Merritt Lawyers

An experienced lawyer with a passion for criminal defense, entertainment law, & and immigration, as well as an extensive background in global business; Sherrod knew as a child that his path in life would lead him to be active on a national and international level.

Sherrod is a go to resource for persons facing felony changes for drug charges, weapons violations, and removal proceedings in immigration. Sherrod is also a go to resource for athletes, entertainers, and media companies from all over the World for business issues.

Sherrod has been immersed in different cultures as early as elementary school; learning...

Managing Partner and the founder of The Law Group, Melissa Gott is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell University School of Law. Melissa is a licensed North Carolina attorney, D.R.C. Certified Mediator, Financial (family law) Mediator, and Collaborative Attorney with Coastal Collaborative Colleagues. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Melissa graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration concentrating in finance and the legal environment of business. Melissa then matriculated to Campbell University’s School of Law. While in law school, Melissa was an editor...

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...

Since 1987, attorney Christina Rivenbark has been building a reputation for passion, skill and integrity in areas of the law that matter to everyday, hardworking individuals and families. Under her leadership, our dedicated legal team handles criminal defense and personal injury cases in Wilmington and the surrounding areas. Most importantly, every client and every case truly matters to us. We demonstrate this by consistently delivering personal attention and hard work to achieve our clients’ goals. When you choose Christina Rivenbark & Associates for your criminal law or personal injury matter, we will greet you warmly and treat you with respect and...

Attorney Bruce Mason is an experienced attorney dedicated to the pursuit of justice for his clients. He is committed to protecting his clients' freedom inside and outside of the courtroom. Bruce focuses on Criminal Defense matters including Traffic Violations, Expunction of Criminal Records, Domestic Violence/Protective Orders, DUI/DWI Defense, Drug Possession, Felonies and more. Visit his website for more information and call for a free consultation!

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...

Stephanie Kimbro, Esq., MA, JD, has operated a Web-based virtual law office in North Carolina since 2006 and delivers estate planning and small-business law to clients online. She is the recipient of the 2009 ABA Keane Award for Excellence in eLawyering and has won the Wilmington Parent Magazine Family Favorite Attorney Award four years in a row for her virtual law office. She is also the co-founder of Virtual Law Office Technology, LLC (VLOTech), which was acquired by Total Attorneys in the fall of 2009. In addition to her virtual law practice, Kimbro is a consultant and technology evangelist providing assistance...

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...

Carter Whittington concentrates his practice in North Carolina workers’ compensation law, helping injured workers seek the benefits they need and deserve after sustaining a job related injury. Whittington started working at Hardison & Cochran while he was a third-year student at Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. After graduating cum laude and receiving his J.D. in 2016, he joined Hardison & Cochran as a full-time attorney. A North Carolina native, Whittington grew up in Winston-Salem and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he received a B.A. in political science in 2012. In law school, Whittington was...

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...

Joel Rhine has handled cases involving construction issues, trucking accidents, products liability and wrongful death for over 27 years. He has tried numerous cases successfully to verdict as well as obtained recoveries through arbitration, settlement or alternative dispute resolution. He is often called upon to serve on arbitration panels for construction litigation matters.

Jennifer has vast experience representing clients throughout North Carolina at all stages of development, building and marketing from entity selection, contract negotiation, acquisition, due diligence, complex financing, land use planning, to permitting and advocacy with agencies and municipalities. Jennifer was recently named to the Real Estate Power List recognizing the 25 most respected and accomplished real property attorneys in North Carolina. Born and raised in Chapel Hill, Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (’93) and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the UNC School of Law (’96)....

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.

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...

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...

Jason advises families and small businesses in a wide range of issues. His practice includes estate planning and administration, business law, real estate, litigation, and appeals. He has tried a wide variety of civil and criminal cases to jury verdict or hung jury.

Jim Snow was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in December of 1956; admitted to bar, 1982, North Carolina; 1984, Virgin Islands and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1979, cum laude); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (J.D., 1982). Member: New Hanover County (Member, Executive Committee, 1990-1994) and North Carolina Bar Associations (Member, Business Law and Real Property Law Sections, Business Law Section Council, 2004-2008; Business Law Section Council, Membership Chair, 2007-2008); The North Carolina State Bar (Fifth Judicial District, Secretary-Treasurer, 1989-1990, Chairman, Fifth Judicial District Young Lawyers Division, 1990-1992). ...

