Checking In: Feb. 26, 2020
By Jessica Junqueira
Statewide Promotions and Hires
In December of 2019, Rebecca A. Edwards was hired as Deputy General Counsel at Global Knowledge Learning LLC, an IT training company based in Cary. Edwards obtained a bachelor’s degree in English, with honors, from UNC Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from Campbell Law School. As a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, Edwards has chaired the Family Law Council Children’s Issues Committee and served as co-chair for this committee. Edwards was a North Carolina State Bar Certified paralegal before working as a lawyer in private practice for several years. At Wake Family Law Group, she practiced in family law litigation and negotiation. In 2019, she ran for District Court judge in Wake County. Edwards has volunteered as part of the North Carolina Bar Foundation’s 4All Statewide Service Day and as Guardian ad Litem for children in the care of Wake County Human Services.
In January of 2020, Shannon Joseph was named partner of Morningstar Law Group. Before joining the firm, Joseph served as a Superior Court judge and a North Carolina Administrative judge. With years of experience in private practice, Joseph was a litigator for commercial disputes and business law. Her areas of emphasis are representing businesses and individuals in dispute resolution. Joseph is a DRC Certified Superior Court Mediator. Joseph obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English at Wofford College, cum laude, and her Juris Doctorate at Wake Forest University School of Law.
Steven Newton, II, was recently promoted from associate partner to principal at Nicholls & Crampton, P.A. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy at UNC Chapel Hill and a joint Juris Doctorate / Master’s in Business Administration from Campbell Law School in 2012. Newton graduated magna cum laude from Campbell. Newton previously worked as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Stephani W. Humrickhouse, judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.
Sean M. Sullivan has joined the Research Triangle office of Robinson Bradshaw. Before Robinson Bradshaw, Sullivan was a partner at Troutman Sanders. Sullivan advises clients from around the country on federal environmental programs, and he specifically focuses on hazardous waste, Brownfields redevelopment, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and emerging contaminants. Sullivan holds a bachelor’s degree, with honors, from the University of Miami and a Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from American University.
David Williams has joined Ragsdale Liggett law firm in Raleigh as an associate attorney, where he will be part of their litigation practice group. He primarily focuses on civil matters and specializes in construction, product liability, and premises liability law, as well as trucking and transportation law. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Tennessee College of Law. Prior to his work at Ragsdale Liggett, he was associate attorney for Young Moore and Henderson, P.A, and Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog.
Afi Johnson-Parris Opens New Divorce and Family Law Firm
Afi Johnson-Parris has founded Johnson-Parris Law, a new firm that will serve Guilford County residents. The firm will specialize in family law issues, including divorce, property division, custody, and child support. Johnson-Parris is a Board Certified Specialist in family law, and in addition to her work in this area, Johnson-Parris practices collaborative family law. Johnson-Parris graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor of Business Administration in computer information systems and obtained her Juris Doctorate at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Four Attorneys Join the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin
Paul R. Dickinson Jr. joined the Charlotte office of the firm. His area of focus is personal injury, products liability, wrongful death, malpractice, and business disputes. Dickinson earned a bachelor’s degree in finance at the University of South Florida and a Juris Doctorate at the South Texas College of Law in Houston.
Elizabeth Todd Beall also joined the firm. Her practice areas include personal injury as well as nursing home negligence law. She has significant experience trying cases in nursing home abuse and negligence. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from UNC Greensboro and her Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law.
The firm hired Bryan Boyd, a personal injury attorney. Before practicing with the firm, Boyd was a professor and legal scholar at Campbell Law School, where he taught legal courses and served as the director for the Legal Research and Writing department. He obtained his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, at Mars Hill University and his Juris Doctorate at Campbell Law School.
The firm hired Emily Fertig, a personal injury attorney and a native of San Francisco, California. Fertig is licensed to practice law in Mississippi and North Carolina. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. She received her Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law.
James Scott Farrin Names Four New Shareholders
In December, four attorneys were made shareholders at the firm: Brian Clemmons, Coleman Cowan, Chelsea Ragan, and J. Gabe Talton.
Brian Clemmons has practiced workers’ compensation law for over ten years. Clemmons previously represented insurance companies in cases involving personal injury. He has more than 30 years of experience as an attorney. Additionally, Clemmons has served as a speaker for Continuing Legal Education courses. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history from UNC Chapel Hill and obtained his Juris Doctorate from UNC School of Law.
Coleman Cowan is a litigation attorney and an award-winning journalist. As a lawyer, his practice areas include personal injury, consumer protection, and business litigation, among others. Cowan has designed legal courses for the North Carolina Bar Association. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from UNC Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in journalism from the Columbia University School of Journalism, and a Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Chelsea Ragan is a personal injury attorney with experience in criminal law. She has worked at the firm since 2013. Before joining the firm, Ragan served as an Assistant Public Defender in Gastonia. Ragan earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and geography from UNC Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law. At the University of South Carolina, she was chosen as a South Carolina Bar Foundation Public Interest Fellow.
Talton is a personal injury attorney. He has practiced with James Scott Farrin since 2015. Before joining James Scott Farrin, he worked for more than a decade in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and employment law. Talton has significant experience representing Moral Monday cases pro bono. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in history and a minor in Spanish from North Carolina State University and a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law.