Creswell Lawyers

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...

Letha Sgritta McDowell is a highly accomplished attorney and shareholder at McDowell Law Group, specializing in various areas of elder law, including estate planning, special needs planning, estate and trust administration, asset protection planning, long-term care planning, personal injury settlement consulting, guardianships & conservatorships, and tax law. Her expertise ranges from assisting clients with complex estate planning for high-net-worth individuals with assets over $75 million to developing simple plans for families with limited assets. Ms. McDowell has a distinguished professional background. She served as the President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), a notable position within the field....

Gilbert Carey is an attorney and certified public accountant with the McDowell Law Group. He practices in the areas of Taxation, Tax Resolution and Controversy and Estate Planning, solving tax, business, and legal challenges for individuals, privately held businesses and their owners. He has an Avvo rating of 10 (Superb) and has been recognized as a Top Lawyer of Coastal Virginia by Coastal Virginia Magazine. Mr. Carey regularly advises clients on tax matters and represents clients in tax disputes with the IRS, state tax agencies and in U.S. Tax Court. He provides income tax planning and compliance advice to individuals, trusts,...

The son of a government official, Andy grew up in various parts of the country, including Ohio, Colorado, and Texas. He attended the College of William and Mary and graduated in 1988 with a B.A. with honors in Government. Andy then went to the University of Richmond Law School, obtaining his J.D. in 1991. While in law school, he won the moot court competition, the trial competition (twice), and the writing competition. After passing the Virginia bar exam in 1991, Andy worked in one of the largest law firms in the country in its Norfolk office, primarily defending large...

EDWIN HARDY has been practicing law for over 31 years. With more than 30 years experience at bankruptcy, he has over 3000 bankruptcies successfully filed to help people. He is a former member of the N.C. General Assembly as a State Representative in the N.C. House of Representatives where he served as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He has served on the N.C. Courts Commission and the Governor's Crime Commission. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Beaufort Regional Health Systems which operated Beaufort County Medical Center. He has also served as President of the Beaufort...

Whitney Young is a North Carolina native, having lived in nearly all of its major cities including Raleigh, Charlotte, and Asheville. She first moved to Elizabeth City in 2009 to begin her teaching career at River Road Middle School, shortly after graduating from Appalachian State University as a NC Teaching Fellow and Honors Student Teacher. She was passionate about working with at-risk children, which is what drew her to the Albemarle area.

After several years of teaching, Whitney met her husband, Steven Young, a native of Elizabeth City, who was active duty US Army. During their first year of...

Randy practiced personal injury law for nearly 30 years and represented thousands of clients who were badly hurt in various types of accidents. Randy is now a retired partner of the firm.

Attorney Mark V.L. Gray, founder of the North Carolina law firm of Gray Legal Group has been practicing law since 1982.

Our founding lawyers are trusted in the legal community and are members of many prestigious organizations. Mark V.L. Gray is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a group that is limited only to those who have recovered many millions of dollars for victims of negligence, as well as the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). We are respected by our peers for our diligence in standing up for the rights of our clients.

Attorney Grays’ longevity means that...

Robert was born and raised in Jacksonville, NC. In 2011, he graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Robert continued his education at Thomas M. Cooley Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctorate in 2013. Robert enjoys history and remaining active in community service. Robert joined the King Law Firm in 2014 and practices in the areas of workers’ compensation, personal injury litigation, and social security disability.

Sherrod Seward, Esq., is a renowned attorney and business strategist based in South Florida. As the principal of Sherrod Sports Visas, he has secured O and P visas for elite clients, including boxing champions Canelo Alvarez and Tyson Fury, NFL players, NASCAR teams, and One Championship fighters. His work extends to current partnerships with several world champions, solidifying his reputation in sports immigration law. Sherrod also brings extensive experience in trade finance, having served as a broker for export trade credit and political risk insurance with International Risk Consultants Inc., the largest specialty brokerage in the U.S. He played a...

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...

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...

