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Practice(s): Mediation, Family Law, Domestic Relations
Born: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 1959.
Admitted to bar: 1984 North Carolina.
Education: Duke University (A.B., cum laude, 1981); University of North Carolina School of Law (J.D., 1984).
Member: Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers; Forsyth County (President, 2001-2002, President-Elect, 2000-2001, Vice-President, 1999-2000, Treasurer, 1998-1999; Secretary, 1997-1998; 21st Judicial District Bar Ethics and Grievance Committee, 1994-1997; Chair, 1996-1997), North Carolina (Endowment Committee Chair, 2007-2008; Board of Governors, 2004-2007; Family Law Section, Chair, 1998-1999; Vice Chair, 1997-1998; Family Law Council, 1993-1996; Family Forum, Editor, 1995-97, 2002-2004), and American Bar Associations; Recipient of the James E. Cross, Jr. Leadership Award presented by the Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar for 2007; Recognized as one of "The Best Lawyers In America" (2006- ) in the area of Family Law.
Writing and Lecturing Experience: NC Bar Foundation, Speaker at November 2005 and February 2006 Intensive Equitable Distribution Seminar on "HIPAA and Obtaining Medical Records in Domestic Cases"; Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: Speaker at 2005 General Practice Seminar on "Family Law Warnings for the General Practiioner"; Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: Speaker at 2005 Family Law Seminar on "Third Party Issues In Family Law Cases"; Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: Speaker at 2004 and 2007 NC Bar Foundation’s Family Law Seminar on "Civil Procedure Issues In Family Law Cases"; North Carolina Bar Association: Speaker at 2004 Evidentiary Issues in Child Custody Cases: Hot Topics in Family Law Seminar on "Evidentiary Issues In Child Custody Cases Cutting Through the Red Tape." "How to Practice Family Law in North Carolina" seminar, Half-moon, Inc., on "Preparing for and Appearing at Mediation and Trial" 2004; Adoption Law Case Update; Forsyth County Bar Association 2003; Petitions, Motions and Extraordinary Writs in Appellate Courts; North Carolina Bar Association 2003; Wake Forest University School of Law CLE; Speaker at 2003 Equitable Distribution Seminar on "Jurisdiction and Third Parties"; Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at 2002 Family Law Seminar on "Third Party Issues 2002." North Carolina Bar Association: speaker at 2001 Family Law Intensive Seminar, on "Really, What is Marital Debt." Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: Speaker at 2001 Third Party Seminar on "Third Party Custody and Grandparent Rights." Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at 2000 Equitable Distribution Seminar, on "Personal Jurisdiction and Other Issues." Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at 1998 and 1995 Family Law Litigation Seminar, on "Discovery: Obtaining Documents and Information." Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at 1997 Equitable Distribution Seminar, on "To Join or Not to Join: Third Parties in Equitable Distribution Cases." Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at 1996 Family Law Litigation Seminar, on "Selected Evidentiary and Procedural Issues in Domestic Cases," Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at 1995 Family Law Litigation Seminar, on "Discovery: Obtaining Documents and Information," North Carolina Bar Association: speaker at 1995 Annual Family Law Section Meeting, Charleston, SC, on "Depositions Upon Written Questions," North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers: speaker at January, 1995, Family Law Seminar, Midpines, NC, on "Preparing and Using Exhibits in Domestic Litigation," North Carolina Bar Association: speaker at Intensive Equitable Distribution Seminar in Charlotte, NC, in December, 1993, and in Durham, NC, in February, 1994, on "Is Personal/Professional Goodwill Marital Property? A Survey of Case Law on the Valuation of Professional/ Personal Goodwill versus Business/Practice Goodwill." North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers: speaker at Annual Practical Trial Skills Seminar in Raleigh, NC, in November, 1993, presented paper on "Trial Problems in Domestic Litigation." Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at Practical Family Law Seminar in Raleigh, NC, on September 23, 1993, on "Civil Procedure, Discovery and Motion Practice in Family Law Cases." Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at Practical Legal Ethics Seminar in Raleigh, NC, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1998 on Ethical and Professional Issues in the Family Law Practice. North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers: Course Planner for 1992 Family Law Seminar in Raleigh, NC. Wake Forest University School of Law CLE: speaker at Family Law Symposium in Raleigh, NC, on August 22, 1991, on Expert Witnesses in Domestic Cases; co-authored with Joslin Davis "Chapter 15, Expert Witnesses in North Carolina Family Law Practice Manual," Rev. Ed. 1991, published by Wake Forest University CLE. North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers: speaker at Annual Legal Assistants Seminar, July 26, 1991, on "Child Support." National Business Institute: speaker at "Family Law in North Carolina Seminar," in Greensboro, NC, on March 20, 1991. North Carolina Bar Association: speaker at Estate Planning and Probate Survey Seminar, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007 on "Safeguarding Assets against Marital Breakdown and Divorce."
Civic Activities: Centenary Methodist Church; Piedmont N.C. Chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi; United Way of Forsyth County, YWCA Women of Vision Leadership Award, 2002; Board Member, Legal Aid of Northwest North Carolina.
Admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. |
