Rockingham Business Lawyers

My name is Laura C. Rivers, and I assist families living in North Carolina and South Carolina to create their comprehensive estate planning documents. I also help families navigate through the probate process after a loved one passes away. The estate planning and probate can be a time-consuming and intimidating process. At the same time, you know you need to do it, and perhaps it is something that has been lingering on your to-do list for far too long. Planning for yourself and for your family is one of the most important steps you can take...

Marc E. Gustafson attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Political Science and Secondary Education in 1997. Mr. Gustafson received his law degree in 2001 from Indiana University. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Gustafson joined the law firm of Alston & Bird, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia. Alston & Bird is a national law firm with more than 900 lawyers and is recognized as one of the top law firms in the country. At Alston & Bird, Mr. Gustafson...

Community connections run deep for Angie, whose family has lived in the Yadkin Valley region for several generations. As a former prosecutor and founder of the Public Interest Law Foundation during law school, where she attended on a prestigious merit-based scholarship, Angie has a deep passion for protecting the most vulnerable in the community. That abiding sense of commitment, alongside her sharp legal judgment and astute attention to detail, makes her an effective legal advocate for her clients.

Serge Semirog holds degrees in Finance and Economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he graduated cum laude. His law degree Mr. Semirog earned at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he was a member of the Hastings Business Law Journal. Mr. Semirog’s experience includes work at the Hampden County Superior Court in Springfield, Massachusetts, as well as at several medium sized firms in California and Massachusetts. Mr. Semirog also worked at the Massachusetts Family Institute (MFI) where he drafted legislative proposals for the Massachusetts State Assembly. For his work...

Kiel actively advises and represents clients faced with pending or active litigation. While he has experience handling a variety of civil matters, he primarily handles cases involving contractual disputes or other business related matters. He is a skilled litigator and represents both companies and individuals at both the trial and appellate court levels.

The Davidson Law Firm, P.C. was formed in August of 2005 by Dave Davidson, CFP®. Dave formed this firm with two main principles in mind: provide the highest level of efficient legal services and high quality client service. With these principles in mind, the firm’s focus is on serving not only the business community, but families and individuals as well.

It’s not JUST a job. For most people, their job is directly tied to their livelihood. It’s how we provide for our families and take care of our loved ones. Like most people, you probably spend more time at your job than you do at home. You’ve missed out on important family events and things you enjoy doing due to your job. The sacrifices you’ve made can make job disputes like discrimination, harassment, unpaid wages, unequal pay, or wrongful termination feel like a PERSONAL attack. You...

I am the managing attorney of Maginnis Howard, a Wake County civil litigation firm located in Raleigh, NC. Unlike many firms, Maginnis Law represents both plaintiffs and defendants in lawsuits. On the plaintiffs side, my practice is focused on consumer class actions and business litigation. I am the former chair of the Consumer Areas of Practice at the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. We handle, on a contingency basis, consumer cases falling under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the corresponding state law statutes...

Phyllis (PJ) Lile-King is a lawyer in Greensboro, North Carolina, licensed for 25 years and engaged in a civil rights practice, including police misconduct and discrimination cases. She has lectured and written in the areas of discrimination, medical malpractice and drug overdose cases. PJ is on the faculty at Duke Law School. For several years, PJ's practice included medical malpractice, wrongful death and drug overdose cases. She grew up in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and graduated from Georgetown College with a B.A. and the University of Virginia School of Law with a J.D. PJ clerked for the Honorable Pierce Lively...

My name is Jonathan Barber, and I am a Managing Attorney at Franchise.Law in Charlotte, NC. I earned my JD from Liberty University School of Law in 2015, and now serve my clients with legal matters for both established franchisors and start-up franchisors. I also have a background in teaching business law and have been named a 2019 1851 Magazine Franchise Legal Player and 2019 Franchise Times Legal Eagle.

With more than fifteen years of litigation experience, Caleb brings a broad base of legal knowledge to every single client encounter. Representative clients during that time include individuals, families, small businesses, and even large national corporations. Caleb integrates his keen understanding of human interactions with the complexities of legal matters to ensure effective and equitable results.

