Jul., 2011 - Mecklenburg County Bar

MECKLENBURG COUNTY BAR 

438 Queens Road 

Charlotte, NC 28207 

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July 2011 

www.MeckBar.org

July 2011 

A publication of the Mecklenburg County Bar /26th Judicial District Vol. 38 No. 1 © 2011 Mecklenburg County Bar 

2 From The President 

3 2012 MCB Membership 

Directory Blue Pages 

3 Submit Dues & Contact Info 

3 Update from the Office of 

Indigent Defense Services 

4 Charlotte Legal Diversity 

Clerkship 

5 Paying the Piper 

Mecklenburg County Bar members braved the heat and sun to enjoy the 99th Annual Meeting, BBQ lunch and the 

6 Lunch With a Lawyer 

opportunity to network with one another at Marshall Park. 

On Thursday, May 19, 2011 the Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB) returned to Marshall Park in 

6 Divesity Committee seeks 

uptown Charlotte for its 99th Annual Meeting. More than 300 MCB members attended and 

Mentors 

enjoyed the traditional lunch of Bubba’s BBQ, baked beans and coleslaw. 

Outgoing MCB President A. Todd Brown led those in attendance in a moment of silence to 

7 MCB Young Lawyers Division 

honor the following MCB members who passed during the year preceding: A. Marshall Basinger 

II, Gary D. Chamblee, Charles B. Elderkin, Herbert A. Ferrari, George L. Fitzgerald, Joseph W. 

8 Attorneys Sworn-In at Spring 

Grier, Jr., Jeff T. Harris, Eugene C. Hicks II, Randall W. Lee, Solomon Levine, Ernest W. Machen, 

Ceremony 

Jr., D. Lane Matthews, Neil M. Miller, Donald M. Seltzer, William W. Sturges and William K. Van 

Allen. 

10 2011 MCB VLP Pro Bono 

MCB Secretary Tricia Morvan Derr presented the minutes from the 2010 Annual Meeting, 

Awards 

which were approved, and MCB Treasurer Robert E. Harrington gave the Treasurer’s report. 

The Volunteer Lawyer Program awarded the MCB VLP Pro Bono Awards to law firms and 

11 Volunteer Lawyer Spotlight attorneys who generously served our community by donating their limited time and considerable 

talents to those who could not afford legal services. Read about the winners on page 10. 

12 Join a Section and Connect MCB Past President and Chair of the Nominating Committee Patrick E. Kelly presented the 

with Colleagues 

slate of MCB officers for 2011-12, all of whom were elected: President-Elect, Robert E. Harrington; 

Vice President, Tricia Morvan Derr; Secretary, Lina E. James; and Treasurer, John C. Nipp. New 

13 MAP-Bar Celebrates First MCB board members elected at the meeting included Brian S. Cromwell, Leslie K. Cooley, Tracy 

Year 

H. Hewett, Caroline A. Mansfield, Sean F. Perrin and Clark C. Walton. Amanda S. Smiley was 

elected to serve as the Young Lawyers Division Chair/ex-officio member of the Board of Directors. 

After election of the MCB Board members, The Honorable Marvin K. Gray administered the 

13 The Bar Leadership Institute 

oath to the 2011-12 MCB President Robert C. Dortch, Jr. 

Committee 

The MCB thank its sponsors: Year-Round Sponsors: Lawyers Mutual Liability Insurance of 

14 Bar Foundation Fund North Carolina, SunTrust Bank, RBC Bank, Lawyers Insurance and GILSBAR; and Door Prize 

Sponsors: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, YMCA of Greater Charlotte, the 

Cheesecake Factory, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and Talbots. 

2011 Annual Meeting Report

From The President 

Robert C. Dortch, Jr. 

MCB President 

2011 Annual Meeting 

Remarks 

Well, it’s here. I knew more than a year 

ago that this day would come. When I was 

asked if I would consider taking on the 

position of President-Elect of the 

Mecklenburg County Bar (which for some 

reason results in that person becoming 

President), I knew there was this thing 

called the “President’s Column” in the 

monthly newsletter. No matter how many 

people I asked, they all had the same 

answer: yes, Bob, the President actually writes the President’s Column. 

Really? But many of those same folks also said: not that many people 

actually read the columns. So, I’ve got that going for me. 

The 99th Annual Meeting of the 26th Judicial District, Mecklenburg 

County Bar was held on May 19, 2011. After several cool and shady 

years at First Presbyterian Church, the meeting returned to sunny 

Marshall Park this year. Unlike last year, there was no hot topic on the 

agenda and attendance appeared to be a little down from the prior year. 

Approving meeting minutes and an annual budget just doesn’t have the 

same attraction that raising your dues did a year ago. Todd Brown 

welcomed everyone in attendance and highlighted some of the Bar’s 

many achievements during his year as Bar president. Those 

achievements were due, in large part, to his insightful and steady 

leadership. Thank you for your service Todd. 

The Bar and its 4300 members are in the midst of some very 

exciting and challenging times. The Bar celebrates its 100th 

anniversary in 2012. Many of our members are hard at work to ensure 

that 2012 is an event-filled centennial celebration. Mark R. Bernstein 

and Ray S. Farris co-chair the Bar History Committee and have been 

hard at work, among other things, raising funds for The History of the 

Mecklenburg County Bar, a book that chronicles the Bar’s past 100 

years. Mark W. Merritt and Shirley L. Fulton and their Centennial 

Celebration Subcommittee are busy putting together a gala, lecture 

series, museum exhibition and receptions that will include at least one 

nationally recognized speaker. Thanks to all of you for your hard work 

and commitment to the Bar. 

If you’ve been to the Bar’s headquarters at the corner of Queens 

Road and Luther Street, you probably noticed that we’re out of space. It 

is not unusual for 2 or 3 members of our dedicated staff to work in 

spaces intended for one person or in what was previously storage 

space. If you have attended one of the MCB’s CLEs, then you know 

that there is not enough parking available to accommodate everyone. 

The building itself is in need of some significant repairs. Pender R. 

McElroy and William H. McMullen Jr. co-chair the Future MCB/MBF 

Facility Committee. They and their committee continue to tirelessly 

research and investigate numerous sites that might be suitable for the 

future Bar/Foundation Center. 

The Bar remains committed to promoting diversity throughout our 

legal community and the Bar’s Special Committee on Diversity is one 

means of doing so. One of the great successes of the Special Committee 

is the Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship program. This year, more 

than 300 first year law students from across the county applied for 

seven summer clerkship positions. Their resumes are truly remarkable. 

These young people spend half of their summer clerking with one of 

the participating law firms and the other half clerking for the law 

department of one of the corporate partners. This is a huge 

undertaking by the law firm and corporate partners. Thank you for 

your tremendous commitment of time, energy and funds to the 

program. 

