Checking In: December 14, 2022

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms, PLLC Announces New Attorney

Brennan, a white woman with light brown hair, wears a black blouse.

Brennan Ferguson has joined the firm. She practices in the areas of civil litigation, construction, insurance coverage and defense, and real estate. She has previously focused on creditor-debtor law, construction law, insurance defense, and litigation. Ferguson also volunteers with the Innocence Project. She received a J.D. from the Appalachian School of Law, where she was the Associate Editor for the Law Review and a member of Phi Delta Phi Honor Society. She holds a B.A. in history from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

New Attorney Joins Hall Booth Smith

Jacquelyn, a white woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wears a black blouse and grey jacket.

Jacquelyn Miner has joined the firm’s Asheville office. Miner’s practice is focused on general liability, governmental liability, insurance coverage, medical malpractice, and professional malpractice and ethics. Miner has previous experience in several other areas of law, including family law, estate planning, administration and probate, and more. Miner served as a staff attorney with Pisgah Legal Services. She received a J.D. from William & Mary Law School, where she was recognized with the CLEA Outstanding Clinical Student Award and Public Service Award. While in law school, she provided more than 600 hours in clinical services. She worked on behalf of veterans in the Lewis B. Puller Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic. She received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Mars Hill University.

McGuireWoods Names New Partner

Allison, a white woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wears a black blouse and black jacket.Allison P. Tanner was elected to partner. Tanner works in the firm’s Charlotte office. She focuses her practice on tax and employee benefits and represents employers on employee benefit and executive compensation matters arising under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code. She provides counsel to both public and private companies. Before becoming an attorney, she worked as a lead trial paralegal. She earned a J.D., with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where she was the recipient of the Smith/Shaver Merit Scholarship and a staff member of the North Carolina Law Review. She also holds a B.S. in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Checking In: November 22, 2022

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Carruthers & Roth, P.A. Adds New Associates

Sydney, a white woman with long blond hair, wears a white blouse and black jacket. Sydney ter Avest is now an associate attorney in the firm’s Business, Tax and Estates practice. She will focus on corporate and business law, estate planning, and wealth transfer and preservation. Ter Avest received a J.D. from Campbell Law School, where she was a teaching scholar and research assistant. While in law school, she received numerous awards and served as a peer mentor and president of the Health Law Association. She earned a B.A. in public policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

James, a white man with brown hair, wears a white shirt, red tie and dark grey jacket.

James R. Paul is now an associate attorney, and he will work in the firm’s Commercial Real Estate practice. Paul will assist clients in real estate matters and disputes. He was a legal extern in St. Joseph County, Ind., where he represented indigent juvenile justice clients. He also interned in the Forsyth County Public Defender’s Office. Paul earned a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame, where he was the 2020 recipient of the Faculty Award for Excellence in Health Care and Canon Law. He received a B.S., magna cum laude, from East Carolina University.

McGuireWoods Selects New Partner

Jocelyn Mallette is a Black woman with brown eyes and curly, shoulder-length hair. She is wearing a teal blouse, gold necklace, and black suit jacket, and she is standing against a warm camel-colored wall.Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette was elected to partner. Mallette represents companies in product liability claims, complex civil litigation, and environmental litigation in state and federal courts. She also represents veterans pro bono through the National Veterans Legal Services Program. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, she served for ten years in the military, where she was an Intelligence Officer, a Wing Executive Officer and an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate with the JAG Corps. In 2017-2018, Mallette was a clerk to Associate Justice Barbara A. Jackson in the North Carolina Supreme Court. Mallette previously served as the NCBA Military & Veterans Law Section Communications Chair. In 2022, she was selected as an NCBA Citizen Lawyer Award recipient. Mallette holds a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and a B.S. in legal studies from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

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Checking In: October 25, 2022

Compiled by Jessica Junqueira

Baker Donelson Adds New Shareholder

Jill, a white woman with blond hair, wears a blue suit, white shirt and glasses.The firm announced that Jill Walters is a shareholder. Walters has joined the Corporate Restructuring & Bankruptcy Group and practices in the Raleigh/Research Triangle office. She has more than 15 years of experience counseling clients in matters of corporate insolvency, distressed lending, restructuring and bankruptcy, and complex Chapter 11 cases. Walters is a member of the NCBA Bankruptcy Section and serves as the Sponsorship Committee Chair. She is on the Board of Directors for A Note in the Pocket and volunteers with Legal Aid of North Carolina. Walters holds a J.D. from Michigan State University College of Law and a B.A. from Lake Forest College.

Brooks Pierce Names Three New Partners

The firm announced that Steven M. LaSota, Haniya H. Mir and Jessica Thaller-Moran are now partners.

A white man with a shaved head wears a black suit, white shirt and red tie.

Steven M. LaSota is a real estate development attorney, and he has been practicing law for more than 15 years. He has served as a general counsel for community and regional banks and has experience in a wide variety of commercial transactions, as well as in retail financial services. He received a J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, an M.B.A. from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business, and a bachelor’s degree from Furman University.

A woman with dark brown hair wears a red dress.

Haniya H. Mir practices transactional law. Mir represents businesses in corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities law, corporate governance, entity formation and more. She has experience assisting clients in complex corporate transactions. She holds a J.D., cum laude, from Duke University School of Law, where she was executive editor of the Duke Law Journal and president of the Women Law Students Association. She earned an M.A. with distinction from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, and a B.A., cum laude, from Vassar College.

Jessica, a white woman with brown hair, wears a white shirt and teal jacket.

Jessica Thaller-Moran focuses on employment law and litigation. She counsels employers on compliance with state and federal laws and complex business litigation disputes. She works with companies to help them plan for, and respond to, issues involving their workforce. Thaller-Moran holds a J.D. with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where she was a comments editor for the North Carolina Law Review, and a bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Richmond. She serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Diabetes Family Connection.

Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo Welcomes Attorneys From Nichols, Choi, and Lee

Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo announced that the attorneys of Nichols, Choi, and Lee have joined the firm. Four attorneys have joined the Litigation Group: M. Jackson “Jack” Nichols, Anna Baird Choi, Catherine E. Lee, and Grant Simpkins. The attorneys will practice in the firm’s Raleigh office. The four attorneys have been recognized for their work as administrative/regulatory law practitioners in North Carolina.

Anna, a white woman with blonde hair, wears a purple jacket and white shirt.

Anna Baird Choi has joined the firm as partner. She focuses her practice on administrative law/regulatory law. Choi served for more than 20 years as counsel to the N.C. Licensing Board for General Contractors. She advises the General Contractor’s Board, as well as eight other occupational/professional licensing boards. Choi represents individuals and businesses before other N.C. licensing boards and agencies. She holds a J.D. from Campbell Law School and a B.A. in economics and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Catherine, a woman with brown hair, wears a black shirt and white jacket.

Catherine E. Lee has joined the firm as partner. She focuses on employment law, administrative law, civil litigation, and contract disputes, with an emphasis on matters involving state occupational/professional licensing boards and public employment. She serves as general counsel to a number of North Carolina occupational licensing boards. She has experience appearing before boards and the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings. She earned a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and a B.A. in English and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Jack, a white man with brown hair, wears a black jacket, white shirt and purple tie.

Jack Nichols has joined the firm as of counsel. His practice is focused on public policy development and advocacy, administrative law, and civil litigation. He has extensive experience representing clients before the Office of Administrative Hearings and serving as Counsel of Record in appellate cases. Nichols has taught courses in administrative law and constitutional law at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell Law School. Nichols holds a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, an M.A. from Duke University, and a B.S. in political science from Davidson College.

Grant, a white man with brown hair, wears a white shirt, grey jacket and blue tie.

Grant Simpkins focuses his practice on administrative law with an emphasis on occupational/professional licensing. He earned a J.D. from Campbell Law School in 2019. At Campbell, he was a member of the Moot Court Team, and he represented the school in national competitions. From 2019 to 2020, Simpkins was the Campbell Law School Wallace Leadership Fellow from 2019-2020. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and pre-professional legal studies from Appalachian State University.

The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin Announces New Associate

Maya, a Black woman with dark brown hair, wears a white shirt and black jacket.

Maya Davis has joined the firm and practices with the litigation team. Maya holds a J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law. While in law school, she was a Smith-Shaver Scholar and a member of the Dean’s List, and she earned a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.A. in philosophy and a concentration in philosophy of law. Davis serves as a volunteer with Habitat For Humanity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.