Chris is an Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, and Employment Lawyer with years of experience helping people in Durham, Wake, and surrounding counties in North Carolina.

Adam focuses primarily on business/corporate and construction law. As at partner of Felton Banks, PLLC, Adam understands the importance of quality, affordable legal advice. Felton Banks is structured to be the first stop for a small business's legal needs. In 2011, Adam, a lifelong North Carolinian, joined the North Carolina National Guard. He spent a short time as an engineering officer, and was then selected to serve as a North Carolina National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer, focusing specifically on soldier defense.

Matthew attended North Carolina State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006 with a Juris Doctorate. He is a partner at Gottholm, Ralston and Benton, PLLC since the firm’s inception in 2014, and was a partner at The Law Offices of Benton & Welborn, PLLC from 2006 until 2011, and The Law Offices of Gottholm, Welborn and Benton, PLLC from 2012-2013. Matthew’s practice primarily focuses on family law, criminal law and civil litigation. Matthew is an experienced litigator, and tries...

Having practiced at both an international law firm and as in-house counsel at a large publicly traded company, Rich McAvoy has a history of providing superior litigation and other legal services to some of the most discerning clients. By engaging the Law Office of Richard McAvoy, PLLC, you or your business can receive the same quality representation that the world's largest corporations receive, but at a fraction of the cost, right here in Apex, North Carolina.

Relevant Experience
-Represented Fortune 50 client in state and federal court litigation at both the trial court and appellate court level
-Negotiated $70 million investment in...

Michael Weisel concentrates his legal practice on corporate finance, mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, commercial real estate, venture capital, business and corporate law, government relations, administrative and regulatory law, campaign finance and election law, and securities arbitration Representing corporations, financial institutions, insurance companies, associations and individuals before the N.C. General Assembly, U.S. Congress, agencies and regulators, he brings a unique blend of legal, legislative, business and political skills to successfully navigate his clients through governmental squalls. Mr. Weisel also employs his distinctive experience and expertise in business representation, believing clients need clear, concise and practical counsel from their lawyer...

Matthew Moore was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, and attended college at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. During his undergraduate work, Matthew served as a member of the UNC Charlotte Pre-Law Society where he met his wife. He graduated on the Chancellor’s List, obtained a B.A. in Criminal Justice and Criminology and an Associate’s Degree in Spanish. While attending college, Matthew obtained a License from the North Carolina Justice Academy and became the youngest Concealed Carry Instructor in North Carolina. Upon graduation, Matthew attended law school where he served as a member of the Criminal Law Society, Family...

David P. “Paul” Hefferon was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina in 1954. He is married to Vera Hefferon and has three grown children. He was educated in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and earned his B.A. in History and Political Science at UNC-Charlotte in 1980. He is a 1982 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law. Paul is a member or former member of the North Carolina State Bar, the Mecklenburg County Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Paul has been practicing law in Charlotte since 1983...

Tyler Brooks represents clients throughout the United States in cases involving free speech, religious liberty, and individual rights. He also represents clients in complex business litigation, employment disputes, and bankruptcy matters, as well as in business transactions and estate planning. Before starting his own practice, Tyler worked for six years, first as an associate attorney and then partner, at a civil litigation firm based in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he primarily represented railroads and other clients in the transportation industry. Much of this work focused on wrongful death and serious personal injury cases as well as employment law,...

Attorney Joe Culik practices in the areas of business law, franchise law, and civil litigation. Joe started the law firm in 2008 and has earned a reputation for advocating strongly for small businesses, franchises, business owners, and consumers. Joe has litigated hundreds of cases successfully for small businesses and individuals in both trial and appellate courts. He has a record of fighting aggressively for his clients to obtain the best possible outcome. Because of his experience litigating cases throughout the court system, he is often able to find ways to avoid protracted litigation via negotiated resolutions. When advising businesses,...

Born and raised in Charlotte, Attorney Michael Trotter graduated from Myers Park High School and went on to study Political Science at North Carolina State University. Upon graduating from North Carolina State Michael returned home to attend Charlotte Law. While in Law School Michael interned with the Gaston County Public Defenders Office and the Honorable Graham Mullen U.S. Senior District Judge. After graduating from Law School with High Distinction Pro Bono Honors, Michael opened the doors of Trotter Law PLLC intent on providing clients both small and large Practical Legal Advice in the areas of Family, Business, & Estate Planning. Communication is...