Thank you to our public interest attorneys. To many of our citizens, 

you are their sole definition of “lawyer”. You were not very happy with 

the MCB Board when the dues increase was put to a vote at last year’s 

Annual Meeting. Admittedly, the Bar has struggled in the past with 

how to increase its relevance to the public interest attorneys. We’re 

striving to do better and we will continue the dialogue with Public 

Defender Kevin P. Tully and District Attorney R. Andrew Murray on 

how best to serve you. It may help that four of your co-workers were 

elected to the MCB Board of Directors at this year’s Annual Meeting. 

Over the last few years, the Bar has taken significant steps towards 

getting its administrative house in order. Past President John W. 

Lassiter made it a priority to get a strategic plan in place. The strategic 

plan has now been approved (and can be found on www.MeckBar.org) 

thanks to the hard work of the Bar’s staff, Strategic Planning 

Committee Co-chair Carla N. Archie and the Committee itself. The 

plan sets out a road map on a broad range of topics that include board 

governance, member services, communications and technology, 

financial management and the future bar/foundation facility. The 

Strategic Planning Committee is in the process of implementing best 

practices for MCB committee structure to establish a more uniform 

approach in establishing and maintaining committees with regard to 

purpose, effectiveness, reporting, accountability, etc. 

The economy remains a major concern to most of us. Budget 

deficits are impacting an already underfunded judiciary. The NC 

Administrative Office of the Courts issued a Voluntary Reduction in 

Force Plan in January 2011. The Office of Indigent Defense Services 

recently notified NC attorneys, judges and clerks that hourly rates for 

court appointed counsel were reduced, effective May 2, 2011. Who will 

continue to do court appointed work for $55-$70/hour? The answer 

may be all of us if those already on the court appointed lists choose to 

drop off those lists. It was recently reported that drug courts may very 

well lose their funding. These are very challenging times for our friends 

who work at the courthouse. We need your help in advocating for the 

judicial branch of government. 

We’re very fortunate to belong to a strong and respected Bar. We can 

always make it better. Let us know how we can become more relevant 

to you or your practice. If you are already active in Bar activities – 

thank you. If you aren’t involved, I encourage you to call the Bar or me 

and let us know you want to get involved. Let us hear from you. This is 

a great Bar. You can make it better. If you have read this far – a special 

thanks to you. 

2 July 2011 www.MeckBar.org

2012 MCB Pictorial Membership Directory 

Feature your firm in the 

Blue Pages/Areas of 

Concentration Listings 

Over 5,000 MCB Directories are distributed annually. The 2012 edition will feature the 

professional photographs of more than 2,000 MCB members and will certainly be a reference tool 

for years to come. 

The blue pages or "Areas of Concentration" are an invaluable listing of attorneys, indexed by 

specific areas of practice. Attorneys listed in the blue pages under their area(s) of practice are at 

the fingertips of anyone needing to make a referral or find an attorney in a specialized area of law. 

To list yourself in the blue pages, visit www.MeckBar.org. 

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL - PRICES VALID THROUGH AUGUST 12, 2011 

Price increases by $25 for your first listing after August 12. 

• First Area of Concentration - $100* 

• Each additional specialty - $25* 

• Listings marked with specific multilingual designation - single fee of $25 for all your 

multilingual listings 

To be included in the 2011-12 MCB Pictorial Membership Directory, we must receive your 

order AND payment by September 19, 2011. 

*All fees apply to each participating attorney, not each firm. 

Update from the Office of 

Indigent Defense Services 

Some Mecklenburg County attorneys may soon need refresher courses in criminal law and 

evidence. 

The Office of Indigent Defense Services has notified North Carolina attorneys, judges and 

clerks that hourly rates for court appointed counsel in criminal cases have been reduced, effective 

May 2, 2011. The change comes as the N.C. General Assembly has indicated that the budget for 

IDS will be severely reduced due to the current state budget problems. 

The reduction in hourly rates has raised concern among court officials in Mecklenburg County 

that many attorneys will opt to drop off the list from which court appointed attorneys are 

appointed, leading to a shortage of attorneys willing to represent indigent defendants in criminal 

cases. Planning has begun to address the potential shortage. 

The hourly rate for Class A through D felonies in Superior Court will be $70. For all other 

cases disposed of in Superior Court, the hourly rate will be $60. For cases disposed of in District 

Court, the hourly rate will be $70 if the most serious original charge was a Class A through D 

felony. The hourly rate for all other cases in District Court will be $55. 

Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Richard D. Boner said recently that, in a worst case 

scenario, all licensed attorneys practicing in Mecklenburg County could be subject to 

appointment in criminal cases, regardless of the attorney’s practice specialty. 

“Everyone from the senior partner of the largest law firm to the newest associate will be on the 

list of court appointed attorneys. Real estate lawyers, estate lawyers, trial lawyers, everyone could 

be drafted. No one will be exempt,” Judge Boner said. 

Judge Boner and other court officials doubt that a mass draft will become necessary, but they 

want to be ready to implement such a measure. 

Submit Dues 

and Contact 

Information 

by Sept. 30 

Membership Dues Late Fee 

A $15 late fee will be imposed on all dues 

payments not received by September 30, 

2011. You may pay your dues at 

www.MeckBar.org or mail your invoice and 

check to Mecklenburg County Bar, 438 

Queens Rd., Charlotte, NC 28207. 

Update Your Contact Information 

Please update your contact information if it 

has changed. You may log-in to your account 

on www.MeckBar.org to confirm and/or edit 

your current contact information or e-mail Jill 

Wiggins at jwiggins@meckbar.org. All 

changes must be made by September 30, 

2011 to be reflected in the MCB 2011-12 

Membership Directory. 

Editorial Policy 

The Mecklenburg Bar News accepts editorial 

and advertising material of general legal 

interest to the practicing Bar of the 26th 

Judicial District. The implicit purposes of the 

newsletter, website, and related methods of 

communication are to educate members of 

the Mecklenburg County Bar and to create 

and maintain shared communication with its 

members. The Communications Committee 

reserves the right to accept, reject, or edit all 

material. 

DISCLAIMER Efforts will be made to provide 

information of interest that is timely, accurate, 

and relevant to the legal community. The 

Mecklenburg County Bar is not responsible 

for misprints, typographical errors, or 

misinformation in The Mecklenburg Bar News. 

The views and opinions are not necessarily 

those of the 26th Judicial District Bar. 

Communications Committee: J.P. Davis, Chair, 

Justin Carpenter, Alan Edmonds, Bob 

Johnston, Charles Keller, Rhea Kelley, 

Hannah Little, Carrie Mansfield, Chara 

Moore, Phillip Lewis, Nancy Roberson, 

Michael Shor, Rob Wick 

www.MeckBar.org July 2011 3

CLDC Hosts Sixth Class of Clerks 

Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship (CLDC) students and MCB attorneys display their artwork after an introductory 

painting course through the Community Schools for the Arts. Pictured left to right: Serena Rwejuna; Michael 

Lawrence; JiWon Park; Yasir Latifi; Titilayo Tinubu; Subhan Baig; Kristi K. Walters; Apoorva Patel. 

The Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship 

(CLDC) program — a program of the 

Mecklenburg County Bar (MCB) — is 

hosting seven first-year law students in the 

Queen City as part of 

its 2011 CLDC class. 

These students were 

selected from 300 

applications from 

across the country for Charlotte. 

the competitive 

internship positions. 

During the 12-week internship, the clerks 

spend six weeks working for a law firm and 

six weeks with a corporate legal department. 

In addition, CLDC students participate in 

professional and social activities, which are 

representative of the lifestyle of practicing 

law and living in Charlotte. This 2011 

program features, among other activities, a 

painting class at Spirit Square, lunch with 

members of the judiciary, breakfast with 

Mayor Foxx and a trip to the U.S. National 

White Water Center. 

All applicants provided academic and 

professional resumes, along with a statement 

explaining how they would contribute to the 

goal of creating a more diverse legal 

community in Charlotte. Representatives 

from the CLDC firms and corporations 

interviewed 24 semi-finalists in late February. 

The highly-qualified candidates took part in 

a two-day interview and attended a 

networking reception with representatives 

More than 23% of CLDC 

alumni have returned to 

from the law firms, legal departments and 

the MCB. 

“As the son of a Cuban immigrant and 

second generation Italian immigrant,” wrote 

Chris Baratta, first- year law 

student at Emory University 

School of Law, “I know firsthand 

the challenges that 

individuals in diverse 

populations face.” Chris 

added, “The culture shock 

that I faced upon relocation [from Miami, FL 

to High Point, NC in my early adolescence] 

opened my eyes, for the first time, to the 

necessity of promoting diversity in 

furtherance of a harmonious and tolerant 

society.” Chris will split his time during the 

CLDC clerkship at K&L Gates and Bank of 

America. 

Founded in 2006, the CLDC operates 

with one basic goal – to improve diversity in 

our Bar by attracting top first-year law 

students with diverse backgrounds to 

Charlotte through corporate and law firm 

summer internships. To date, the CLDC 

program has hosted 43 first-year students 

from 17 different law schools. Twenty-three 

percent of the CLDC alumni have returned 

to Charlotte for either a second year 

clerkship or full-time employment. 

The program operates under the leadership 

of its co-chairs Rakesh Gopalan, 

attorney at McGuireWoods LLP, and Michael 

J. Lawrence, Assistant General Counsel at 

CLDC student Yasir Latifi works to perfect his shading 

technique. 

Compass Group USA, Inc., under the 

sponsorship of the Mecklenburg County 

Bar's Special Committee on Diversity. 

The following law firms and corporations 

have participated as CLDC partner 

employers during the past three years: Alston 

& Bird, LLP; Bank of America; Compass 

Group USA Inc.; Duke Energy Corporation; 

Goodrich Corporation; Hunton & Williams; 

K & L Gates; McGuireWoods, LLP; Moore & 

Van Allen, PLLC; Parker, Poe, Adams & 

Bernstein LLP; Mayer Brown; Robinson, 

Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.; TIAA-CREF; Wells 

Fargo Corporation; and Womble, Carlyle, 

Sandridge & Rice. 

2011 CLDC Clerks: 

• Subhan Baig, 

Northwestern University School of Law 

• Christopher Baratta, 

Emory University School of Law 

• Yasir Latifi, 

University of North Carolina School of 

Law 

• JiWon Park, 

Boston University School of Law 

• Apoorva Patel, 

Harvard Law School 

• Serena Rwejuna, 

Duke University School of Law 

• Titilayo Tinubu, 

University of California, Berkeley, School of 

Law (Boalt Hall) 


Paying the Piper 

By Camille Stell 

Last year, international law firm Squire 

Sanders (now Squire Sanders and Hammonds) 

sued a client for $1.2 million in unpaid legal 

fees. Not surprisingly, their client retaliated 

with a legal malpractice lawsuit. In addition to 

the $1.2 million in unpaid fees, the firm is 

now running up its own legal bills by hiring 

an outside law firm to represent them. It’s 

hard to imagine how a law firm can allow a 

client to run up so large a tab. The case 

exemplifies the advice you might receive from 

your malpractice provider to avoid suing your 

clients for unpaid fees. 

Law office management experts were 

appalled that collections were allowed to 

languish to the point that the client owed $1 

million. To avoid this scenario, there are a few 

rules you should follow: 

1. Screen clients effectively on the front end. 

Look for red flags of financial difficulty that 

would prohibit a client from being able to 

pay you. Also, look for red flags that would 

prohibit a client from wanting to pay you. 

Do they bash the legal system? Are they 

cynical of lawyers? Do they protest each 

and every charge? 

2. Keep a close eye on account receivables. 

When you see a client is more than 30 days 

past due, reach out with a phone call or e- 

mail. Offer a quick status report on their 

matter, and then ask about the late bill. 

Don’t be embarrassed to make the call. You 

have earned your fee; it’s easier to collect 

one month late than six months late. 

3. Get help. Delegate responsibility to your 

accounting department or a support staff 

member to keep you apprised of 

collections and to provide you with a 

report when clients are late with payments. 

You may also want the first reminder to 

come from your staff, but don’t separate 

yourself completely from the billing process. 

It’s easy for a client to avoid your staff’s 

request for payment, make it hard for them 

to stiff you for the money they owe you. 

4. Send timely bills. It’s easier for a client to 

avoid paying you if they don’t get the result 

they want. For this reason, you’ll also want 

to keep your accounts receivable up to date. 

Also, don’t wait too long after getting a good 

result to final bill your client. They are the 

most pleased with your work on the day 

you give them the good news. 

Rule 1.5 of the North Carolina Rules of 

Professional Conduct guide a lawyer’s conduct 

with regard to fees. Lawyers need to be explicit 

with clients about fees. Put everything in 

writing so there will be no misunderstanding 

later. However, it is inevitable that sometimes 

a client will fail to pay his bill for legal services 

in a timely fashion or will simply refuse to pay 

because he is unhappy with the outcome of 

his case. In these circumstances, the lawyer 

may feel his only recourse is to sue the client 

for the cost of the unpaid services. 

Before you decide to sue a client for fees 

ask yourself the following questions: 

1. Is the amount collectible? You cannot get 

fees from a client who is broke. You might 

get a judgment against the client, but you 

will probably also find yourself defending a 

malpractice suit. 

2. Is the amount substantial? Is the amount 

of money owed significant enough to cover 

the costs, loss of reputation, time and 

aggravation associated with a malpractice 

suit? If not, you may be better off letting it 

ride and claiming the tax deduction. 

3. Did you obtain a good result for the client? 

If not, it is more likely than not that the 

client will blame you. The jury hearing the 

malpractice suit might think that you not 

only failed to do a good job for the client, 

but that you are greedy as well. As the 

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public becomes increasingly cynical about 

the legal profession, it is less likely that 

jurors will sympathize with an unpaid 

lawyer who sues his client for fees after an 

unfavorable result. 

