Lee M. Kirby, Jr.

Ken Soo’s areas of practice include public school law, employment law and civil litigation. He received his law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1991. During law school, he was a note editor for the North Carolina Law Review. Mr. Soo completed his bachelor’s degree in comparative area studies at Duke University. Mr. Soo’s first career was as a wire service and newspaper reporter in Ohio, North Carolina and Florida, including stints w...

John N. (Nick) Fountain is one of the most experienced attorneys in North Carolina handling professional licensure issues and occupational licensing boards. He has appeared before dozens of the numerous boards and commissions in Raleigh, including the Real Estate Commission, the Appraisal Board, the Banking Commission, the CPA Examiners, N.C. Medical Board, the Dental Board, the Psychology Board, Licensed Professional Counselors and others. He is General Counsel to the State Board of Examiner...

Hunt grew up in the mountains of North Carolina. After receiving his undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University, Hunt was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army, where he served as a captain. He is a former intelligence officer and veteran of the Iraq War. Hunt’s practice focuses on representing real people who have been harmed by the negligence of others, including from tractor-trailer collisions, car wrecks, defective products and construction accidents. He h...

Drew Patty is a partner with Phelps Dunbar, LLP in the firm's Intellectual Property and Cybersecurity Groups. He also leads the firm's Artificial Intelligence Working Group. With 30 years of experience in a broad range of transactional intellectual property matters and related litigation, he also has a growing AI and data privacy practice. His chemical patent experience includes patent preparation and prosecution in the fields of oilfield proppants and other downhole chemicals, refinery catal...

Michael leads the Health Care practice. He counsels physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers on regulatory, compliance, and transactional matters. He represents all types of closely-held businesses and their owners on such issues as the formation of business entities, financing transactions, and the merger, acquisition, and sale of businesses. Additionally, Michael advises banks, automobile and tractor finance companies, shopping center owners, homeowners' associations, and suppl...

Robert Jessup (“Robby”) is an owner of the Howard Stallings Law Firm and a civil trial lawyer, who handles wrongful death, serious injury, medical malpractice, and first-party property insurance claim cases. Robby received his BA cum laude (Journalism & Religious Studies) and his Juris Doctor cum laude from UNC-Chapel Hill. Robby is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, all Federal Dis...

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

Alison R. Cayton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Alison R., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alison R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hunter Eddins-Gentel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Hunter, who practices law in Greenville, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hunter is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James A. Roberts III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Corporate Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. James A., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and...