Christopher M. "Chris" Hinnant

Jeremy leads the Personal Injury and Wrongful Death practice. He has extensive experience litigating claims for wrongful death, serious personal injury, and a broad range of civil litigation before state and federal courts, including cases involving vehicle accidents, professional malpractice, premises liability, products liability, and class actions, among other areas. He also has litigated numerous cases involving complex insurance coverage issues and "bad faith" claims. In addition, Jeremy...

B.T. Atkinson is a corporate attorney with Ward and Smith, P.A. With nearly 30 years of experience, B.T. is a veteran banking attorney whose practice focuses on corporate, securities, and regulatory matters in the financial services space. He regularly advises regional and community banks, underwriters and issuers, and public and private companies. Clients rely on B.T.'s extensive experience for guidance with securities offerings and reporting, business formation, mergers and acquisitions, re...

Brian G. Morrison is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Brian G., who practices law in Wilmington, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Trice has practiced in the areas of corporate law, estate planning, estate administration and mergers and acquisitions since 1987. He has been involved in numerous merger and acquisition transactions ranging in value from under $5 million to over $90 million. The transactions he has closed have involved businesses in many different industries, including medical practices, convenience stores, manufacturing and internet services. He has assisted clients with both large and small estates wit...

Ryan's practice encompasses a wide range of intellectual property ("IP") matters, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He supports and negotiates IP issues, including licensing and non-disclosure agreements and IP-related terms and conditions in various other types of agreements, such as joint development, manufacturing, service, and sales agreements. He is a registered patent attorney and has significant experience with preparing, filing, and prosecuting patent appli...

John D. Martin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. John D., who practices law in Wilmington, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal pr...

James W. McGee, Jr. has been a resident of Wilmington, North Carolina, since 1990. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, McGee attended and earned his Juris Doctorate from Campbell Law School. From residing in Wilmington for over 30 years to attending a North Carolina law school, McGee has developed an intimate understanding of both the state’s people and its laws concerning DUI/DWI and Criminal Law . McGee is considered a thought-lea...

Benton L. Toups is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law - Individuals and Employment Law - Management. Benton L., who practices law in Wilmington, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benton L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill is the leader of the Financial Transactions and Regulation Practice Group. His practice experience includes the representation of lending institutions, companies, individuals, and community associations in a wide variety of commercial real estate matters. Bill regularly represents lenders and borrowers in loan transactions; purchasers and sellers in the negotiation and preparation of real estate letters of intent and purchase agreements; landlords and tenants in the negotiation and prepa...

Will's practice experience encompasses various areas of employment and workplace-related counseling and civil litigation in both federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels. He regularly represents employers and employees before the United States Department of Labor (USDOL), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL), the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC),...