Best Lawyers in North Carolina, United States for Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Melissa Hill is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. She received her B.A. degree, magna cum laude, as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1984. She also attended law school at UNC, where she was admitted to the Order of the Coif, was on the North Carolina Law Review and received her J.D. with honors in 1987. Ms. Hill is the author of Tennessee v. Garner - The Use of Deadly Force to Arrest as an Unreasonable Search and Seizure, 65 N.C.L. Rev. ...
C. Melissa Owen is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. C. Melissa practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized C. Melissa Owen since 2018. 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 C. Melissa Owen is held by other lawyers.
Jacob H. Sussman is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Civil Rights Law, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Jacob H. practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Jacob H. Sussman 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 Jacob H. Sussman is held by othe...
Upon graduation from law school in 1980, Doug Kingsbery joined the firm of Tharrington, Smith & Hargrove in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he worked as an associate in the areas of education law and criminal defense. He was made Partner in 1985, and has developed an extensive litigation and trial practice which includes trial and appellate work in civil, criminal and administrative law. Over the past 28 years, he has tried dozens of civil and criminal jury trials in numerous state and fed...
Wade Smith has been one of North Carolina's best known and most acclaimed lawyers for nearly 50 years. His trials are recounted in books, magazines and journals. A renowned storyteller, Wade insists that within each case there is a compelling story waiting to be told. In seminars and bar meetings Wade has shared the art of storytelling. His cases offer a fine collection of North Carolina Courtroom lore. In 1979, Wade served as counsel to Dr. Jeffrey McDonald in the much studied and discussed ...
Beth Greene is a former federal and state prosecutor. She is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, invitation-only fellowships of elite trial lawyers who have exhibited the highest standards. A strategic investigator and litigator, Beth brings unique, cross-disciplinary experience to solving client problems, including complex criminal matters, False Claims Act investigations, and other regulatory matters. As an investigat...
Since 1998, Samuel J. Randall, IV has built a solid reputation among his peers, adversaries, and the judiciary in North Carolina as an aggressive and skilled criminal defense lawyer and advocate for his clients. Mr. Randall has represented hundreds of clients in criminal defense matters in the Federal and State courts of North Carolina. Mr. Randall’s clients have been accused of every crime in the book, ranging from the most serious of matters, such as First Degree Murder and Drug Traff...
John Fagg is the co-head of the Litigation group and the co-head of the White Collar, Regulatory Defense, & Investigations practice. John represents companies and individuals under investigation by or facing charges from criminal and other government enforcement authorities throughout the United States and around the world. John regularly represents corporations and individuals in high profile criminal and government enforcement matters of all types. John has represented clients in a wide...
David Courie is one of Cumberland and Hoke County's best known and relied upon trial lawyers. David is a Fayetteville native with deep roots in the region. He is the son of a well-known small businessman and a highly regarded and loved, 40 year veteran school teacher. David joined the firm in 1997 as an associate to founding partner Jerry Beaver, following his work in Washington D.C., as a Special Assistant to North Carolina's Senior Senator and his completion of law school at Campbell Univer...
Clients trust Mike, both as a litigation attorney and as a Certified Fraud Examiner, with their most sensitive and complex investigations. Mike gets to the bottom of the facts efficiently to help clients navigate challenging legal situations to achieve better-than-expected results in line with their business objectives. Mike is a seasoned investigator with a long track record of helping clients uncover the truth in complex—and sensitive—internal investigations. Mike represents cor...
Jim McLoughlin brings commitment, passion, and more than 35 years of cutting-edge experience to the civil disputes, criminal investigations, and trials that he strives to resolve for clients. Jim’s critical thinking, relentless preparation, and experienced perspective delivers effective results for clients. Jim has dedicated his career to winning civil and criminal cases. He has prosecuted and defended dozens of appeals. Jim advocates for clients in regulatory and criminal investigation...
Lacy Hansen is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Lacy practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Lacy Hansen since 2026. 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 Lacy Hansen is held by other lawyers.
Taylor McCallman is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and DUI / DWI Defense. Taylor practices law in Raeford, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Taylor McCallman 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 Taylor McCallman is held by other l...
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.
