China Grove Lawyers

Was born and raised in Charlotte, NC.

Gael Gilles is the founding attorney of Gilles Law, PLLC in Charlotte, NC. Gael is licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina. Gael is also admitted to practice in all Federal Courts in North Carolina and South Carolina. He handles criminal defense including sex crimes, drug crimes, and federal crimes, handling both felonies and misdemeanors. Gael decided to pursue a career as an attorney in order to help people in need that might not otherwise have had an opportunity for valuable legal advice. Gael is of Haitian descent and speaks French and Creole. Gael is married...

Andrew was born and raised in Syracuse, NY and moved to Charlotte in 2010 to pursue his legal education. Having grown up with 8 siblings and step-siblings, Andrew has been preparing to be a litigator his entire life.

He attended SUNY Cortland for his undergraduate studies where he majored in Political Science. He went on to law school shortly after where he completed his graduation requirements in two and a half years; a full semester early. While in law school, Andrew was inducted into the Order of the Crown academic honor society, served as the president of the LGBT Legal Society,...

Mr. Arnold is an experienced trial attorney who has tried bench and jury trials in both North Carolina District Court and North Carolina Superior Court and has argued cases in front of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, VA. Mr. Arnold grew up in Charlotte, and attended Carmel Junior High, South Charlotte Middle, and graduated from Providence Senior High School. Mr. Arnold earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology graduating cum laude from Belmont Abbey College where he received a basketball scholarship and played varsity basketball...

Paul Tharp, born in Chicago, attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington on a basketball scholarship, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy. He then attended law school at UNC-Chapel Hill and was part of the Moot Court Invitational Team. After passing both the Florida and North Carolina Bar Exams, Tharp settled in Charlotte. Mr. Tharp is an experienced trial attorney who has tried bench and jury trials in state and federal courts in North Carolina. Mr. Tharp has written appeals and petitions in civil and criminal cases before the United...

John is excited to help you with all your legal needs. From helping you brand your business to helping you plan for the future with an estate plan, John is ready to walk alongside you the whole way. Call in and ask for a free consultation with John!

"R. Kent Brown’s interest in the law and devotion to his clients has led to many record setting recoveries. In 1985, R. Kent Brown obtained the largest recovery ($3,000,000.00) in North Carolina to that time in a medical negligence matter. In 1992, R. Kent Brown obtained the largest person injury jury verdict ($15,700,000.00) in North Carolina history to that time. In 2002, R. Kent Brown again set a record when he recovered the largest road construction settlement ($3,500,000.00) in North Carolina history. In the last several years, R. Kent Brown has made recoveries of over a million dollars against...

Mr. Payne is the CEO & Managing Partner of Apple Payne Law, PLLC, which he co-founded with retired attorney Bill Apple after owning his own firm Payne Law, PLLC. Mr. Payne's practice areas are estate planning, probate & business advising, and the firm also has family law and real estate teams to serve the full family's needs. Mr. Payne started the practice of law when he founded Payne Law, PLLC after graduation from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 2011. Before attending Wake Forest University School of Law, Mr. Payne attended Florida Coastal School of Law, where he was...

A self-described 'nerd,' Matt is well-versed in economics, physics, chemistry, engineering, construction, technology, medicine, and more. Once a student with near perfect SAT and LSAT exam scores, Matt double-majored in economics and philosophy at The College of William & Mary, later becoming an economics scholar in Germany while obtaining his J.D. at the George Mason University School of Law. As an attorney, Matt has harnessed his love of learning into an exceptional ability to master each intricacy of his complex cases, and to easily go toe-to-toe with every expert witness he encounters.

These unique talents have served Matt's clients very...

Henry took a delayed path to entering the practice of law. After college Henry worked in the furniture industry for almost nine years. During that time he worked progressively as a staff engineer, plant manager, and head of engineering. In his final position prior to leaving the furniture industry Henry was a member of the Steering Committee for a corporation with over 250 employees and was responsible for overseeing the corporation’s IT Department, Product Development Department, and continuous efficiency improvement initiative. Henry decided in 2003 to pursue a different career as an attorney and joined Young,...

Zachary Marquand began his professional career as a high school math teacher with Teach for America, working in a rural community in Eastern North Carolina.

Zachary is one of a select group of board certified specialists in workers’ compensation law practicing in North Carolina.

Originally from Knoxville, Tenn., Zach earned his bachelor’s degree in economics and Latin from DePauw University in Indiana. As a college undergraduate, Zach was senior captain of the men’s swim team.

After devoting two years to Teach for America, Zach attended law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, he became...

Ben Burnside is passionate about representing the rights of mentally and physically disabled and injured people. He focuses his practice on helping disabled workers and veterans receive the Social Security Disability and VA benefits to which they are entitled, especially when they have been denied those benefits in the past.

