Pilot Mountain Lawyers

Mr. Thompson is a native Floridian having grown up in Fort Lauderdale. After graduating with honors from Fort Lauderdale Christian School, he was offered placement in the Honors Program at the University of Georgia. Following receipt of his undergraduate degree in Political Science, he remained in Athens and received his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. During that time he was also an officer in the Demosthenian Society in which he focused on oral argument and debate.

Prior to relocating to North Carolina, Mr. Thompson practiced a wide array of litigation in both Georgia and Florida, including...

Putting You First, Elizabeth G. Grimes is Managing Partner at Grimes Yeoman, PLLC, representing plaintiffs in cases involving serious bodily injuries & traumatic brain injuries. Mrs. Grimes received her B.A. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in December of 1985, graduating a semester early, & received her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1989. While in law school, Mrs. Grimes was a member of the Wake Forest Law Review & Moot Court Board, & a quarter-finalist in the Wake Forest Law School First Year Moot Court Competition, & recipient of the...

Growing up as the son of a Marine Corps Aviator and a public school teacher, John W. Cox saw firsthand how his parents dedicated their lives to helping others. From defending those who can’t protect themselves, to teaching children for the betterment of themselves and society, he couldn’t help but be affected by his parent’s zeal to serve. Thanks to the support of his parents, John pursued a career defending others according to the letter of the law. He received his Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University in 1997. John subsequently passed the bar exam in 1997 and opened...

I am an experienced and dedicated attorney serving Alamance and Guilford Counties. My practice areas include criminal defense representation for DWI, Traffic Matters, Felonies and Misdemeanors. Additionally, I represent clients with Divorce, Separation, Child Custody and Support, Domestic Violence, and 50 B/C law matters.

I received a B.A. in History from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1998. My J.D. was earned from Campbell University in 2006. Following Law School, I was an Assistant District Attorney in Alamance County, North Carolina for four years. I then opened my own law firm.

At Brad Buchanan Attorney...

Henry took a delayed path to entering the practice of law. After college Henry worked in the furniture industry for almost nine years. During that time he worked progressively as a staff engineer, plant manager, and head of engineering. In his final position prior to leaving the furniture industry Henry was a member of the Steering Committee for a corporation with over 250 employees and was responsible for overseeing the corporation’s IT Department, Product Development Department, and continuous efficiency improvement initiative. Henry decided in 2003 to pursue a different career as an attorney and joined Young,...

I am Board Certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) in Civil Trial Law. NBTA certification is the only National Board recognized by the United States Supreme Court. This certification requires recertification every fie years. I have recertified for this qualification twice, the last time was in 2022. I am also AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. It is the highest level of peer rating a lawyer can earn. It means your legal peers think you have professional excellence for your legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. I am also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates which...

A self-described 'nerd,' Matt is well-versed in economics, physics, chemistry, engineering, construction, technology, medicine, and more. Once a student with near perfect SAT and LSAT exam scores, Matt double-majored in economics and philosophy at The College of William & Mary, later becoming an economics scholar in Germany while obtaining his J.D. at the George Mason University School of Law. As an attorney, Matt has harnessed his love of learning into an exceptional ability to master each intricacy of his complex cases, and to easily go toe-to-toe with every expert witness he encounters.

These unique talents have served Matt's clients very...

NCDRC Certified Superior Court Mediator

Michelle Abbott is a Charlotte, NC criminal defense attorney. Michelle is licensed to practice law in North Carolina State Court and in Federal Court in the Western District of North Carolina. Her primary areas of practice are criminal defense and traffic. Michelle handles a broad range of misdemeanors and felonies, including, but not limited to: sex crimes, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes.


She works at Gilles Law, PLLC. Gilles Law client reviews can be read here: https://gilleslaw.com/client-testimonials/ Michelle believes in providing each client with thorough representation, zealous advocacy, and personalized services, tailored to each client's unique situation.

I am an attorney at Beyer & Lippert in Morganton, North Carolina, representing clients primarily in Burke, Caldwell, and Catawba Counties. I primarily practice criminal defense (felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic violations), family law (custody, child support, divorce, etc.), juvenile law (DJJ/DSS), small claims (evictions, monies owed, etc.), & domestic law (DVPO/50(c), victim representation). I am a Charlotte native who graduated from Elon University School of Law summa cum laude. Prior to law school, I attended Appalachian State University where I received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. After graduating, I began my legal career as a superior court legal assistant with...

Elizabeth grew up in Aiken, South Carolina, watching her father, a plaintiff’s attorney, represent good people who were taken advantage of by large corporations. She connected with this mission and felt called from an early age to stand up for these hardworking people and give them the quality legal representation they deserve. After obtaining her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and her law degree from Florida State University College of Law, Elizabeth returned to South Carolina to follow in her father’s footsteps. She chose personal injury law because she has seen firsthand how a good personal injury attorney can make...