4. Has another attorney gone through the 

file to see if there are any weak links that 

could lead to a malpractice claim? If you 

are going to take a chance on being sued 

for malpractice, you will want to be sure 

that you can argue that the counterclaim 

for malpractice is without merit. An 

independent peer review can help you 

decide whether the attorney fees are worth 

pursuing in light of the risk. 

If, after answering these questions, you still 

decide to pursue a lawsuit against your client, 

you must first comply with Rule 1.5 of the 

Rules of Professional Conduct regarding the 

fee dispute resolution program. Please contact 

the MCB at 704/375-8624 to learn more about 

the fee dispute process. If you have any 

questions about what to do if you find 

yourself in this situation, you should contact a 

claims lawyer. 

Camille Stell is the Director of Client Services 

for Lawyers Mutual. With over 20 years of 

experience in the legal field, Camille has worked 

for law firms as a paralegal, legal recruiter and 

business developer. Contact Camille at 

800/662.8843 or 

Camille@lawyersmutualnc.com. 

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CMS Students Lunch with Lawyers 

Photo: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students and 

their attorney mentors enjoyed the view of uptown 

Charlotte atop the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. 

Volunteer attorney mentors and student 

mentees of the Lunch with a Lawyer (LwL) 

program recently celebrated the end of the 

2010-11 school year by participating in a 

tour of the Mecklenburg County Courthouse 

and a mock trial. 

Maura Chavez of the Trial Court 

Administrator’s office guided the visiting 

students and attorneys through the 

courthouse while providing an overview of 

the local judicial system. The tour included 

first-appearance courtrooms, traffic court, 

judicial offices and introductions to District 

Court Judge Matthew J. Osman and Superior 

Court Judge W. Robert Bell. The student 

mentees, who are now rising ninth graders, 

have expressed an interest in a career in the 

legal profession. 

Judge Albert Diaz, founder of the LwL 

program, facilitated a mock trial following 

the tour. The case — involving an iPhone 

stolen from a student in the school 

cafeteria— allowed each attending mentee to 

participate in some role of the judicial 

system. From swearing in witnesses, 

delivering opening and closing statements, 

examining witnesses and testifying on the 

stand, each student received a first-hand look 

at courtroom operations. The mentors and 

mentees concluded their day with lunch 

where they discussed summer plans and 

their expectations for high school. 

The LwL mentors have visited their 

assigned mentee’s school once per month for 

lunch throughout the school year. LwL 

mentors serve as positive role models for 

diverse eighth grade students. Since the 

program’s inception in 2006, more than 330 

students and their attorney mentors have 

participated in the program. The selected 

students, who are recommended by their 

principals and exhibit outstanding scholastic 

achievement, are considering a future legal 

career. 

Diversity Committee Seeks Attorney 

Mentors for 2011-12 School Year 

Dear Colleagues, 

The MCB Special Committee on Diversity is currently seeking volunteer attorneys 

who are interested in making a difference in the life of a young person by mentoring 

a student in the Lunch with a Lawyer program. 

Through a partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), lawyers will 

serve as mentors to rising eighth graders throughout the 2011-12 school year. 

Mentors will meet with their paired mentee at least once a month for lunch, serving 

as a positive role model and providing the student with a window into the legal 

profession. Participating students, who are recommended by their principals and 

represent a broad range of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, are considering a 

future legal career. 

All new volunteer attorneys will attend a program orientation in July 2011 to discuss 

program expectations and to review tips for establishing a beneficial mentoring 

relationship. Additionally, new volunteer attorneys will be required to submit to a 

background check before being matched with a CMS student. The program officially 

celebrates its kick-off with a luncheon in mid-August prior to the new school year. 

Here, students, their parents and school administrators will meet their attorney mentors 

and listen to guest speakers from the community during the kick off luncheon. 

The MCB has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from lawyers and students 

who have participated in this program in the past, many of whom have formed 

relationships that will endure for years to come. If you or your colleagues are 

interested in serving in the 2011-12 Lunch with a Lawyer program, please contact 

Judge Albert Diaz (albert.diaz@ca4.uscourts.gov or 704/333-8025) or Judge Rickye 

McKoy-Mitchell (Rickye.mckoymitchell@nccourts.org or 704/686-0141). 

Sincerely, 

Hon. Albert Diaz, Immediate Past Co-chair, MCB Special Committee on Diversity 

Hon. Rickye McKoy-Mitchell, Co-Chair, Bench, Bar and Community Subcommittee 

of the MCB Special Committee on Diversity 


MCB Young Lawyers Division 

Working Together: The Future of YLD 

By Amanda Sifford Smiley, Chair 

Allow me to 

introduce myself: 

I am Amanda 

Smiley and I have 

the honor of 

serving as the 

2011–12 MCB 

Young Lawyers 

Division Chair. I 

Amanda Sifford Smiley, Chair have been 

involved with the YLD in various positions for 

the past four years and I look forward to taking 

on this mantle, following in the footsteps of 

the excellent leaders the YLD has had during 

that time. 

Each of the YLD chairmen whom I have 

had the pleasure to serve under have 

identified particular areas in which to 

concentrate and improve upon. This year, the 

YLD will focus on improving our visibility 

with a particular eye on open communications 

and increased synergy with the MCB. 

The stated purposes of the YLD, which 

includes lawyers 36 years of age or under or 

lawyers within their first three years of 

practice, are to encourage the participation of 

young lawyers in the purposes and objectives 

of the Mecklenburg County Bar; assist young 

lawyers through professional and social 

activities; and conduct programs and projects 

of interest to the general public. 

As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can 

do so little. Together we can do so much.” The 

YLD stands in a particularly good position to 

help young lawyers find their place in the 

legal profession and with the MCB. By 

working together with the MCB, our hope is 

to continue to foster our profession’s and 

community’s future leaders. To further YLD 

and MCB’s goals, our 2011–12 events will 

include in-person Ask-A-Lawyer days, CLEs, 

relevant group community service projects 

and quarterly socials. 

As a reminder to MCB and YLD members, 

below is a brief description of the six YLD 

Committees: 

Community Service Committee —Facilitates 

public service opportunities for YLD 

members, which included this year providing 

meals for the needy, building a Habitat for 

Humanity house, participating in holiday gift 

drives, clothing drives, etc. 

Education Committee —Organizes activities 

that educate the Mecklenburg County 

community, including the Big Bad Wolf 

Project, Lawyers Teaching Justice, Law 

Explorers and the Academic Internship 

Program. 

Legal Assistance Committee —Organizes 

projects which provide legal assistance to the 

citizens of Mecklenburg County and/or North 

Carolina as a whole, including Ask-A-Lawyer 

Day and NCBA’s 4-All Service Day. 

Social Committee —Organizes quarterly 

socials for YLD members and provides other 

events and gatherings which promote the 

interests of YLD members. 

