Eric R. Spence

Joe found his calling in the Federal and State courtrooms of North Carolina over 40 years ago. He has worked as a trial attorney ever since. He is familiar with many of the insurance professionals, defense lawyers, and trial judges that handle these cases in our state. "We only accept cases we think are meritorious and then prosecute those cases with vigor and passion born of a clear conscience." "Seeking justice in an unjust world" is Joe's professional motto. For the plaintiff, truth is our...

Drake works with entities and individuals in transactions involving commercial real property. A substantial portion of his practice is focused on representing both landlords and tenants in commercial lease negotiations for a wide variety of spaces, including office locations, retail centers, industrial facilities, and solar farms. In addition, Drake represents buyers and sellers in negotiating and closing purchases and sales, including tax-deferred exchanges. He also represents developers and...

Hill Allen is a partner in the firm and handles a broad range of civil and criminal litigation. His practice areas and past cases include: White Collar Criminal Defense and Government Investigations, criminal, civil and regulatory – defending those under investigation or charged by federal and state law enforcement and administrative agencies. Mr. Allen has represented entities and individuals in investigations by federal grand juries in North Carolina and other states, as well as feder...

Robert Jessup (“Robby”) is an owner of the Howard Stallings Law Firm and a civil trial lawyer, who handles wrongful death, serious injury, medical malpractice, and first-party property insurance claim cases. Robby received his BA cum laude (Journalism & Religious Studies) and his Juris Doctor cum laude from UNC-Chapel Hill. Robby is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, all Federal Dis...

Doug Meier is an experienced patent attorney and managing partner of NK Patent Law. With a background in electrical engineering and in-depth experience practicing patent law, Doug brings a unique combination of legal and technical experience that allows him to quickly understand complex electrical, computer, and software technologies. Before becoming a patent lawyer, Doug worked as an electrical engineer for a major defense contractor in Houston, Texas, where he designed and developed softwar...

Jessi Thaller-Moran focuses her practice on employment law and litigation, which includes counseling employers on legal compliance and helping them proactively identify, prepare for and respond to issues involving personnel management. Jessi guides employers on appropriate responses to a rapidly-changing workplace. Over the last few years, this has included counseling through the rapid transitions required by the COVID-19 pandemic and responding to increasingly localized laws on everything fr...

Lynn Montgomery is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Lynn, who practices law in Cary, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lynn is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Connie Elder Carrigan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Connie Elder, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Connie Elder is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brett T. Hanna is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Brett T., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brett T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shirley M. Diefenbach is a partner/member of the law firm of Walker, Lambe, PLLC, where she primarily practices in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law and Trust & Estate Administration. Ms. Diefenbach is also the managing partner of the Trust & Estate Administration department within the law firm. For over forty years, Walker Lambe, PLLC has served its clients, in the areas of Estate planning, Trust Administration, Probate, Taxation, Estate and Trust Disputes, Planning for childre...