“I understand that this is more than just a case for my clients; it is their life and their family’s livelihood, and I take that very seriously.” Marcus Spake is known for aggressively representing his clients, and for ensuring that their best interests are protected at all times. During his career, Marcus has represented both injured workers and defendants in workers’ compensation claims, giving him a vast depth of knowledge of both sides of the law. He firmly believes that every injured person deserves competent and effective counsel and uses his experience to his client’s absolute advantage. Marcus Spake is a...

Alonzo McAlpine Alston, Esq. was born in Savannah, GA, is a loving and proud father, dedicated husband, and client-focused and service oriented attorney. Attorney Alston was born to entrepreneurial parents who were heavily involved in the civil rights movement, and is a product of their strong influential guidance to purpose his life and endeavors on social equality, cause-driven activism, and self-reliance with a focus on empowerment through community building. These values have also influenced his desire to espouse integrity, maintain ownership of his work-product, and develop clear communications. Attorney Alston said, "[O]ne of the primary reasons I became and attorney was...

My main area of practice is Immigration Law. I am the son of Immigrants. However, I also, handle uncontested divorce, criminal defense for most misdemeanors, name changes and legitimation, personal injury and workers compensation.

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...

Chris Hyland is an experienced 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 the 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 Durham County Bar Association president. He is also a part of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the Fourteenth Judicial District, the North Carolina Bar Association, and more. For his dedication and success, he was awarded...

Navigating the legal process, whether civil or criminal, can be daunting and uncertain. Dmitriy Panchenko recognizes these challenges and places a strong emphasis on maintaining open, prompt communication with his clients, providing step-by-step guidance to ease their concerns. He firmly believes that every case deserves a thorough defense and that each client is entitled to unwavering dedication and personal attention. Dmitriy’s academic journey began at UNC Charlotte, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Finance. He went on to earn his law degree Cum Laude from the Charlotte School of Law, finishing in the top 10% of his...

Attorney Michael Litrenta brings the unique experience of working for years as both a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. He has worked in multiple different state and federal courts on a variety of different matters.

Bringing extensive courtroom experience to Litrenta Law, Michael knows the best offense is always a good defense. He is a dedicated advocate for his clients and has won Avvo’s Client’s Choice Award. Attorney Litrenta is committed to listening and understanding each of his client’s needs and is determined to secure the best outcome possible.

Attorney Litrenta began his career as a prosecutor before he transitioned...

The unknown is a scary place for any individual, especially for a person whose family is undergoing a significant transition through divorce, a child custody dispute, a domestic violence situation, or even a hopeful adoption. Although I cannot tell you exactly what course your situation will take, I can help you navigate the legal system while addressing each concern and question. I strive to educate my clients about the law so they can make informed decisions about what is most precious in their lives. Whether you are a business owner employing multiple individuals and supplying income for even...

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.

I am a Supervising Attorney at Lively Law Firm specializing in immigration law.

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...

I serve as the managing attorney at Maginnis Howard, a civil litigation firm based in Raleigh, NC, in Wake County. Our firm is unique in that we represent both plaintiffs and defendants in legal disputes. On the plaintiff side, my work primarily involves consumer class actions and business litigation. I previously held the position of chair for the Consumer Areas of Practice at the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. Our firm handles consumer cases on a contingency basis, covering issues under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and related...

Shepard Smith is a managing attorney for the Charlotte office of Stewart Law Offices. Born and raised in Charlotte, Shepard became a lawyer because he wanted to be able to advocate for those who found themselves in overwhelming legal circumstances.

As the youngest of five siblings, Shepard learned the value of hard work at an early age while spending summers earning money as a landscaper and warehouse laborer. He knows how important a paycheck can be to a family, and how an injury can forever change a person’s life.

Shepard brings a unique perspective to personal injury cases and workers’ compensation claims...

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...

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...

I practice personal injury law focusing primarily on motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, construction accidents, and slip and falls. After many years of representing injured clients, I have have a unique understanding of the difficulties and stresses an accident and injury can place on a person's life. I am very passionate about helping my clients through these difficult times and I fight to ensure all of my clients are fairly compensated for their losses. My goal is to provide all of my clients with a boutique law firm experience - I purposefully keep my client list low so...

Shelia Huggins is a North Carolina licensed attorney with almost 20 years of experience in working with businesses in a variety of capacities. Her extensive experience includes business formation, contracts, government relations, entertainment law, and social media. She also has a YouTube channel with free information about contracts, legal issues, and scams and frauds. Her YouTube channel has over 500 videos available to the public. You can view it at https://www/youtube.com/mslegalista. Shelia is a former adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University where she taught Entertainment and Business Law, and she has spoken at numerous events including the Long Leaf Pine Film...

