Hillsborough Lawyers

Derrick Hensley is a Child Welfare, Family, and Immigration lawyer who manages a small law firm in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Derrick founded his own firm in order to ensure he could take cases that make a real difference for his clients, and to ensure that his practice always observed the highest principles of the legal profession. Derrick is dedicated zealously advocating for his clients and to fostering an open, communicative attorney-client relationship based on trust and honesty.

Derrick's firm has practices in several fields of law, focusing on the intersections between them, including international family law, humanitarian and family immigration, and...

Stuart Paynter is an experienced trial attorney who specializes in catastrophic personal injury cases, products liability and complex commercial litigation, including intellectual property and antitrust cases. Mr. Paynter began his career at Sullivan & Cromwell, one of the country's top law firms, before starting in own law firm in 2005. Under his leadership, Paynter Law has obtained over $500 million in verdicts and settlements, including verdicts exceeding $100 million. Mr. Paynter fights to ensure that all his client have their day in court. Mr. Paynter has sued and won against Fortune 500 companies and other large corporate entities--including groundbreaking litigation...

Our law practice is dedicated to protecting the interests of our clients through all of life’s seasons. As a small, local firm it is in our nature to provide a level of service and attention to detail that is unmatched by larger corporate entities or generic software products. We are also committed to staying on the cutting edge of our field through our membership in ElderCounsel – a national support organization that keeps us armed with the latest tools and research that produce successful asset protection strategies.

With an engineering degree and MBA, I started my career as an in-house consultant in the aerospace industry. After a few years I transitioned to engineering and consulting positions in other industries. Eventually I returned to college for a law degree and have been a courtroom lawyer for more than 20 years.

Still an engineer at heart, I help companies seek strong patent protection to arm against me-too products and stay clear of third-party patent rights.

I am the right choice for the right client, but not everyone needs the same sort of patent attorney.

Some clients want to just file something so that the client can say "patent pending" without caring about actually getting a useful patent. I am not a good fit for such clients as I want to be in it to win it.

Some clients want to file a patent application although they have no idea...

With over 30 years of diverse legal experience including civil litigation, mediation, negotiation, counseling and consulting, Laura’s passion is offering clients personal and powerful representation on employment law issues. The Noble Law is a recognized leader in employment law with offices in New York, Raleigh, and Charlotte. Our goal is to level the playing field for employees. We work to deliver outcomes with integrity and empathy for the client’s journey. Our success is measured by delivering positive impacts for our clients and serving as a catalyst for changes in employment law and society as a whole. Laura developed this conviction from...

I love practicing law. Guiding clients through the stress and upheaval of divorce, a custody battle or the aftermath of a death in the family is position of trust that I take seriously. Drafting an amicable separation agreement, or completing an adoption efficiently with as little drama as possible is equally important. I have been a NC Certified Family Law Specialist since 2009. My law firm handles divorce, custody, child support, alimony, property division, grandparents' rights, domestic violence, tort claims and personal injury, prenuptial and separation agreements, estate planning and administration in Chatham, Orange and Durham counties.

Born and raised in Hillsborough NC, at an early age I found that I l loved helping people. By the age of 16 I was working at Duke Medical Center part-time. I graduated from Orange County High School, and began attending Elon University to study Biology. My plan was to go to medical school, but after serving on a murder trial at 19, I became enamored with the legal arena and the challenges of representing others. I graduated Cum Laude from Elon in 1992 and married my high school sweetheart, Roland. While he farmed, I spent my time volunteering with Make-A-Wish foundation....

John G. Miskey IV is a board certified specialist in Family Law and leads the Firm’s Family Law department. He has maintained an interest in Family Law, families and policy throughout his educational and professional career.

Mr. Miskey’s character and work ethic was forged in his childhood. His first job was delivering daily newspapers through the snow-filled neighborhoods of Buffalo, NY. Very close with his family, he chose to attend local schools for his education. Mr. Miskey graduated summa cum laude from Niagara University and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from The State University of New York at Buffalo with...

For over 20 years, Julie has effectively advocated for individuals in family law matters in Durham and Orange County courts. A Mediator and Collaborative Divorce practitioner, she is a skilled and experienced negotiator, using creative problem-solving techniques to achieve excellent results. Julie graduated from UNC Law School in 1990. Following her association with the Durham law firm of Pulley, Watson, King & Lischer, she established her own family law practice in 1997. Focuses on finding practical, efficient solutions to her clients' legal problems, Julie helps her clients minimize financial difficulties and uncertainties and reduce parenting conflicts...

Barbara graduated from the North Carolina Central School of Law with honors in 2005. She was an Associate with the family law firm of Donna Ambler Davis in Chapel Hill before she established her own family law practice in May, 2008. Barbara works to establish strong, positive relationships with her clients and helps them navigate the emotional upheavals of divorce, achieve financial stability, and reduce the stress that divorce places on children. Whether in negotiation or litigation, she is a tough and determined advocate working to protect the best interests of her clients. In 2013, she completed training as...

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. ...

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...

Chris Hyland is an experiences personal injury lawyer and managing partner at Hyland, Padilla, & Fowler, PLLC. He is committed to protecting the rights of injury victims in Raleigh and Durham. Chris attended College of Wooster for his undergraduate degree and earned his Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law. Active in the legal community, he is a current member, and former president, of the Durham County Bar Association. He is also a part of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Fourteenth Judicial District, the North Carolina Bar Association, and more. For his dedication and success, he was awarded...

