Ruffin Lawyers

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Loch Saslow is a 2009 graduate of Elon University School of Law’s inaugural class. Loch joined Hill, Evans, Jordan & Beatty following admission that year. Loch is a trial lawyer. He focuses his practice primarily in the areas of family law, bankruptcy, civil disputes, including business matters, and contractual issues, as well as Wills, Estates & Trusts.

A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Loch holds a B.A. in History from Furman University in 2006 where he served as Community Service Chair of Sigma Nu Fraternity, played Club Lacrosse, and coached lacrosse at Riverside High School in Greenville,...

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...

As an injury attorney, he’s found a job that combines his passion for research and for helping people who have often been wronged by the system that is supposed to protect them.

Jack graduated summa cum laude from N.C. Central University with a double major in political science and criminal justice. He earned his juris doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2016.

Originally from Basingstoke, England, Jack came to the United States on a tennis scholarship at N.C. Central. He started playing tennis at age 5 and was part of England’s national program as a junior.

While at...

With his history of activism and public service, it’s not surprising that Chris Stevens was drawn to a law career where he could help people. He is passionate about helping those who are in need, especially military veterans who are fighting the Department of Veterans Affairs to get the benefits to which they are entitled.

Chris earned his juris doctor from the UNC School of Law. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor of science in business administration, double majoring in economics and marketing. While in law school, Chris won the Eugene Gressman & Daniel H. Pollitt Appellate...

Andrea Smaxwell is committed to being a strong, effective advocate for her veteran clients as they seek the legal benefits guaranteed by their past military service. She has a breadth of knowledge and experience in international law, workers’ compensation, and personal injury law.
Andrea earned her Juris doctorate with a distinguished specialization in international law from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco in 2009. She continued her studies at the school’s Sompong Sucharitkul Center for Advanced International Legal Studies. She earned her Master of Laws (LLM) in International Legal Studies there in 2010. While earning her second law...

As a personal injury attorney, Chase Coble enjoys the dual role he serves as his clients’ legal advocate and support system. When someone suffers a life-altering injury, they often are dealing with serious physical, financial, and emotional pain, and stress. Add to that the burden of dealing with insurance companies, health care providers and the legal system, and it can be overwhelming. Having an experienced advocate to guide them through the legal system allows Chase’s clients to focus on what’s most important: healing and getting their lives back on track. Chase, who grew up in Burlington, joined the Deuterman Law Group’s personal...

Carter Whittington concentrates his practice in North Carolina workers’ compensation law, helping injured workers seek the benefits they need and deserve after sustaining a job related injury. Whittington started working at Hardison & Cochran while he was a third-year student at Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. After graduating cum laude and receiving his J.D. in 2016, he joined Hardison & Cochran as a full-time attorney. A North Carolina native, Whittington grew up in Winston-Salem and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received a B.A. in political science in 2012. In law school, Whittington was...

When you are injured in an accident, there is only one chance to get it right. With over 25 years in practice, Marcus E. Hayes, Sr., has the experience and performance record to guide clients through the difficult maze of insurance and legal negotiations. As a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Marcus has the track record you want. Membership in this organization is comprised of attorneys in the United States who have recovered million dollar verdicts or settlements for their clients. While not a guarantee of similar results, clearly Marcus has the right stuff to tackle the...

After growing up in Kernersville, NC, Allie attended Campbell University where she was a member of the Women's Soccer Team and received a B.S. in Business Administration. From Camel to Phoneix, she went on to attend the Elon University School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate in December 2019. Allie has successfully completed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s course on DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, a 24-hour course taught to officers trained in DWI investigations. Allie married her High School sweet heart, Landon, in 2020. They enjoy being outdoors; watching sporting events (Go Canes!); and...

Though she has worked in many areas of law, Christine’s true passion is helping injured and disabled people. At the Deuterman Law Group, Christine handles Social Security Disability cases. Her compassionate nature combined with her legal knowledge makes this a perfect fit for Christine.

Christine graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2007 with a degree in political science and a second major in English. Throughout college, she worked in the legal field as an office assistant at several firms.

Hoping to confirm the law was her true calling, she worked for two years as a legal assistant...

Attorney Adam Soltys's office is centrally located in Greensboro, right in the middle of his practice area, which spans throughout the Triad in Guilford, Davidson, Rockingham, and Forsyth Counties. Before joining iTicket.law, Adam started and for the past nine years has continued to run his own independent criminal and traffic practice. An avid Davidson Wildcats fan, Attorney Soltys can often be found debating the intricacies of Steph Curry’s shot. Fluent in Spanish, he has a particular focus on serving underrepresented immigrant communities.

Alexander J. Eiffe is an associate counsel at A.G. Linett and Associates. Alex is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Alex’s practice at A.G. Linett & Associates focuses on the constantly evolving field of Immigration Law. Alex grew up in Winston-Salem North Carolina and attended UNC Chapel Hill where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. He earned his law degree from the University of Villanova School of Law. In law school Alex was Co-President of the Latin American Law Student Association and acted as...

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. ...

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...

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 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.

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. ...

Adam W. Arthur is a skilled and seasoned trial lawyer with the law firm of Arthur & Kirkman PLLC located in downtown Greensboro, NC. Adam widely recognized as a leader in litigation, mediation, and arbitration.

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...

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...

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...

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!

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...

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...

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.

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...

After a failed marriage of 26 years, 5 children and a two year custody battle; I knew becoming a family lawyer was my dream.

I have been a nurse since 1991, I spent the first years of my career delivering babies at Forsyth Hospital. After 5 years, I discovered that I really wanted to be at home with my children and I started a Nursing Triage Company that now operates in almost 1/2 of the United States.

I had the perfect life, a company that was successful and allowed me to be a mom. Then; my life was turned upside...

Attorney Mark V.L. Gray, founder of the North Carolina law firm of Gray Legal Group has been practicing law since 1982.

Our founding lawyers are trusted in the legal community and are members of many prestigious organizations. Mark V.L. Gray is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group that is limited only to those who have recovered many millions of dollars for victims of negligence, as well as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). We are respected by our peers for our diligence in standing up for the rights of our clients.

Attorney Grays’ longevity means that...

Stuart Paynter is an experienced trial attorney who specializes in catastrophic personal injury cases and product liability. 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 against the NCAA that resulted in a $60 million...

Rett Saslow's is a North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law since 1996. His law practice is primarily directed to assisting people through bankruptcy, business law, transactional matters, creditors' rights, collections, and commercial real estate. Rett advises clients on business issues and corporate law; assists clients in acquisitions, sales, financing and leasing transactions; and represents clients in Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Rett attended public schools in Greensboro, and Davidson College and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill....

Seth Cohen has spent his legal career fighting against discrimination and advocating for people whose civil rights and civil liberties have been violated or infringed.

The veteran labor and employment, civil rights and civil liberties attorney is Of Counsel at the Deuterman Law Group.

In this senior role, he represents clients in their labor and employment claims. He works closely with the rest of the DLG team to ensure that our workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, VA Disability and personal injury clients receive the justice they deserve.

Before joining DLG, Cohen was a partner for 25 years with Smith, James, Rowlett & Cohen...