David S. "Dave" Pokela

Jeremy S. Shrader is especially focused on commercial real estate. His clients include developers, shopping center owners, entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, insurance companies, title companies, contractors, medical practitioners and more. Jeremy also devotes a substantial portion of his practice to drafting and negotiating commercial leases for landlords and tenants and real estate purchase agreements for buyers and sellers. He also handles commercial real estate closings &nd...

Rich Keshian has extensive experience in civil litigation, concentrating in product liability and business litigation. He is a certified mediator and arbitrator. Mr. Keshian has represented numerous clients in the automotive and furniture industries and other manufacturing industries regarding product liability issues. Mr. Keshian is also an adjunct professor at Wake Forest School of Law. During law school, Mr. Keshian was an Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review . Mr. Keshian has regularly bee...

John Cross is a corporate attorney and business adviser, often serving as the outside general counsel for companies not large enough to have an in-house legal department. He assists clients in general business and transactional matters, contracts, mergers and acquisitions, securities, franchises, and real estate. John works with individuals and businesses on various corporate and transactional matters, including formation, organization and choice of entities, shareholder agreements, LLC agree...

Melissa Weaver has practiced employee benefits law for over 35 years. Having previously served as an in-house attorney, she has a unique understanding of the needs of business owners regarding the design and implementation of employee benefits and deferred compensation plans. Melissa works with employers to design, draft, implement and maintain qualified retirement plans that benefit both the employer and the employees. She advises on best practices and provides counsel when issues arise, whe...

Tom Waldrep's deep institutional expertise in the bankruptcy space is informed by his decade of experience serving as a bankruptcy judge. He acts for all parties in complex proceedings and out-of-court matters, including particular skills advising on bankruptcies and distressed M&A transactions in the healthcare industry. Tom represents secured creditors, debtors, unsecured creditors’ committees, and trustees in business bankruptcy cases. He has extensively represented buyers and se...

Chris Vaughn began his career over 25 years ago. Over those 25 years, Chris’ practice has gravitated from almost exclusive lender representation to representing owners in their acquisition, financing, development, construction, leasing and sale of commercial real estate. While he has represented many clients in varied real estate sectors across the United States including in office and fast casual dining, his current practice is dominated by owners engaged in the development and ownersh...

Brian McMillan brings experience and insight from more than 10 years in manufacturing, distribution and sales and more than 26 years practicing law at Brooks Pierce to bear on his counsel to individuals and businesses. His practice focuses on a variety of litigation and transactional matters. Brian’s business and practical background gives him a deep understanding of clients’ goals, operations and legal challenges. His business and corporate practice includes negotiating and draft...

Joshua Bennett is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Joshua, who practices law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joshua is held by other top lawyers in the s...

Randy Underwood has significant experience representing owners of real estate in financing, acquisition, development, leasing and sales activities. As a result of his experience with, and knowledge of, real estate transactions, he also represents several national title insurance companies in disputes and litigation involving titles to real estate. A significant part of Randy's practice is the representation of national and local financial institutions and borrowers in substantial commercial l...

Carolyn has practiced family law for more than twenty years. She has helped North Carolina family law clients achieve their individual objectives with every case she takes. Carolyn’s law practice focuses on the client and that client’s reasonable objectives. She is very experienced in complex equitable distribution, business valuation in divorce, complex custody, alienation of affection, domestic violence, alimony, child support, grandparent’s rights and other areas falling ...