Durham Business Lawyers

Ashley is passionate about working with clients in construction, insurance coverage, and professional liability matters. Over the years, Ashley has cultivated a reputation of being known for her hands-on approach to her work with her clients. From working with North Carolina farmers at a pro bono office in Durham at the start of her career to crawling through a crawl space to understand a key issue in a construction case, or defending a salvage claim on a high-dollar vessel, Ashley’s priorities have always been to best serve those she represents in communities throughout the state. Complementing her hands-on approach, Ashley...

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...

I am Larry J. Ford, an attorney with 49 years of experience, providing legal services to business owners, families, individuals, and retired persons. My areas of practice include Asset Protection Planning, Business Planning, Corporations, Charitable Trusts, Estate Planning, Federal Tax Planning, Family Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, Living Trusts, Medicaid Planning, Real Estate, and Wills and Estates. I began my legal career in the Asheville/Hendersonville area, then transitioned to the corporate business and legal sectors in Charlotte, NC, before moving back to Hayesville in 1991. While in Charlotte, I held positions as Vice-President/Legal Counsel at two different title insurance companies and...

I have served as General Counsel to a Fortune 500 Company, Carnival Cruise Lines, Inc., and have practiced in both large and medium size law firms. I have also worked for and with State and Federal agencies in regulatory matters and litigation. As the in-house General Counsel for Carnival Cruise Lines, during its explosive growth period, I developed considerable expertise in all facets of corporate governance and management, including intellectual property, securities, anti-trust issues and every imaginable type of litigation and contractual matter. During this period major events, coordinated and directed through my Office, included Carnival's Initial Public Offering; the...

Paul J. Ditz has been practicing law in Cleveland County, NC and surrounding counties for nearly 20 years. He has extensive experience in both criminal and civil courts having tried dozens of cases during that time. As a former prosecutor, he possesses the insight necessary to prepare and present your case successfully and to help you get the best result under the law.

Attorney Brandon Jaynes is the managing partner and owner of Archonix Law, primarily working in the areas of estate planning (wills, trusts, probate, etc.) and business law . Brandon received a Bachelors of Computer Science and a Bachelors of Mathematics from Gardner-Webb University in 2003 where he graduated magna cum laude. While at Gardner-Webb, Brandon was President of both the SIGMA Math Association and the Association for Computing Machinery, Gardner-Webb chapters. In 2006, he was awarded a full scholarship to attend Campbell University’s Norman A. Wiggins School of Law, graduating cum laude with his Juris Doctor degree in 2009. While in...

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,...

Mr. Anderson has been a practicing attorney for over twelve years and has represented individuals and corporations in complex, high stakes legal matters throughout his career. He received his law degree, with honors, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After law school, Mr. Anderson honed his legal skills at two of the largest and most prestigious law firms in Atlanta and Charlotte. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Virginia Military Institute and also has a Masters in Business Administration from Old Dominion University. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Anderson served the United States...

Kiel actively advises and represents clients faced with pending or active litigation. While he has experience handling a variety of civil matters, he primarily handles cases involving contractual disputes or other business related matters. He is a skilled litigator and represents both companies and individuals at both the trial and appellate court levels.

My name is Jonathan Barber, and I am a Managing Attorney at Franchise.Law in Charlotte, NC. I earned my JD from Liberty University School of Law in 2015, and now serve my clients with legal matters for both established franchisors and start-up franchisors. I also have a background in teaching business law and have been named a 2019 1851 Magazine Franchise Legal Player and 2019 Franchise Times Legal Eagle.

Dennis O'Dea is a principal at the SFS LAW GROUP. He has practiced Insolvency, Bankruptcy, Commercial Litigation and legal malpractice for over twenty five years as a partner in major firms in Chicago, IL and New York City. The SFS LAW Group was formed in Charlotte, NC to provide a new model of practice in which the firm conducts joint engagements with experienced lawyers to provide legal support on a project basis that is superior to the legacy high overhead, lawyer heavy firms of the past. The resources and skills of...

Andrew J. Wingo graduated from Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University with his J.D. in 1998. He has nearly two decades of legal experience in the areas of commercial real estate, business law, criminal law, personal injury, and domestic/family law. A true trial attorney, Andrew has effectively litigated cases across state and federal courts for his clients. He is aggressive when protecting his clients and bold when asserting their rights. Andrew is licensed to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Walter E. Daniels III
Attorney

Admissions
- Licensed to practice in North Carolina (2000) and Louisiana (2002).

- Admitted to practice in Federal District Court for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Affiliations
- North Carolina State Bar Association - North Carolina Academy of Justice

- American Academy of Justice -28th Judicial Bar - American Bar Association

Education
Juris Doctorate, University of Alabama School of Law, 1999

International Law and Comparative Law, Fribourg University, Fribourg, Switzerland, Summer 1997

B.A., Politics, University of Alabama, 1994

Birthplace
Birmingham, Alabama 1972

My name is Tom Curry. I'm a partner at my firm Davis Curry Law where we specialize in Family Law, Criminal, Trademark, and Business law. I've specialized personally in Trademark and startup law for the past years while also assisting with Family and other cases. As an entrepreneur I've worked with dozens of small and medium businesses on optimizing business structure, terms, contracts, and agreements. When not practicing, I love playing with anything with an engine.