Leah was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina in 1967. Leah practices law in the following areas: workers’ compensation, personal injury litigation, trials in state and federal courts and arbitrations.
She is a Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist through the North Carolina State Bar and a frequent lecturer at the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Mr. Kellis focuses his practice on litigation. No matter is too small. No matter too big. Mr. Kellis litigates criminal matters, traffic/ DWI cases, injury claims, worker’s compensation, estate administration and many other legal matters. Formerly, he was certified with the NFLPA as an NFL agent. He is the President of the Carteret County Republican Men’s club and a member of the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. Tommy is also an USCG Captain. In his free time he enjoys fishing, boating and all things involving being on the water. He also enjoys spending time with his children and wife at our...

For more than 37 years, Gene Riddle has been fighting for the rights of the injured. As the founder and Managing Partner of Riddle & Brantley, LLP, Gene has earned a reputation of excellence within the legal community and is a valued leader at our law firm. Under Gene's leadership, Riddle & Brantley has recovered over $600 million in compensation for clients since 2000 alone. Today, Gene believes honesty, integrity and willingness to work hard are the bedrock principles of a good attorney. That is what he and the other lawyers at Riddle & Brantley provide to their injured clients. Gene...

John started his legal career in the trenches as a Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps Lieutenant with the United States Navy. He graduated from Naval Justice School in 1991, boarded the Guided Missile Cruiser (USS CHOSIN) in Hawaii, and finally reported to his permanent duty station at the Naval Legal Service Office in Yokosuka, Japan. As a Navy defense attorney for three years, John battled in court, day after day, for the wrongly accused. It was there that he developed and honed his advocacy skills for the injured, for whom he now goes to battle everyday in the...

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...

John E. Nobles, III focuses his practice on criminal defense. Like his partner Jim Lupton, he handles everything from traffic violations to serious felonies, including homicides. John is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Prior to Law School, John served in the United States Marine Corps as a Force Reconnaissance Platoon Commander. He served three combat tours for our country. After being Honorably Discharged as a Captain, John attended Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. John has defended numerous clients and understands the importance and seriousness of an accusation. He strives to get the best possible...

Mysty Blagg is a second-career Health Law Attorney that brings 20 years of previous health care industry experience into her practice of law. She has lived the full health care life cycle. In her previous career, Mysty was a health dental hygienist, Medicaid Appeals Specialist, and a Health Care Compliance Investigator. Mysty is uniquely positioned to understand the business of health care, the power of health care innovation, and the pressures the intense regulatory environment. She advises health care clients on issues stemming from regulatory matters, licensing disputes, health care fraud and abuse, digital health matters,...

Tim is a Trial Lawyer that you can trust when you or a family member has been injured. He has dedicated his career to representing individuals and families facing the uncertainty of how to navigate the process of filing and successfully pursuing a claim against the at-fault party and their insurance company when an injury occurs. Tim is grateful to be able to work with the professional staff and attorneys who make up the Law Offices of Jason E. Taylor, P.C. as they demonstrate daily their commitment to excellence in law. The firm has locations in multiple...

Robert D. Rouse III, known as “Robin” by friends and family, is a Pitt County native who has served the needs of citizens throughout Eastern North Carolina since 1973. Robin’s personal injury practice consists of automobile, motorcycle, bus, tractor trailer, and logging truck collisions involving serious, catastrophic injuries or death. He has also successfully handled numerous punitive damage claims against drunk or grossly negligent drivers. Additionally, Robin frequently represents clients against large insurance companies in the denial of claims resulting from fire losses, death benefits or medical care, faulty construction, and unfair and deceptive trade practices. Robin also serves as...

Angela was born in Connersville, Indiana in 1970. She was admitted to the North Carolina bar in 2000. Angela practices law in the following areas: workers’ compensation and personal injury. She attended Ball State University (B.S., 1993); Thomas M. Cooley Law School (J.D., 1999) Memberships/Associations: North Carolina State Bar Association; Onslow County Bar Association; North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers and North Carolina Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section.

"Give me liberty or give me death." I get that. Over the last 20+ years, I have represented many many clients, young, old, all walks of life, charged with crimes (some rightly, some-wrongly, some both) For many, their quality of life is suddenly gone, because they are incarcerated, and cannot make bond. For those folks, the powerful and slow machine that is our legal system begins its punishment long before any guilt is proven-- the accused is isolated, and their ability to help themselves is very limited, perhaps especially in finding a good lawyer. If ...

