Matthew J. Higgins

For more than 30 years, Mickey Spivey’s practice with Young Moore and Henderson has been in insurance law and regulation, and in business and commercial matters. Through long-time representation of the North Carolina Rate Bureau and the North Carolina Reinsurance Facility, he has extensive experience in setting rates and loss costs and promulgating policy forms and rating manuals, as well as in the general operations of the voluntary and residual markets, for automobile, residential pro...

Daniel Blau is a dedicated criminal appeals and post-conviction attorney based in Raleigh, North Carolina. With a deep commitment to constitutional advocacy, Dan has successfully represented clients before North Carolina’s state and federal appellate courts, securing reversals and remands in complex felony cases. As a Board Certified Specialist in Appellate Practice, he brings extensive knowledge and experience to each case, ensuring clients receive comprehensive and strategic represent...

Thurston Debnam is one of the founding partners of Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, L.L.P. Thurston is the Section Head of the Business Law practice group and served as the firm’s managing partner from 1992 through 1997. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business and corporate planning and real estate law, including land use planning and zoning. For more than thirty years, Thurston has maintained a broad-based business practice, assisting clients with business...

Sonya DuBree is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Sonya, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sonya is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William B. Gwyn, Jr., is a member of the firm’s corporate practice. Bill has over thirty years of experience counseling and serving clients in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity, international transactions, joint ventures, licensing and commercial transactions. His industry experience includes software, biotechnology, communications, electronics, financial institutions, agribusiness, distribution and manufacturing, among others. He has represented...

Brian M. Ricci is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Brian M., who practices law in Greenville, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steve Mansbery joined Tharrington Smith in 2006 after earning his law degree from Case Western Reserve University. Prior to law school, Mr. Mansbery attended the University of Kentucky, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Finance, with Departmental Honors, and graduated magna cum laude. Mr. Mansbery has been appointed to the Wake County Bar Association and the Tenth Judicial District Bar Professionalism Committee every year since 2009. He was recognized as a "Rising Star" in North Car...

An associate and member of Young Moore’s litigation team, Patrick focuses his practice on matters involving general commercial litigation, construction law, insurance coverage analysis, insurance defense litigation, and employment and labor law. He is recognized in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the area of Insurance Law. Patrick graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Polymer Chemistry and continued his studies at the...

Matthew D. Quinn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Matthew D., 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 Matthew D. is held by other top ...

James Anthony Penry is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Securities and Mediation. James Anthony, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James Anthony is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.