North Carolina State University, a J.D. from Campbell Law School and a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hannah Munn is a partner with the firm. She focuses her practice in employee benefits and executive compensation. She assists public, private, governmental, and nonprofit employers as they create and document retirement plans, welfare benefit plans, fringe benefit plans, and executive compensation plans. She serves as the chair of the focus Committee with the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries. She is the co-editor-in-chief of the Journal of Pension Benefits. She holds a J.D., summa cum laude, from North Carolina Central University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, where she graduated with distinction.
Rachel Nicholas is a partner with the firm. She represents public school systems throughout North Carolina. She serves as the 2024-25 chair of the NCBA Education Law Section and was selected as a 2019 participant in the NCBA Leadership Academy. She is a North Carolina Council of School Attorneys at-large representative. Before going to law school, she worked with Teach for America and was a second-grade teacher in Rocky Mount. She holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Grace Pennerat is a partner with the firm. She works with local boards of education, superintendents, and central office personnel in matters related to students, employees, and communities. Pennerat is a Title IX investigator. She helps clients with issues of employment and family-based immigration. Before going to law school, Pennerat was a research assistant and course administrator for the University of North Carolina’s Department of Public Policy. She holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from Appalachian State University, a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, and a bachelor’s degree from UNC.
Rebecca Williams is a partner with the firm. She helps public school systems in matters of education law. Before becoming an attorney, she taught Spanish to high school, community college and college students. She is a Title IX investigator. She is a member of the North Carolina Council of School Attorneys, the National Council of School Attorneys, and the NCBA Education Law Section. She received a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, an M.A. from the University of New Hampshire, and a B.A., magna cum laude, from West Virginia University.
Joseph Garfunkel is an associate with the firm. He is based the firm’s Charlotte office. He represents commercial construction clients and assists developers, architects, owners, sureties, general contractors, and suppliers in North Carolina and South Carolina. Garfunkel also works with contractors and homeowners before the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Garfunkel holds a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
Lucas Anderson focuses his corporate practice on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, sports law, health care transactions, joint ventures and general corporate matters. He has experience handling a broad range of transactions and negotiating and drafting a wide variety of contractual arrangements. Anderson earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University and his bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Austin Peay State University. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a law clerk for Judge Julia Smith Gibbons of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Benjamin DeCelle represents clients across a range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, banking and finance, technology, real estate, and oil and gas. He maintains a diverse litigation practice with experience in matters involving commercial contracts, insurance coverage, construction disputes, fraud, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and general business disputes. DeCelle received his law degree with high honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Megan Haynes focuses her transactional practice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and general corporate and commercial matters. She primarily represents clients in the health care industry and regularly advises clients on health care-related regulatory issues. Haynes also assists clients in obtaining antitrust clearance for mergers and acquisitions and advises clients on antitrust compliance matters. Haynes received her law degree summa cum laude from the University of South Carolina and her bachelor’s degree with high distinction from the University of Virginia.
Travis Hinman represents clients in complex business litigation and appeals. She has a depth of experience litigating significant business disputes, class actions and other high-stakes cases in state and federal courts across the country. In addition, Hinman guides clients through internal investigations and a variety of employment and reputational issues, developing strategies to reduce litigation risk and advance business goals. She also maintains an active pro bono practice focused on appellate work. Hinman received her law degree with highest honors and her bachelor’s degree with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining the firm, Hinman served as a law clerk for Judge James A. Wynn Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Melissa Romanzo represents clients in high-stakes litigation including environmental and toxic tort claims, contract disputes, employment matters and class actions. She also serves as chair of Robinson Bradshaw’s Environmental Practice Group. In addition to advising her clients in a variety of environmental matters, Romanzo handles complex employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, Fair Credit Reporting Act, OSHA and wage-and-hour disputes. She also maintains an active pro bono practice representing indigent clients in a variety of matters. Romanzo holds a law degree cum laude from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree cum laude from Davidson College.
Caitlin Sullivan focuses her transactional practice on corporate finance. She regularly represents both banks and borrowers in a variety of financing transactions, including investment grade and non-investment grade syndicated and bilateral facilities, letter of credit facilities, secured financings and acquisitions, and bridge financings. Sullivan earned her law degree magna cum laude from the University of Georgia and her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Clemson University.
