Forest Oaks Lawyers

Attorney J. Wallace Pierce was born in the Republic of South Africa. In the course of his tenure as a scholar, he spent much of his time studying, exploring and grasping the complexity that surrounds South Africa's race relations. In early 2001, Attorney Wallace Pierce relocated to Durham, North Carolina with his family. Attorney J. Wallace Pierce acquired his Bachelors in History, Concentration in African American History, from North Carolina Central University in 2006. Attorney Pierce finished this four yearlong program in only three years. His determination and enthusiasm to furthering his involvement in the local community grew as...

Originally from Grand Haven, Michigan, Andrew Bullard attended the University of Michigan, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science. He later attended Michigan State University College of Law and obtained his J.D. in 2010. Andrew Bullard primarily practices estate planning, estate administration, special needs law and guardianships at the firm. Andrew’s experience includes assisting individuals and families as they navigate the process of planning and administering estates and trusts. Additionally, he guides fiduciaries through their duties in the probate process and helps families plan for the care of loved ones with long-term special needs. Andrew takes...

Amelia joined Partin, Patton and Brown in August 2003 and became a partner in January 2009. Her practice focuses in the areas of Social Security Disability and Long Term Disability. Amelia is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Social Security Disability Law. Amelia attended law school at Wake Forest University School of Law (2003) and joined Partin, Patton and Brown after her graduation. As a law student, Amelia was active in the Public Interest Law Organization and Guardian Ad Litem program. Amelia is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, North Carolina Bar...

Mr. Spain was admitted to the State Bar in 2013 and practiced as an estates and business law attorney prior to joining BHSPA in 2018. Jason focuses on Estate Planning and Probate law, helping clients plan for their family’s future and to assist clients in administering the estate of a loved one. He also is proficient in helping small business owners set up business succession plans that will allow their companies to be passed on to the next generation and help provide financial security for their families in the event of retirement, death, or disability. ...

Attorney Pittman is on staff with iTicket.law and manages our "eastern front" of North Carolina along with fellow associate Attorney Phelps. While previously serving as an assistant district attorney in Pitt County since 2014, Pittman has prosecuted cases ranging from minor traffic offenses, impaired driving offenses, juvenile crimes, non-capital murder cases, and felony drug offenses to felony financial crimes. “In spite of the case, fairness is most important to me,” he says. Now, as a criminal defense attorney with the Hatley Law Office, Attorney Pittman can leverage his unique perspective and experience to seek the best possible outcome for his...

Shannon Altamura is a highly reputable and skilled personal injury attorney with a primary office located in Asheboro, North Carolina. Ms. Altamura's personal injury practice assists injured clients in the following areas: car and trucking accidents, nursing home abuse or neglect, wrongful death, pedestrian injury, slip and fall injuries, premises liability, product defect, and worker's compensation. Ms. Altamura regularly battles insurance companies and other large corporations to obtain fair and favorable results for her clients, and she prioritizes providing exceptionally kind and attentive care to every one of her clients. Shannon Altamura has obtained numerous high value settlements in recent...

D. Cole Phelps manages our office in the northeastern part of the state. Attorney Phelps is a native of Washington County, and he returned to his home community to serve and give back. After winning his first primary election with over 62% of the votes, he later became the youngest county commissioner at the time of his election to serve in any of North Carolina’s 100 counties. During his first term of office, he was selected by his fellow board members as vice chairman and then chairman. Currently, he is serving his second term of office as a member of...

John Barrow has 27 years of Trial Experience in District and Superior Court in Piedmont North Carolina, Primarily Forsyth County, Kernersville and Winston Salem, NC. John is a relentless advocate inside and outside the courtroom. Enjoys an excellent reputation among the Forsyth County Bar and clients alike. Aggressive, knowledgeable and effective. Award winning Criminal Defense. Publishes an annual Law Calendar addressing DWI and Criminal laws and issues in trials and sentencing. Prior life - Grocery store manager, carpenter, mechanic, restaurateur, Racer. Enjoys - Life, Wife and Family - Plans and Projects. ...

Eleanor Panetti is a Winston-Salem lawyer who has been practicing family law for nearly three decades. Eleanor provides comprehensive legal counsel to men and women involved in family law disputes, to spouses creating and expanding families through adoption, and to those protecting and caring for children of family members. She is skilled and experienced in all matters related to divorce, custody and paternity, property settlement and support, the legal issues unique to the LGBT community, and those specific to senior populations.