Hunt's practice at Martin & Jones focuses on representing people who have been harmed by the negligence of others, including from tractor-trailer collisions, car wrecks, defective products and construction accidents. He has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict for his clients before juries across the state of North Carolina. He is licensed to practice in all North Carolina courts, as well as all federal courts in North Carolina and the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Hunt has been recognized by Super Lawyers every year since 2016 as a Rising Star.

James L Allard Jr. is an experienced attorney dedicated to serving his clients in the greater Wilmington, North Carolina area and beyond. Admitted to bar in 1986, Mr. Allard is an AV-Rated attorney by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been named Top 100 Trial Lawyers / National Trial Lawyers. Practice areas include: DWI defense, traffic law, DMV hearings, drug offenses, property crimes, violent crimes, sexual assaults, felonies, misdemeanors, trials in all federal and state courts, white collar crime. Visit his website for more information and call for a free consultation!

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.

Visit my Website at www.wsjlaw.com. 21 years experience with emphasis on Construction Law Litigation Cases. Reasonable Fees, Free Initial Phone Consultation; Personal Attention, Direct Communications with me, not an associate or paralegal. I represent Homeowners, General Contractors, Subcontractors, Material Suppliers, and virtually every over participant in the construction context. I have brought legal claims against Engineers, Surveyors, Realtors, Brokers and Real Estate Agents, Sellers, Contractors, and all types of Subcontractors. Breach of Contract, Negligence, Defective Work, Fraud, Misrepresentation and Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices. Graduated from the Norman...

My broad legal practice covers business litigation, ranging from complex cases in the North Carolina Business Court to more straightforward contract disputes, personal injury, and wrongful death cases, including medical malpractice.

But whatever type of case, I use investigative instincts that I honed over more than 14 years as a professional journalist before turning to the Bar.

I exited the University of Virginia in 1994 skilled in various forms of writing and on a mission to get to the bottom of things. A freelance writer and part-time newspaper reporter while still in school, I became a full-time journalist upon...

Growing up on a small farm in Central Iowa, I learned the importance of hard work, respecting my elders, and contributing locally. I graduated from Iowa State University, and eventually attended law school at the University of Wyoming. I have practiced law for several decades, focusing in recent years on estate planning, and I enjoy it. When my grandfather passed away without a will when I was a young man, my family was devastated, as the government took 70% of his estate. That lasting impression drove me to begin helping people avoid such difficult ends, and instead provide a soft...

John Alan Jones is the founding member and managing partner of Martin & Jones, where he has worked since he began practicing law in 1982. John Alan handles both trial and appellate work in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina and around the U.S. He heads the firm's medical malpractice group, which is comprised of three attorneys and seven staff members. John Alan dedicates a large percentage of his practice to representing individuals catastrophically injured by medical negligence, defective pharmaceuticals, toxic substances or other negligence. He also devotes a significant amount of his work time to consumer...

Workers who have been injured on the job or who suffer occupational diseases oftentimes must face a frustrating waiting game to receive the benefits they deserve. Attorney James Adam Bridwell, who focuses his practice solely on workers’ compensation cases, knows what it takes to help clients get their lives back together. Bridwell is a native South Carolinian. He received a B.A. in marketing and management from the University of South Carolina before coming to Raleigh to attend Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. While in law school, he was a case summary writer for the Campbell Law Observer and...

North Carolina Board Certified Workers Compensation Specialist

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...

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.

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...

Steven maintains a varied practice focusing on representing workers who have been injured on the job and people who have been injured due to the negligence of others. His practice also includes representing consumers who have been harmed by unfair or deceptive business practices.

Steven started his legal career with the office of the North Carolina Attorney General, where he worked primarily defending the state of North Carolina in workers’ compensation cases, before deciding to join Martin & Jones out of a desire to help real people who have been injured or harmed. Steven understands how difficult it is for people...

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,...

As a Goldsboro native, Mr. Smith brings a wealth of knowledge to the law offices of Riddle & Brantley and has received numerous accolades within the legal community including being a recipient of the National Trial Lawyers To 40 Under 40 Award.

Attorney Tom Lamb received his law degree from George Washington University in 1988, and his undergraduate degree from the College of William & Mary. He has an A-V rating peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest classification. The Law Offices of Thomas J. Lamb, P.A. has a national litigation practice based in Wilmington, North Carolina. We represent people who have been seriously injured or died as a result of dangerous products, harmful chemicals, unsafe drugs, and asbestos mesothelioma claims. All cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will make no payment...