Gracie K. Paulson

Orville D. Coward, Jr. was born in Sylva, North Carolina on December 22, 1953. He graduated magna cum laude from Yale University in 1976 with a BA in English and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina Law School in 1979, where he reestablished and served as President of Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity. He was admitted to U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina in 1979, and to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in 1985.Mr. Coward began his p...

Lance represents creditors in collections, foreclosures, bankruptcy, Uniform Commercial Code security agreement enforcement, and structured liquidations and workouts. He also represents clients in drafting and negotiating a wide variety of contract, loan, and workout agreements. Lance is certified by the American Board of Certification and the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Business Bankruptcy Law. He litigates at all levels of state and federal court, with an emp...

Kevin Mahoney is a Partner with the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He joined the firm in 2019 as part of its Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law practice and currently serves as the attorney in charge of the firm’s Asheville office , where he represents landowners throughout Asheville and Western North Carolina. Kevin earned his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Georgetown University. A...

Michelle Rippon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Michelle, who practices law in Asheville, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michelle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kimberly Coward is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Kimberly, who practices law in Cashiers, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kimberly is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Zac is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. He counsels individuals on their estate plans and helps them put in place the legal documents to achieve those plans (such as Last Wills, Trust Agreements, Durable Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney and HIPAA Authorizations). Zac also advises fiduciaries, such as estate Executors and Trustees, on administration matters. Zac's practice also involves assisting clo...

A native of Asheville, Ike returned home to practice law in 1981. After graduation from the University of North Carolina both as an undergraduate and from its law school, Ike clerked at the North Carolina Supreme Court in Raleigh for the year following his admission to the bar. Ike has practiced as a partner in two law firms including one he founded in 1998. He brings to HBS a wealth of trial experience. For nearly four decades, Ike has concentrated his area of practice in the field of medica...

Adam Peoples primarily defends doctors, lawyers, accountants, and engineers in negligence and ethics matters. His downtown Asheville practice also includes defending claims regarding general liability, governmental liability, civil rights, and products liability. Ranked AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbel, Adam has enjoyed a great deal of success in the courtroom. He has litigated hundreds of cases, including more than 500 hours of trial time, defending cases involving seven and ei...

Joe Ferikes began his practice in 1974 in Atlanta, Georgia, representing such entities as the County of Dekalb. In 1983, Joe and his wife moved back to their hometown of Asheville to continue his law practice and raise their family. He has been a private practice trial lawyer since 1981, and was a solo practitioner until forming Ferikes & Bleynat in 2001. Joe’s representative clients include the Towns of Woodfin and Fletcher, North Carolina, as well as the ABC Boards for Fletcher, W...

Janet Amburgey is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law. Since graduating from Appalachian School of Law in 2008 she has focused her practice exclusively on family law matters, assisting people through family chaos, ensuring the protection of their rights and property and helping to blend and expand families. She has represented clients in divorce and separation with issues surrounding child custody, child support, alimony, and in property settlement matters. She also assists families th...