Wake County Lawyers

I assist families during the difficult times following the loss of a loved one, helping with all aspects of probate, estate and trust administration, and tax issues. From 2003 to 2008, I served as one of the public administrators in Wake County. During that period, I regularly took on roles such as the Administrator of a decedent’s estate or as the Guardian of the Estate for an incompetent individual. These roles provided me with valuable experience in estate and guardianship administration. I was born in Oxford, North Carolina in 1975. I completed my undergraduate studies at North Carolina State University in...

David Vtipil is a skilled personal injury lawyer serving North Carolina. He handles cases in many different areas including car accidents, work injuries, dog bites, and more. David is also a NC certified board specialist in Workers' Compensation cases. He has won many awards including being named one of the Best Lawyers in America in the field of workers' compensation law.

The Raleigh-based lawyers at Boerema Blackton LLP focus on providing practical, business-oriented legal advice to companies with 1-49 employees. If you are looking for responsive, legal services from an attorney who knows you and your business, you found us. Our firm acts as an outside general counsel for a number of clients, providing dedicated, responsive support with institutional knowledge of the client’s business or situation. The business lawyers in our firm represent clients who conduct business on local, national, and international scales. The firm’s core competency is in organizing, buying, and selling interests in corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, nonprofits, and other...

Cameron Lambe is a civil litigation attorney with experience in contract negotiation and dispute, real estate law and litigation, and business and employment law.
She is also a North Carolina native with a background in small business ownership and marketing, specifically in the areas of real estate, property management, and the beauty industry.

Hill Allen is a partner in the firm and handles a broad range of civil and criminal litigation. His practice areas and recent cases include:

white-collar criminal defense;
healthcare fraud;
False Claims Act and qui tam, or whistleblower, litigation;
wrongful death and catastrophic personal injury;
antitrust litigation;
administrative law;
aviation and workplace accidents;
class actions and other commercial litigation;
campaign finance and political corruption matters;
environmental crimes;
intellectual property litigation;
mortgage fraud;
securities fraud;
trade secret and non-compete litigation; and
criminal tax investigations.

Mr. Allen's clients have included a former Olympic Gold medalist; a former North Carolina Lieutenant Governor...

Melissa Hill is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. She received her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1984. She also attended law school at UNC, where she was admitted to the Order of the Coif, was on the North Carolina Law Review and received her J.D. with honors in 1987. Ms. Hill is the author of Tennessee v. Garner - The Use of Deadly Force to Arrest as an Unreasonable Search and Seizure, 65 N.C.L. Rev. 155 (1986);...

Fred Morelock received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974 and his law degree from UNC in 1976. He then practiced as a trial attorney for ten years in the areas of criminal defense and family law litigation before being appointed to the bench. He joined Tharrington Smith in 2001.

In 1986, Mr. Morelock was appointed by Governor James G. Martin to a Wake County district court judgeship. He was reelected three times and served for fourteen years. In 1990, Mr. Morelock became the first judge in Wake County to become a Certified...

Marsha Comeau
A native of upstate New York, Dan Clark moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1979 and in 1985 graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served first as a staff writer and then as an editorial board member on the North Carolina Law Review and upon graduation from UNC Law School in 1988 he joined Tharrington Smith.

Mr. Clark’s areas of practice include employment law, civil and business litigation, intellectual property law, and administrative law. He has counseled businesses and individuals, including legal, medical and other professional practices, individual executives, physicians, attorneys, scientists, engineers,...

Russell D. Babb was born in Wilson, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar and co-captain of the 1995 Carolina football team. A four-year starter as an offensive lineman for the Tar Heels, Mr. Babb was also the winner of the 1995 Jim Tatum Award, which is presented each year to the top Senior Scholar-Athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

After college, Mr. Babb entered the University of North Carolina School of Law. During law school, he participated in the UNC Criminal Law Clinic and served...

Roger W. Smith, Jr., was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and attended the Raleigh public schools. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of North Carolina in 1991. While at UNC he was inducted into the Order of Gimghoul.

After college, Mr. Smith moved to Wyoming where, during a period of about two years, he learned to hand-make rough white-pine furniture in the Western tradition. He returned to North Carolina and co-founded Appalachian Designs, a company through which he continued to manufacture and market this furniture.

In the fall of 1996, Mr. Smith entered the Norman A....

