Southport Lawyers

Bachara & Essey, a general practice firm, provides intelligent, practical, and cost-effective legal counsel to clients across a wide range of industries. We provide legal assistance to clients throughout the Lower Cape Fear Region, in fields ranging from elder law, wills & estates and family law to criminal defense. Bachara & Essey counsel clients with respect to such essential matters as business transactions and litigation, real estate litigation, civil litigation, debtor/creditor issues, and probate & trust disputes. Please take a moment to explore our website to learn more about us, who we are and what we do,...

I am a retired State Trooper with 29 years experience building DWI cases. If you have recently been charged with DWI or any other traffic or criminal offense, let me put my training, knowledge, and decades of experience to work for you. I know the process used to administer a breath or blood test. I know the training an officer has to stop someone, to administer field sobriety tests, to administer portable breath tests, to conduct DWI check points, and to arrest someone for DWI. I know the procedures used to operate and maintain...

I am a graduate of the Charlotte School of Law who graduated in May 2015 with a Juris Doctor - Magna Cum Laude. During my time in law school, I was a member of the Presidential Honors Society, Order of the Crown Honor Society, and an Associate Editor of the Charlotte School of Law Property Law Journal. Additionally, I graduated in May 2012 from Appalachian State University with a degree in Business Management with a Concentration in Entrepreneurship - Magna Cum Laude. While attending Appalachian State University, I maintained a 3.65 cumulative GPA and was a frequent member of...

Thom Goolsby has spent a lifetime working for the public from his time in the United States Marine Corps, the North Carolina General Assembly, and his Goolsby Law Firm, PLLC. He is trusted, experienced, and tenacious as he protects your rights in his law practices. As a former North Carolina Senator drafting legislation, he understands how the law is structured and interpreted giving him detailed knowledge how to fight for his clients.

When you need a strong advocate standing up for your rights, contact Thom Goolsby at the Goolsby Law Firm, PLLC. Look for an experienced criminal justice...

Managing Partner and the founder of The Law Group, Melissa Gott is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell University School of Law. Melissa is a licensed North Carolina attorney, D.R.C. Certified Mediator, Financial (family law) Mediator, and Collaborative Attorney with Coastal Collaborative Colleagues. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Melissa graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration concentrating in finance and the legal environment of business. Melissa then matriculated to Campbell University’s School of Law. While in law school, Melissa was an editor...

My practice is restricted to family law issues such as adoption, annulment, divorce, child custody, child support, postseparation support, alimony, equitable distribution, separation agreements, premarital agreements and enforcement of court orders. I am certified by the NC State Bar as a Family Law Specialist in family law. I received the AV preeminent peer review rating from Martindale Hubbell; NC Business Legal Elite for family law; Super Lawyers for family law; rated 10.0 by Avvo.

Attorney Bruce Mason is an experienced attorney dedicated to the pursuit of justice for his clients. He is committed to protecting his clients' freedom inside and outside of the courtroom. Bruce focuses on Criminal Defense matters including Traffic Violations, Expunction of Criminal Records, Domestic Violence/Protective Orders, DUI/DWI Defense, Drug Possession, Felonies and more. Visit his website for more information and call for a free consultation!

Managing partner Benjamin T. Cochran oversees the operation of Hardison & Cochran Attorneys at Law in addition to representing individual clients in cases involving workers’ compensation and personal injury law.

A lifelong North Carolinian, Cochran knew from his high-school days in High Point that he wanted to be an attorney. He received a B.A. degree in economics and African-American studies from the University of North Carolina in 1999 and then enrolled at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University.

As a second-year law student, Cochran started working part-time in the law firm he now manages. During his third year...

After 33 years experience in civil litigation in Winston-Salem, N.C. , I've focused my practice on personal injury litigation and joined the Speaks Law Firm in Wilmington NC. According to Martindale.com, my peers rate me as having high legal ability with very high ethical standards. I am a member of the North Carolina State Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association. Beyond the practice of law I am a certified lay speaker in the United Methodist Church and serve as lay leader in my local congregation. I greatly enjoy hiking and kayaking and spending time with my...

James W. McGee Jr. of the McGee Law Firm, located in historic downtown Wilmington, NC handles DWI/DUI law as well as personal injury, traffic, and drug litigation.

The McGee Law Firm handles DWI cases in New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties in North Carolina.

The DWI laws are different in every state, and North Carolina's are some of the toughest in the nation. If you're arrested for DWI in North Carolina, you're going to need a tough attorney. I am known for working hard for my clients, not merely providing a cookie cutter defense based on a ten minute analysis,...

