Michelle D. Connell

Who is Alexander French? Alexander French is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and Partner with McIlveen Family Law Firm . Based in Charlotte, he represents clients in divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, equitable distribution, and other contested family law matters throughout North Carolina. Alex has practiced law in North Carolina since 2014 and has spent his career representing individuals and families in litigation. He is particularly comfortable in the...

Michael focuses his practice on the field of complex civil litigation with an emphasis on the prosecution of trucking and transportation cases. He also represents landowners whose property is being taken by eminent domain. He has extensive experience litigating wrongful death and catastrophic injury claims and has spoken nationally and internationally on topics related to trucking litigation, including best practices for post-accident investigation and evidence preservation. Prior to forming ...

Mark L. Hearp is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice and DUI / DWI Defense. Mark L. practices law in Fayetteville, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Mark L. Hearp since 2025. 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 Mark L. Hearp is held by other lawyers.

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...

Ms. Haywood's law practice is devoted to representing private property owners in land condemnation cases. She graduated in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in International Studies. In 1982, she received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. After practicing for several years with a private law firm, Ms. Haywood went to work with the North Carolina Attorney General's office in Raleigh. F...

David A. Rhoades is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. David A. practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized David A. Rhoades since 2013. 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 David A. Rhoades is held by other lawyers.

Lynn Montgomery is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. Lynn practices law in Cary, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Lynn Montgomery since 2025. 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 Lynn Montgomery is held by other lawyers.

Steven maintains a varied practice focusing on representing workers who have been injured on the job and people who have been injured due to the negligence of others. His practice also includes representing consumers who have been harmed by unfair or deceptive business practices. Steven started his legal career with the office of the North Carolina Attorney General, where he worked primarily defending the state of North Carolina in workers’ compensation cases, before deciding to join Ma...

Ciara L. Rogers is a partner at Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey, PLLC. She focuses her practice on bankruptcy and business insolvency. She is certified as a Business Bankruptcy Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar and is licensed to practice in all Federal and State Courts in North Carolina and Virginia, as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Before joining Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC, Ciara was an attorney with Oliver & Cheek. Prior to that, she was a law ...

Ellis Family Law was built to help people navigate some of life’s most personal and high-stakes moments with clarity, strategy, and genuine care. Gray Ellis is the Founder and Managing Partner of the firm, and for more than 20 years, he has helped shape the standards, culture, and approach that guide the team’s work every day. Gray is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Family Law—a distinction held by fewer than 2% of family law practitioners statewide—and ...