Rosemary Wells focuses her corporate practice on mergers and acquisitions. She has significant experience representing public and privately held companies and private equity firms and their portfolio companies in corporate transactions across industries including health care. Wells also advises health care clients on joint venture transactions. In addition, she counsels clients on corporate governance matters and commercial agreements. Wells earned her law degree cum laude from Duke University and her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Boston College.
Tiffani Atamas is now a partner at the firm. In 2022, Atamas joined the firm, where she is a part of the Family Law team. She works with clients in various matters related to family law: separation and divorce, equitable distribution, alimony, post-separation support, child custody, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, and domestic violence cases. She is focused on assisting international clients and multicultural families. Before attending law school, she was an investment banker. She graduated from Harvard Law School in 2012 and holds a B.A. in economics from Brown University.
Jasmine McGhee has started in a new role as Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to Governor Josh Stein, where she serves as a member of the Governor’s Leadership Team. Prior to joining the Governor’s office, she served as Senior Deputy Attorney General and Director of the Consumer Protection Division at the North Carolina Department of Justice. She is also an Eisenhower Fellow. McGhee holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School. While in law school, she was a member of the Columbia Law Review and a Paul Robeson Scholar. She received her undergraduate degree in history from UNC, where she graduated with honors and distinction.
Natalie Folmar is now managing partner with the firm. Folmar has practiced with Tuggle Duggins for almost twenty years. She has been a member of the management committee for seven years. Folmar works with companies in matters regarding acquisition and divestiture and standard business operations. She is on the board of the Guilford Education Alliance and has taught courses as an adjunct professor at Elon University School of Law. She holds a J.D. with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte.
Reed J. Hollander has practiced with the firm since 2023. He has more than 27 years of experience in state and local tax controversies. He represents clients in matters of eminent domain and condemnation law, economic development, and administrative and business litigation. He is a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel and the chair of the NCBA Tax Section. He previously co-taught a State and Local Tax course at the Miami School of Law for eight years. He holds a J.D. with honors from Duke University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Matthew C. Burke practices insurance coverage and commercial litigation, including complex business disputes, employment matters, construction issues, products liability, and premises liability. He holds a J.D. with high honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Following law school, he served as a clerk for Judge Cheri Beasley at the Supreme Court of North Carolina. He also served as a fellow in the North Carolina Solicitor General’s Office. He received a bachelor’s degree from UNC.
Anderson Phillips represents clients in trucking litigation, product liability, premises liability, and insurance defense cases. Prior to joining the firm, he was a clerk to Judge Mark A. Davis at the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court. He holds a J.D. from Duke University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.
Patrick VanderJeugdt is a member of the firm’s general litigation team. He has practiced with the firm since 2019. VanderJeugdt litigates construction and insurance matters and focuses on first-and third-party insurance coverage disputes. He received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he served as a research assistant for the UNC Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity. He holds a bachelor’s degree in polymer chemistry from UNC.
Sara Royster is now an attorney with the firm, where she is a member of the personal injury team. Before becoming an attorney, Royster was a social worker for more than twelve years. Royster graduated from Elon University School of Law in 2019 and became an attorney in 2020. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Mitchell R. Bledsoe practices corporate law and commercial real estate. He assists in structuring and negotiating business transactions, oversees matters of corporate governance, and represents clients who are purchasing commercial real estate. He graduated from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. While in law school, he received a certificate in health law. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a double emphasis in sport management and marketing from Ouachita Baptist University.
Rebekah Lester has joined the firm. She has been practicing law since 2023. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law. During law school, she worked at the Domestic and Sexual Violence Clinic and received a Certificate of Merit for Trauma-Informed Lawyering to recognize her work with the clinic. While studying law at UNC, Lester served as a legal clerk at a family law firm. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UNC in journalism.
Gwendolyn Lewis has joined the firm’s litigation section in the Charlotte office. Her practice is focused on civil litigation, complex labor and employment litigation and advising and professional liability litigation. Lewis has practiced law for more than ten years. She represents both individuals and corporations and has provided counsel to clients on a range of issues before the United States Department of Labor and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Lewis has also represented and defended medical providers and hospitals before state courts and administrative agencies. Lewis served as a judicial extern for the North Carolina Supreme Court for Justice Paul M. Newby. She graduated from Elon University School of Law, where she later served as alumni director and an adjunct professor. She holds a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in criminal justice from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Craig T. Almond is now an associate attorney with the firm, where he is a part of the firm’s litigation practice group. He will represent clients in matters of commercial litigation, business litigation, employment, construction, real estate, and estate disputes. He previously worked as a summer and fall law clerk with Carruthers & Roth. Almond earned his J.D., cum laude, from Elon Law School in 2023. While in law school, he served as the articles editor for the Elon Law Review and competed on the Moot Court team. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina.