Eleanor is passionate in her representation of people involved in family disputes, whether through divorce, supporting parents through child custody...

Becoming a lawyer has been part of Julie Vergara Duque’s game plan since childhood. From the time she enrolled in law school, she knew she wanted to use her expertise to improve other people’s lives and help them navigate legal challenges. In 2024, she joined the Deuterman Law Group as an associate attorney in the workers’ compensation practice, working primarily out of the Winston-Salem office. As a native Spanish speaker, she will focus her practice on cases involving Spanish-speaking clients who have been injured on the job. Julie’s family immigrated from Colombia when she was a child, and an attorney’s work on...

Keith Stroud is a 25+ year veteran of the practice of law. Keith supports businesses in the Triad, spouses going through a separation and divorce, individuals and couples through estate planning, executors and administrators handling the estate of a loved one, and seniors and their family members in long term care and asset protection matters. He provides a straightforward and comprehensive approach to legal representation, and offers unique solutions designed to meet the goals of his clients.

While Keith’s practice is structured to help his clients avoid litigation, he is first and foremost a trial lawyer. His civil and past criminal...

Ellis Family Law, PLLC was founded in 2008 by board certified family law specialist Gray Ellis with the singular goal to provide the very best legal representation to North Carolinians facing challenging family law issues. Since that time, the firm has successfully represented hundreds of husbands, wives, children, grandparents, and other family members in courts across the state. Our work has not gone unnoticed as the firm has earned awards from both national and local organizations such as Super Lawyers, Martindale Hubbel, North Carolina’s Legal Elite, NC Lawyer's Weekly Power List, NC leader's in the Law, and the...

Margaret S. "Meg" Westall anchors iTicket in Western North Carolina, handling traffic matters in Buncombe and Madison Counties. One of Attorney Hatley’s oldest friends, Meg has helped our law firm expand all the way to the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. Prior to joining iTicket.law, Meg worked in a small Asheville-based firm where her practice focused on estate and trust planning and administration. Advising fiduciaries and neutralizing conflict in matters of administration has afforded her a no-nonsense approach to technical problem solving. Meg is also involved with the Pisgah Legal Services Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyer program, for which she assists low-income...

Keith Metz heads up our Charlotte office, serving clients in Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, and Iredell Counties. After finishing law school, Mr. Metz opened his own law firm in Charlotte, focusing on criminal, family law, and small claims matters, which he continues to run in addition to his practice with iTicket.law. Mr. Metz also serves as a Pro Bono attorney for Safe Alliance, a Charlotte non-profit, aiding victims of domestic violence. Through his pro bono representation in court, Keith helps victims of domestic violence get the protection they need to live a safe life. Mr. Metz enjoys hiking with his German...

Garen McClure is our Hillsborough-based attorney and litigator, with experience in traffic, business law, and estate planning. Garen utilizes his experience as a former New York City legal services attorney in assisting his clients to achieve their goals with respect to their litigation matters.* Garen has very broad litigation skills & the ability to work closely with his clients to ensure their involvement, providing very personal & responsive service. As a publicly educated attorney, Garen never strayed too far from his rural upbringing, and now uses his legal skill for the greater good.

I represent clients with tickets in Cumberland County and Hoke County. I began my legal career in the Cumberland County Public Defender's Office in 2006. In 2010, I went into private practice and founded Kimrey Law, PLLC in 2015 and joined the Hatley Law Office in 2019.

My legal career has focused exclusively on traffic, misdemeanor and felony defense, to include being a member of the Capital Defender's Roster to try First Degree Murder cases. I also have a vast trial experience, both in District and Superior Courts. I proudly serve as an advisory board member to Second Harvest Food Bank...

Represents clients in Orange, Alamance, and Chatham Counties. Prior to joining iTicket.law Aaron was a jury consultant with Jury-X LLC, guiding trial attorneys through the voir dire process. In his free time Aaron enjoys spending time with his fiance and two dogs. He also enjoys hiking, playing soccer, and rugby.

Jason Craig is an Attorney for iTicket.law based out of Asheville and personally serves our clients in Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania and Watauga Counties. Prior to working with iTicket.law, Jason worked with his father in Alamance County handling criminal and civil litigation. Jason moved to Western North Carolina in 2017 where he began work as a domestic violence and family law attorney with Pisgah Legal Services. Jason continues his work with Pisgah Legal Services as a Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyer (MAVL) helping victims of domestic violence through pro bono representation.

