Jay A. Kania

Thomas Amburgey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Thomas, who practices law in Asheville, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shannon Sumerell Spainhour is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Banking and Finance and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Shannon Sumerell, who practices law in Asheville, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shannon Sumerell is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill leads the Litigation Practice Group and his practice experience encompasses civil litigation in both the state and federal courts. He has represented clients in a broad variety of complex construction, business, and commercial disputes. His civil litigation experience includes depositions, pre-trial and dispositive motions, mediations, arbitrations, jury trials, and appeals. Other areas of his litigation practice include insurance coverage disputes, personal injury, agribusiness litigati...

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...

Joanne's practice emphasizes the representation of banks and other financial institutions in commercial loan transactions involving asset-based and real estate secured loans, including new construction, multi-family, mixed use, retail, hotel, and healthcare related projects. She also represents real estate developers and business owners in connection with acquisition, disposition, planning, financing, construction, and leasing negotiations. Joanne's representation has further included the rep...

Norman's practice encompasses a broad range of creditors' rights and intellectual property matters. His creditors' rights practice includes the representation of lenders, trade creditors, community associations, and other creditors in collections, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and other proceedings. His work also involves drafting a wide variety of contract, loan, and workout documents. In his intellectual property practice, Norman assists businesses and individuals with identifying, protecting...

3 Things to Know About Matthew Healey: He is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers as “Lawyer of the Year” in Raleigh for 2015, 2017, and 2022 and for inclusion on the “Best Lawyers” list for 2013-2026.* He previously represented employers and insurance companies, giving him valuable insight into the defense side of workers’ comp claims. Matthew Healey is a Partner at the L...

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...

TRUE UNDERSTANDING: Asheville Personal Injury Attorney "My father became disabled when my sisters and I were young. Our family nearly lost everything, but my parents got good legal advice and persevered. My mother became a paralegal for the attorney who helped us. My father became our hero who preserved our future through wisdom, frugality and dignity. And I became a personal injury attorney focused on matters of personal injury, workers’ compensation, and wrongful death, who truly unde...

I am a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. I limit my practice to issues involving divorce, marital relations, and family law. I serve other divorce lawyers by providing family financial mediation services to them and their clients. Since 2007, I have been continuously recognized by Best Lawyers in America and named the Family Law Lawyer of the Year for Asheville in 2015, 2017, and 2020. I am named to North Carol...