Apex Lawyers

When Damon Chetson ran for District Attorney in Wake County in 2022, and secured nearly 42 percent of the vote against a powerful incumbent, he did so because he doesn't back down from tough fights. And because he believes in the promise of the Criminal Justice system and its commitment that all people are innocent until proven guilty. In more that a decade in practice, Damon has defended clients in some of North Carolina's most serious and most notable cases. In 2019, he secured the only win in the federal government's largest prosecution in American history. That same year, he...

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...

Ahaji Amos is an experienced intellectual property attorney, with a special focus on intellectual property prosecution and litigation in the biotechnological arts, including medical devices, supplements, pharmaceuticals, and software. Ahaji has handled all aspects of litigation, including first chairing multiple litigation matters, as well as handling quasi-litigation matters before the PTAB and TTAB.
Ahaji practices all aspects of intellectual property including patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights. She has filed over 100 patent applications, over 100 trademark applications, and numerous cancelation and opposition proceedings. Because she primarily represents early-stage companies, Ahaji also regularly counsels clients on business...

Saad Law has handled over 100,000 criminal charges in Wake County and devotes their practice to defending citizens who are the subject of criminal charges, both in the DWI arena and all other areas of criminal law. Steven Saad spent years as a Supervisor in the Wake County District Attorney's Office where he oversaw the prosecution of every DWI, misdemeanor, and traffic case charged in Raleigh and the surrounding cities. Now that experience is put to work for his current clients.

Saad Law also represents defendants charged with an array of traffic violations and provides the best opportunity to...

John comes to the law as Career 2.0. After spending 15+ years as an engineer and project manager, John went back to law school to become an attorney. Since graduating, John has focused his practice on working with breweries, wineries, distilleries, and other artisanal alcohol beverage producers.

Need a Raleigh Family Law or Contract Litigation Attorney? Call Bryant Paris today at (919) 832-5577. Since 2002, Bryant has represented people from all walks of life across North Carolina as well as small businesses in a wide-variety of civil and criminal law cases. Through the years, he worked tirelessly to obtain just results for his clients in an effort to put them in a position to move on with their lives after their cases are resolved. Bryant uses his vast experience gained from actual courtroom hearing and trial experience, as well as in arbitration and mediation, to...

Daphne Edwards & her team focus exclusively on divorce and family law matters addressing the most complex issues facing divorcing couples: custody, asset division, alimony and child support, mediation and divorce arbitration, and the crafting of reliable separation agreements, as well as issues surrounding domestic violence, surrogacy, and assisted reproductive technology matters. Daphne’s approach is simple: each case is unique and each client receives personalized attention and the highest standard of care available while her team works to achieve that client’s specific goals.

Daphne has over twenty years of experience and is known to be an aggressive advocate for her clients...

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...

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...

For more information on my biography please email me directly at pmegaro@appealslawgroup.com

Peter currently works as an attorney with Fourscore Business Law in Raleigh. Prior to this position, Peter's most recent experience was working with the Start-Ups practice group at Smith Anderson in Raleigh, which followed an in-house stint with a private equity company in Durham as a Corporate Counsel and M&A Attorney at Eli Global.

Singh received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law in 2015 with Intellectual Property and Corporate Law concentrations and a B.B.A. from Hofstra University in 2012, cum laude, as a Legal Studies in Business major. After law school, Peter worked with Winslett Studnicky McCormick & Bomser...

Valerie A. Johnson graduated from the University of North Carolina and from the UNC School of Law in 1994, with honors Before entering law school, Valerie was an elementary school teacher.

Valerie is a specialist in workers' compensation law. She teaches trial advocacy at the University of North Carolina School of Law. Valerie also has taught workers' compensation law at Wake Forest University's School of Law.

Valerie serves on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and chaired the workers’ compensation committee. She is a former board member of the Lawyers Coordinating Committee...

I am a trial lawyer, and concentrate on commercial trials and arbitrations, with a special concentration in construction and securities matters. After law school, I clerked for a U.S. District Judge, and have been engaged in trial practice since 1983. I practiced in large regional and national firms until 2000, at which time my partner and I formed our litigation firm. I have tried, arbitrated and mediated hundreds of cases. I am licensed to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and California.

Construction & Business Lawyer representing Owners, Developers, Sureties, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Suppliers, and other Construction Industry Participants in Litigation, Mediation, and Arbitration. Federally Certified Mediator for the EDNC, United States District Court. Certified Arbitrator for Wake County District Court. Private Arbitrator for Construction and Commercial disputes. Arbitrator and Mediator, Construction Industry Panel of Neutrals, American Arbitration Association (AAA)

North Carolina Professional License Defense Attorney Nicholas Dowgul, or “Nick” as he prefers, began his legal career in 2008 in the Public Defender’s Office in Harrison County, Mississippi. In this position, Dowgul found his passion for the litigation of cases. Being in a courtroom felt like home to him. While he loves the mental battle within a courtroom, he believes resolving cases outside the courtroom is typically in the client’s best interests when it’s a valid option. However, when the time calls for it and resolution measures outside of the courtroom have been exhausted, Dowgul is well-prepared to obtain the best results for...

