Melanie M. Hamilton

Sara advises businesses and their owners on tax, estate planning and business matters from formation through exit and all along the way. Sara enjoys working closely with our clients and their other advisors to resolve complex problems, paying careful attention to the considerations most important to the client. Sara has extensive experience advising clients on all aspects relating to taxes, including income, estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes. Sara’s experience at prepa...

A trusted advocate and accomplished litigator, Jim Phillips advises and represents businesses, business people and professionals in litigation and other disputes with third parties and the government. He is frequently called upon to take the lead in disputes in the public eye. For a full list of Jim's representative experience, please click on the Experience tab. Jim Phillips is frequently called upon by businesses, professional firms, educational institutions, individuals, and municipalities...

Jeff Oleynik is a seasoned business litigator handling a multitude of corporate disputes, many of which end up in bankruptcy court. Jeff represents clients on disputes involving ownership, management and control of companies, and is frequently involved in antitrust matters. Jeff often litigates antitrust issues, but also consults with clients on how to avoid “crossing the line” and creating antitrust and noncompetition issues on the front end, prior to any dispute with a competito...

Ed Winslow has more than 40 years of experience in litigation, tax law, banking and financial services. Since 2000, Ed has focused on law practice management and strategic leadership, and is engaged with law firm networks at the national and international levels. Ed focuses on law practice management and strategic leadership for the firm. He is particularly interested in the evolution of the legal profession. Also, Ed is engaged with various law firm networks both at the national and internat...

Dan Smith focuses his law practice on matters involving environmental, commercial, education, and state constitutional law. A former educator and environmental scientist, Dan represents businesses, boards of education, and individuals in state, federal, administrative, and appellate courts. Dan uses his scientific training and background to help clients solve complex problems related to environmental laws, frequently working as part of a larger Brooks Pierce team. Dan has represented and advi...

Chris Vaughn began his career over 25 years ago. Over those 25 years, Chris’ practice has gravitated from almost exclusive lender representation to representing owners in their acquisition, financing, development, construction, leasing and sale of commercial real estate. While he has represented many clients in varied real estate sectors across the United States including in office and fast casual dining, his current practice is dominated by owners engaged in the development and ownersh...

Beth Langley has over 25 years of experience counseling employers of all sizes in an assortment of employment law issues. She has represented businesses in employment litigation in matters involving civil rights, non-competition agreements, and trade secret protection. Beth provides advice and counsel to employers on a variety of employment law issues, including workplace employment compliance, executive compensation, trade secret protection, and employment agreements, including non-competiti...

Clint Pinyan has an extended and varied practice focused on government regulation of businesses and professionals. He advocates for clients and advises them in a variety of settings, concentrating on complex business and commercial litigation, administrative and regulatory law. Clint represents both regulators and regulated businesses and professionals, giving him extensive experience on both sides of the regulatory process. Clint serves as general counsel to the North Carolina Board of Pharm...

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

Seth Cohen has spent his legal career fighting against discrimination and advocating for people whose civil rights and civil liberties have been violated or infringed. The veteran labor and employment, civil rights and civil liberties attorney is Of Counsel at the Deuterman Law Group. In this senior role, he represents clients in their labor and employment claims. He works closely with the rest of the DLG team to ensure that our workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability, VA Disa...