Since 1987, attorney Christina Rivenbark has been building a reputation for passion, skill and integrity in areas of the law that matter to everyday, hardworking individuals and families. Under her leadership, our dedicated legal team handles criminal defense and personal injury cases in Wilmington and the surrounding areas. Most importantly, every client and every case truly matters to us. We demonstrate this by consistently delivering personal attention and hard work to achieve our clients’ goals. When you choose Christina Rivenbark & Associates for your criminal law or personal injury matter, we will greet you warmly and treat you with respect and...

Stephanie Kimbro, Esq., MA, JD, has operated a Web-based virtual law office in North Carolina since 2006 and delivers estate planning and small-business law to clients online. She is the recipient of the 2009 ABA Keane Award for Excellence in eLawyering and has won the Wilmington Parent Magazine Family Favorite Attorney Award four years in a row for her virtual law office. She is also the co-founder of Virtual Law Office Technology, LLC (VLOTech), which was acquired by Total Attorneys in the fall of 2009. In addition to her virtual law practice, Kimbro is a consultant and technology evangelist providing assistance...

James F. Rutherford is a North Carolina native and graduate of the Michigan State University School of Law. He is genuinely passionate about advocating for the rights of the accused and guiding them through the criminal justice system. He is a highly rated attorney who earned an AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell® for his legal ethics and talent and named a Super Lawyers® Rising Star™ from 2013-2015. James received certification as a criminal law specialist by the North Carolina State Bar in 2011 and is certified to administer standardized field sobriety tests.

In 1991, after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a degree in political science, Bradley realized that 1) he couldn’t afford to start his own country and 2) Dean Smith’s incoming 1990 freshman class looked to be one of the best classes ever assembled in college basketball, so he decided to attend the UNC School of Law. Three years and one national championship later, he graduated and began working as a trial lawyer for Anderson, Cox and Ennis and continued there when it became Anderson, Daniel and Coxe. In 2005, Bradley started Hodges &...

Workers who have been injured on the job or who suffer occupational diseases oftentimes must face a frustrating waiting game to receive the benefits they deserve. Attorney James Adam Bridwell, who focuses his practice solely on workers’ compensation cases, knows what it takes to help clients get their lives back together. Bridwell is a native South Carolinian. He received a B.A. in marketing and management from the University of South Carolina before coming to Raleigh to attend Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. While in law school, he was a case summary writer for the Campbell Law Observer and...

I spend my time helping my clients and their families face the reality of handling child custody, asset divisions, child support and divorce. Many of these issues involve not only legal, but emotional, practical and even business implications. Our effective team understands the nuances of these cases, and provides supportive, competent, and, when needed, aggressive representation.

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...

For the last ten years I have dedicated myself and my practice to fighting for my clients who have been accused of criminal misdeeds and for others who have been injured by someone else's negligence. I am in the courtroom most every day fighting for my clients, whether they have been charged with DWI or drug offenses or major felonies. I also stand up to the insurance companies who may not want to pay what you deserve after being injured. I have helped my clients navigate through some of the toughest and most trying times of their lives. I am...

For Joey DeMartin, officially joining the team at Hardison & Cochran, Attorneys at Law feels like a homecoming. He worked at the law firm, writing motions and assisting in the call center while attending Campbell Law School in Raleigh. DeMartin graduated from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University in 2018 and passed the North Carolina Bar Exam in 2019. The Washington, N.C., native is the first attorney in his family. “My grandfather was pretty happy with that,” DeMartin said, noting that the law had interested him from a young age. “I was definitely the family debater. … I...

After moving from NY to NC, I found new residents in my community needed assistance with estate planning and estate administration. I have since expanded my practice to Northern Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties.

Jim Snow was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in December of 1956; admitted to bar, 1982, North Carolina; 1984, Virgin Islands and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1979, cum laude); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (J.D., 1982). Member: New Hanover County (Member, Executive Committee, 1990-1994) and North Carolina Bar Associations (Member, Business Law and Real Property Law Sections, Business Law Section Council, 2004-2008; Business Law Section Council, Membership Chair, 2007-2008); The North Carolina State Bar (Fifth Judicial District, Secretary-Treasurer, 1989-1990, Chairman, Fifth Judicial District Young Lawyers Division, 1990-1992). ...

My broad legal practice covers business litigation, ranging from complex cases in the North Carolina Business Court to more straightforward contract disputes, personal injury, and wrongful death cases, including medical malpractice.

But whatever type of case, I use investigative instincts that I honed over more than 14 years as a professional journalist before turning to the Bar.

I exited the University of Virginia in 1994 skilled in various forms of writing and on a mission to get to the bottom of things. A freelance writer and part-time newspaper reporter while still in school, I became a full-time journalist upon...

