Marie Claire O’Leary Smith

Scott Anderson has been an attorney since 1989 and is licensed to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is also a Certified Civil Mediator in the state of South Carolina. Early in his career, Scott focused on insurance defense and criminal defense, representing several auto insurance companies and workers compensation insurance companies as well as the S.C Uninsured Employers Fund. He regularly was lead counsel in jury trials and administrative hearings for these clients. In his c...

Richard B. Harper is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Richard B. practices law in Sylva, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Richard B. Harper since 2007. 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 Richard B. Harper is held by other lawyers.

Jennifer V. Boyer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Jennifer V. practices law in Asheville, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Jennifer V. Boyer since 2027. 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 Jennifer V. Boyer is held by other lawyers.

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...

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...

Edward L. Bleynat, Jr. began his legal career by clerking for James G. Exum, Jr., then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Cutting hsi trial teeth at a major Greensboro business litigation firm. In 1995, Ed relocated to Asheville, to continue his law practice and to raise his family in Western North Carolina where he grew up. Ed and Joe Ferikes merged their practices into Ferikes & Bleynat, PLLC in 2001. Ed is actively involved in a variety of church, civic, and comm...

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...

Jonathan built an early reputation among his colleagues as the lawyer other lawyers turned to with their problems. Since focusing on appellate work, he has briefed and argued before the Fourth Circuit, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He has also been retained to serve as an appellate consultant in jury trials, providing real time guidance and briefing to preserve appellate issues in high stak...

Shannon Sumerell Spainhour is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Banking and Finance and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Shannon Sumerell practices law in Asheville, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Shannon Sumerell Spainhour since 2024. 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 Shannon Sumerell Spai...

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...