Checking In: July 20, 2021

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Announces New Partner

J. Michael Wilson has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP as partner in the Charlotte office. He will practice in the firm’s Tax and Trusts and Estates groups. His areas of focus include taxation, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and fund formations. He has experience in real estate transactions, such as joint ventures, acquisitions, development, sales, and more. Wilson also has prior experience as a tax consultant. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law with a J.D. and from UNC Chapel Hill, where he received a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in accounting.

Austin Rowe Kessler Joins Hall Booth Smith

Austin Rowe Kessler has joined the Asheville office of Hall Booth Smith. He focuses on insurance defense and general liability. Kessler has experience conducting trials and hearings in District Court and Superior Court. He has  practiced in the areas of family law and civil litigation, estate planning, and criminal defense. Kessler graduated from Campbell Law School with a J.D. and from Guilford College with a B.A. in criminal justice and a minor in sociology.

Bangura Joins the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin announced that Sheri Bangura has joined the firm as a personal injury attorney. Bangura has worked for insurance companies for more than 15 years as a multi-state insurance claims adjuster. Sheri graduated cum laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she earned a  J.D. While in law school, she was a torts tutor and research assistant and was involved in the NCCU Student Bar Association as a 2L representative. She holds a a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice with a minor in sociology from Old Dominion University.

McMillion Law Hires New Litigation Associate

McMillion Law announced that a new associate, Andrew Denoff, has joined the firm. Andrew Denoff is an attorney who practices criminal defense and family law litigation. He has experience working at the Rockingham County District Attorney’s Office and the Greensboro Public Defender’s office. He graduated from Elon University School of Law with a J.D. In law school, he served as secretary of the Criminal Law Society and was a member of the Innocence Project. He received a B.A. in history and a minor in criminal justice from Guilford College.

Michael Best Hires New Partner, Associate

Michael Best announced that Carrie Meigs and Justin May have joined the firm’s litigation practice group in Raleigh.

Carrie Meigs joined Michael Best as a partner. Her practice focuses on clients in the health care industry. With more than 20 years of experience, Meigs advises clients on risk management strategies, contract negotiation and review, and regulatory compliance. She is a trial lawyer and was admitted to the American Board of Trial Advocates. Meigs received a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a B.A. in journalism and mass communications from UNC at Chapel Hill.

Justin May has joined the firm as an associate. May has experience advising clients on legal and regulatory issues facing health care providers and businesses in government investigations. Other areas of expertise include medical malpractice litigation, false claims litigation, government investigations, Medicaid audit and recoupment actions, and more. May graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law with a J.D. and from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A.

Stoker Joins Moore & Van Allen as Senior Counsel

Moore & Van Allen announced that John A. Stoker has joined the firm as senior counsel. He will serve in the Financial Regulatory Advice & Response Group. Stoker’s primary practice area is in financial services. He provides legal counsel on laws and regulations related to financial products, services and operations, and enterprise initiatives. He has 15 years of experience as in-house counsel in the financial services sector. He received a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a B.A. from UNC.

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP Welcomes Phillip Strach

Phillip J. Strach has joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as a partner. Strach will practice in the firm’s Raleigh office. Strach is a labor and employment attorney with experience representing management in matters of labor and employment law. He litigates claims involving restrictive covenants, trade secrets and other issues related to business law. He holds a J.D. with honors from the University of Noth Carolina School of Law, an M.P.A. from UNC, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from Campbell University.

Hutcherson Joins Ragsdale Liggett

Ragsdale Liggett announced that Michael Hutcherson is now an associate with the firm. He will be a part of the group’s civil litigation practice. His areas of focus are insurance, construction and trucking and transportation defense litigation. He was a judicial fellow at the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Hutcherson has previous experience with a legal business solutions technology provider as a project attorney. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law with a J.D. and from UNC Wilmington, where he received a B.A.