Ben is a proven advocate for his clients. In 2008, he became a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a prestigious association of trial lawyers. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million dollar or multimillion dollar verdicts, awards or settlements for their clients. Fewer than 1 Social Security...

I am a local attorney with a focus on real estate, landlord-tenant, and wills and estates. But I can and will take any matter that arises should you need me, if I do not feel comfortable in handling your matter I will do my best to find you a lawyer that is. I live in Yadkin County and am raising my family here. I have served in the Army since 2004 and have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan during my time in service. After completing my active service I attended UNC-Greensboro and then Wake Forest School of Law, and have continued...

Trustworthy Immigration and Business Attorney Located in Charlotte, North Carolina.

I can help You:
**Prepare and File Family basedGreen Card Applications
** Prepare and File U.S Citizenship Application
**Motion to Reopen or Reconsider if your GC denied
**Respond to Requests for Evidence
**Prepare for Immigration Interview
**Prepare and Review Immigration Forms

Client's Success is my Priority.

In 2020, there are several Immigration changes that could affect your eligibility and decrease your chances of success. An experienced immigration Attorney can make the difference between getting denied and losing money and time. I have kept up with all the new laws and will make sure...

I am a board-certified specialist in North Carolina workers' compensation law. I have over a decade of experience handling workers' compensation claims. I have obtained favorable decisions from all levels of the Industrial Commission, NC Court of Appeals, and NC Supreme Court.

In addition to representing injured workers in workers' compensation claims, I also handle personal injury and general litigation claims. I am also certified as a mediator by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission. I primarily mediate workers' compensation claims.

Casey Francis has a strong desire to help people, whether it’s through her work as an attorney or her role as a volunteer for numerous community groups. She joined the Deuterman Law Group in 2011 as an associate attorney in workers’ compensation, following previous stints here as a law clerk and new client coordinator.

Casey is one of a select group of board certified specialists in workers’ compensation law practicing in North Carolina.

Since she joined the firm, Francis has been the lead attorney on workers’ comp cases involving Spanish-speaking clients with a focus on representing undocumented workers in their claims....

“I understand that this is more than just a case for my clients; it is their life and their family’s livelihood, and I take that very seriously.” Marcus Spake is known for aggressively representing his clients, and for ensuring that their best interests are protected at all times. During his career, Marcus has represented both injured workers and defendants in workers’ compensation claims, giving him a vast depth of knowledge of both sides of the law. He firmly believes that every injured person deserves competent and effective counsel and uses his experience to his client’s absolute advantage. Marcus Spake is a...

Terry Duncan attended law school at Texas Wesleyan University and is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Texas. He began practicing law in the Charlotte area in 1996. Terry is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, all federal courts in North Carolina including the Western and Middle District Bankruptcy Courts as well as civil and criminal courts. Terry is one of the preeminent bankruptcy attorneys in Charlotte and has filed thousands of bankruptcy cases for his clients. During the last 10 years he has likely filed...

My main area of practice is Immigration Law. I am the son of Immigrants. However, I also, handle uncontested divorce, criminal defense for most misdemeanors, name changes and legitimation, personal injury and workers compensation.

Gene Riddle is the founding partner of Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers, a distinguished North Carolina personal injury law firm with more than 190 years of combined legal experience. Gene and his team have secured over $850 million in compensation for clients. His unwavering commitment to integrity, honesty, and client-focused service has been the backbone of his legal career. Gene’s deep North Carolina roots are an essential part of his story. Born in Stanly County and raised in Aberdeen, his passion for law was inspired by his father, a respected superintendent of Moore County Schools, and his mother, a dedicated teacher....

Stephen M. Bennett is a partner at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, practicing in the Charlotte area. He focuses on General Civil Litigation, Business Law, Estate Planning, and Land Use/Zoning. He is well-versed in various legal issues businesses may encounter, including forming new business entities, drafting contracts, and handling business litigation.

Mr. Thompson is a native Floridian having grown up in Fort Lauderdale. After graduating with honors from Fort Lauderdale Christian School, he was offered placement in the Honors Program at the University of Georgia. Following receipt of his undergraduate degree in Political Science, he remained in Athens and received his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. During that time he was also an officer in the Demosthenian Society in which he focused on oral argument and debate.

Prior to relocating to North Carolina, Mr. Thompson practiced a wide array of litigation in both Georgia and Florida, including...

Pamela Williams is a North Carolina native who worked as a paralegal before attending law school at the University of South Carolina. She now practices civil litigation, family law, personal injury, and appellate matters at Arnold & Smith, PLLC. She is licensed to practice law in North and South Carolina.

