Samantha Hovaniec is now an associate at Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP, and she will work in the Raleigh office. Hovaniec practices transactional law and represents businesses in corporate matters: mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and equity and debt financing. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in political science and economics and from UNC School of Law with a J.D.
Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) Welcomes Joan Welborn
Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) welcomes Joan Welborn, who is now a paralegal in the Raleigh office. She will work with the firm’s Workers’ Compensation Practice Group. Welborn has previous experience in employment and family law, as well as workers’ compensation defense. She received her paralegal certificate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Welborn earned a B.S. in business administration, management and organizational development from Mount Olive College and an MBA in human resource management from Strayer University.
Ragsdale Liggett Names Murray Partner
Ragsdale Liggett recently welcomed Paula Murray as the newest partner in the firm. Murray joined the firm in 2016 and practices in the Residential Real Estate Group. Her skills have been recognized in peer-reviewed publications including Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch,” Super Lawyers Rising Stars, and Business North Carolina magazine Legal Elite editions. Murray is a 2007 graduate of Meredith College, where she earned a B.A. in political science with a concentration in law and justice. She is a 2011 graduate of Campbell Law School. Murray resides in Raleigh with her husband and daughter. Read more
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. Read more
Kettering Foundation Announces New Vice President, Treasurer, and CFO
Jack L. Harper will serve as Vice President, Treasurer, and CFO of the Kettering Foundation. Harper has more than 27 years of public and private experience in tax law and corporate governance. In this position, Harper will oversee the foundation’s finances as well as play a role in the foundation’s work on democracy-related research. As a former Senior Director with Walmart, he was responsible for tax planning and led federal and state tax audit teams. Harper established Walmart’s Global Tax Controversy Center of Excellence. A Certified Public Accountant, Harper served as Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Tax Section. He received a Bachelor of Science in accounting from North Carolina Central University, a Master of Science in taxation from Colorado State University, and a Juris Doctorate, with honors, from North Carolina Central University School of Law.
New Associate Joins the Law Offices of Anna Smith Felts, PLLC
Charles “Charlie” Gray has joined the Law Offices of Anna Smith Felts. His areas of practice are criminal and traffic law, and he is especially interested in criminal defense. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in biological sciences from North Carolina State University, a Juris Doctorate from Campbell Law School, and a Master of Laws from Nottingham Law School.
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Announces New Partner
Matthew S. DeAntonio is now a partner at the Charlotte office of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. DeAntonio focuses on litigating in matters of intellectual property and complex business disputes. He represents clients in high-stakes trademark infringement cases at the trial court and on appeal and litigates complex business disputes in a variety of commercial settings. DeAntonio also leads the firm’s Franchise and Distribution Practice Group. He earned his Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina and his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Read more
Checking In: March 15, 2021
Checking InSamantha Hovaniec Joins Brooks Pierce
Cranfill Sumner LLP (CSH Law) Welcomes Joan Welborn
Ragsdale Liggett Names Murray Partner
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Checking In: Feb. 16, 2021
Checking InFormer 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
Checking In: Jan. 19, 2021
Checking InCompiled by Jessica Junqueira
Kettering Foundation Announces New Vice President, Treasurer, and CFO
New Associate Joins the Law Offices of Anna Smith Felts, PLLC
Charles “Charlie” Gray has joined the Law Offices of Anna Smith Felts. His areas of practice are criminal and traffic law, and he is especially interested in criminal defense. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science and a minor in biological sciences from North Carolina State University, a Juris Doctorate from Campbell Law School, and a Master of Laws from Nottingham Law School.
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Announces New Partner
Matthew S. DeAntonio is now a partner at the Charlotte office of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. DeAntonio focuses on litigating in matters of intellectual property and complex business disputes. He represents clients in high-stakes trademark infringement cases at the trial court and on appeal and litigates complex business disputes in a variety of commercial settings. DeAntonio also leads the firm’s Franchise and Distribution Practice Group. He earned his Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina and his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
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