Jill L. Peters Kaess

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...

Cliff leads the firm's Real Estate Development Practice Group. His practice focuses on representing individual and corporate clients in residential and commercial real estate transactions, such as the preparation and negotiation of purchase and sale agreements, loan agreements, and leases for office and retail space. Additionally, clients rely on Cliff for the preparation and interpretation of restrictive and protective covenants and other planned community and condominium documents, includin...

Colleen Shea is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Colleen practices law in Wilmington, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Colleen Shea since 2016. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Colleen Shea is held ...

John's practice experience encompasses various areas of litigation. He has represented many clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases, and has obtained multi-million dollar verdicts in these types of cases. Other areas of his litigation practice in Greenville and Wilmington include representation of clients in business and corporate litigation and in family law, with an emphasis on equitable distribution cases involving significant and complex assets. John has been rated by his peer...

Recognized in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in Family Law. James W. Lea, III - The Lea/ Schultz Law Firm , P.C. 1612 Military Cutoff Road Suite 300 Wilmington, NC 28403 Tel: 910-239-5990 Fax: 910-239-5992 jwl@thelealawfirm.com www.thelealawfirm.com James W. Lea, III, practices exclusively in the area of Family Law and has done so for the last 40 years of practice. Mr. Lea has served on the North Carolina State Bar’s Family Council, a selected group of fami...

John leads the firm's Trusts and Estates practice. He is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. John's practice experience encompasses estate planning, estate administration, estate and gift tax planning, and related services primarily, though not exclusively, to high net worth individuals and families. His practice also involves business succession planning for closely-held business owners, asset protection, and estate pl...

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...

Melody Jolly is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Melody practices law in Wilmington, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Melody Jolly since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Melody Jolly is held by other lawyers.

David G. Martin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. David G. practices law in Wilmington, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized David G. Martin since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David G. Martin is held by other lawyers.

Greg is certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). He also is certified by the North Carolina State Bar both as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law and as a Board Certified Specialist in Elder Law. Greg has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his fields of law. He frequently lectures to civic and community groups and at continuing legal education seminars on various topics relating to estate planning and ad...