Checking In: Feb. 16, 2021
Former Chief Justice Joins McGuireWoods
Cheri Beasley, the first African American woman to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, has joined McGuireWoods’ litigation practice in Raleigh as a partner and member of the firm’s appellate team. She served on the Supreme Court from 2012 through 2020 and was appointed chief justice in March 2019, and previously served on the N.C. Court of Appeals and as a District Court judge. Beasley is a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Law and Douglass College of Rutgers University. She earned a Master of Laws in Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law.
Ward and Smith Announces Managing Director-Elect
Devon Williams was elected Co-Managing Director-Elect at Ward and Smith. In this role, Williams will serve alongside Brad Evans, who also is a Managing Director with the firm. Williams has practiced with the firm since 2012. She has led the Labor and Employment Section and co-chaired the Raleigh Geographic Team. Upon assuming this position, she will continue to practice labor and employment law. Williams advises employers on a wide range of labor and employment issues and defends employers in employment litigation matters. Williams received a B.S. from the University of Maryland and a J.D., cum laude, from Campbell Law School.
Molly Brewer Joins James Scott Farrin
Molly Brewer has joined the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. A personal injury attorney, she received a J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law and a B.A. in Political Science from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa. Brewer worked as a litigation paralegal prior to completing law school, and is a published scholar with previous experience at North Carolina State University, the District Attorney’s Office and the N.C. Department of Justice.
Two Attorneys Join Matheson & Associates PLLC
London Davenport focuses on corporate formation, business litigation, and trademark registration. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in political science from Meredith College and a J.D. from Campbell Law School, where she was vice president of the Women in Law organization. Before becoming an associate, Davenport was a law clerk with Matheson & Associates / Beer Law Center, and she has experience with trademark registration as well as licensing and compliance.
Andres Tomey focuses on criminal defense law; in the future, his practice will also include immigration. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. from Campbell Law School. While obtaining his law degree, Tomey was active in the Hispanic Law Student Association and helped with naturalization events. He also volunteered with Campbell Community Law Clinic.
Michael Best Names New Partners and Senior Counsel
The firm announced that two new partners, Ed Roney and Joseph Dickinson, and a senior counsel, Holly Benton, have joined the Raleigh office.
Roney practices intellectual property law and will be the managing partner in the Raleigh office. His work encompasses a range of industries: information technology, eCommerce, manufacturing, medical devices and more. Before becoming an attorney, Roney founded PrairieComm, Inc., a telecommunications company. He received a B.S. from Purdue University, an M.S. in electrical engineering from Technological University, and a J.D. from DePaul University.
Dickinson will work in the Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group and has more than 25 years of experience. He has assisted technology companies and clients in health care and government with a variety of matters related to cybersecurity and other privacy and data concerns. He received a B.A. from Malone University and a J.D., cum laude, from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.
Benton’s practice is focused on technology, higher education, retail, residential management, health care, and startup companies. She advises clients on information lifecycle management and helps clients in identifying their specific privacy and data protection risks, as well as administering privacy programs. Prior to her career in law, she was the privacy officer at Duke University. She received a B.A. in history and women’s studies, magna cum laude, from Wellesley College, and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Morningstar Law Group Adds Britney Weaver
Britney Weaver has rejoined Morningstar Law Group in Durham as a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. She received her J.D., cum laude, from North Carolina Central University School of Law, and her B.A. in English, cum laude, from Francis Marion University in Florence, S.C. Weaver is also the director of the Farrah Turner Foundation, which protects and serves children in memory of Weaver’s cousin, an investigator with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office who died in the line of duty in 2018 while protecting children.
Harkey Named Senior Financial Crimes Prosecutor
Scott Harkey has been appointed as the Senior Financial Crimes Prosecutor for the North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys. He will prosecute complex economic felonies throughout the state. Harkey serves as treasurer of the NCBA Criminal Justice Section and is also a member of the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s Civic Education and Community Engagement Committee. He is a graduate of Campbell Law School and North Carolina State University.
Ragsdale Liggett Announces Hires
L. Skye MacLeod has joined Ragsdale Liggett as an associate in the litigation department of the firm’s Raleigh office. MacLeod is a graduate of Samford University Cumberland School of Law and earned a Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. She received her B.A. from Davidson College. MacLeod has more than 20 years of complex litigation experience, including significant trial experience in state, federal and appellate courts.
Alyssa Becker has joined the Ragsdale Liggett paralegal team in the Raleigh office, where she will support lawyers in litigation, commercial real estate and land use and zoning matters. Becker is a native of upstate New York. She obtained an associate’s degree in Paralegal Law from Finger Lakes Community College in Canandaigua, N.Y.
Jennie Scoggins has joined the Ragsdale Liggett Residential Real Estate paralegal team. She previously served as the branch administrator at Fonville Morisey Realty–Lochmere. Scoggins is a native of Cary and graduate of North Carolina State University.
Young Moore Welcomes Associates
Christy C. Dunn has joined Young Moore as an associate. Dunn represents insurers and businesses in civil litigation matters. She has experience serving as a law clerk for Allegra Collins at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Dunn earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Campbell Law School and a B.S. in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to law school, Christy worked for 13 years as a sales engineer for power protection and precision cooling solutions.
Brittany D. Levine has joined Young Moore in Raleigh as an associate. She will focus her practice on complex civil litigation and health care compliance. Levine received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Campbell Law School, and a B.A. in Political Science from American University. She completed a judicial externship at the N.C. Supreme Court for Justice (now Chief Justice) Paul Newby and was selected for membership in The Order of Barristers, the national society recognizing outstanding performance in the art of advocacy.