Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Selects New Partner

Courtney Achee is now a partner with the firm. She is a member of the Cybersecurity and Privacy and Banking and Financial Services practice groups. Achee advises clients in matters of compliance under federal statutes and regulations, state privacy and data security laws, and global data protection laws. She holds a CIPP/U.S. designation from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. She received her law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law and her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro Elects Afi Johnson-Parris As Chair

Afi Johnson-Parris was elected chair of the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro. Johnson-Parris will serve a two-year term in her role, which she began on January 1. She previously served as chair-elect of the board. She will guide the foundation as it works to impact the city through coming alongside nonprofits, managing projects in the community and assisting in creating charitable funds. Johnson-Parris is a partner at Fox Rothschild, where she practices in the Family Law Department. She is a North Carolina Board Certified Family Law Specialist. She represents clients in matters of family law. Johnson-Parris serves as a board member of the North Carolina Bar Foundation and the NC Equal Access to Justice Foundation. She received her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, her MBA from the University of Phoenix, Southern Colorado and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, where she held an Air Force ROTC academic scholarship.

High Point University Kahn School of Law Welcomes Assistant Director of Law School Career Development

Diana Santos Johnson has joined the Kahn School of Law as Assistant Director of Law School Career Development. Before joining the Kahn School of Law, she practiced bankruptcy law for private law firms, solo practices and organizations providing legal services. Santos Johnson is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy Law. She is the recipient of several awards, including the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Honorable Cornelius Blackshear Fellowship (2012) and the North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award (2024). She was inducted into the North Carolina Pro Bono Society in 2017 and 2018 and from 2021 through 2024. She holds a law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Wake Forest University.

New Associate Joins Phelps Dunbar LLP

Olivia Nieri has joined the firm’s Raleigh office, where she is a member of the Insurance practice group. She focuses on complex coverage issues, which include first- and third-party claims, as well as litigation and counseling. She graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2025, where she served as notes editor of the North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Poyner Spruill Announces New Partners

Stephanie Gumm practices civil and commercial litigation. She represents clients in matters of litigation in North Carolina at the state and federal level. She served as an active-duty member of the U.S. Army for eight years, and served on combat tours for three of those years. She holds a law degree, magna cum laude, from Campbell Law School and a bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Campbell University. She serves as a Guardian ad Litem Appellate Counsel with the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Pro Bono Attorney Program.

Cosmo Zinkow practices business disputes and appeals and is on the appellate team with the firm. He represents businesses, government entities and individuals in a variety of lawsuits. He has practiced in state and federal appellate courts. He served as an active-duty member of the U.S. Marine Corps for seven years. During his service, he was deployed overseas multiple times. He left the military in 2009 before becoming the director of technology for several different companies. He received his law degree, magna cum laude, from Campbell Law School, and his bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in criminal justice from North Carolina Central University.

Robinson Bradshaw Names New Shareholders

The firm has selected six new shareholders, five of whom are NCBA members: Scott A. DeAngelis, Katherine A. Grant, Kristin L. Hendrickson, Curtis C. Strubinger and Spencer T. Wiles.

Scott A. DeAngelis represents clients in transactional matters. He focuses on leveraged finance and other debt financing transactions. He represents business development companies, small business investment companies, private funds, and other lenders and borrowers. He received his law degree and his doctorate from Vanderbilt University. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from Coe College.

Katherine A. Grant is a corporate attorney who focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, private investments and general corporate law. She represents private equity groups and companies in acquisitions, dispositions and other investment transactions. She counsels companies on corporate and commercial matters. She holds a law degree and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.

Kristin L. Hendrickson represents clients in transactional matters and focuses on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law. She represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in acquisitions, dispositions and other investment transactions. She holds a law degree with high honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She received her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude with honors from the University of South Carolina Honors College.

Curtis C. Strubinger advises partnerships, corporations and individuals on the tax aspects of complex transactions. He focuses his practice on providing tax advice to private investment funds throughout their lifecycle. He has worked with founders and investors on Section 1202 qualified business stock, stock options and other issues affecting startups. He holds a law degree, magna cum laude, from Duke University School of Law. He received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accountancy, summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri.

Spencer T. Wiles is a business litigator who focuses on complex disputes. He represents clients in litigation and arbitration, with a focus on resolving construction-related issues, which include defect, delay and payment disputes. He has a sports and entertainment practice in which he has managed disputes in the motorsports field, as well as other professional leagues and college athletics. He graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Hampden-Sydney College.

Robinson & Lawing Announces New Partner

Christopher Watford is now a partner with the firm. He practices appellate advocacy, guardianship and complex litigation. He focuses his practice on high-stakes appellate and civil litigation. He serves as treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Guardianship Association. He holds a law degree from Campbell Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Appalachian State University.

Smith Debnam Elects Two Partners

Landon G. Van Winkle is now a partner with the firm. He is a member of the firm’s construction law, business litigation, and bankruptcy teams. Van Winkle, who joined Smith Debnam in 2020, is a Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law. He represents financial institutions and businesses in litigation, bankruptcy and restructuring matters. Van Winkle is licensed to practice in all federal districts in North Carolina and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Van Winkle previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received multiple honors, including the Navy Achievement Medal and the Iraq Campaign Medal. He serves as the Vice Chair of the Webinars & Podcasts Subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Business Bankruptcy Committee. He holds a law degree, summa cum laude, from Campbell Law School, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai’i West O’ahu.

Melissa Tulis Smith is a partner with the firm. She is licensed to practice in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Smith joined the firm in 2020 and is a member of the Consumer Collections practice group. Prior to joining the firm, she practiced civil litigation with a focus on property, construction and landlord-tenant disputes. Smith is the membership committee chair for the North Carolina Creditors Bar Association and Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Litigation Section. She is also involved in the American Bar Association, Wake County Bar Association, Junior League of Raleigh and StepUp Ministry. She holds a law degree from Campbell Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.