Katrina L. Hauprich received her J.D. with high honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2024. During law school, she worked as a comments editor for the North Carolina Law Review. Before attending law school, Hauprich worked for public and private institutions of higher education in admissions, alumni relations, fundraising and student affairs. She received a master’s degree in higher education from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in public policy and Hispanic linguistics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 
Peter E. Bosman has joined the firm as a shareholder and is based in the Raleigh office. Bosman has practiced law for 15 years. He focuses his practice on guiding and representing banks, private credit funds, and other non-bank lenders, as well as private equity firms and public and private companies, through a broad range of complex transactional matters. Bosman serves as chair of the board of Artspace, a non-profit visual arts center located in downtown Raleigh. Bosman holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina.
James (Jimmy) C. Adams II has been elected managing partner. He will begin this role on February 1, 2025. Adams has practiced with the firm for more than 30 years. He previously was a member and a chair of the firm’s finance committee and now serves on the management committee. Adams will work with Reid L. Phillips, the current managing partner, as Adams transitions into his role. Adams’s practice is focused on representing large national enterprises, small local companies, and individuals in all aspects of disputes and litigation. Adams received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with honors in economics and distinction.
Cecilia Barreca has rejoined the firm, where she previously was a summer associate. Her practice is focused on transactional law. She holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. While in law school, she worked for the Dean’s Fellow Program as a co-coordinator. She earned 200 hours of pro bono work. She was also a member of the Transactional and Corporate Law Association. She received a bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Stephen Gambill focuses his practice on real estate and transactional matters. Gambill graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He received both an undergraduate and a master’s degree in religious studies from Lenoir-Rhyne University. He is a classically trained singer.
Natalia Talbot was named a partner with the firm. Her practice is focused on civil litigation, construction and business law, POA matters, real estate dispute, and state and court federal appeals. Talbot has more than ten years of experience as an attorney. She received a J.D., with distinction, from Boston College Law School. Following her graduation, she worked as assistant district attorney for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and as lead counsel in more than fifty criminal trials. She served as a federal law clerk in the Western District of North Carolina for the U.S. Magistrate Judge Carleton Metcalf. Talbot’s blog post titled 
Lucienne Hartmann Peoples has joined the firm’s Asheville office as a partner. She specializes in aging services and health care. She has experience in civil litigation and has handled general liability and commercial litigation. In her previous role, she focused on defending personal injury torts, professional liability, premises liability, product liability, and coverage disputes. She graduated from Mercer University School of Law. After graduating, she served as a judicial law clerk to Judge C. Ashley Royal of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University.
Patrick Meacham has joined the litigation team as a partner. Meacham, who is a trial lawyer, has more than 25 years of experience practicing law in Raleigh. He assists clients in professional negligence, products and premises liability, catastrophic personal injury and mass torts. He graduated from Campbell Law School, where he received his J.D., and the University of Kansas, where he received his bachelor’s degree.
Madisyn K. Ivey has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. She practices construction law. She graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2020, where she was the Georgetown University Law Center winner of the Iron Tech Lawyer Invitational and a global finalist for the CALI Award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina.
Deborah B. Andrews has joined Fox Rothschild. Andrews practices as of counsel in the Employee Benefits & Compensation Department and has offices in both Raleigh and Washington, D.C. Her practice is focused on employee benefits, executive compensation and applicable tax compliance matters. Andrews is a certified public accountant in North Carolina. She holds an LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a B.A., with honors, from North Carolina State University.
Morgan McCall Reece has joined the firm’s Greensboro office. She practices of counsel in the Litigation Department and Appellate Practice Group. She previously served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and state prosecutor. Reece defended businesses and individuals in white-collar criminal cases and regulatory proceedings. She has successfully argued cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. She graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.
John Wheatley, a personal injury attorney, is now an associate with the firm. Wheatley has practiced law for over eight years. He holds a J.D. from Charlotte School of Law. While in law school, Wheatley was a Moot Court participant and received a CALI Award for sports law. He also volunteered as a student attorney at the Mississippi Center for Justice. He graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of Alabama.