Seiko Okada

Joe found his calling in the Federal and State courtrooms of North Carolina over 40 years ago. He has worked as a trial attorney ever since. He is familiar with many of the insurance professionals, defense lawyers, and trial judges that handle these cases in our state. "We only accept cases we think are meritorious and then prosecute those cases with vigor and passion born of a clear conscience." "Seeking justice in an unjust world" is Joe's professional motto. For the plaintiff, truth is our...

Before joining the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin in 2023, Elizabeth Ligon practiced workers’ compensation law for more than a decade as a defense attorney. She now uses her background in case strategy, litigation, and clear client communication to help injured workers navigate the North Carolina workers’ compensation system. This transition allows her to focus her work on people whose livelihoods and health have been impacted by workplace injuries. “I want to be known as...

Kelsey Kingsbery guides clients engaged in commercial activity across the United States through litigation involving top-of-the-house matters and high claims disputes in state and federal courts. Kelsey represents clients in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation matters in trial and appellate proceedings, with a special focus on consumer class action defense, business torts, and contract disputes. She has substantial experience representing clients in major consumer class actions an...

Jonathan E. Hall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Jonathan E., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice a...

Donna Renfrow Rutala, B.S.N., J.D., practices in the areas of medical malpractice defense litigation and health law. In her work, Donna represents hospitals, physicians, and other health care providers in civil litigation as well as administrative proceedings. She also advises hospitals on health law and employment law issues. Donna has trial experience in both the federal and state courts of North Carolina and has appeared before various administrative tribunals including the North Carolina ...

Tony Barwick regularly assists clients in successfully structuring, negotiating and completing a wide variety of complex transactional matters. His experience includes advising financial institutions and corporate clients in multiple industries related to their financings, joint ventures and complex real estate acquisitions and dispositions. He works with clients to structure, negotiate and close complex commercial transactions including representing clients through strategic asset acquisitio...

Joan has over thirty years of experience in eminent domain and condemnation law and has taught seminars to other lawyers on how to handle condemnation cases involving commercial property. She has a wide range of experience in federal district court, federal bankruptcy court, and many state court systems. Joan has been inducted as a Lifetime Member of the Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums for obtaining multiple recoveries for her clients in excess of One Million Dollars. She ha...

Gary Parsons is a litigator's litigator: he tries cases. He has participated in more than 80 trials, over 125 appeals, and has represented clients in courtrooms in at least 70 of North Carolina's 100 counties. Gary began his career as a law clerk for Associate Justice J. William Copeland of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Since that time, he has participated in over 125 appeals. He has argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the North Carolina Supreme Court, and the ...

A member of Manning Fulton's litigation section, William C. Smith, Jr. has a diverse litigation practice. He represents small and large businesses, and individuals in a variety of litigation and administrative law matters, including contract disputes, debt collection, employment, real estate and bankruptcy matters. William represents clients in both federal and state courts. He also advises both employers and employees on labor and employment issues and related matters, and represents a numbe...

Jeffrey R. Russell is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and a partner in the Family Law section at Tharrington Smith, LLP. His practice is concentrated in family law and appeals. Jeff earned his undergraduate degree in political science from Furman University and subsequently graduated magna cum laude from the Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. Before joining the firm in 2013, he clerked for the Honorable John C. Martin, Chief Judge of the North Carolina Cour...