Catawba Lawyers

After suffering a work-related injury in September 2007 while working for the largest company in the world, I learned firsthand the difficulties faced by those who are injured at work. And for those like me whose claims are denied, the financial struggle and the burden it places on our friends and family can feel overwhelming. The frustration of this experience drove me to law school, and today, it drives me to fight for those who have suffered injuries, be they workplace or other. Providing competent and compassionate legal services for those in need, is my top priority.

Valerie grew up in Alabama and obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. During her undergraduate studies, Valerie became interested in the study and practice of law. She went on to attend the Charlotte School of Law, where she served as the president of the Trial Advocacy Board and had the opportunity to try cases in front of attorneys and judges across the country. Valerie has furthered her experience in the practice of law through her work with the nationally recognized Cochran Firm; and she has gained perspective from the bench by clerking...

Harrison A. Lord is the founder and managing member of Lord & Lindley, PLLC. His practice focuses on helping small businesses reduce their risks, collect the money owed them, and plan for a successful future. Harrison represents clients in commercial litigation and disputes of all sorts. In that role, he’s tried cases before judges and juries all over North Carolina. But first and foremost, Harrison is a problem solver. His focus is always on getting the best result for his clients, and helping them find the solution that works for them and their business. Sometimes...

I attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, becoming the first in my family to attend a four-year college. After earning my degree, I relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, to pursue my legal education at the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. While there, I served on the editorial board of The University of Memphis Law Review and published two articles. My time in Memphis was rewarding both academically, as I graduated with honors, and personally, as my wife and I welcomed two children. In 2003, I returned to North Carolina and started my career as a...

Schehr Law specializes in personal injury, criminal law and immigration defense. We are a family based law firm who always offer a free consultation to anyone needing help. I graduated cum laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and have sought out to help individuals in need. With respect to personal injury, we handle auto accidents, dog bites, slip and falls, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, and general personal injury matters. With regards to immigrations, we handle family based immigration matters, humanitarian matters such as asylum, deferred action childhood arrivals, cancellation of removal, and VAWA (violence against woman's act). Lastly, we...

Davidson College, B.S. 1975, Pre-Med
Program in Medical Sciences (PIMS) 1975-1977, Florida State University
Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D. 1980
Licensed to practice law in North Carolina since 1981 with 38 years of experience in personal injury
Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum (limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for their clients)
Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice (formerly North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers)
Member, Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Member, North Carolina Bar Association
Member, Mecklenburg County Bar
NC Court of Appeals successful decision, Roush v. Kennon, 188 N.C.App. 570 (2008) (dental malpractice)
Editor, 2nd Edition, North Carolina...

Taylor represents people charged with all types of crimes. She primarily focuses her work in state court, and in the last year alone defended a wide variety of cases ranging from speeding to assault with a deadly weapon.

Taylor also defends kids charged with crimes in juvenile court. She has helped young people charged with breaking or entering, larceny, possession of marijuana, injury to personal property, and more.

Additionally, she defends men and women accused of violating their federal supervised release or probation conditions in the Federal Western District of North Carolina. She also works with Chris Fialko on many...

Erica Yarborough was born and raised in Davidson County, North Carolina. She attended Central Davidson High School and obtained her undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University. She then received her Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law. Erica now focuses her practice on family law cases, including divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, domestic violence, and equitable distribution, in Mooresville, NC.

I love competition and thrive on being a trial lawyer. I'm known as the 'DWI Guy' and 100% own it. It's what I do. I'm in the Legal Elite Hall of Fame as my colleagues voted me as North Carolina's Top Criminal Law Attorney in 2016. I appreciate all the awards and recognition, from serving on Law Review to Business NC's Top 30 Under 30, to Super Lawyers, to the National Trial Lawyer's Top 40 Under 40, but it's helping people that makes me truly happy.

What will become clear after speaking with me?

[1] I'm direct and...