Alonzo McAlpine Alston, Esq. was born in Savannah, GA, is a loving and proud father, dedicated husband, and client-focused and service oriented attorney. Attorney Alston was born to entrepreneurial parents who were heavily involved in the civil rights movement, and is a product of their strong influential guidance to purpose his life and endeavors on social equality, cause-driven activism, and self-reliance with a focus on empowerment through community building. These values have also influenced his desire to espouse integrity, maintain ownership of his work-product, and develop clear communications. Attorney Alston said, "[O]ne of the primary reasons I became and attorney was...

NCDRC Certified Superior Court Mediator

Elizabeth grew up in Aiken, South Carolina, watching her father, a plaintiff’s attorney, represent good people who were taken advantage of by large corporations. She connected with this mission and felt called from an early age to stand up for these hardworking people and give them the quality legal representation they deserve. After obtaining her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and her law degree from Florida State University College of Law, Elizabeth returned to South Carolina to follow in her father’s footsteps. She chose personal injury law because she has seen firsthand how a good personal injury attorney can make...

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...

My legal and business experiences enable me to offer clients a broad spectrum of professional services from the unique perspective of someone who is both an attorney and an entrepreneur.

I am licensed to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina & Tennessee. I am an attorney with McGrath & Spielberger, PLLC, where my areas of practice include real property (including loss mitigation and foreclosure defense) and business law. I received a Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law and a Master of Business Administration from Campbell University Lundy-Fetterman School of Business, as part of the joint JD/MBA program. I attended North Carolina State University and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. Currently, I am pursuing an LL.M. (Master of Laws) postgraduate law degree in...

Community connections run deep for Angie, whose family has lived in the Yadkin Valley region for several generations. As a former prosecutor and founder of the Public Interest Law Foundation during law school, where she attended on a prestigious merit-based scholarship, Angie has a deep passion for protecting the most vulnerable in the community. That abiding sense of commitment, alongside her sharp legal judgment and astute attention to detail, makes her an effective legal advocate for her clients.

Shannon Altamura is a highly reputable and skilled personal injury attorney with a primary office located in Asheboro, North Carolina. Ms. Altamura's personal injury practice assists injured clients in the following areas: car and trucking accidents, nursing home abuse or neglect, wrongful death, pedestrian injury, slip and fall injuries, premises liability, product defect, and worker's compensation. Ms. Altamura regularly battles insurance companies and other large corporations to obtain fair and favorable results for her clients, and she prioritizes providing exceptionally kind and attentive care to every one of her clients. Shannon Altamura has obtained numerous high value settlements in recent...

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...

Joel C. Harbinson attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 1977 with an A.B. degree and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 1979 with a J.D. degree. He has been self-employed since 1979 as a criminal, domestic, and personal injury attorney in Taylorsville. In addition, Joel is a certified mediator in Superior Court cases, receiving accreditation from the N.C. Dispute Resolution Commission in 1998, and is a certified arbitrator in District Court cases. Joel is the former President of the 22nd Judicial District Bar Association (1987-1988, 1999-2000) and a...

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...

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...

Shepard Smith is a managing attorney for the Charlotte office of Stewart Law Offices. Born and raised in Charlotte, Shepard became a lawyer because he wanted to be able to advocate for those who found themselves in overwhelming legal circumstances.

As the youngest of five siblings, Shepard learned the value of hard work at an early age while spending summers earning money as a landscaper and warehouse laborer. He knows how important a paycheck can be to a family, and how an injury can forever change a person’s life.

Shepard brings a unique perspective to personal injury cases and workers’ compensation claims...

I am a Supervising Attorney at Lively Law Firm specializing in immigration law.

After training initially with one of the top biotech patent groups in the U.S. and practicing in large general practice firms for over 20 years, Carl has the experience to meet the intellectual property needs of startups, mid-size R&D companies, large biotherapeutic and pharmaceutical companies, and top tier, research-intensive universities. He enjoys doing single-project work, as well as comprehensive counseling and portfolio development for startups and growing companies.

Carl counsels scientific founders on initial protection strategies for their platform technology (timing, scope of disclosure, landscape analysis, ownership issues), develops licensing programs for biotechnology, and evaluates lifecycle management programs for marketed human...

Attorney Michael Litrenta brings the unique experience of working for years as both a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. He has worked in multiple different state and federal courts on a variety of different matters.

Bringing extensive courtroom experience to Litrenta Law, Michael knows the best offense is always a good defense. He is a dedicated advocate for his clients and has won Avvo’s Client’s Choice Award. Attorney Litrenta is committed to listening and understanding each of his client’s needs and is determined to secure the best outcome possible.

Attorney Litrenta began his career as a prosecutor before he transitioned...

After graduating from high school in Charlotte, Trey attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Focused on attending law school and becoming a litigator, he pursued degrees in philosophy (with a focus on the ethicists) and political science. He graduated with Highest Distinction (ranking in the top three percent of 3% of his class) and was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Trey returned to Chapel Hill for law school and Trey served on the Attorney General’s Staff for the law school’s Honor Court and was a member of the North Carolina Law Review. Upon graduating...