Membership Committee —Focuses on 

increasing YLD membership and ensuring 

that the YLD meets the needs of its members. 

This committee also organizes the MCB YLD 

Young Lawyer of the Year Award and the new 

lawyer swearing-in ceremonies. 

Connectivity Committee —Ensures that the 

YLD members are actively participating in the 

goals and missions of the MCB. This 

committee bridges the gap between the YLD 

and the MCB and assists YLD members as 

they increase their involvement in the MCB. 

We encourage young lawyers to join us in 

any of these committees – we always welcome 

the help. If you’d like more information about 

the MCB YLD or are interested in getting 

involved in any of the above committees, 

please contact me at asmiley@cshlaw.com or 

704/ 940-3409 or our Connectivity 

Committee Chair Carrie Mansfield at 

cmansfield@charlottelaw.edu. We also have 

worked to increase our visibility online and 

have a presence on www.MeckBar.org and 

Facebook. We encourage all YLD lawyers to 

keep an eye on both pages as future events 

and notices are posted there. We look forward 

to having you join us for what promises to be a 

great year for our Division and our Bar. 


51 Attorneys Sworn-In at Spring 2011 

Ceremony 

Congratulations to the new attorneys who 

were sworn in on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 

The Blake Hotel! Senior Resident Superior 

Court Judge Richard D. Boner presided over 

the state portion of the ceremonial court 

session and U.S. Chief District Court Judge 

Robert J. Conrad Jr. presided over the federal 

portion of the ceremonial court session. 

Daniel A. Merlin, chair of the Young Lawyers 

Division, helped congratulate the newly sworn 

in attorneys. The Young Lawyers Division 

thanks its sponsor LexisNexis and the 

Western District of North Carolina for their 

support. Please welcome the following 

Above: Each new attorney was introduced to the courts and Bar by an established member of the Bar. 

Below: New attorneys swore or affirmed to support the Constitution of the U.S., bear true allegiance to the state of 

N.C. and honestly demean his/her self in the practice of an Attorney. 

attorneys to the North Carolina State Bar: 

Victor H. Adelman 

Tulane University 

Loyola School of Law 

Kelli Y. Allen 

University of North Carolina – Charlotte 

Charlotte School of Law 

Stephen M. Anthony 

University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill 

North Carolina Central University School of 

Law 

William D. Anthony 

University of California, Los Angeles 

Southwestern University School of Law 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Tiffany Arrott 

Loyola University, Chicago 

Chicago – Kent College of Law 

Leigha G. Blackwell 


University of South Carolina School of Law 

Natalie A. Blakeney 

University of Florida 

Howard University School of Law 

Asya Bynum 

Lincoln University 

Thomas M. Cooley Law School 

Lesley M. Cedrone 

Wheaton College 

New England School of Law 

Jennifer L. Cianciolo 

Bowling Green State University 

Ohio Northern School of Law 

Katherine E. Costello 

Bucknell University 

Loyola University Law School 

Robert W. Cuffney 

SUNY Geneseo 


Marco E. Duque 

Catholic University 

Suffolk University Law School 

Gonzalo E. Frias 

University of Florida 

American University Washington College of 

Law 

Kristen M. Goetz 

Syracuse University 

Florida Coastal School of Law 

Meredith E. Green 

Furman University 

Wake Forest University School of Law 

Laura B. Greene 

Allegheny College 

University of Toledo College of Law 

Elizabeth A. Grymes 

Northwestern University 


Judith S. Haensel 

SUNY Oswego 

University of Muenster School of Law/ 


Clinton C. Hicks II 

University of North Carolina – Wilmington 

North Carolina Central University School of 

Law 

William L. Holby 

University of Richmond 

Vanderbilt University School of Law 

Samuel L. Janniere 

University of South Carolina 

Howard University School of Law 

Troy J. Huth 



Lesley T. Keith 

North Carolina State University 


Kristen M. Lewis 

Georgia State University 


Jeffrey P. Martin 

Colgate University 


Matthew V. Matinata 

Virginia Tech 

Barry University School of Law 

Whitney G. Maxwell 

Virginia Tech 

Liberty University School of Law 

Blanche K. McBride 



Rebecca T. McNerney 

Clemson University 


Rachel E. Miller 

Kaplan University 

Thomas M. Cooley Law School 

Nina Moulas 

Auburn University at Montgomery, 

Alabama 

Samford University, Cumberland School of 

Law 

Colleen E. Mulcrone 


American University Washington College of 

Law 

Mark A. Noel 

University of Kentucky 

University of Kentucky College of Law, 

University of Miami School of Law 

Matthew E. Orso 

University of Dayton 

Saint Louis University School of Law 

David A. Rea 

University of Central Florida 


Brian Roberts 

University of California, San Diego 


Brian A. Romano 

Princeton University 

Notre Dame Law School 

Stephen J. Romeo 

Villanova University 

Widener University School of Law 

Sarah B. Rose 

University of North Carolina – Wilmington 

Campbell University School of Law 

Kristina A. Scally 

University of Georgia 

Washburn University School of Law 

Blaine W. Schmidt 

Queens University of Charlotte 

University of North Carolina School of Law 

Shailika K. Shah 


University of North Carolina School of Law 

Brendan M. Shea 



James W. Sheedy 

Davidson College 


Michael D. Spies 

College of William & Mary 

William & Mary School of Law 

Jonathan M. Watkins 

Lehigh University 

Fordham University School of Law 

Daniel E. Wall 

University of North Carolina – Charlotte 

Capital University Law School 

Andrew M. Weiss 

Ball State University 

Indiana University School of Law 

Anna H. Winger 


Vermont Law School 

John C. Woodman 

Flagler College 



MCB Volunteer Lawyer Program 

2011 Pro Bono Awards 

Seven pro bono awards were distributed 

this year at the MCB Annual Meeting held 

in Marshall Park on May 19, 2011. MCB 

Executive Director Nancy M. Roberson 

announced the awards as MCB President A. 

Todd Brown presented the awards to the 

winners. These attorneys exemplify the 

status of attorneys as “public citizen[s] 

having special responsibility for the quality 

of justice” as written in the North Carolina 

Rules of Professional Conduct. 

Hunton & Williams received the Outstanding 

Large Firm award for its ongoing 

commitment to pro bono in Mecklenburg 

County. In 2010, the Charlotte office 

contributed more than 2,400 hours to pro 

bono – averaging 82 pro bono hours per 

attorney. They obtained these outstanding 

numbers through innovative programs 

relevant to the need in the community 

including the Council for Children’s Rights 

Custody Advocacy Program and Legal Aid of 

North Carolina’s SSI Disability Program. 

Hatcher Law Group was presented the 

Outstanding Small Firm award for their 

commitment to assisting the victims of 

domestic violence in Mecklenburg County. 