Our nationally recognized Raleigh law firm focuses on criminal defense, family law, and professional license defense. A small firm mentality allows us to provide personalized attention to each matter. Our philosophy of tireless devotion to our clients and uncompromising honesty has earned us the reputation as one of the go-to firms in the State. We counsel our clients through all aspects of the case, providing the individual attention necessary to achieve justice and return peace to your life.

Jeannette has 11 years of experience working in the insurance industry in claims handling. She has represented both plaintiffs and defendants and is bilingual in Spanish and English.

Attorney Steve Palme has devoted his practice exclusively to family law since 2005. The Palme Law Firm prides itself on the individual attention it offers to clients and their cases. Steve Palme has extensive experience both in and out of the courtroom and handles all aspects of family law, including: child custody, child support, interstate custody and support, alimony, equitable distribution, domestic violence, separation and prenuptial agreements, and alienation of affection and criminal conversation claims.

Buxton Reed Bailey is a practicing attorney in Raleigh, N.C. He represents clients in North Carolina and other states, including Maryland, Delaware, Georgia and Pennsylvania. His law firm, Buxton R. Bailey, P.C., focuses on a general practice of law with a special focus on Immigration and Nationality Law. Bailey, a native English speaker, is also fluent in Spanish. Immigration law is a unique area of law without boundaries and Attorney Bailey represents corporate and individual clients locally and globally. Attorney Bailey represents his clients before the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, The...

Charles R. Ullman is Board Certified by the North Carolina State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law. At the time of his certification he was one of less than 300 lawyers state-wide to achieve this distinction. He is also a member of the Wake County Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association and a member of the Christian Legal Society.

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...

Attorney Rebecca Poole brings a powerful combination of skill, passion, and advanced training to the practice of law. Certified by both the North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization and Center for Cooperative Parenting, Rebecca has established a reputation for excellence – and results – in the areas of mediation, arbitration, litigation, and the collaborative divorce process. She also assists the firm’s clients in developing comprehensive estate plans that ensure family members and financial affairs are protected and preserved. Over the course of her legal career, Rebecca has maintained an unwavering commitment to achieving client goals, even when faced with challenging...

A North Carolina native, David was born and raised in a commercial fishing family on the Outer Banks. He decided to attend law school while he was at North Carolina State University earning dual BAs in Economics and Business Management. Even then, he knew that “fighting for the little guy” was his destiny. After 20 years, he and his partners continue to stand for the same principles.

An avid Top Dragster racer (with an IHRA Class B license), David has written articles on the importance of adequate insurance coverage and appropriate legal representation for several racing industry publications.

He spent years dedicated...

North Carolina personal injury lawyer Brenton D. Adams has represented individuals against insurance companies since 1973. Mr. Adams is board certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocacy Forum. He has been selected as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in North Carolina by the American Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Adams has given lectures to trial lawyers at numerous seminars dealing with trial advocacy and trial practice issues. Among the trial lawyer organizations at which Mr. Adams has lectured are the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, The North Carolina Bar Association,...

Kelly A. Stevens is a co-founder and managing member of the law firm of Hemmings & Stevens, P.L.L.C. and has been practicing as an attorney since 1994. She grew up in the mid-west and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. While in college she was elected President of her pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta. She attended law school at the University of Missouri-Columbia and graduated in 1994. While in law school she performed an internship at the Attorney General's Office for the State of Missouri and later clerked for...

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...

A native of Texas, Mr. Hopper was born in Beaumont and graduated from Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. Mr. Hopper then attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in 1989. Immediately following, Mr. Hopper attended Texas Tech University School of Law, and in 1993, graduated Doctor of Jurisprudence.

Subsequent to his graduation from law school, Mr. Hopper relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina where, in 1994, he opened his own practice and has since been practicing law within Wake County and the greater Triangle area.

Currently, Mr. Hopper maintains a trial practice concentrating...

Michelle Dewkett-Kochhar found her passion for workers’ compensation law dabbling in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and criminal defense law after graduating from law school. Dewkett-Kochhar graduated from Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in 2019, and passed the North Carolina Bar Exam that same summer. A northerner at heart, Dewkett-Kochhar grew up in Rhinebeck, New York. She first moved to Raleigh to attend North Carolina State University, where she received a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Spanish. While at law school, Dewkett-Kochhar served as a research assistant and interned with the Wake County Public Defender’s Office, a personal...

Attorney Lindsey D. Granados is an experienced trial lawyer and seasoned litigator who advocates tirelessly for her clients. She truly cares for the well-being of her clients, and her compassion and desire to see justice in action motivates her to seek the best possible outcome in each case. Over the course of her career, Lindsey has tried hundreds of District Court cases—infractions, misdemeanors of every variety, DWIs—and numerous high-level felony criminal jury trials to verdict in Superior Court.