I have been practicing bankruptcy law and consumer law for over twenty years. In addition to looking at the relief that bankruptcy can offer, I also look for claims to assert against creditors. I will pursue claims against creditors for violations of the Fair Debt Collections Act, the North Carolina debt collection statute, Truth in Lending and RESPA violations. I also pursue mortgage servicing abuses arising under Regulation X. I am a board certified specialist in consumer bankruptcy law. I am also a two-time graduate of Max Gardner's nationally featured "bankruptcy boot camp" and have...

Franchesco Fickey Martinez was born and raised in Eastern North Carolina, specifically Onslow County and its Surrounding Areas. After attending undergraduate school, graduate school, and law school, he wanted to return to his community and start his own practice. In 2015, Mr. Fickey Martinez opened his own practice, calling it Fickey Martinez Law Firm, P.L.L.C. Mr. Fickey Martinez strives to have his law firm be innovative and business oriented. To meet that end, Mr. Fickey Martinez believes that a law firm should be reasonably prices, mostly flat-fee based, and have a high regard for client-lawyer communication. ...

Jason advises families and small businesses in a wide range of issues. His practice includes estate planning and administration, business law, ans real estate. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law.

Elizabeth focuses her practice on reuniting families and helping individuals reach their American dream. As an adoptive mom of four siblings, she understands the importance of keeping families together.

From 2006 until 2013, Elizabeth assisted an immigration attorney as a paralegal managing the processes for immigration matters including permanent resident/green card applications, petitions for family members, immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications, adjustment of status applications, and citizenship and naturalization. She realized that she wanted to take the lead and help people reach their American dream. It was at that time that she decided to enroll in law school.

In 2015, she graduated...

Roger Crowe has been a Criminal Defense Attorney for 27 years. He has represented tens of thousands of clients. His reputation as a trial Attorney is exceeded only by his devotion to his Family and Community. Recently, The NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, named him to the "Top 100 Criminal Trial Lawyers in North Carolina." Roger was born in Dunn, North Carolina. He attended NC State University where he double majored in Business and Economics. He attends services at First United Methodist Church in Morehead City. Roger has been married for 34 years and has 2 Children. He enjoys fishing...

Bevin W. Wall, Attorney at Law is a General Practice of Law emphasizing DWI, Traffic & Criminal Defense, Real Estate & Bankruptcy Law, and Wills & Estates. Located in Newport, North Carolina, the primary jurisdictions of practice are the District & Superior Courts of Carteret & Craven Counties, NC, including Beaufort, Morehead City, Newport, Havelock, New Bern, and the Crystal Coast Beach communities of Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Indian Beach and Emerald Isle. A Leader in the Legal Community, the goal of Bevin W. Wall, Attorney at Law is to provide quality legal services to his clients, in an...

Do you need quality legal advice? Then look to Ben Whitely, of Whitley Law Firm. Don’t suffer through your personal injury alone. Contact a Raleigh personal injury lawyer to schedule a meeting today!

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...

Award-Winning Personal Injury Lawyer

Serving Raleigh, Charlotte, Rocky Mount, Fayetteville, and surrounding areas in North Carolina, Brian M. Ricci is a dedicated and aggressive Greenville personal injury attorney. His practice is focused on:

Workers’ compensation
SSD
Car accidents
Medical malpractice

Recognized throughout the state and the nation as a passionate advocate for injured workers, Brian is committed to helping workplace accident victims. This commitment was recognized with his appointment to serve as a member on the Board of Directors of the Workers Injury Law & Advocacy Group in 2002.
Bar Admissions

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I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. I have a passion for helping others and decided to be an attorney to be an advocate for injured individuals. After college, I attended South Texas College of Law Houston. During law school, I was a Student Ambassador, Vice President of the Criminal Law Society, and a member of the Hispanic Law Students Association and Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. In addition to my studies, I gained experience as a law clerk at several personal injury, general...

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...

I am a former Marine, (1982-1986) who began practicing Federal Criminal law in 2001 in New York City. In 2004 I was admitted to the North Carolina Bar and have been a practicing trial attorney ever since. I say "trial attorney", because that is what I am. Whether you have a complex criminal felony, a misdemeanor, a DWI, or a domestic case; if I cannot reach a reasonable conclusion with opposing counsel, I am always prepared to empanel a jury and plead your case.

With nearly 19 years of Criminal, Domestic and Civil trial experience, both...