I am a Board Certified Specialist in Immigration Law. I am fluent in Spanish. I assist families, businesses, and individuals in finding solutions to their immigration problems.

Barri Hilton Payne was born in High Point, North Carolina and grew up in Davidson County. She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she majored in Religious studies and Sociology. Barri practiced for the last twelve years as a founding partner in the firm Brock, Payne & Meece, P.A. before opening her own solo law and mediation practice in 2013. Barri was involved with the Holderness Moot Court while in law school at UNC and earned her law degree in 1999. She has practiced in Durham, North Carolina since that time and concentrates her practice on...

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...

Sara Barlowe is an associate attorney at Bagwell Holt Smith where she practices in the Firm’s Family Law department. Sara joined the Firm in July of 2020 shortly after relocating to the Research Triangle area from Astoria, Queens with her family and their two cats. While in New York, Sara worked as an Assistant District Attorney with the Bronx District Attorney’s office where she focused primarily on domestic violence and special victims cases with the exception of a year-long stint in the office’s Special Investigations Division where she handled long-term wiretap investigations. Sara received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Benjamin...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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!

Christa practices in the areas of veterans disability and social security disability law. She has been dedicated to helping veterans receive the benefits they've earned since 2007. She represents veterans at all levels—VA Regional Offices, the Board of Veterans Appeals, and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Christa has been helping disabled people win their Social Security Disability (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income claims since 1992. She handles social security cases at the administrative level as well as appeals in the federal court system. The North Carolina State Bar has certified her as a specialist...

False information on your credit report stopping you from getting a loan? Settled a debt, but collectors are STILL calling you? Identity theft victim? I sue creditors and credit bureaus, including Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, on behalf of consumers who are not able to get credit reporting errors corrected on their own. I also advise victims of identity theft and security breaches, and I sue debt collectors and creditors in cases of abuse, deception, harassment, and threats, including harassing phone calls.

Consumer litigation: Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act,...

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...

Ginny practices in the areas of social security and veterans disability law. The North Carolina State Bar has certified her as a specialist in social security disability law. Ginny is accredited to practice before the Department of Veterans Affairs and is admitted to the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. She is also admitted to the U.S. Federal District Courts in all three North Carolina districts. Ginny stays involved with professional organizations in her areas of practice both locally and nationally. She is a past chair of the social security disability specialization committee of the North Carolina State Bar. Ginny is...

Heather Helmendach joined The Noble Law’s Charlotte office as an Associate Attorney in October 2021 after gaining valuable experience as a seasonal associate for The Noble Law from May 2019 to January 2021. In 2021, Heather received her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where she graduated in the top 10% of her class. During her time at UNC Law, she was a member of the North Carolina Law Review, UNC Women in Law, and served as President of the Labor & Employment Law Association. Not only is Heather passionate about working tirelessly to produce favorable outcomes...

Julia received a BA in Criminology and BA in Sociology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Julia went on to earn her J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School (N/K/A Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School), in Lansing, Michigan. During law school, Julia competed in the Mock Trial First Year Competition and was a semifinalist. She also competed in Moot Court and was a finalist in the Negotiations Competition. During her last semester of law school, Julia completed an externship at the Durham County Public Defender’s Office. Julia is an associate attorney in the Family Law department. Julia focuses...

For more than a decade, attorney Autumn Osbourne has provided skilled representation to North Carolina families in the courtroom and at the negotiating table. She is Board Certified by the North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization - a distinction held by less than 2% of all family law practitioners in the state - and has been recognized for her work by independent attorney rating organizations including but not limited to Thomson Reuters' and Avvo. However, for Autumn, the practice of law involves more than zealously advocating on behalf of clients and adhering to the profession's rules of ethics. "I feel every family...

We understand how overwhelming immigration issues can be, we are sensitive to the frustrations foreign nationals face when dealing with the government. It is our goal to help clients understand and maneuver the various governmental procedures required in the immigration process. At Alice Glover Immigration Law in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, we help immigrants attain immigration status in the United States with a focus on individuals who hope to reunite with their families. Our track record is solid and we only take on cases we plan to win. We pride ourselves on providing clients with the care...

Jim White’s practice focuses on complex litigation, lender liability and debtor bankruptcy. Clients are individuals and businesses who have suffered serious financial injury. For some, a lawsuit or aggressive negotiation can resolve a dispute or right a wrong. For others, Chapter 7, 11 or 13 bankruptcy can save their home, help rebuild their finances or repair a business. He received the Business Leader Media Pro Bono Impact Award and was named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by Legal Aid of North Carolina, Durham County. Jim is rated AV Preminent by Martindale-Hubbell, was recognized by...

Narendra graduated from Harvard University, summa cum laude, in 1998, and from the New York University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2005. Prior to attending law school, Narendra was a computer programmer for several companies in Silicon Valley, including Network Appliance, Inc. In law school, he served on the NYU Review of Law and Social Change as a Staff Member and a Managing Editor. After graduation, he was a law clerk to the Honorable A. Wallace Tashima of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and to the Honorable Emmet G. Sullivan of the United...

Rich Daugherty is an employment law attorney with extensive experience serving clients throughout the State of North Carolina. Since 2003, Rich has represented individuals in a wide range of employment disputes including severance negotiations, executive exit negotiations, wrongful termination, sexual harassment and assault, discrimination, retaliation, and FMLA violations. He has successfully litigated against Fortune 500 and other large corporations in federal and state cases in North Carolina with results favorable to his clients. Rich also negotiates confidential severance agreements for his clients. Rich earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics from the University of Richmond and an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth...