Grace Sykes Pennerat

With a career that has included in-house patent counsel positions at GlaxoSmithKline and Targacept, Inc. (now Catalyst Biosciences), Amy Fix understands the core business issues her clients face. She has spent many years helping clients protect pharmaceutical, agricultural and polymer technologies, and is notably skilled in the growing sector of small-molecule drug development. Amy’s clients range from large international pharmaceutical corporations to smaller companies producing innova...

Lori’s practice is principally focused on workers’ compensation litigation. She advises and defends employers and insurers in the manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, hospitality and retail industries throughout all stages of litigation before the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Lori handles complex workers’ compensation issues and strives to provide efficient and effective resolutions for her clients, whether that means negotiating with the other side or taking ...

Gerald H. Groon, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Gerald H., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gerald H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A seasoned litigator and counselor, Mark represents businesses and trade associations, with particular expertise in media and communications law. For some clients, he provides specialized regulatory, legislative, corporate, or litigation work. For others, he serves an outside general counsel role. Throughout his career, Mark has developed a capacity for solving complex problems that have stymied others. Mark’s principal clients are media and communications enterprises, such as digital m...

Jennifer Giordano-Coltart Ph.D. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice and Patent Law. Jennifer, 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 Jennifer is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Beth Ferebee Atkins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Beth Ferebee, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Beth Ferebee is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Benjamin T. Cochran , a Board Certified Specialist in NC Workers’ Compensation Law, is the Managing Partner at Hardison & Cochran . Mr. Cochran’s undergraduate years were spent at UNC Chapel Hill where he obtained majors in Economics and African American Studies. He then went on to complete his Juris Doctorate degree at the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. In his time of representing the injured of North Carolina, Mr. Cochran has acquired many accola...

3 Things to Know About Elizabeth Ligon Noriega : She is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. She has been recognized on the “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants (2025–2026).* She brings more than a decade of experience representing employers and insurers in workers’ compensation cases. Elizabeth Ligon Noriega is a Partner at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin , where she focuse...

3 Things to Know About Stan Abrams: He is the lead attorney for the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin’s eminent domain practice in North Carolina. He is a former Assistant Attorney General for the North Carolina Department of Justice who represented the North Carolina Department of Transportation. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.* Stan Abrams is lead attorney at the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm , a division of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin . He is known throug...

Bob is a trial lawyer who regularly represents management in labor/employment law and related matters. National employers rely on Bob to advise their employment practices and represent their interest throughout the country. He has defended hundreds of lawsuits, taken hundreds of depositions and successfully obtained many jury verdicts and arbitration awards.He often represents prominent employers and their executives in high-stakes disputes and advises clients facing scrutiny by the governmen...