Checking In: April 14, 2020
By Jessica Junqueira
Statewide Promotions and Hires
Stephen Bell has joined Cranfill Sumner & Hatzog LLP (CSH Law). Bell is an associate attorney in civil litigation. He has over seven years of experience litigating complex commercial matters. His practice areas are commercial litigation, as well as class actions, multi-district litigation and real property disputes. As outside counsel, Stephen has assisted businesses across the state in a number of areas, including regulatory issues. He obtained his Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law and his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Clemson University.
Rochelle B. Mayfield has joined the Charlotte office of Eller Tonnsen Bach as of counsel. Her area of practice is workers’ compensation defense, and she has 12 years of experience in workers’ compensation litigation. Before Eller Tonnsen Bach, she practiced at Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo LLP in Charlotte. Her clients included employers and insurance carriers. Mayfield has served as a volunteer with Legal Aid of North Carolina and the North Carolina Bar Association’s 4All Statewide Service Day. Mayfield received her Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
R. Scott Tobin was named as a partner at Taylor English Duma, LLP. Tobin practices in the areas of business, finance, strategic partnerships, licensing, mergers, and acquisitions, emerging companies and venture capital, corporate and litigation. In his role as U.S. general counsel, he provides support to international companies. He has extensive experience advising clients on risk and growth opportunities during crucial moments. Tobin graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law and UNC Chapel Hill, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He serves as an Executive Committee member for the University of North Carolina School of Law Alumni Association.
Steven Newton, II, was recently promoted from associate partner to principal at Nicholls & Crampton, P.A. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy at UNC Chapel Hill and a joint Juris Doctorate / Master’s in Business Administration from Campbell Law School in 2012. Newton graduated magna cum laude from Campbell. Newton previously worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Stephani W. Humrickhouse, judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Nexsen Pruet Hires Three New Raleigh Attorneys
Tonya Powell joins Nexsen Pruet’s Real Estate group as a member attorney. Her practice focuses on commercial real estate, banking and finance, and corporate law. Tonya is a board certified specialist in Real Property Law Commercial.
David McCallum joins Nexsen Pruet’s Corporate and Tax group as special counsel. His practice focuses on assisting clients in matters involving the IRS Appeals Office and the IRS Tax Court.
Compiled by Sidney Shank
Jordan Bernstein has joined the Charlotte office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog as an associate attorney. Her practice is focused on workers’ compensation. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Martha Bradley joined the Asheville office of Hall Booth Smith as an associate attorney. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctorate from Campbell University. Bradley currently serves on the Board of Governors for the North Carolina Bar Association.
Frank Emory Jr. has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Novant Health. In the past, Emory has worked as a partner at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, an international law firm.
Patrick Hansen joins the Raleigh office of Harrity & Harrity. He specializes in patent applications in electrical, computer, and mechanical technologies.
Sarah Crotts has joined the Charlotte office of Parker Poe, where she will work on the Health Care Industry Team as special counsel. She comes to Parker Poe from Wall Babcock LLP in Winston-Salem.
Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo LLP has opened its fifth office, located at 49 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville. Partner Kristie Hedrick, a Western North Carolina native, has relocated from the firm’s Raleigh office to lead this new Asheville office.
Nichole Hayden has been elected partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, effective Jan. 1, 2020. Her practice focuses on intellectual property. Hayden holds a Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from Wofford College and a Juris Doctorate with highest honors from Drake University.
Jason Kerr, alternative investments attorney, has joined the Charlotte office of Robinson Bradshaw. Before joining Robinson Bradshaw, Kerr worked as an attorney for Axiom in New York City. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Juris Doctorate from Columbia Law School.
Robert Lindholm has been elected partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, effective Jan. 1, 2020. His practice focuses on government investigations, white collar defense, complex business litigation, and class action defense. Lindholm holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Union College and a Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from Albany Law School.
McCord Rayburn joins the Charlotte office of Harrity & Harrity. His practice focuses on patent preparation and prosecution in both domestic and international cases.
Bret Tingey joins the Raleigh office of Harrity & Harrity. He focuses his practice on patent preparation and prosecution for inventors in the mechanical and electrical technology fields.
Brendan Biffany joins the firm’s Charlotte office. In the past, Biffany worked as a valuation analyst in public accounting. He holds a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from High Point University and a Juris Doctorate, summa cum laude, from Duke University.
Chelsea Evans joins the firm’s Charlotte office. Before joining the firm, Evans clerked for Chief Justice Donald Beatty of the South Carolina Supreme Court. She holds both a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, and a Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from the University of South Carolina.
Amanda Fannin joins the firm’s Charlotte office, focusing her practice on corporate law. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from Duke University.
Jared Taylor joins the firm’s Charlotte office, focusing his practice on corporate law. Taylor previously worked as an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City. He holds a bachelor’s degree with distinction from the University of North Carolina, a Juris Doctorate from Columbia Law School, and a Master of Laws with merit from King’s College.
Ethan White joins the firm’s Charlotte office. Before joining the firm, White clerked for Chief Judge Louis Bledsoe III of the North Carolina Business Court. He holds a bachelor’s degree with honors from Rollins College and a Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from Wake Forest University.
Demi Lorant Bostian joins the firm’s Research Triangle Park (RTP) office, focusing her practice on corporations and individuals in complex civil and regulatory disputes. She holds a bachelor’s degree with honors and highest distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctorate from Columbia University.
Monica Burks joins the firm’s RTP office. Before joining the firm, Burks clerked for Chief Justice Cheri Beasley of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She holds a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina.
Alexa Fleming joins the firm’s RTP office. She holds both a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, and a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Duke University.