Tyler S. Benson is an attorney based out of Raleigh, NC. Tyler focuses his practice on criminal, DWI, and traffic matters, and has represented clients throughout the State of North Carolina on thousands of cases. He knows the ins-and-outs of traffic laws and DMV regulations, and has handled criminal matters ranging from felonies to misdemeanors. He is also an experienced entertainment attorney, and handles contract and venue negotiations for a number of musical acts. Prior to working with iTicket, Tyler worked for a large criminal & traffic firm in Chapel Hill, and his practice has taken him all over central...

Attorney Hudson has been a successful advocate fighting the US Immigration System on behalf of immigrants, including himself and his family members, who have all successfully been granted citizenship in the US. Additionally, Attorney Hudson has served as an advocate to many undocumented immigrants by defending deportations, filing for temporary protected status and asylum, and many more.

Hugh Hudson, Esq. M.B.A. is a full service United States Immigration Attorney. Attorney Hudson provides exceptional counsel and representation for immigration needs including employment-based, family-based, and removal defense cases.

Attorney Hudson is the founding member of the The Law Office of Hugh...

Durham disability, personal injury and traffic lawyer representing clients in Durham, Raleigh, Cary, Hillsborough, Chapel Hill and throughout North Carolina.

Mariana Vázquez-García is the founder of Vazquez Garcia Law, PLLC. Her passion for helping people with their immigration cases was ignited when she joined the Immigration Law Clinic at the George Washington University Law School in the fall of 1997. While she was still a law student, she won two cases before the Immigration Court in Arlington, Virginia. She knew then that once she graduated law school in 1998, she only wanted to practice immigration law. That enormous desire to help others continues to this date with much success.

Since 1998, now as an Attorney, Mariana has...

During much of past fifteen years of my career as an attorney, I worked in the non-profit public interest law sector to provide legal services and technical support to North Carolina’s financially distressed and limited resource property owners seeking to preserve their homes, land, farms, and rural livelihood.  I've also worked briefly at a small private law firm representing clients in personal injury and business litigation cases. I was raised in the West End community of Mebane – my father’s hometown and a historical black community founded by former slaves after the Civil War in Alamance County.  During the past several years, the West End Revitalization Association...

Dori J. Dixon focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, elder law and special needs planning. Whether you are planning for your family’s future, navigating the world of disability benefits, looking into long-term care options, or grieving the loss of a loved one, Mrs. Dixon can help you every step of the way.

The Law Office of John C. Fitzpatrick helps people through the following difficult times: Criminal Law – Our Durham attorney focusing will aggressively defend you from allegations of North Carolina criminal violations, ranging from traffic tickets for speeding or Driving While Impaired (DWI/DUI), to misdemeanors like shoplifting or domestic assault, to drug charges or white collar crime, and serious felonies, including homicide. Personal Injury – If you have been injured in an accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, pain, and even your time lost from work. An injury from a car accident, trucking accident, bicycle accident...

I concentrate in education law including special education law. I also represent petitioners and respondents in guardianship hearings in the Triangle area. Gahagan Paradis, PLLC accepts education law cases in every North Carolina county, and we are the largest parent friendly education law firm in North Carolina.

The Law Office of Sarah Young is providing services in person in Clemmons, NC, by phone and video conference. Estate Planning Law, Personal Injury Law, Startup Law, Property Law, Trust and Estate Litigation, Wills Planning Law and Real Estate.

Nathaniel “Nat” Smith heads up the firm’s civil litigation practice. He handles serious personal injury and workers’ compensation cases in addition to business litigation, trust and estate litigation cases. He also works on civil appeals on behalf of the firm’s clients. Mr. Smith grew up in Raleigh, where he was a member of Broughton High School’s 50th graduating class in 1979. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. He graduated with honors from UNC School of Law in 1993. While in law school, he clerked...

Trained as a real estate and estate planning attorney initially in my career, my practice areas have expanded to encompass estate administration, special proceedings, and corporate formation, as well as, real estate and estate planning. I am a young, energetic attorney determined to become the best in my field through excellent representation of each and every client. I am constantly learning new aspects of the law and surrounding myself with opportunities for growth. Have you reviewed your estate plan lately? If not, maybe it’s time we take a peek at it!