John Alan Jones is the founding member and managing partner of Martin & Jones, where he has worked since he began practicing law in 1982. John Alan handles both trial and appellate work in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina and around the U.S. He heads the firm's medical malpractice group, which is comprised of three attorneys and seven staff members. John Alan dedicates a large percentage of his practice to representing individuals catastrophically injured by medical negligence, defective pharmaceuticals, toxic substances or other negligence. He also devotes a significant amount of his work time to consumer...

Mr. Jacob Goad is a workers’ compensation and personal injury attorney with Law Office of Jacob Goad, PLLC. Mr. Goad graduated from the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill where he majored in Spanish and minored in Social and Economic Justice. At UNC, Mr. Goad earned membership in Sigma Delta Pi, a Hispanic Collegiate Honor Society. After earning his undergraduate degree, Mr. Goad lived and worked in Peru, where he got involved with environmental advocacy and also coordinated international delegations. He accompanied CNN producers and Dr. Sanjay Gupta to the town of La Oroya where Mr. Goad introduced Dr. Gupta...

Matthew Burkert was raised in Durham, North Carolina, and still resides in the same area he grew up in. He is a graduate of East Carolina University, where he received a bachelor’s degree majoring in Criminal Justice in 2008. Matt then attended North Carolina Central University School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor degree in 2012. He passed the North Carolina Bar Exam in February, 2013, becoming a licensed attorney in the State. Matt joined the Constantinou Law Group, PA as a law clerk while in law school in 2010. He remained at the firm after passing the bar, becoming...

My legal and business experiences enable me to offer clients a broad spectrum of professional services from the unique perspective of someone who is both an attorney and an entrepreneur.

I am licensed to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina & Tennessee. I am an attorney with McGrath & Spielberger, PLLC, where my areas of practice include real property (including loss mitigation and foreclosure defense) and business law. I received a Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law and a Master of Business Administration from Campbell University Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, as part of the joint JD/MBA program. I attended North Carolina State University and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. Currently, I am pursuing an LL.M. (Master of Laws) postgraduate law degree in...

Billie Guthrie has spent more than 20 years working with people experiencing challenging life situations and fighting for social justice, first as a social worker and later as an attorney. Billie, who has a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina, worked in the mental health field as an administrator and social worker. One of her primary roles was as a policy advocate, fighting for legal and systemic changes to improve outcomes for disabled adults and people dealing with persistent mental health issues and homelessness. As an attorney, Billie helps her clients navigate the complicated and often frustrating...

Mike has been practicing law with Martin & Jones for more than 20 years and his practice focuses on representing individuals suffering from asbestos-related diseases including malignant mesothelioma, asbestos related lung cancer and asbestosis. His clients include workers who were occupationally exposed to asbestos in industrial settings such as power plants, chemical plants, railroads, shipyards, paper mills and other manufacturing facilities. Mike has represented clients from states all over the United States as well as from various provinces in Canada.

Attorney Peace is a managing partner at the Law Office of Peace & Squires, PLLC practicing in the areas of Business, Contracts, and Personal Injury Law. Attorney Peace has worked extensively negotiating North American and International contracts, and has used her notable negotiations skills to effectuate first-rate results for her clients.

Attorney Peace earned her Juris Doctor degree from North Carolina Central University in 2008, her Master of Business Administration, Cum Laude, from North Carolina Central University in 2004, and her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Magna Cum Laude, from North Carolina Central University in 2002. While attending North Carolina...

Mary Frances Parker has been licensed in Tennessee since 2007. Following a clerkship with the Honorable Judge Royce Taylor, Mrs. Parker joined the firm of Shuttleworth Williams. There she met her long-time mentor, Attorney Christopher “Kim” Thompson. Mrs. Parker opened her own firm in Nashville, Tennessee but was relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2013. Mrs. Parker has extensive trial experience including reuniting with Mr. Thompson in 2019 for a jury trial resulting in a $9,000,000.00 verdict. Mrs. Parker has successfully litigated or settled several personal injury cases in excess of $1,000,000.00. In 2020, Mrs. Parker joined the Benoit Law...

Forest has been practicing law for more than twenty-five years. He spent the first six years of his career as a partner with a large “defense” law firm mainly defending large corporations in civil lawsuits. Seeing the inequalities that existed in the justice system between wealthy and powerful companies and regular people, Forest was motivated to change his law practice, join Martin & Jones and help level the playing field for ordinary, hard-working men and women and their families.

Steven maintains a varied practice focusing on representing workers who have been injured on the job and people who have been injured due to the negligence of others. His practice also includes representing consumers who have been harmed by unfair or deceptive business practices.

Steven started his legal career with the office of the North Carolina Attorney General, where he worked primarily defending the state of North Carolina in workers’ compensation cases, before deciding to join Martin & Jones out of a desire to help real people who have been injured or harmed. Steven understands how difficult it is for people...