Matthew Lenora joins the firm’s RTP office, focusing his practice on corporate law. Lenora previously worked as an associate attorney at Smith Anderson. He holds a bachelor’s with the highest honors from the University of Oklahoma and both a Juris Doctorate and a Master of Laws from Duke University.
Allen O’Rourke has joined Robinson Bradshaw as the co-chair of the firm’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group. O’Rourke is a former assistant U.S. attorney experienced in criminal and national security investigations, and he has IAPP Certified Information Privacy Professional certifications for both the United States and Europe. He holds a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Columbia University, and a Juris Doctorate from Harvard University.
The firm Dungan, Kilbourne & Stahl has recently changed its name to Allen Stahl + Kilbourne after hiring Derek Allen. Allen’s practice focuses on land use and development. Founder Robert Dungan will continue to support the development and expansion of the firm. Phone numbers for the firm and its attorneys will not change, but a new website, asklawnc.com, is currently under construction.
Zachary Anstett has joined the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog as an associate attorney in the Workers’ compensation practice. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Campbell University.
Melanie Huffines has returned to Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog, now working in the Wilmington office of as an associate attorney. She previously clerked at the firm while working her way through law school. Huffines’ practice will focus on civil and criminal defense. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University and a Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from Campbell University.
John Wright has joined the Charlotte office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog as an associate attorney, focusing his practice on employment and municipal law. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Miami.
Lisa LeFante has joined Triangle Smart Divorce, bringing with her over 22 years of family law experience. LeFante is a certified parenting coordinator, and she holds a Juris Doctorate from Cornell University.
Constangy, Brooks, Smith and Prophete has added a new office in Raleigh to complement North Carolina offices in Asheville and Winston-Salem. In tandem with its opening, the Raleigh office has welcomed its first partner, Justin Coffey, who worked previously for Ogletree Deakins. Coffey has more than 14 years of experience in immigration law, including serving as Chair of the Board of Directors of the International and Immigration Law Section of the Atlanta Bar Association.
Zachary Underwood has been promoted to Litigation Partner at the Raleigh office of Cordell & Cordell. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University.
Jeffrey Tyburski and his staff have joined the Raleigh office of Geosyntec Consultants after previously working for McAdams. “This was an amicable decision between McAdams and Geosyntec,” Tyburski wrote, “recognizing that McAdams Civil Engineering/Land Development environmental needs are better served from a separate closely aligned partner. This will create a win-win situation for both companies.”
Steven Bader has joined the Raleigh office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog as an Of Counsel attorney. Bader’s practice focuses on appellate law, and his experience includes arguing cases before the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals. He holds a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Saint Cloud State University, and a Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University.
Grace Kays has joined the Wilmington office of Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog as an associate attorney, focusing her practice on medical malpractice defense. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, cum laude, with a major in criminal justice and a minor in political science, and a Juris Doctorate from Elon University.
Lori Fuller has joined the Technology practice at Smith Anderson in Raleigh. She brings with her a wealth of experience from previous positions, including serving as General Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Information Technology and as the first and leading advisor from the Attorney General’s Office for the State Information Processing Services and Information Technology Services.
Colin J. Tarrant has joined Block, Crouch, Keeter, Behm & Sayed in Wilmington after working previously for Smith Moore Leatherwood and Fox Rothschild. Tarrant’s practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, real estate development, land use, and zoning. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctorate from the New England School of Law.
Megan Cook has joined the Raleigh office of Teague Campbell. She focuses her practice on issues of liability, including motor vehicle negligence and wrongful death. Cook holds a Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Carmelle Alipio joins the Raleigh office of Teague Campbell. Carmelle holds a Juris Doctorate from Emory University, where she was the first woman and the first woman of color to be elected Director in Chief of the Emory Law School Supreme Court Advocacy Program. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from Fordham University.
Patrick Scott joins the Raleigh office of Teague Campbell after participating in the Teague Campbell Summer Associate Program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Juris Doctorate from Campbell University.
Adam deNobriga joins the Charlotte office of Bell, Davis & Pitt as a director. He has nine years of experience as a litigator, particularly focusing on construction defect, property damage, and professional malpractice. deNobriga has worked on cases in N.C. Superior Court, N.C. Business Court, and federal courts. He is licensed to practice law in Tennessee as well as North Carolina.
Jared Mobley has been appointed managing partner of the Charlotte office of K&L Gates. He focuses his practice on complex aspects of U.S. federal, state and local taxation, including creating and implementing tax-efficient structures for the firm’s clients. He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Laws in tax law from New York University.
Spencer Beard joins the Wilmington office of McAngus Goudelock & Courie. Beard is a litigation attorney of 15 years, with a particular focus on construction and trucking, and he is admitted to the bar in both Mississippi and North Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi.
Domestic litigation firm Cordell & Cordell has recently hired attorney A. Allister Cooper to join its office in Wilmington. Cooper’s practice focuses on both family law and employment law. She holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Juris Doctorate from the Charlotte School of Law.
Joseph DelPapa returns to Ward and Smith’s Raleigh office, where his practice will focus on securities, tax and transactional law. DelPapa has previously served as fractional general counsel for several companies as well as worked as a certified public accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, summa cum laude, from North Carolina State University as well as a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Florida.
David Bradin joins Nexsen Pruet as special counsel for intellectual property law, specializing in pharmaceuticals, petroleum chemistry, polymer chemistry, and biotechnology. Previously Bradin worked as a process development chemist and as an adjunct professor of chemistry.
Two years after winning the Nexsen Pruet Diversity Scholarship in law school, Yolanda Davis joins Nexsen Pruet as an associate attorney of corporate and tax law. Before moving into the legal field, Davis worked as a nonprofit and accounting consultant. She holds a Bachelor of Science in biology, magna cum laude, from Winston-Salem State University, a Master of Science in accountancy from Wake Forest University, and a Juris Doctorate from Campbell University.