Molly Stuart

Ben is an experienced trial lawyer who earned his law degree from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He was trained in trial practice at the nation’s preeminent Public Defender agency, the federally funded Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, described by United States Attorney General Eric Holder as “the best public defender office in the country.” From 2006 to 2011, Ben worked as an attorney at the Public Defender Service in DC, including...

David R. Fricke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. David R., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Evan Horwitz was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. He received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University in 1997 and graduated from the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University in 2001. While in law school, Mr. Horwitz was the managing editor of the Campbell Law Review. After graduating, Mr. Horwitz served as a law clerk to Justice Robert F. Orr at the North Carolina Supreme Court. Prior to joining Tharrington Smith in 2008, Mr. Horwitz spent almost six years as an associa...

Trevor Schmidt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trademark Law. Trevor, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Trevor is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

Mr. Coltrain practices primarily in the field of construction law, providing legal advice, litigation services, and assistance in regulatory compliance efforts. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Coltrain graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and worked for five years as a project engineer in the nuclear and plastics industry. Mr. Coltrain was the 2013-2014 Chair of the Construction Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and is, currently, th...

David Coats is the firm's co-managing partner and senior litigation partner. He has been recognized by and peer selected for each of the past 14 years for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ; Business North Carolina Magazine's Legal Elite ; and North Carolina Super Lawyers - and in a variety of areas including litigation, construction law, and insurance law. Since 1996, Martindale Hubbell has recognized David with its prestigious "AV" peer rating. In 2021 (as well as in 2019 and 2020), ...

Russell D. Babb was born in Wilson, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar and co-captain of the 1995 Carolina football team. A four-year starter as an offensive lineman for the Tar Heels, Mr. Babb was also the winner of the 1995 Jim Tatum Award, which is presented each year to the top Senior Scholar-Athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. After college, Mr. Babb entered the University of North Carolina School of La...

A noted attorney with more than three decades of experience in complex business transactions, Reich Welborn handles mergers and acquisitions for both sellers and buyers and works with closely-held businesses in family succession, business protection and exit strategies. He has extensive knowledge in representing lenders, developers and tenants in a broad variety of financing and real estate transactions. Reich also advises corporate clients on major relocations, including site selection, acqu...

Jeffrey P. Gray is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Litigation - Land Use and Zoning. Jeffrey P., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.