Best Lawyers Near You in Cary, North Carolina for Family Law
Ms. Grace is an experienced and respected family lawyer. In 2017, she was selected as Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year in Family Law in Raleigh, NC. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, a NC Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, and a NCDRC certified Family Financial Mediator. Ms. Grace has served as President of the NC Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), and ...
Barri Hilton Payne In 2011, Barri became a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Certified Family Financial Mediator. She was born in High Point, North Carolina and grew up in Davidson County. She attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she majored in Religious studies and Sociology. Barri is a 1999 graduate of University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill. After twelve years as a partner in a local law firm, Barri opened her own solo family law and m...
Alice C. Stubbs is a partner in the firm. She joined Tharrington Smith in 2006 after completing eight years as a Wake County District Court judge. First appointed in 1997 by Governor Jim Hunt, she was elected to the judgeship in 1998 and 2002. During her time on the bench, Ms. Stubbs presided in domestic court; was certified as a juvenile judge in 2001; and was designated as a family court judge from 2002 through 2005. Ms. Stubbs is a native of New Bern. She graduated from Phillips Academy in...
Michael S. Harrell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Family Law. Michael S., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lynn Burleson is a native of Albemarle, North Carolina. He was admitted to the practice of law in North Carolina after receiving his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Juris Doctor degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law. Before joining Tharrington Smith, Mr. Burleson served as a district court judge and was a partner in the law firm of Kilpatrick Stockton. He has served as an adjunct professo...
Lynn Wilson McNally is a partner and Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization and certified Family Financial Settlement Mediator by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission. She represents individuals in matters regarding separation, divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, equitable distribution, domestic violence, termination of parental rights, legitimation and other matters pertaining to family law. Since beginning ...
Ashley T. Banks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation. Ashley T., 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 Ashley T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Casey Fidler is a partner at Tharrington Smith and a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law. She represents clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, child custody and support, equitable distribution, alimony, and family law appeals. Casey earned her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law and graduated with Highest Distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication and a second major in P...
Tiffani Atamas is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Tiffani, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tiffani is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Emily Jeske is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Emily, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Emily is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.