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Checking In: December 16, 2025

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Baker Donelson Opens New Office in Winston-Salem

Baker Donelson has opened a new office in Winston-Salem. Fourteen attorneys have joined the firm, and nine are NCBA members. Seven individuals have joined as shareholders: Andrew “Drew” Felts, Kelly Otis, Jasmine Pitt, Donald Pocock, Kiki Scarff, Bryan G. Scott and Robert H. “Rob” Wall. Two individuals, Walker Helms and Hannah Mashburn, have joined as associate attorneys.

Drew, a white man with brown hair and a beard, wears a white shirt and a blue suit. Andrew “Drew” Felts practices commercial real estate law. He represents developers, investors, landlords, tenants, lenders and other market participants. He has advised clients in matters of renewable energy. He is licensed in North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia. He holds a law degree from West Virginia University College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kelly, a white woman with light brown hair, wears a purple blouse and black suit. Kelly Otis works with purchasers, sellers, and developers through every stage of commercial real estate transactions. These include acquisitions, development, financing, leasing and dispositions. She has assisted clients with complex title issues and the impacts of development. She holds a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Purdue University.

Jasmine, a Black woman with black hair, wears a light purple blouse with a black suit. Jasmine Pitt practices commercial litigation in state and federal courts. She has experience in complex business disputes, insurance coverage matters and bad faith litigation involving various commercial policies. She holds a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University. Read more

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Checking In: November 25, 2025

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Baker Donelson Adds New Shareholder

JD, a white man with brown hair and a beard, wears a white shirt, red tie and black blazer. John David “J.D.” Koesters has joined Baker Donelson as a shareholder. He will practice in the Government Enforcement and Investigations Group. Koesters previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney. He advises organizations and individuals navigating internal investigations, False Claims Act allegations, government enforcement actions, complex litigation and cybersecurity risks. While serving as an Assistant U.S. attorney, Koesters led multi-agency investigations into transnational criminal operations. Koesters also served as a U.S. Army Judge Advocate, in which he counseled cyber protection teams and completed a combat tour in Afghanistan. He received the Bronze Star for his military service in Operation Enduring Freedom. Koesters is a Certified Information Privacy Professional. He received his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee.

Poyner Spruill Announces New Attorneys

Paul, a white man with brown hair wears a white shirt, pale green tie and navy blue blazer. Paul Cox is experienced in election law, campaign finance issues, complex litigation and regulatory advice and policy. He previously was General Counsel to the North Carolina State Board of Elections and Special Deputy Attorney General at the North Carolina Department of Justice. He served as a clerk to Raymond Fisher of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked as a public relations professional and policy aide for federal political campaigns and elected officials. He holds a law degree from the University of California Berkeley School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Emily, a white woman with brown hair, wears a white blouse and navy blue blazer.Emily Steele works with institutional investors, developers and nonprofit organizations in acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures. She assists clients in matters such as commercial real estate projects, which include drafting purchase and sale agreements, preparing closing checklists and conducting title, survey, and zoning reviews. She holds a law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law. While in law school, she was the managing editor of the Wake Forest Journal of Business and Intellectual Property. She received a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University. Read more

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Checking In: October 28, 2025

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Carruthers & Roth, P.A. Adds Two New Associates

Gaaron, a man with black hair, wears a white shirt, pale blue tie and grey suit. Gaaron U. Goldsmith will practice on the Commercial Real Estate team and will be involved in helping clients in matters such as the purchase, sale, development, and leasing of property. Goldsmith previously was a clerk with a local firm whose focus was construction, insurance and banking. He was a clerk to a North Carolina Superior Court Judge in Wake County. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2025. While in law school, he was recognized as a Dean’s Fellow, served as a mentor to first-year law students and was a staff member of the North Carolina Journal of International Law. Goldsmith earned his bachelor’s degree with distinction from the University of North Carolina.

Troy, a white man with black hair, wears a white shirt, black tie and black suit.Troy Reid has joined the firm’s Litigation team, where he will assist clients with commercial and business litigation, employment, construction disputes, estate disputes and other litigation matters. Reid previously was a summer litigation clerk with Carruthers & Roth. Reid received his law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2025. There, he served as chair on the Dean’s Advisory Council and as president of the Carolina Law Ambassadors, and he participated in the Pro Bono Program. He holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University, where he graduated summa cum laude. Reid earned a North Carolina Real Estate License and is a licensed private pilot.

Poyner Spruill Selects Managing Partner

Chad, a white man with grey hair, wears a white shirt, gold tie and dark grey jacket.Chad Essick was elected to serve as the next managing partner of Poyner Spruill. Essick succeeded Dan Cahill, who is also an NCBA member. Cahill served as the firm’s managing partner since 2017. Essick represents clients in real estate acquisition and development. His primary focus is land use, zoning and entitlements. He represents land owners and developers before local Boards of Adjustment, Planning Commissions, City Councils and County Commissioners on matters including zoning, permitting, variances, annexations, special use permits, site plans and more. Essick previously served as chair of the NCBA Zoning, Planning & Land Use Section (2019-2020). He holds a law degree from Campbell Law School and a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from North Carolina State University.

Smith Debnam Announces New Attorney

Caroline, a white woman with blond hair, wears a white button down shirt and black blazer.A. Caroline Austin has joined the firm, where she will practice with the Divorce and Family Law practice group. Austin represents clients in issues such as equitable distribution, child custody and support, domestic violence protective orders and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. She holds a law degree from Campbell School of Law; there, she was a Dean’s Excellence Scholar. She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology, cum laude, from the University of Alabama.

 

Two Attorneys Join Young Moore

Lukas, a white man with brown hair and glasses, wears a white shirt, burgundy tie and black jacket.Lukas Epps-Dawson has joined the firm, where he focuses his practice on civil litigation and insurance law. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a clerk to Judge Julee T. Flood at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He received his law degree magna cum laude from Campbell Law School in 2024. While in law school, he was a Bluebook Editor on the Campbell Law Review. Prior to going to law school, he received a bachelor’s degree in English and government from Hampden-Sydney College.

Kathrynn, a white woman with brown hair, wears a blue blouse and black jacket.Kathrynn D. Johnston has joined the firm. Her practice is focused on trusts and estates, tax planning, business law and related matters. She graduated magna cum laude from Campbell Law School in 2025, where she served as Publication Editor for Campbell Law Review and on the boards of several student organizations, including Women in Law. She received a master’s degree in intercultural studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Christian University.

 

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