Asheville Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

Managing Partner and the founder of The Law Group, Melissa Gott is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell University School of Law. Melissa is a licensed North Carolina attorney, D.R.C. Certified Mediator, Financial (family law) Mediator, and Collaborative Attorney with Coastal Collaborative Colleagues. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Melissa graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration concentrating in finance and the legal environment of business. Melissa then matriculated to Campbell University’s School of Law. While in law school, Melissa was an editor...

Jonathan, a director at Woodruff Family Law Group since 2006, has practiced family law for over 10 years, and is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Family Law specialist. Jonathan focuses on the areas of custody, divorce, and property division, including retirement. He received his JD from Wake Forest School of Law.

Mr. Culbertson has nearly 25 years of legal experience and is a widely recognized Federal and State Court Litigator. In the past year, Mr. Culbertson has been in both National and State news (see his website for links to newspaper articles (https://culbertsonatlaw.com/news/). He is also one of the elite percentage of attorneys that has a case reported in Federal Law Reports — the large law books that contain the controlling case law of the United States. He has handled dozens of Federal criminal and white-collar crimes, in addition to important Federal and State civil cases. Mr. Culbertson practices appellate law...

Carolyn has practiced family law for more than 20 years, helping North Carolina family law clients achieve their individual objectives with every case she takes. She is the managing shareholder of Woodruff Family Law Group in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a board-certified Family Law Specialist, and concentrates her legal practice in the areas of family law and divorce. She is very experienced in complex equitable distribution, business valuation in divorce, complex custody, alienation of affection, domestic violence, alimony, child support, grandparents' rights, and other areas falling within family law, such as termination of parental rights and adoption.

Hal Walker Broadfoot, Jr., is a partner at Beaver Courie, Attorneys at Law, with a practice focused on civil cases.

For more information on my biography please email me directly at pmegaro@appealslawgroup.com

Daphne Edwards & her team focus exclusively on divorce and family law matters addressing the most complex issues facing divorcing couples: custody, asset division, alimony and child support, mediation and divorce arbitration, and the crafting of reliable separation agreements, as well as issues surrounding domestic violence, surrogacy, and assisted reproductive technology matters. Daphne’s approach is simple: each case is unique and each client receives personalized attention and the highest standard of care available while her team works to achieve that client’s specific goals.

Daphne has over twenty years of experience and is known to be an aggressive advocate for her clients...

I have worked for the North Carolina Supreme Court, prosecutor's offices, criminal defense firms, and large and small civil law firms.
My practice focuses on representing businesses, in and out of court, and appeals.
I have litigated and won 6 figure disputes. I have represented clients before North Carolina state and federal courts, North Carolina appellate courts, the North Carolina Industrial Commission, and the American Arbitration Association. I have represented businesses, individuals, and consumers in cases against other individuals, other businesses, and state and local governments.
I attended Wake Forest University School of Law. While there, I received the North Carolina Advocates for...

Attorney Rebecca A. Olla was raised in Austin, Texas. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and her Law Degree from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. Before joining The Bishop Law Firm, Rebecca worked for the Texas State Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. District Court of Southern New York. After working for the government (by the people), Rebecca refocused her practice to represent clients in federal appeals in U.S. District Court (for the people). Through her prior legal experience, Rebecca has learned that lawyers are needed to ensure positive outcomes for their...

Ashley Crowder is a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist who has focused her practice on Appeals, Civil Appeals, Criminal Appeals, Post Judgment Relief, Post-Conviction Relief, MAR, Divorce, Child Custody, Child Support, Equitable Distribution, Alimony, Post Separation Support, Prenup, Postnup, Separation Agreements, Termination of Parental Rights. She is passionate about working with clients to ensure they understand their options and actively participate in their representation.

Attorney Michael Litrenta brings the unique experience of working for years as both a prosecutor and then as a defense attorney. He has worked in multiple different state and federal courts on a variety of different matters.

Bringing extensive courtroom experience to Litrenta Law, Michael knows the best offense is always a good defense. He is a dedicated advocate for his clients and has won Avvo’s Client’s Choice Award. Attorney Litrenta is committed to listening and understanding each of his client’s needs and is determined to secure the best outcome possible.

Attorney Litrenta began his career as a prosecutor before he transitioned...

Prior to founding Aylward Law in 2004, Dr. Aylward practiced law at Sullivan & Cromwell, LLP in New York City, where she worked with a team representing Microsoft in government antitrust litigation. She also practiced at Katten Muchin Rosenmann, LLP in Charlotte. Ilonka received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she served on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review and was a John M. Olin Fellow in Law and Economics (1999-2001). At graduation, she was awarded the Olin Prize—an award for the best paper written in law and economics by a member of the...