Christina E. Lollar is the founder of The Lollar Law Firm, PLLC located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Ms. Lollar brings a dedicated, innovative and individualized approach to the representation of each and every client. She currently concentrates her practice in civil litigation, criminal law, college student defense and employment law. At The Lollar Law Firm clients will find a high degree of sophistication and professionalism combined with a genuine commitment to helping people face personal, legal and business challenges. The Lollar Law Firm specializes in civil litigation, criminal law, collections, college student defense, and employment...

Dennis O'Dea is a principal at the SFS LAW GROUP. He has practiced Insolvency, Bankruptcy, Commercial Litigation and legal malpractice for over twenty five years as a partner in major firms in Chicago, IL and New York City. The SFS LAW Group was formed in Charlotte, NC to provide a new model of practice in which the firm conducts joint engagements with experienced lawyers to provide legal support on a project basis that is superior to the legacy high overhead, lawyer heavy firms of the past. The resources and skills of...

Former Prosecutor for 11th Judicial District where I handled thousands of criminal case for State of North Carolina. Went into private practice in 1998 and opened my own law from in 2004. My main focus is Criminal Defense, Domestic/Family Law, Traffic, License Restoration, and Personal Injury. Pride myself on providing excellent service to my clients and forging long term trusted relationships with my peers, judges and law enforcement.

Brandon is an attorney focused on representing technology and media clients in business, intellectual property, content clearance, privacy, commercial contracts, employment and internet regulatory matters. Why? Because of a passion for creativity and technology. Brandon is a so-so visual artist, a lousy programmer and a pretty-okay film editor, but he is a great lawyer. He keeps an old comic by Barbara Smaller that features a little boy in a cowboy outfit telling his father “Well if I can’t be a cowboy, I’ll be a lawyer for cowboys.” The creative and innovative clients Brandon serves are his cowboys.

Brandon volunteers as general...

Mr. Oliver received his undergraduate and law degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill. He is a board certified specialist in Business Bankruptcy Law, certified by the North Carolina State Bar and the American Board of Specialization. Mr. Oliver has received numerous awards including: AV Preeminent Lawyer from Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, 2013 Legal Elite’s “Young Guns Award in North Carolina”, 2009-2015 North Carolina “Super Lawyer” and 2009-2015 Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite.” He was the Co-Managing Editor of the North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual in 2006 and has served as a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee for the Bankruptcy Court since 2009. In...

Federal Practice: • Member of the United States Supreme Court Bar • Accredited Attorney by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs • Admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims State Practice: • Member of the North Carolina Bar since 1994 • Licensed to practice in all NC Courts and Eastern NC Fed. District Court Memberships: • Member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys • Member of the National Organization of Veterans Advocates Teaching: • MBA, concentrations in Finance and Decision Sciences • Traditional and online college instructor for 6 years • Founder of CLE.LawDox continuing legal education courses for attorneys • Founder of mentoring.LawDox teaching the business of law

I limit my practice to mediation and arbitration. Before I began limiting my practice, I focused especially on employment and personal injury litigation. Most of the time I represented employees, but I occasionally represented employers. Prior to focusing on employment and personal injury, I had a more general civil practice.

Jim Hickmon assists clients with wealth transfer, estate planning, trust, tax, and probate law issues. He also works with clients to resolve trust and estate related disputes, including representing beneficiaries and fiduciaries in litigated matters. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Committees on Estate Planning and Employee Benefits and is Vice Chair of the ABA’s Probate & Real Property Section’s Uniform Acts Committee for Trusts and Estates. He is a Council member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Section on Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law and also sits on the Section’s Legislative and Fiduciary...

I help new and established businesses solve their legal challenges. My practice includes entity formation, corporate documentation, drafting and negotiating contracts and leases, and general corporate counsel. I also represent businesses and individuals in litigation in the state and federal courts throughout North Carolina.