As an expert estate, trust and tax attorney, Greg Herman-Giddens provides comprehensive wealth planning, protection and management services to residents of Florida, North Carolina Tennessee and New York. He also provides consulting adn co-counseling services to attorneys throughout the country. Through careful selection of strategies tailored to clients' individualized goals and objectives, he helps individuals protect their family, preserve assets and save taxes.

Rebekah Grafton is a former trial attorney for the Department of Homeland Security in their Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division. She is prepared to put years of experience litigating on behalf of the government to work for you. She is not only skilled in the complicated nuances of immigration law, but in her unique experience she has also become well-versed in the policies that guide the filing of applications. She has prepared and argued written motions and memoranda at both the Immigration Court level as well as at the Board of Immigration Appeals. Additionally, she has worked closely with USCIS...

I finished law school in 2005 and immediately opened my own firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. I began my practice taking criminal cases in North Carolina state courts, with matters ranging from simple speeding tickets up to high level felonies. My practice has been a success because I care deeply for my clients, I consistently get them fantastic results, and I create fee structures that people can actually afford. Over my career, I have taught several seminars to other attorneys on how to properly defend criminal and traffic cases, with a significant emphasis on teaching defense of...

For more than 15 years, Raleigh personal injury attorney Kimberly Wilson White has focused her practice almost exclusively on personal injury. A Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Rated attorney, Ms. White takes the time to understand every unique detail of your case before determining how to proceed. She utilizes her vast experience, relationships with local experts, and extensive resources in order to better prepare for your case and represent your interests. If you were injured in a recent accident—including car accidents, medical malpractice, and dangerous drugs—Ms. White is prepared to fight for justice and fair compensation on your behalf. Call today!

Laurie Biggs' practice focuses on business and consumer bankruptcy, including chapter 7, chapter 11, chapter 12, and chapter 13 cases. Ms. Biggs primarily represents small business owners, individuals, and those in the agricultural sector who need help addressing their debts or exploring their legal options. Ms. Biggs has been certified as a specialist in business and consumer bankruptcy by the North Carolina State Bar. With almost twenty years of experience helping clients navigate their financial difficulties, Ms. Biggs In addition to bankruptcy cases, Ms. Biggs also practices in the area of out of court financial restructuring, business disputes, civil...

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...

Garen McClure is our Hillsborough-based attorney and litigator, with experience in traffic, business law, and estate planning. Garen utilizes his experience as a former New York City legal services attorney in assisting his clients to achieve their goals with respect to their litigation matters.* Garen has very broad litigation skills & the ability to work closely with his clients to ensure their involvement, providing very personal & responsive service. As a publicly educated attorney, Garen never strayed too far from his rural upbringing, and now uses his legal skill for the greater good.

John is passionate about entrepreneurship and business development. Like many entrepreneurs, he has launched both successful and failed businesses. A true believer in “failing forward”, John looks for new opportunities in every situation. This mentality allows him to connect with entrepreneurs and business owners in a meaningful way to help them navigate difficulties and grow their success. “I find joy in helping business owners make better decisions to build on their success and protect their business.” Outside of his practice of law, John serves as Chairman of the Board for Roc Solid Foundation, a local non-profit that builds hope for...

D. Cole Phelps manages our office in the northeastern part of the state. Attorney Phelps is a native of Washington County, and he returned to his home community to serve and give back. After winning his first primary election with over 62% of the votes, he later became the youngest county commissioner at the time of his election to serve in any of North Carolina’s 100 counties. During his first term of office, he was selected by his fellow board members as vice chairman and then chairman. Currently, he is serving his second term of office as a member of...

Jeff Marshall has practiced family law for over 21 years. He brings a high level of experience to the firm along with a strong commitment to ethics and the desire to aggressively advocate for his clients and their best interests. Mr. Marshall is a Board Certified family law and divorce attorney in Raleigh who is well known for his ability to handle difficult cases in a professional manner. He handles a wide variety of family law and divorce-related cases including complex equitable distribution matters and highly contested child custody cases. Most of his clients come from...

Raleigh corporate lawyer Bob Morton is a true business and civil litigation generalist. He has successfully tried multiple civil jury trials. He regularly assists his business clients with planning, litigation avoidance, employment matters and virtually all other legal matters that his business clients face.

Bob believes that providing personal service and going the extra mile for clients isn’t just a good way to do business — it’s the only way to do business.

He has been featured as a consumer advocate on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” has served Three Terms as Chairman of the local Better Business Bureau (BBB), been recognized as...

Elder Law and Estate Planning attorney. Personal Family Lawyer (tm). Member NAELA and Wealth Counsel. Dartmouth College, Thayer School of Engineering, Michigan State University College of Law. Compassionate, able to work with families experiencing dementia or other disabilities.