This nine-attorney firm has shown continued 

dedication to Victim’s Assistance by taking 

one pro bono case per week since 2007 and 

contributing more than 175 hours this past 

year. They also lead trainings on representing 

victims of domestic violence so other 

attorneys can assist this population as well as 

giving monthly family law seminars for 

women at the Mecklenburg County Women’s 

Commission. 

William L. Esser IV of Parker Poe Adams & 

Bernstein LLP won the Outstanding 

Individual Attorney award after being 

nominated by Legal Aid of North Carolina 

and Legal Services of Southern Piedmont for 

his decade-long affiliation with both 

organizations. His work has spanned many 

areas including low-income clients in 

housing, wills, consumer and tax cases. One 

of his most inspiring cases took eight years to 

complete and included filing a lawsuit 

against a landlord on behalf of his client 

which the landlord never paid. His clients 

were forced to move out and subsequently, 

lost touch with Will. Eventually, the landlord 

paid the final judgment. Upon notification, 

Will began the tedious process of tracking 

down a lost client. After just a few days he 

found her and was able to give her the check. 

This is just one example of his dedication – 

when urgent cases are turned down due to 

firm conflicts, Will makes the effort to find 

another attorney to assist the client. As Ken 

Schorr, Executive Director of Legal Services 

of Southern Piedmont and Ted Fillette, 

Senior Managing Attorney of Legal Aid of 

North Carolina explained, “He exemplifies 

the spirit of pro bono service.” 

These attorneys exemplify the 

status of attorneys as “public 

citizen[s] having special 

responsibility for the quality 

of justice” 

Corey Rose of Dechert LLP received the MCB 

Volunteer Lawyer Program Pro Bono Award 

on behalf of Legal Aid of North Carolina. 

He donated 325 pro bono hours in 2010 to 

Legal Aid of North Carolina’s 

Landlord/Tenant project. More than 150 of 

those hours were dedicated to a grandmother 

caring for her four grandchildren who moved 

into an apartment with numerous defects. 

When the landlord filed for back rent and 

summary ejectment, Corey’s client was 

awarded more than $7000 in damages. 

According to his nomination, Corey does not 

differentiate between his business clients and 

his pro bono clients, treating them “with the 

same professionalism and dignity” and 

“preparing each case as meticulously as he 

would a complex regulatory issue.” 

Robert J. Hahn of Hunton & Williams 

received the MCB Volunteer Lawyer 

Program Pro Bono Award on behalf of Legal 

Services of Southern Piedmont. Bob 

dedicated more than 275 pro bono service 

hours and closed 12 cases in 2010. This 

number eclipsed the number of pro bono 

cases closed by any other volunteer for LSSP 

in 2010. Bob’s dedication to benefits cases is 

impressive – he spent more than 60 hours on 

a case from which a previous attorney had 

withdrawn and was able to acquire benefits 

for a young boy with a severe form of sickle 

cell anemia. As one client explained about 

Bob, he is a “good, good man and I thank 

God he is a good attorney too.” 

Melissa Davis Wright of Melissa Wright Law, 

PLLC received the MCB Volunteer Lawyer 

Program Pro Bono Award on behalf of 

Council for Children’s Rights due to her 

dedication in the last year to CFCR, but 

more importantly to two children ensnared 

in a very difficult custody case, in which 

both parents and both children experienced 

psychological problems of varying degrees of 

severity. Melissa is thoroughly reliable in her 

dealings with CFCR staff, the children, their 

parents and the court. She spent in excess of 

100 hours on behalf of these children – a 

large contribution for any lawyer but 

particularly for a sole practitioner like Melissa. 

Jennifer Turner of Hedrick, Gardner, 

Kincheloe & Garofalo received the Jane V. 

Harper Pro Bono Award for service to the 

26th Judicial District SelfServe Center as a 

dedicated member of the SelfServe Center’s 

Attorney for the Day Program. She has 

selflessly given the program more than 30 

hours of service from March 2010 through 

March 2011 – the most of any attorney in 

that time period. These hours include the 

Attorney for the Day Program and 

Supervising Custody / Divorce Clinics at the 

Charlotte School of Law. Jennifer treats each 

litigant with respect and values their 

individual situation. Over the past year she 

has received excellent ratings on all of the 

evaluations provided by litigants of the 

Attorney for the Day Program, the litigants 

also expressed how helpful she was during 

the consultation. 


Volunteer Lawyer Program SPOTLIGHT 

Cynthia A. Aziz 

Cynthia A. Aziz has worked with the 

Washington, DC based group Catholic Legal 

Immigration Network, Inc (CLINIC) for 

many years to assist immigrants in complex 

immigration litigation or challenging family 

reunification situations. CLINIC was 

established in 1988 by the United States 

Conference of Catholic Bishops to support a 

rapidly growing network of communitybased 

immigration programs. The network 

employs roughly 1,200 attorneys and 

paralegals who, in turn, serve 600,000 lowincome 

immigrants each year. Maria Odom, 

CLINIC executive director said “[Cynthia’s] 

experience and commitment to providing 

the very best representation to immigrants 

in need has served as inspiration to many 

immigration attorneys, including myself, 

throughout the years.” 

MCB VLP: Current Employer / number of 

years with current employer? 

CA: 21 years as principal and founder of 

Aziz Law Firm – Immigration Specialists 

MCB VLP: Area of Practice / Expertise? 

CA: US Immigration and Nationality Law 

MCB VLP: Law School? 

CA: Mount Holyoke College for BA and 

New England School of Law for J.D. 

MCB VLP: How did you discover Catholic 

Legal Immigration Network, Inc (CLINIC) 

CA: I have been familiar with CLINIC for 

many years as a resource in my practice 

through their national educational seminars 

and outstanding humanitarian work. I have 

been serving as a volunteer attorney in 

connection with CLINIC’s National Pro Bono 

Project for Children since 2009. This project 

is designed to provide pro bono 

representation to unaccompanied noncitizen 

children before the Immigration 

Court and the Department of Homeland 

Security. 

MCB VLP: What is a typical case / issue 

like? 

CA: There is no “typical” case. The fact 

patterns too often read like episodes from 

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. My 

youngest currrent client was barely one year 

when he arrived in the U.S. with his then 

pregnant 17 year old aunt. His mother had 

been killed by my client’s grandfather in 

Honduras. With the help of an attorney in 

Brunswick County, Kim Smithwick, this 

now three year old is subject of a Custody 

Order which will permit this child to pursue 

special immigrant juvenile status. 

MCB VLP: How many of these types of pro 

bono cases do you typically handle at one 

time? 

CA: I am currently the lead attorney on 

three unaccompanied minor cases through 

CLINIC in addition to several other pro 

bono matters our firm is handling. Other 

current pro bono cases have come to me 

through Cabarrus County’s DSS (minor US 

citizen born outside the US who is currently 

in foster care), our local immigration court 

(mentally impaired Iraqi refugee) and our 

local volunteer attorney immigration court 

project (Mexican teenager who fears gang 

retribution in his home country). I have 

successfully solicited the assistance of 

several wonderful colleagues in the MCB to 

assist me in handling a couple of these cases. 

