Anderson T. Ellis

Lance represents creditors in collections, foreclosures, bankruptcy, Uniform Commercial Code security agreement enforcement, and structured liquidations and workouts. He also represents clients in drafting and negotiating a wide variety of contract, loan, and workout agreements. Lance is certified by the American Board of Certification and the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Business Bankruptcy Law. He litigates at all levels of state and federal court, with an emp...

Edward L. Bleynat, Jr. began his legal career by clerking for James G. Exum, Jr., then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Cutting hsi trial teeth at a major Greensboro business litigation firm. In 1995, Ed relocated to Asheville, to continue his law practice and to raise his family in Western North Carolina where he grew up. Ed and Joe Ferikes merged their practices into Ferikes & Bleynat, PLLC in 2001. Ed is actively involved in a variety of church, civic, and comm...

Hayley's practice primarily focuses on labor and employment law, civil litigation, and alcoholic beverage law. Hayley regularly advises individual and corporate clients on matters of covenants not to compete, employment discrimination, discipline and termination, harassment, wrongful discharge, wage and hour matters, personnel policies and procedures, and preparation of employment agreements and employee handbooks. She also litigates employment-related matters in North Carolina state and fede...

A native of Asheville, Ike returned home to practice law in 1981. After graduation from the University of North Carolina both as an undergraduate and from its law school, Ike clerked at the North Carolina Supreme Court in Raleigh for the year following his admission to the bar. Ike has practiced as a partner in two law firms including one he founded in 1998. He brings to HBS a wealth of trial experience. For nearly four decades, Ike has concentrated his area of practice in the field of medica...

Born in 1965 in Huntington, West Virginia, Brian grew up in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. Brian's mother was a nurse, and his father was a doctor in Spruce Pine who ran a clinic, worked in the hospital emergency room, made house calls to people in need. Brian often accompanied his parents when the house calls were after hours. Growing up in a home where taking care of others was so important continues to inspire Brian in his work representing injured and disabled people. In the mid-1990's, bef...

Jennifer’s practice centers on the legal and personal complexities involved in family law matters. Her work includes a particular emphasis on complex equitable distribution and contested custody cases. She approaches family law as an area requiring both strong advocacy and careful judgment, recognizing that divorce, custody disputes, and related matters often involve emotionally difficult circumstances for clients and their children. In custody matters especially, she is committed to ca...

Zac is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. He counsels individuals on their estate plans and helps them put in place the legal documents to achieve those plans (such as Last Wills, Trust Agreements, Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney and HIPAA Authorizations). Zac also advises fiduciaries, such as estate Executors and Trustees, on administration matters. Zac's practice also involves assisting clo...

Kimberly Coward is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Kimberly, who practices law in Cashiers, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kimberly is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joe Ferikes began his practice in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, representing such entities as the County of Dekalb. In 1983, Joe and his wife moved back to their hometown of Asheville to continue his law practice and raise their family. He has been a private practice trial lawyer since 1981, and was a solo practitioner until forming Ferikes & Bleynat in 2001. Joe’s representative clients include the Towns of Woodfin and Fletcher, North Carolina, as well as the ABC Boards for Fletcher, W...

Anna has been practicing law for more than 25 years. She is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law and concentrates her practice in the area of Workers' Compensation. Anna first became licensed to practice law in Virginia in 1994, followed by Washington, D.C. in 1995. She has been practicing law in North Carolina since 1996. Anna is included in the 2018-2022 editions of Best Lawyers In America® for Workers Compensation Law-Claimants and is on the list of ...