Checking In: June 27, 2023

New Firm Announcement: Jennings Law

Barry, a man with brown hair and a beard, wears a blue button-down shirt, black tie, and grey jacket. Jennings Law opened in Raleigh on April 1, 2023. Barry Jennings, owner of Jennings Law, is a Board Certified Specialist in North Carolina workers’ compensation law and a North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission Certified Mediator. Jennings has practiced law since 2003. He has represented insurance carriers and employers at Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garafaloe, LLP and individuals at The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, where he was a partner. Jennings focuses his practice on mediation and believes that mediation is one of the most powerful tools available to parties in civil disputes and North Carolina workers’ compensation claims. He served as chair of the NCBA Workers’ Compensation Section from 2020-2021. Jennings graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina State University.

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Checking In: May 23, 2023

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Fox Rothschild Adds New Partner, Selects New Partner

Robin, a white woman with short blond hair, wears a black blouse and black jacket. Robin Tatum has joined the firm’s Raleigh office as a partner. Tatum is a land use, zoning, and municipal attorney. She served as the city attorney of Raleigh from 2018 to 2023 and as the city attorney of Asheville from 2014 to 2020. During her role as city attorney, she was the municipal representative on a drafting committee of four people. Tatum and fellow committee members revised the General Statues relating to land use and zoning, and their revisions have been enacted as N.C. Gen. Stat. § 160-D. Tatum received a J.D., summa cum laude, from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She holds a master’s and B.S. from North Carolina State University.

Brian, a white man with dark brown hair, wears a white shirt, gold tie, and navy jacket.Brian Bernhardt has been named as a partner with the firm. Bernhardt practices in the firm’s Charlotte office. He is a taxation and wealth planning attorney. Bernhardt has represented clients on tax matters and has appeared before the IRS, the Department of Justice Tax Division, the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and multiple U.S. District Courts. He has extensive experience in appellate law and has argued cases before the Supreme Court of North Carolina and the North Carolina Court of Appeals. He holds a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and an A.B. from Brown University.

The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin Welcome New Associate

Nichad, a Black man with black hair and a beard, wears a white shirt, pale yellow tie, and dark grey jacket.Nichad Davis has joined the firm’s personal injury department. He is a personal injury and civil rights attorney. Davis received a J.D. from Campbell Law School. He was the recipient of the Janette Soles Nelson Public Service Scholarship. Before attending law school, Davis was an instructor with Teach for America for three years. He obtained a B.A. in psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and graduated with honors. As an undergraduate, he was the recipient of the Martin Luther King Service Award and the University Transition Opportunities Program Mentor of the Year Award.

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Checking In: April 25, 2023

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Hensen Fuerst Announces New Attorney

Jordan, a white man with light brown hair, wears a blue tie, white shirt, and black jacket.

Jordan Godwin has joined the firm, where he focuses on complex litigation. He serves on the Board of Directors for Methodist University’s Legal Studies Department and as Co-Regional Coordinator for the North Carolina High School Mock Trial Program. Godwin received his J.D. from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in 2020. There, he joined the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. He directed Cumberland’s Arbitration and Mediation program and led the Arbitration Team as they participated in the ABA national Arbitration Competition. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Methodist University.

Ragsdale Liggett Welcomes New Partner

Elizabeth, a white woman with blond hair, wears a white blouse and grey jacket.

Elizabeth H. Overmann has joined the firm, where she is a partner in the civil litigation group. Overmann works in the Raleigh office. She has practiced as an attorney for twenty years. Overmann has expertise in trucking, personal and catastrophic injury, construction, premises and product liability. She is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in North Carolina and South Carolina and state courts in Virginia. She holds a J.D. from Campbell Law School and a B.S. in criminal justice, cum laude, from Appalachian State University.

New Attorney Joins Smith Anderson

Tess, a white woman with blond hair, wears a pale blue shirt and black jacket.

Tess Rogers has joined the firm, and she is a member of the Real Estate Development and Litigation groups. She has prior experience working with financial, construction and other clients in connection with internal investigations, compliance with financial, securities, banking and licensing regulations and evaluating risk of potential litigation. She holds a J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where she served as the executive editor of Duke Environmental Law & Policy Forum, and a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, cum laude, from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

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