My path to the legal profession began on the manufacturing shop floor. Before attending law school, I spent nearly a decade in the building materials manufacturing sector, where I managed teams and enhanced operations at various plants throughout the southeast. I discovered a passion for building relationships and collaborating with others to address both significant and minor challenges. Motivated by this, I chose to transition these skills into a legal career, aiming to help others navigate their most daunting challenges. During my time in law school, I developed a keen interest in legal writing. I received multiple accolades for my prowess...

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Attorney Rob Nye graduated from The Citadel with a B.A. in History (Honors) and then Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware, earning his Juris Doctorate. Before entering the private sector of practice, Rob served his country as an Infantry and JAG officer in the United States Army. He deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. While on active duty, Rob was lead counsel in over 30 trials, and gained invaluable experience zealously advocating for his clients. Rob has...

James J. Exum studied Juris Doctor (Law) at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He has been licensed to practice law in North Carolina since 1990.

Mr. Erik Ashman’s practice primarily caters to cases involving divorce, child custody / visitation, child support, domestic violence protective orders, adoption, separation agreements, pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, property division, equitable distribution, alimony, post-separation support and grandparents’ rights.

While growing up, Erik was involved in Boys Scouts of America, in which he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout after many years of dedication and hard work. He attended Elkin High School and is a three-time North Carolina State Champion in Tennis. Upon graduation from high-school Erik attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and earned a B.A. in Political...

I represent individuals in all types of employment disputes, including discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower actions, severance negotiations, equal pay violations, sexual harassment and assault, non-compete contracts, labor rights, wage and hour violations, leaves of absence, workplace safety, and executive compensation matters.

I have won trial victories for clients in federal jury trials, state court trials, and arbitration. I have fought employers who discriminated against clients based on their race, gender, age, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and military service. I have fought back against retaliation based on our clients’ reports of unsafe working conditions, nuclear safety threats, and illegal overtime...

Throughout my career I have had the opportunity to advocate for, provide services to, and learn from industry leading companies such as IMG, Roush Racing, Alston & Bird, LLP, DEWALT, Office Depot, Gatorade, Coca-Cola, Waste Management, Newell Rubbermaid and many others. What I learned is that in any industry and with each client – advocacy and accessibility are the imperative. It’s the culmination of these life and professional experiences that allows me to offer our clients that same focus on being an accessible advocate for their legal needs. I invite you to learn more about how...

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,...

Attorney Margaret E. Ford, a North Carolina native, grew up in Concord and is now a resident of the Charlotte area. Mrs. Ford joined the firm in 2020 with a dedication to advocate for injured clients and a passion for tort-related claims. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and her Juris Doctorate from Elon University School of Law. During her time in law school, Mrs. Ford was a member of the Moot Court Board where she established practical legal skills.

Prior to joining our firm, Mrs. Ford worked as a personal injury...

Mr. Sonny Tran is an accomplished attorney with a decade of construction management experience prior to practicing law. Born in Columbia, SC, Mr. Tran spent most of his childhood in Charlotte, NC, and went on to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Civil-Construction Engineering from North Carolina State University. After graduating, he worked as a construction manager on several high-profile residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments in the Washington, DC area. During his nine-year tenure in Washington, DC, Mr. Tran was instrumental in managing the construction and renovation of over 900 residential units and several commercial projects totaling over $250,000,000. He was...

Ashley E. Lively is the owner and founder of the Lively Law Firm. Ashley founded the Lively Law Firm from a desire to take on tough cases and go to battle on behalf of her clients. When Ashley takes on a case, her clients reap the benefit of her considerable knowledge, experience and intense personal investment. Ashley has experience practicing in one of the toughest Immigration Courts in the country as an associate attorney at the Charlotte Immigration Law Firm. While at the Charlotte Immigration Law Firm Ashley fought for clients seeking asylum, applying for green cards through family members, and...

Providence Wills and Trusts is an Estate Planning Law Firm located in Weddington, North Carolina. The managing attorney, Zachary Setzer, graduated cum laude from Washington and Lee University School of Law where he was Lead Articles Editor of the Washington and Lee Law Review and received the James C.C. Treadway Law Scholarship. Before attending law school, Zachary graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Religious Studies and a B.A. in Political Science. Being a solo practice, Zachary takes pride in having the opportunity to work with every client personally,...