Since 1992 I have focused my practice primarily on criminal defense. In 1998, along with Seth Blum, I founded the Raleigh Law Firm of Kurtz & Blum PLLC. At Kurtz & Blum we help people who have been accused of crimes from minor traffic cases and DWIs all the way up through high profile murder trials. On our civil side we help people who have been harmed by the negligence of another such as in car wrecks, nursing home negligence cases and legal malpractice cases. We round out our practice by helping people with family 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.

David Coolidge is a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney at Coolidge Law Firm, based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Coolidge is dedicated to defending the rights of clients throughout the area who have been charged with crimes, including DWI, drug charges, sex crimes, domestic violence and a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges. Coolidge graduated in the top 5 percent of his class from the Duke University School of Law, which is one of the top law schools in the country. There he received top-notch training both inside the classroom and in the field as a student. ...

Matthew Stauff believes the practice of law is a privilege that requires him to fight for those needing advocacy during life’s most trying times. He represents clients in divorce proceedings, child custody hearings, and defends those who have been wrongfully terminated from their jobs. During his nearly seven years with Legal Aid of North Carolina he developed extensive experience in family law, employment law, and civil litigation. While court is an option in many cases, Matthew believes that working matters out amicably through settlement leads towards a longer lasting outcome that is more cost-effective and efficient outcome.

Born and raised in...

Angela L. Haas, of Haas & Associates, PA, is an experienced family law attorney and mediator, who serves both traditional and non-traditional families in every aspect of family law, estate planning and administration. A double-major honors graduate of Appalachian State University and Campbell Law School, Angela is dedicated to working with each client to develop creative and effective solutions to protect themselves and their families. Ms. Haas offers a refreshing perspective on the challenges and opportunities that each client faces, and seeks to take advantage of the best legal and practical solutions available in each case.

Upon graduation from law school in 1980, Doug Kingsbery joined the firm of Tharrington, Smith & Hargrove in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he worked as an associate in the areas of education law and criminal defense. He was made Partner in 1985, and has developed an extensive litigation and trial practice which includes trial and appellate work in civil, criminal and administrative law. Over the past 28 years, he has tried dozens of civil and criminal jury trials in numerous state and federal courts across North Carolina and he has received an AV rating from his peers as reported in...

Attorney Rebecca A. Olla was raised in Austin, Texas. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and her Law Degree from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. Before joining The Bishop Law Firm, Rebecca worked for the Texas State Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. District Court of Southern New York. After working for the government (by the people), Rebecca refocused her practice to represent clients in federal appeals in U.S. District Court (for the people). Through her prior legal experience, Rebecca has learned that lawyers are needed to ensure positive outcomes for their...

Ana S. Nuñez practices in both our Criminal Defense and our Immigration practice areas. She was recruited from the Public Defender’s office in Wake County. Being an immigrant herself, she understands the importance of having an advocate in your corner when you need it the most. Fluent in Spanish, Ana serves on the Governor’s advisory council on Hispanic/Latino affairs, she has been named a Top 40 Under 40 Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers, and she was recognized with the Citizen Lawyer Award by the NC Bar Association for exemplary public service to her community. She is a graduate of...

Alexia Dominguez is a licensed attorney in North Carolina. She received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2016 where she majored in Biology. Alexia earned her law degree from Campbell University School of Law in 2019. While at Campbell, Alexia served as the Vice President of Campbell Law Women in Law and the Hispanic Law Student Association and as the co-coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Alexia founded Smith Dominguez, PLLC in November of 2019 with her law partner, Ayeshinaye Smith. At Smith Dominguez, Alexia enjoys handling residential real estate closings and...

Ken was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1961 and served as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps from 1986 through 1990, where he was a member of the JAG Corps. Ken practices law in the following areas: workers’ compensation, personal injury litigation, wrongful death, bankruptcy, and trials in state and federal courts and arbitrations.

He is a Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist through the North Carolina State Bar and was recently appointed to a three-year term on the North Carolina Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section Council. Mr. King is also a member and frequent lecturer at the Workers’ Compensation...

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...

In joining Hardison & Cochran in 2008, Joel Jackson Hardison made a transition from defending insurance companies in Workers Compensation cases to representing injured and disabled workers. He applies the insights he gained from representing insurance companies to assist the injured workers he represents. There is little doubt about which type of practice he prefers. Hardison received a B.A. degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina in 1999 and a J.D. from the UNC School of Law in 2004. He was a member of the law school’s Holderness Moot Court team and was named to the Dean’s List. He launched his...

Tyler S. Benson is an attorney based out of Raleigh, NC. Tyler focuses his practice on criminal, DWI, and traffic matters, and has represented clients throughout the State of North Carolina on thousands of cases. He knows the ins-and-outs of traffic laws and DMV regulations, and has handled criminal matters ranging from felonies to misdemeanors. He is also an experienced entertainment attorney, and handles contract and venue negotiations for a number of musical acts. Prior to working with iTicket, Tyler worked for a large criminal & traffic firm in Chapel Hill, and his practice has taken him all over central...