This team approach has made it feasible to 

take on more cases than I otherwise might. 

MCB VLP: How do you prepare for handling 

them? 

CA: When I am assigned cases from CLINIC, 

I receive detailed reports that contain case 

summaries including factual and procedural 

information. In addition, I can contact a staff 

attorney at CLINIC with questions, seek 

guidance and support. There is an abundance 

of information available through CLINIC’s 

website, as well as special webinars on 

immigrant children related issues. 

MCB VLP: Did you participate in any 

particular training so that you could handle 

these cases? 

CA: As a seasoned immigration practitioner 

Cynthia A. Aziz 

for more than 23 years, I have handled 

similar issues for other clients. However, the 

unique legal issues related to 

unaccompanied minors continue to evolve 

and there are special rules and exceptions 

distinct from generally rigid immigration 

procedural requirements. Therefore, it is 

important for even the most seasoned 

immigration practitioner to access the 

materials and mentoring resources available 

through CLINIC and local practitioners in 

related disciplines involving children’s 

issues. 

MCB VLP: What is your hope for the future 

with regard to these cases / issue? 

CA: My hope is that our legal community 

can find within its members some advocates 

for these children. Not all will be entitled to 

a legal remedy that will permit the children 

to remain in the US, but the goal is to find 

free legal help for these children so they are 

guaranteed a fair day in court. These 

children are truly among the most 

vulnerable newcomers to our country and 

region. 

MCB VLP: How can the Mecklenburg 

County legal community help with similar 

cases? 

CA: If you are interested in representing an 

unaccompanied child in our local Charlotte 

Immigration Court, please contact the 

National Pro Bono Immigrant Children’s 

Project by going to their site at 

cliniclegal.org/pro-bono-kids-volunteerform-attorneys. 

The projects coordinators will match you to 

a child who has a case before the Charlotte 

Immigration Court. 


Join a Section and Connect with 

Colleagues in Your Practice Area 

The Mecklenburg County Bar offers 11 

sections to serve its members within particular 

fields. Each section sponsors Continuing 

Legal Education programs on topics requested 

by their membership and provides social, 

networking and educational opportunities for 

its members. 

For detailed information on activities of a 

specific section, please visit www.MeckBar.org 

or contact Mary Jordan Samuel, Director of 

Lawyer Volunteer & Community Service at 

mjsamuel@meckbar.org or 704/375-8624 

ext.115. 

Business Law 

Offers informational and educational 

opportunities to business lawyers across a 

broad range of substantive areas, including 

banking, corporations and commercial law. 

Provides networking opportunities to its 

members in order to further the development 

of business lawyers in Mecklenburg County. 

Civil Litigation 

Offers an annual CLE on litigation skills, 

effective advocacy, electronic discovery, 

litigation practice specialties, mediation and 

arbitration skills. Promotes collegiality 

between the bench and Bar by hosting semiannual 

luncheons with local, state and federal 

judges. 

Corporate Counsel 

Hosts seminars, roundtable meetings and 

programs focused on problems of common 

interest, including corporation and antitrust 

law, attorney-client privilege, governmental 

regulation, law department administration 

and relations with outside counsel. 

Membership is limited to attorneys employed 

full-time in a corporation’s law department or in 

any executive, managerial or supervisory 

capacity. 

Criminal Justice 

Recognizes and addresses issues affecting all 

participants in the criminal justice system 

through educational programs on criminal 

procedure, divergent ethical obligations and 

heavy caseloads that include both domestic 

and civil cases 

Estate Planning & Probate 

Plans educational programs about substantive 

and procedural laws governing trusts, probate 

estates, guardianships, conservatorships and 

matters affecting estate planning and 

administration. Hosts luncheons to promote 

collegiality among section members and 

Mecklenburg County estate clerks. 

Family Law 

Keeps members informed of the ongoing 

changes and trends in the practice of family 

law in Mecklenburg County by planning 

monthly lunch and learn CLE programs. 

Works with the Family Court Administrator 

to inform family law attorneys of new 

legislation and court procedures. 

Immigration & Nationality 

Provides opportunities for attorneys practicing 

immigration law to meet with colleagues to 

discuss the issues they face in everyday 

practice. Collaborates with other practice 

sections to educate attorneys on immigration 

issues in different areas of practice. 

Participates in Citizenship Workshops 

throughout the year, held in conjunction with 

International House and the Latin American 

Coalition. 

Juvenile Law 

Provides opportunities for members to 

enhance professional practice and improve the 

outcomes of children and families in 

Abuse/Neglect/Dependent Court and DJJDP 

Court. Educational topics include trends in 

child welfare law, interface among juvenile 

court and schools and training in non-legal 

areas of child development/family dynamics, 

substance abuse/mental health treatment and 

domestic violence. 

Real Property 

Meets quarterly to discuss issues regarding 

real estate, housing and land use practitioners. 

Plans educational programs to further the 

knowledge of Section members in their 

practice. Provides information to Section and 

MCB members on legislative, finance, zoning, 

land-use laws, legal opinions and landlordtenant 

relations. 

Sole Practitioner/Small Firm 

Holds monthly luncheons with guest speakers 

to provide Section members the opportunity 

to network and discuss valuable lessons in 

maintaining a solo or small firm. Topics of 

interest include financial management, best 

hiring practices, employee benefits, 

immigration law, maintaining a small firm in a 

recession and more. 

Tax 

Offers educational programs on federal and 

local tax issues, including presentations by 

leading practitioners and key government 

officials in the field. Hosts roundtable 

discussions to provide networking and social 

opportunities while engaging in thoughtful 

conversation regarding current tax law issues. 

Any MCB member may enroll as a member 

of a section by the payment of annual section 

dues. Annual dues (each section) - $25; 

ADA/APD dues (each section) - $10; Judicial 

dues - $0. To join a section, visit 

www.MeckBar.org, see your annual dues 

invoice or call 704/375-8624. 

Upcoming Events 

7-21-11 

Memorial Service for 

George L. Fitzgerald 

1:30 p.m., Mecklenburg County 

Courthouse - Courtroom 5370 

Friends and colleagues are encouraged 

to attend and, if desired, say a few 

words in celebration of Mr. Fitzgerald’s 

life. 

8-25-11 

Memorial Service for Solomon Levine 

1:30 p.m., Mecklenburg County 

Courthouse - Courtroom 5370 

Friends and colleagues are encouraged 

to attend and, if desired, say a few 

words in celebration of Mr. Levine’s 

life. 


The MAP-Bar Celebrates Its First Year 

By Mica L. Nguyen 

“Welcome to the MAP-Bar!” This phrase 

has been the resounding note from the 

fledging organization in its first year of 

inception. The Mecklenburg County Asian 

Pacific American Bar (MAP-Bar) is a 

networking resource for Asian Pacific 

American (APA) lawyers in Mecklenburg 

County and the surrounding areas. The MAP- 

Bar welcomes attorneys with backgrounds 

from Asia, Southeast Asia, India and the 

Pacific Islands. 