Sara Willingham is an experienced trial attorney. Ms. Willingham has extensive experience handling motor vehicle cases, including complex motor vehicle accidents where liability is contested. In addition, Ms. Willingham has handled numerous product liability cases, medical malpractice cases, negligent security cases and premises liability cases. In addition to her extensive courtroom litigation practice, Ms. Willingham arbitrates uninsured and underinsured motorist cases on behalf of injured policy holders.

I have been a practicing attorney since 1987. I began my legal career in Los Angeles, California. I joined the Office of the Public Defender in 1990. During my 18 year career as a Deputy Public Defender, I was able to gain invaluable trial experience. I was promoted to the highest trial level position and was assigned death penalty cases. I lectured at attorney training seminars on the topic of juvenile mitigation and fitness and taught a felony trial series for new felony lawyers.
Upon relocating to North Carolina, I worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the County of Durham...

James Darren (J.D.) Byers jdbyershs Education Wake Forest U, JD, 1992 The Citadel, BA, 1989 Bar Admissions North Carolina State Bar All Federal Courts in North Carolina Biography Practicing in North Carolina since 1994, J.D. Byers is an attorney dedicated to serving clients in legal practice areas where he has strong qualifications and experience. A diligent and aggressive criminal defender, he looks at all defense angles, visits scenes of accidents when necessary, and communicates actively with clients. His track record includes success in both state and federal courts, on offenses ranging from traffic...

Kirk Sanders litigates estate & trust disputes. Kirk handles condemnation cases (Eminent Domain Lawyers). He and his old firm represented hundreds of clients statewide and led the challenge of the N.C. Map Act as an inverse condemnation by the NCDOT and collected $300,000,000 for clients since 2018. See landmark decisions in Kirby v. NC Department of Transportation, Chappell v. NCDOT, Beroth v. NCDOT, Stimpson v. NCDOT et al. Kirk Sanders handles estate and trust litigation cases and eminent domain matters. Kirk Sanders has successfully litigated Will Contests cases (will caveats) for both the caveators (challengers of the will) and propounders...

I am a Randolph County native and Family Law practitioner in Asheboro, NC. I provide quality legal counsel and aggressive representation and enforcement for those involved in Randolph County child custody and child support cases, property disputes stemming from separation and divorce, alimony/post-separation support actions, domestic violence, and juvenile petitions.

Mr. Taibi graduated with Highest Honors as first in his class at the Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina. While in law school, Tony served as an Article Editor of the Duke Law Journal, a Moot Court Board member and participant, and won the “Most Effective Advocate Award” for Trial Practice. Tony then served as Clerk to the late Judge Francis D. Murnaghan, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, in Baltimore, Maryland. Following his clerkship, Mr. Taibi taught Civil Procedure, Torts, and Regulatory Law and Policy as an Assistant Professor at the University...

Amanda Knight represents clients in a wide range of family law matters including divorce, child custody and support, domestic violence, spousal support, and equitable distribution proceedings. She also provides trusted counsel to clients throughout the estate planning process. A graduate of North Carolina Central University School of Law, Amanda brings a passion and commitment to achieving client goals, while maintaining civility and professionalism in the practice of law. “Changes in the family, especially ones involving legal proceedings, are always challenging. Our job as attorneys is to take as much of the burden off our clients as possible, and also reassure them that...

Sarah Gerow believes that the role of a family law attorney is that of a patient counselor and a staunch advocate. Sarah knew from a young age that she wanted to be a lawyer, and her desire to advocate for others developed while working with children with disabilities as a summer camp counselor during college. This led Sarah to the University of North Carolina School of Law, where she focused on education and family law. After marrying her husband, a member of the North Carolina Army National Guard, she worked as an associate at Sullivan & Hilscher Family Law, specializing...

Kirsten Alderdice grew up in New England and Charlotte, NC, and relocated to the Triangle in 2014. She obtained her BS degree in English Education from Boston University and her M.Ed. from North Carolina State University. Kirsten then spent eight years teaching middle and high school English. During her public school teaching experiences advocating for children with different educational needs, she decided that law school would be her best path to help families navigate transitions and the court system. She joined Ellis Family Law while attending North Carolina Central University School of Law’s Evening Program in 2022. To family law,...