Brian T. Lawler

I am a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. I limit my practice to issues involving divorce, marital relations, and family law. I serve other divorce lawyers by providing family financial mediation services to them and their clients. Since 2007, I have been continuously recognized by Best Lawyers in America and named the Family Law Lawyer of the Year for Asheville in 2015, 2017, and 2020. I am named to North Carol...

Thomas Amburgey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Thomas, who practices law in Asheville, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Scott Anderson has been an attorney since 1989 and is licensed to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is also a Certified Civil Mediator in the state of South Carolina. Early in his career, Scott focused on insurance defense and criminal defense, representing several auto insurance companies and workers compensation insurance companies as well as the S.C Uninsured Employers Fund. He regularly was lead counsel in jury trials and administrative hearings for these clients. In his c...

Orville D. Coward, Jr. was born in Sylva, North Carolina on December 22, 1953. He graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 1976 with a BA in English and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1979, where he reestablished and served as President of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. He was admitted to U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina in 1979, and to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1985.Mr. Coward began his p...

Joanne's practice emphasizes the representation of banks and other financial institutions in commercial loan transactions involving asset-based and real estate secured loans, including new construction, multi-family, mixed use, retail, hotel, and healthcare related projects. She also represents real estate developers and business owners in connection with acquisition, disposition, planning, financing, construction, and leasing negotiations. Joanne's representation has further included the rep...

Norman's practice encompasses a broad range of creditors' rights and intellectual property matters. His creditors' rights practice includes the representation of lenders, trade creditors, community associations, and other creditors in collections, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and other proceedings. His work also involves drafting a wide variety of contract, loan, and workout documents. In his intellectual property practice, Norman assists businesses and individuals with identifying, protecting...

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 ...

Shannon Sumerell Spainhour is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Banking and Finance and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Shannon Sumerell, who practices law in Asheville, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shannon Sumerell is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...