George Rountree III

Colleen Shea is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Colleen, who practices law in Wilmington, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Colleen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard has significant experience in a broad range of business law matters, including mergers and acquisitions, tax planning, private securities offerings, and start-up businesses. He recently served as in-house counsel for a major background screening and compliance provider, giving him the rare experience of managing both the inside and outside counsel roles for the same entity. That experience colors his practice, and Richard is now known as "an inside counsel's outside counsel." During h...

Based in the Port City, Charles Baldwin uses his broad experience in cross-border transactions to advise businesses on international law, venture capital and transactional matters. He also serves as Village Attorney for the Village of Bald Head Island, providing counsel on contract, construction, environmental, municipal and regulatory issues. Charles has diverse experience in international and transportation law and is recognized as one of the state’s leading attorneys in these areas. ...

Ed West's practice areas include white-collar defense and investigations, professional licensing board defense and complex business litigation. Ed has represented individuals, businesses, and organizations under investigation by a myriad of state and federal agencies including: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Securities & Exchange Commission, N.C. Secretary of State Securities Division, N.C. Banking Commission, Internal Revenue S...

George Mason Oliver is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy. George Mason, who practices law in New Bern, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which George Mason is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Scott is an active trial lawyer, with over 100 cases tried to verdict in both state and federal courts. Scott is a member of our Commercial Litigation Practice Group, focusing on Insurance Bad Faith, Professional Liability, Municipal & School Liability and Construction Litigation.

As leader of the Community Associations practice, Adam advises community association and country club/yacht club boards and members regarding corporate governance, procedural requirements, governing document amendments, fiduciary duties, inspection right, collection issues, and rule adoption and enforcement. He also has experience preparing all components of community association, country club, and yacht club entity formation, including articles of incorporation, bylaws, committee charters, o...

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...

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.

Ryal is an experienced litigator. He has handled a wide range of litigation cases in state and federal courts, many of them jury trials. Ryal has extensive construction law experience, including lien law, federal and state bond claims, and defective workmanship cases. He also has significant experience with agribusiness litigation, property owner association disputes, personal injury, and all types of real estate disputes, including title insurance claims, trespass, adverse possession, condem...