Ms. Granados was born and raised in Seminole, Oklahoma. She graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University, located in Shawnee, Oklahoma and with a Bachelor’s...

Whether you are going through a separation and divorce, have suffered personal injuries as a result of an auto accident, or have pending criminal charges or a traffic ticket or need a Will drawn up or you need a probate attorney to help administer an estate, Tim G. Fowler is available to help you get the results that you both want and need. Tim has over 21 years of experience helping clients just like you. He is a knowledgeable, skilled, and determined attorney with attorney's fees that are fair and reasonable. Just as importantly, he is also a good person...

Scott Montgomery is a N.C. Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, as certified by the North Carolina State Bar. Scott limits his practice exclusively to family law. His practice is focused on equitable distribution of marital property, child custody and support, alimony, as well as adoption and various other legal issues arising from separation and divorce. Scott was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and grew up in Cary. He attended Ravenscroft High School in Raleigh, class of 1999. He graduated with honors from Wake Forest University in 2003 with...

Opened law practice focusing primarily on bankruptcy and associated legal matters. The goal is to provide individuals and families the peace of mind when dealing with stressful and difficult decisions regarding their home and property. We strive to put the client first, helping to guide them down the legal process path. Caring and understanding is the basis for which we base our practice on.

Erich has lived in North Carolina his entire life, and takes great pride in helping his fellow North Carolinians--individuals, families, and small businesspersons. Much of his practice is devoted to assisting people who have trouble with debt. A knowledgeable bankruptcy lawyer, he counsels clients on whether filing bankruptcy is their best option, and carefully guides them through the bankruptcy process. Erich also represents clients in debt-related non-bankruptcy litigation, including collections defense and unfair debt collection. Drawing on his experience as a bankruptcy law clerk, Erich can assist individuals and business that are parties to bankruptcy litigation, including defense of...

Mark is recognized for excellence by many peer rating organizations such as Best Lawyers in American and Super Lawyers. He is a former president of the Chief Justice Susie M. Sharp Inn of Court and the 2015 president of the 10th Judicial District which comprises all of Wake County including Raleigh and much of Research Triangle Park (RTP)

Having been born and raised in the state of North Carolina, Travis Taylor went on to earn both his B.A. degree and J.D. degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Now, as a partner of law firm Marshall & Taylor PLLC, Taylor focuses his practice primarily on family law matters. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal district courts in North Carolina and is well prepared to effectively assist his clients. If you are currently struggling with divorce or other family law issues, contact Taylor today and learn how he can help you.

Mike graduated from Antioch College in 1977 and from the University of North Carolina Law School, with honors, in 1980. At the law school he was selected as the James O. Bowman Scholar, served on the Law Review, and received the Order of the Coif Award for Legal Writing. Before entering private practice, he was a law clerk to the Honorable J. Dickson Phillips of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and worked as a litigation attorney in the Appellate Court Branch of the Enforcement Division of the National Labor Relations Board in Washington. Mike represents unions and...

Troy is a board-certified appellate specialist. Clients hire Troy to protect their vital interests when cases are appealed. Setting the stage for a successful appeal often means hiring an appellate attorney while the case is still at trial. Troy works alongside trial counsel, collaborating on critical motions to ensure that clients are well positioned on appeal. Once a judgment is entered, clients rely on Troy either to defend their judgment or find creative paths to reversal. Troy has a wide variety of trial and appellate experience involving class actions, antitrust, criminal, employment, land use, and family law cases. He also frequently...

Kris Gardner's practice focuses primarily in local government law, litigation and alcoholic beverage control law. He serves as general counsel to the North Carolina Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association and the North Carolina Nurses Association. He is also the town attorney for Enfield in Halifax County. Kris represents creditors in debt collection matters, assists small business owners, and represents professionals before licensing boards such as the North Carolina Board of Dental Examiners and the North Carolina Medical Board. Kris is also certified by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission as a mediator in Superior Court matters. A native...

Ken Soo's areas of practice include public school law, employment law and civil litigation. Mr. Soo was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1991 and joined Tharrington Smith in 1994. Mr. Soo's first career was as a wire service and newspaper reporter in Ohio, North Carolina and Florida, including stints with United Press International and The Charlotte Observer. He received his law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991. During law school, he was a note editor for the North Carolina Law Review. Mr. Soo completed his bachelor's...