Checking In: Nov. 24, 2020
Compiled by Jessica Junqueira
New Hires and Appointment
Ashley Coghill is now an associate attorney at Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP (CSH Law). She practices in the firm’s Wilmington office. She focuses on professional liability, admiralty & maritime, and construction law. Before joining CSH Law, Coghill practiced in civil litigation at a firm in Durham, where she worked for five years. She also was a pre-litigation support analyst. Coghill has volunteer experience providing legal services for North Carolina farmers. Coghill graduated from Campbell Law School and received a Bachelor of Arts from Appalachian State University.
Harrison Wicker is now an associate attorney with Safran Law Offices. Before he joined the firm, he was an intern with Nelson Mullins PLLC and Safran Law Offices. He also has experience working as an econometrics analyst with the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Wicker graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in economics and from Campbell Law School with a Juris Doctorate.
Poyner Spruill has named Cheslie Kryst as the firm’s first Diversity Advisor. Kryst will help to advance the firm’s diversity and inclusion development. She will work with the Diversity and Inclusion Committee on initiatives and recruiting efforts. Kryst was a member of the firm’s litigation team, and her focus was on complex civil litigation. She was selected as Miss USA 2019. Kryst earned her Bachelor of Science from the Honors College at the University of South Carolina, her MBA from Wake Forest University, and her Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law.
Collins Family Law Group Announces Two New Associates
Alexa Litt has joined Collins Family Law Group. Originally from Apex, Litt graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in Criminal justice and a minor in psychology. She received a Juris Doctorate from Elon University School of Law. There, she was a member of the moot court board, as well as the family law society. She also volunteered with the innocence project and the Women’s Law Association.
Jessica Moreau has also joined the firm. Moreau is from Nacogdoches, Texas, and she received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from Stephen F. Austin State University. After earning her undergraduate degree, she attended Campbell Law School, where she received her Juris Doctorate. While she was in law school, she was an intern in family law and criminal defense law. Prior to practicing in family law, Jessica worked in civil litigation in North and South Carolina.
New Associates Join Hall Booth Smith
Glenn E. Jones has returned to Hall Booth Smith after taking time to expand his knowledge of business litigation and charity work. He concentrates his practice on general liability, premises liability, medical malpractice and transportation matters. He has represented individuals, hospitals, and corporate health care providers, as well as businesses and property owners in liabilities claims. He received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Georgia and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama School of Law. He has served as the Director of Operations for Big League Impact charity.
Briana N. Kelly focuses her practice on health care and other general and professional liability matters. Before joining Hall Booth Smith, she was an intern at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Operations and a congressional intern for Congressman G.K. Butterfield. Briana earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Juris Doctorate from UNC School of Law. During law school, Briana was the secretary for the Black Law Students Association and a certified law student practitioner with UNC’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Clinic.
New Associates Join Robinson & Lawing
Melissa Lawrence is now an associate attorney at Robinson & Lawing. Lawrence will work in the firm’s Domestic Law Group. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Converse College, her Master of Arts degree from Mississippi State University, and her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law. While at Wake Forest University, Melissa served as a member of the Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law.
Andrew Shortt will work in the firm’s Employment Law and Workers’ Compensation Group. Shortt graduated from Belmont Abbey College with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and from Wake Forest University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate, where he graduated as an honorary member of the Order of the Barristers. While in law school, Andrew was a team captain of the National Trial Team, a member of the Honor Council, and a member of the Pro Bono Society.
Wake Family Law Group Announces New Associates
Carly G. Baker has joined the Wake Family Law Group. Baker’s area of practice is family law litigation and negotiations. She received her Juris Doctorate from UNC School of Law. During law school, she was an extern at Legal Aid of North Carolina, and she was involved in the Women in Law organization and the Asian American Law Students Association. Baker also holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Jake W. Terrell has also joined the firm. Terrell obtained his Bachelor of Arts in history education from Old Dominion University and his Juris Doctorate from Campbell Law School, where he was a member of Campbell’s Mock-Trial program. Before joining Wake Family Law Group, Terrell worked as an intern at the North Carolina Department of Justice and the North Carolina State Bar.
Waldrep LLP and Wall Babcock LLP Announce Merger
Waldrep LLP and Wall Babcock LLP have announced the merger of their two firms. The new firm operates as Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC. The firm’s focus is on bankruptcy, commercial transactions, health care, commercial real estate, and litigation. The firm provides the legal support necessary to struggling businesses, healthcare providers, and hospitals. Tom Waldrep and Jim Wall, co-managing partners, lead the firm.