Nathaniel “Nat” Smith heads up the firm’s civil litigation practice. He handles serious personal injury and workers’ compensation cases in addition to business litigation, trust and estate litigation cases. He also works on civil appeals on behalf of the firm’s clients. Mr. Smith grew up in Raleigh, where he was a member of Broughton High School’s 50th graduating class in 1979. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. He graduated with honors from UNC School of Law in 1993. While in law school, he clerked...

Paul Tharp, born in Chicago, attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington on a basketball scholarship, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy. He then attended law school at UNC-Chapel Hill and was part of the Moot Court Invitational Team. After passing both the Florida and North Carolina Bar Exams, Tharp settled in Charlotte. Mr. Tharp is an experienced trial attorney who has tried bench and jury trials in state and federal courts in North Carolina. Mr. Tharp has written appeals and petitions in civil and criminal cases before the United...

Derrick Hensley is a Child Welfare, Family, and Immigration lawyer who manages a small law firm in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Derrick founded his own firm in order to ensure he could take cases that make a real difference for his clients, and to ensure that his practice always observed the highest principles of the legal profession. Derrick is dedicated zealously advocating for his clients and to fostering an open, communicative attorney-client relationship based on trust and honesty.

Derrick's firm has practices in several fields of law, focusing on the intersections between them, including international family law, humanitarian and family immigration, and...

Our nationally recognized Raleigh law firm focuses on criminal defense, family law, and professional license defense. A small firm mentality allows us to provide personalized attention to each matter. Our philosophy of tireless devotion to our clients and uncompromising honesty has earned us the reputation as one of the go-to firms in the State. We counsel our clients through all aspects of the case, providing the individual attention necessary to achieve justice and return peace to your life.

I have been practicing bankruptcy law and consumer law for over twenty years. In addition to looking at the relief that bankruptcy can offer, I also look for claims to assert against creditors. I will pursue claims against creditors for violations of the Fair Debt Collections Act, the North Carolina debt collection statute, Truth in Lending and RESPA violations. I also pursue mortgage servicing abuses arising under Regulation X. I am a board certified specialist in consumer bankruptcy law. I am also a two-time graduate of Max Gardner's nationally featured "bankruptcy boot camp" and have...

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 federal courts across North Carolina and he has received an AV rating from his peers as reported in...

Laurie Biggs' practice focuses on business and consumer bankruptcy, including chapter 7, chapter 11, chapter 12, and chapter 13 cases. Ms. Biggs primarily represents small business owners, individuals, and those in the agricultural sector who need help addressing their debts or exploring their legal options. Ms. Biggs has been certified as a specialist in business and consumer bankruptcy by the North Carolina State Bar. With almost twenty years of experience helping clients navigate their financial difficulties, Ms. Biggs In addition to bankruptcy cases, Ms. Biggs also practices in the area of out of court financial restructuring, business disputes, civil...

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 associate at Manning, Fulton & Skinner, P.A., where he was a member of the firm’s litigation section practicing...

Mr. Kellis focuses his practice on litigation. No matter is too small. No matter too big. Mr. Kellis litigates criminal matters, traffic/ DWI cases, injury claims, worker’s compensation, estate administration and many other legal matters. Formerly, he was certified with the NFLPA as an NFL agent. He is the President of the Carteret County Republican Men’s club and a member of the Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute. Tommy is also an USCG Captain. In his free time he enjoys fishing, boating and all things involving being on the water. He also enjoys spending time with his children and wife at our...

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 story teller, 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 story telling. 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 Green Beret Murder case. Most recently he was lead counsel for Collin Finnerty, one...

Ben Ridings a Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the firm practicing primarily in the areas of workers’ compensation and general civil litigation.

Ben graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 2003 with a Bachelor of Arts, with Honors and Distinction, in History. He received his law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2007, where he served as Articles and Comments Editor of the First Amendment Law Review and interned with The Honorable Robin E. Hudson of...

During the past 35 years I have represented clients who have been seriously injured in trucking and automobile accidents, as well as those who have sustained injury or death as a result of nursing home neglect, or the negligence of the owner of a vicious dog. I am guided by the forceful command of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, which describe an attorney’s special responsibility for the quality of justice: “ As an advocate, a lawyer zealously asserts the client’s position under the rules of the adversary system. As a negotiator, a lawyer seeks a result advantageous...

I represent individuals in all types of employment disputes, including discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower actions, severance negotiations, equal pay violations, sexual harassment and assault, non-compete contracts, labor rights, wage and hour violations, leaves of absence, workplace safety, and executive compensation matters.

I have won trial victories for clients in federal jury trials, state court trials, and arbitration. I have fought employers who discriminated against clients based on their race, gender, age, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, and military service. I have fought back against retaliation based on our clients’ reports of unsafe working conditions, nuclear safety threats, and illegal overtime...