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

Kimberly H. Whitley, Managing Partner of the Firm, concentrates her practice in Business and Corporate Law, Estate Planning and Administration, and Elder and Special Needs Law. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. She received her undergraduate degree (B.A., 1990) with Honors and Distinction and a law degree (J.D., 1993) with High Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As an undergraduate, Kim was a John M. Morehead Scholar, National Merit Scholar, and a Phi Beta Kappa member. During law school, she was a Staff Member of the North Carolina Law Review...

James Moore is a true Wilmington native. His parents, who own a construction company, have been building in the area for decades. A graduate of Hoggard High School, James decided to stay close to home and attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

While an undergraduate, James kindled a passion for law by taking a part-time job at Shipman & Wright as an office clerk. After earning his degree in business administration in 2003, James became a paralegal at the firm, and two years later entered Campbell University School of Law where he received numerous awards and honors.

Upon graduation, James...

I have an extensive background in both litigation and in transactional law. Because of my experience I can see the results of a poorly drafted document and its consequences. I have a strong belief that in order to know your product, you have to produce your product. I am a hands-on attorney and I only depend on me to serve the clients needs.

I am the senior shareholder of Gorman & Associates, P.A., a five attorney firm located in Ballantyne Corporate Park in the southern suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina. I practice in the areas of Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, and Estate and Trust Administration. I also work with small and medium sized businesses in forming corporations and LLC's, mergers, acquisitions, and workouts. In the commercial real estate area, I assist with everything from lease reviews to apartment and shopping center development.

Brian T. Bain, founder of The Bain Group, PLLC, was born in Binghamton, New York; however, soon found his home in North Carolina, where he has been a part of the community for over 25 years. After graduating from Western Carolina University in 1998, he went to Campbell University where he received a joint JD/MBA degree. Prior to opening his doors in 2003, Brian gained tremendous experience and knowledge from two area firms-Helms, Henderson & Fulton, P.A. and Lutzel, Gandy & Broadway, PLLC. Growing up with athletics all his life and playing collegiate baseball for Western Carolina, Brian...

At Sorrell Law Firm, we are here for you. Our focus is on achieving the results that you want and that benefit you the most; not what makes us the most money or inflates our ego. Fancy office space and solid oak conference tables are terribly nice, but what benefit do they really provide to you? You are hiring a lawyer, not renting office space. We work to keep our expenses low so that we can focus on providing our clients that which benefits them: top-quality and client-focused legal services at an affordable price. We are small by design so that...

Matthew attended North Carolina State University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2006 with a Juris Doctorate. He is a partner at Gottholm, Ralston and Benton, PLLC since the firm’s inception in 2014, and was a partner at The Law Offices of Benton & Welborn, PLLC from 2006 until 2011, and The Law Offices of Gottholm, Welborn and Benton, PLLC from 2012-2013. Matthew’s practice primarily focuses on family law, criminal law and civil litigation. Matthew is an experienced litigator, and tries...

Jim Hickmon assists clients with wealth transfer, estate planning, trust, tax, and probate law issues. He also works with clients to resolve trust and estate related disputes, including representing beneficiaries and fiduciaries in litigated matters. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Committees on Estate Planning and Employee Benefits and is Vice Chair of the ABA’s Probate & Real Property Section’s Uniform Acts Committee for Trusts and Estates. He is a Council member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Section on Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law and also sits on the Section’s Legislative and Fiduciary...

My name is Laura C. Rivers, and I assist families living in North Carolina and South Carolina to create their comprehensive estate planning documents. I also help families navigate through the probate process after a loved one passes away. The estate planning and probate can be a time-consuming and intimidating process. At the same time, you know you need to do it, and perhaps it is something that has been lingering on your to-do list for far too long. Planning for yourself and for your family is one of the most important steps you can take...

Marc E. Gustafson attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, Political Science and Secondary Education in 1997. Mr. Gustafson received his law degree in 2001 from Indiana University. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Gustafson joined the law firm of Alston & Bird, LLP in Atlanta, Georgia. Alston & Bird is a national law firm with more than 900 lawyers and is recognized as one of the top law firms in the country. At Alston & Bird, Mr. Gustafson...

The Davidson Law Firm, P.C. was formed in August of 2005 by Dave Davidson, CFP®. Dave formed this firm with two main principles in mind: provide the highest level of efficient legal services and high quality client service. With these principles in mind, the firm’s focus is on serving not only the business community, but families and individuals as well.

Mr. Walker has been practicing primarily in the Unifour Area (Alexander, Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties) and provides competent and practical legal representation at a fair and reasonable cost. He has earned an excellent reputation for providing a reasonable, cost effective and common sense approach to planning, advising or resolving your legal matter.

In-house general counsel for local development company, also providing outside general counsel services for builders, contractors, developers, equipment & material suppliers, livestock traders, real estate firms, real estate investors, restauranteurs and homeowners associations, among others. Advising clients involved in business, construction, development, real estate and investment deals and disputes, and negotiating, drafting and reviewing business transactional documents and agreements, including, but not limited to: Business organization documents, individualized new construction purchase contracts and builder warranties; employment contracts, independent contractor and subcontractor agreements, letters of intent, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, non-compete agreements, business purchase agreements, membership interest purchase agreements, stockholder agreements,...

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...