Kristin Athens

Melissa Hill is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. She received her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1984. She also attended law school at UNC, where she was admitted to the Order of the Coif, was on the North Carolina Law Review and received her J.D. with honors in 1987. Ms. Hill is the author of Tennessee v. Garner - The Use of Deadly Force to Arrest as an Unreasonable Search and Seizure, 65 N.C.L. Rev. ...

James T. Johnson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Consumer Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. James T., 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 James T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John D. Elvers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. John D., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Julia Ambrose provides transactional and regulatory counsel to media companies navigating the rapidly-changing video programming industry. She is also an experienced litigator, well-versed in commercial and constitutional litigation in all levels of state and federal trial and appellate courts. Technology is evolving rapidly, but the laws and regulations governing broadcast television have not always kept pace. Julia has significant experience helping media companies and broadcast trade assoc...

Stephen Brown focuses his practice on business formation and structuring, wealth transfer planning, and litigation involving fiduciaries, trusts, estates and guardianships. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Stephen regularly advises individuals on a range of estate planning strategies, including the use of simple and complex trust arrangements to achieve their personal and charitable objectives in a tax advantaged manner. He also has extensive experience a...

David has over 40 years of trial and litigation experience trying cases throughout the North Carolina state and federal courts. He focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, with special emphasis on the defense and representation of clients in trucking and transportation, product liability and business litigation. David represents numerous national clients across North Carolina. He has also successfully represented his clients at the appellate level before the North Carolina Court of A...

Gary Jackson* is a name many attorneys in North Carolina know. He has been president of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and has held leadership positions in several other national and state organizations. He is frequently asked to speak throughout the country at educational programs for lawyers and he regularly authors articles addressing current legal trends and developments. His 40+ year career is marked by many awards, with 24 of those years spent fighting for plaintiffs in numero...

Robert 'Chip' Younce Jr. is a partner at Younce & Vtipil, P.A. Chip is a board certified North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer and a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the Workplace Injury Litigation Group, the North Carolina Bar Association, and the Wake County Bar Association. He has been heavily involved in church and community service throughout his career. Chip currently serves as bishop of the Cary Second Ward...

Byron L. Saintsing is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Litigation. Byron L., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Byron L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Gary Parsons is a litigator's litigator: he tries cases. He has participated in more than 80 trials, over 125 appeals, and has represented clients in courtrooms in at least 70 of North Carolina's 100 counties. Gary began his career as a law clerk for Associate Justice J. William Copeland of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Since that time, he has participated in over 125 appeals. He has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the ...