Checking In: August 26, 2025
Brooks Pierce Opens New Charlotte Office
Brooks Pierce has opened a new office in Charlotte. The firm also has offices in Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilmington. Three new partners, David Allen, Ben Chesson and Anna Majestro have joined the firm.
David Allen has practiced law for more than thirty years. He has empaneled nearly 100 juries since the beginning of his career. He previously served as president of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. He is a councilor of the North Carolina State Bar and a former chair of its Ethics Committee. Allen has also served the legal community through lecturing on the topic of trial practice. He is the 2020 recipient of the NCADA Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy. In July 2025, Allen was selected by the N.C. State Bar’s Nominating Committee to stand for election as N.C. State Bar vice president. He holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Ben Chesson has tried nearly 20 cases to verdict. Chesson has a range of experience in his practice, including shareholder disputes, product warranty claims and more. He has tried both corporate and individual clients in state and federal courts across North Carolina. He has represented clients in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, all appellate courts in North Carolina, and the South Carolina Supreme Court. He holds a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he served as editor of the Wake Forest Law Review. He received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Anna Majestro is licensed to practice law in West Virginia and South Carolina. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation. After graduating from law school, she clerked for a federal court in West Virginia. Majestro served as chair of the Mecklenburg Bar Association Civil Litigation Section and as a volunteer guardian ad litem with Mecklenburg County. She holds a J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a senior editor for the annual survey on White Collar Crime for the American Criminal Law Review at Georgetown. She received a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University.
New Firm Announcement: Digital Law Counsel
Digital Law Counsel, a virtual law firm, has opened. The firm serves North Carolina businesses that are navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of AI governance, privacy laws, and product compliance. The firm provides customized counsel to startups and Fortune 500 companies. Digital Law Counsel offers guidance on AI and compliance frameworks, assists companies with integrating privacy responsibly, and helps with client risk assessments.
Digital Law Counsel was founded by Stephen Domer, a North Carolina licensed attorney who has nearly 17 years of legal experience spanning AI governance, privacy compliance and product counseling. Domer received his J.D. from the University of Illinois (Chicago) and a B.S.B.A. from Appalachian State University.
Smith Anderson Welcomes New Attorneys
The firm announced the hiring of five new attorneys, two of whom are NCBA members, Alec Roberson and Kathryn “Kate” Spangler.
Alec Roberson has joined the firm’s Private Client, Tax and Trusts & Estates practices. He advises on creating, reviewing and modifying wills, trusts and other estate planning instruments, estate tax planning and estate and trust administration. He has experience working in law firms and national bank compliance environments. He holds a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Kathryn “Kate” Spangler practices on the Real Estate Development Team. She focuses on construction and business litigation. She previously served as a law clerk for Judge Tobias Hamson of the North Carolina Court of Appeals. She provides counsel to business owners, contractors, developers and design professionals throughout the construction process. She holds a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was a secretary with Jurists on the Go. She received her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Davidson College.
Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLP Acquires Bernhardt and Strawser, P.A.
Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLP recently announced the acquisition of Charlotte-based Bernhardt and Strawser, P.A. “We are excited to welcome the team from Bernhardt and Strawser to the Smith Debnam family,” said Jerry Myers, managing partner at Smith Debnam. “This strategic move will strengthen our practice capabilities and enable us to more efficiently offer our wide range of services to both firms’ clientele.” Added Amy Strawser, partner and formerly of Bernhardt and Strawser, “The long-standing respect between our firms has us looking forward to working together as a unified team. This is an exciting step that will enable us to serve even better the evolving legal needs of our clients.” Smith Debnam has its headquarters in Raleigh with regional offices in Charlotte and Charleston, S.C.