William Vásquez is a native of Queens, NY. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 2000-2007. He is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and received the Joint Service Achievement Medal for his work as a Spanish linguist for the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2005. William graduated from Campbell University in 2007 with a degree in computer science. He earned his J.D. in 2011 from the North Carolina Central University School of Law. His practice areas include immigration law and criminal defense cases. He is licensed and in good standing with the State Bar of North Carolina and...

In 2006, after having managed the Raleigh, North Carolina branch office of a large Atlanta, Georgia based law firm for several years, Brian Steed Tatum moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and started the Tatum Law Firm. After observing how customer service can become a second priority at a larger firm, Mr. Tatum started the Tatum Law Firm to serve clients who still desire and deserve excellent customer service.

I am Cheryl R. Watkins, the attorney behind The Law Office of Cheryl R. Watkins, a boutique estate law practice that serves all 100 counties in North Carolina. My practice provides advice, counsel, and results in several areas of law including Estate Administration (Probate Law), Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, etc.), Business Succession Planning, and Wrongful Death. My legal career is built on a foundation of over 25 years of experience in Estate Planning and Probate. Before transitioning to private practice, my career journey included roles as a CPA, auditor, and Assistant Clerk. I hold a degree...

I am a graduate of DePaul University College of Law. After law school, I moved to Colorado and worked as a public defender for several years. Through this experience, I gained extensive advocacy skills and learned to effectively fight for my clients’ rights. In 2006, I relocated to Washington, D.C. to work for the Department of Veterans Affairs on the Board of Veterans Appeals (Board). During this time, I developed a passion for helping Veterans. Working for the VA, I learned how to effectively navigate through the VA process, fully develop claims and get positive results for Veterans....

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...

Stephen David Koehler earned his Bachelor of Science in English and Computer Science degree from State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1987 and his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1991. Mr. Koehler joined the firm in 2012 after owning his own firm since 1999. Mr. Koehler is admitted to practice in the State Courts of North Carolina, and in North Carolina's Middle and Western United States District Courts. Mr. Koehler has handled and tried cases in almost every area of business and tort litigation. Mr. Koehler has handled major cases involving General Civil...

Attorney Amro Elsayed, Esq., immigrated from Egypt to the United States in 2001 to live the American dream and to advance in his education and career. He attended business college in New York City and then moved to North Carolina. Attorney Elsayed established several businesses and was very engaged in several minority communities advocating for their rights. In 2018, Attorney Elsayed attended law school at North Carolina Central University where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in just two years. Attorney Elsayed is licensed in both North Carolina and Vermont. As an immigrant himself, Attorney Elsayed knows the complex immigration...

In her practice, Ann combines her passions for advocating for individuals and for bicycling culture. She represents injured individuals with a special interest in representing victims of bicycle crashes. Ann began her career in 1995 gaining daily courtroom experience as a criminal defense attorney for the Cumberland County Public Defender’s Office and then in private practice in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Her criminal defense career culminated in several death penalty trials, including the first case to go to a North Carolina jury, in 2003, on the issue of a defendant’s ineligibility for the death penalty due to mental retardation. Over time,...

Attorney - 18 years of experience handing Workers' Compensation (job injury) and Personal Injury claims (such as serious injury due to the fault of another person/company, car accidents, slip and falls). My office is strictly focused on helping those that have been hurt. We provide high-quality legal representation and client satisfaction. The injured deserve a highly aggressive and experienced attorney - one they can speak with whenever they wish, one that will get results, a lawyer you can actually trust. Accept no less. We provide a free consultation to review your claim. Our number is (704) 334-1312. There is no...

Chet Rabon is the Founder of the Rabon Law Firm, PLLC, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Chet is a graduate of Furman University and Vanderbilt University School of Law and has been in private practice for 24 years. The Rabon Law Firm concentrates its practice in matters arising under the False Claims Act and other whistleblower laws such as the IRS and SEC Whistleblower Programs. Rabon is an active member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ), the Southern Trial Lawyers Association (STLA), and Taxpayers Against Fraud (TAF). Rabon was also recently invited to...