North Carolina Board Certified Workers Compensation Specialist

Lindsay Murphy Parker is an attorney in Eastern North Carolina focusing her practice on consumer bankruptcy. Lindsay received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. During her studies in Wilmington, she was employed by Gillespie & Murphy, P.A. as a legal assistant. After graduation, Lindsay moved back to New Bern and continued her legal career in the New Bern office location. In 2016, Lindsay received her Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law in Durham, NC. Lindsay uses her experience as a legal assistant in her practice of law, with a knowledge and understanding of...

Wilmington, NC Lawyer R. Clarke Speaks practices in the areas of personal injury and criminal defense. He has achieved National Recognition through AVVO and Superlawyers. Specifically, he has attained a rating of "10.0" out of a maximum score of 10.0 on AVVO. In addition, he is rated "Superb". Superb is the highest possible rating. He has earned the "Top Car Accident Attorney" designation. In addition, R. Clarke Speaks has been selected to the Superlawyers for the second consecutive year for his work in the legal field of personal injury law. Recently, Mr. Speaks...

My goal is to provide the best possible service to my clients. My practices include family law and civil litigation. Please do not hesitate to call to schedule a consultation.

After college I was an insurance adjuster for home owner and auto claims for 2 years before I went to law school. This was good training for my practice. After law school at The University of Tennessee I worked in insurance defense of all types of cases including auto accidents, workers compensation, contract/insurance disputes, wrongful death cases and other litigated issues. Worker's Compensation Accident and Injury cases have been to bulk of my practice for the last 15 years. I also handle auto/truck accident injuries associated with work. The remainder of my time I spend as a mediator of a variety...

David Gross graduated from Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores, Michigan in 1992 where he was on the football and swimming team. David graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mount Olive College in Mount Olive, N.C. with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. David attended the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill where he was a member of the International Law Journal. After serving in both the Air and Army National Guard, David became a Rocky Mount N.C. Police Officer in 1998. David Gross performed all aspects of law enforcement including writing traffic citations,...

Born in Germany, Chris moved at a young age to Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from The Ohio State Law School and working two years at a mid-sized law firm, Chris, his wife Susan and their infant daughter decided to move to Wilmington, North Carolina to be near the beach (and warmer, less snowy weather).

Since that time Chris has handled a variety of legal matters including Bankruptcy (his focus), Estate Planning, Business Law, Criminal Defense and other legal matters.

Chris has been on the side of consumers as they face creditors and their respective lawyers. Chris has helped many people...

Nicholas B. Mendez is a personal injury attorney in Wilmington, NC. As a former insurance defense attorney, Nick understands how the other side will view a case. This insider knowledge helps Nick advise his clients on the best strategy for their personal injury case.

Nick is passionate about representing personal injury clients. Nick's priority is to maximize each clients compensation, whether through a settlement or verdict. To maximize their compensation, Nick provides each client's case with personal attention to develop a tailored legal strategy.

During law school, Nick interned at the NC Supreme Court for the current...

Please see firm website for Chris Hinnant's current full bio:
https://www.barnwell-whaley.com/attorneys/chris-hinnant/

Who am I? I am a lawyer who has been practicing for almost 24 years. For that entire period of time, I have only handled personal injury cases, nothing else. I understand that the important things in life are not things at all...but integrity, values and loved ones..family and friends alike. I do not represent corporations and I sure don’t represent insurance companies. I represent ordinary people. Why? Well, when I was about 22 years old, I was working on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico as a roustabout and later a part-time roughneck on a drilling floor. I...

Glenn was born and raised in Rhode Island. He has traveled and lived in various places during his ten years of service in the United States Marine Corps. Glenn graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2002 with a B.S. in Accounting. He worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers for two years before attending law school at George Washington University. Since graduating in 2007 from George Washington University, he sharpened his trial skills while serving as a prosecutor in the Alamance County District Attorney's Office. Glenn currently manages the Wilmington...

I have my Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Miami, and my Juris Doctor from Thomas Cooley Law School where I was on the Dean's List, Honor Roll, and made the Law Review. I am a veteran from the United States Army. I worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company as a Senior Claims Adjuster handling Workers' Compensation, automobile and motorcycle accidents, and other insurance claims.

Christian was born and raised in Indiana and attended Indiana University in Bloomington where he received a degree in Philosophy and Political Science. During college, Christian worked as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in the summers. Christian then attended the University of Montana School of Law in Missoula. While attending law school, Christian interned with Justice Goff of the Indiana Supreme Court and the Federal Defenders of Montana. It was both of these experiences that inspired Christian’s passion for criminal defense. Upon receiving his J.D., he moved to Wilmington and began...