The MAP-Bar also has several law student 

and affiliate members supportive of the 

organization. Inclusive of its law student and 

affiliate members, the MAP-Bar has more than 

doubled its membership in its first year. The 

MAP-Bar’s primary goal for its “early” years is 

to formally establish the organization and 

provide opportunities for APA lawyers to 

connect with one another. In February 2011, 

the MAP-Bar hosted a member social at Enso 

Asian Bistro to celebrate the MAP-Bar’s first 

year anniversary. 

In its first year, the MAP-Bar has hosted 

and co-sponsored several social events 

including the Summer Associates Social in 

July 2010 for law students spending their 

summer in Charlotte. The MAP-Bar continues 

to be supportive of the Charlotte Legal 

Diversity Clerkship (CLDC) program that 

welcomes minority students to premier law 

firms and corporations in Charlotte for 

summer associate positions. 

Notably, the MAP-Bar has also partnered 

with the Charlotte School of Law’s newlyformed 

Asian Pacific American Law Student 

Association (APALSA). Members of the MAP- 

Bar participated in a Pro Bono Panel discussion 

with the new APALSA members in October 

2010. The MAP-Bar members are highly 

supportive of the students’ organization. 

In December 2010, the MAP-Bar members 

also participated in a member survey to 

address concerns and discuss ideas and 

suggestions for the next year. The members 

emphasized their desire for the MAP-Bar to 

become a tool for the advancement of 

diversity in the local legal community, as well 

as to give back to the Asian community in 

Mecklenburg and the surrounding areas. The 

MAP-Bar endeavors to meet these goals and 

assist in developing Mecklenburg (and the 

surrounding counties) into an attractive 

community for APA lawyers and residents. 

To learn more about the MAP-Bar or to 

request membership, please contact Mica L. 

Nguyen at mnguyen@cshlaw.com or visit us at 

www.map-bar.com. 

The Bar Leadership Institute Committee 

By Aretha V. Blake, Chair 

This year has been a successful one for the 

joint MCB/MBF Bar Leadership Institute 

Committee. After a brief hiatus, the Bar 

Leadership Institute (BLI) introduced a 

reformatted program structure with an 

increased focus on individual leadership 

development and leadership opportunities 

within the MCB and MBF. In addition, to 

ensure that the BLI was accessible to all 

members of the Bar, the program registration 

fee was reduced by over 40%. 

The BLI Class of 2011 is comprised of 20 

dynamic and diverse participants who practice 

in large, mid-sized and small firms, represent 

government and municipal agencies, provide 

public service through legal service 

organizations, and practice in a corporate law 

department. Over the past three months, the 

BLI Class evaluated their personal leadership 

styles, strengths and areas of development. In 

addition, the BLI Class participated in a series 

of sessions featuring leaders in the legal and 

civic community, including Judge Rickye 

McKoy-Mitchell, John Lassiter, Mark Merritt, 

Jane McIntyre (United Way), Dr. Tom Hanchett 

(Levine Museum), DeWitt F. McCarley, Robert 

C. Dortch, Jr. and Debra Campbell (City of 

Charlotte). In addition, for the first time, the 

BLI curriculum included a session addressing 

diversity, inclusion and equity, which was presented 

by Octavia Seawell and Edna Norwood, 

facilitators of the Community Building 

Initiative’s Leadership Development Initiative. 

The impact of the BLI is tremendous. The 

program has graduated more than 160 

members of the MCB, most of whom have 

gone on to become involved in the many 

committees and sections of the MCB and 

many of whom have held leadership positions 

within the MCB and MBF. The BLI Class of 

2011 will, no doubt, be just as active and 

involved as past program participants and 

have already committed to plan and 

implement a project during fiscal year 2012 to 

increase the MCB’s involvement with 

Mecklenburg’s Spanish-speaking community. 

In the weeks to come, please join the BLI 

Committee and the leadership of the MCB 

and MBF in congratulating the newest 

graduates of the BLI! 

Michael Anderson, Johnston, 

Allison & Hord, P.A. 

Tania Archer, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC 

John Bowers, Horack Talley Pharr 

& Lowndes PA 

Jon Carroll, James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A. 

Joshua Davey, McGuireWoods LLP 

Sarah DiFranco, Poyner Spruill, LLP 

William Esser, Parker Poe Adams 

& Bernstein LLP 

Faith Fickling, Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc. 

Rebecca Lindahl, Katten Muchin 

Rosenman LLP 

Hannah Little, Garfinkel Immigration 

Law Firm 

Brandon Lofton, Robinson, Bradshaw 

& Hinson, P.A. 

Michael Navarro, The Law Office of Michael 

E. Navarro, PLLC 

Gretchen Nelli, City of Charlotte 

Andrew Nesbitt, Nesbitt Law PLLC 

Kristen Northrup, Mecklenburg County 

District Attorney's Office 

Lindsay Peed, Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak 

& Stewart, P.C. 

Vaughn Reynolds, Hunton & Williams LLP 

Sarah Stone, Womble Carlyle Sandridge 

& Rice PLLC 

Katherine Tenfelde, Robinson Elliott & Smith 

Janice Tucker, Wells Fargo 

www.MeckBar.org July 2011 

13

Your BFF (Still) Wants You! 

The Mecklenburg Bar Foundation is pleased to announce that the 2011 Bar Foundation Fund has already raised 

more than $135,000 in pledges and donations on our way to $300,000! Is your name on this “Who’s Who” list of 

Foundation supporters? If it is, we thank you! If it’s not, we want you! 

The donors listed below are those firms and individuals that have already stepped up as of June 14 to support the Foundation and the BFF 

through gifts to the McMillan Fellowship Program, Law & Society, the Bar Leadership Institute, the Bar History Project and unrestricted giving. The 

giving guide below indicates the various initiatives that our donors have contributed to thus far. A special thanks to those that have already pledged 

support for the 2011 campaign! 

To support your BFF and see your name among those of your friends and colleagues, please make your pledge today at www.MeckBar.org. If you 

have any questions or need any additional information, please contact Development Committee Co-Chairs Jon Adams (jadams@lawhssm.com) and 

David Whelpley (DWhelpley@mcguirewoods.com) or Director of Foundation Development Leah Reed Campbell (lcampbell@meckbar.org). The 

Foundation needs your help to help others. 

Be A Foundation Friend! Support Your BFF! 

2011 BFF Giving Guide 

Bronze (Up to $2,499) 

Anonymous m 

D 

Multiyear Pledge to Bar History Project 

Bank of America Legal Department M 

s 

Law & Society Donor 

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft M 

m 

Unrestricted Gift Donor 

Carolina Legal Staffing LLC s 

Compass Group USA, Inc. s 

M 

McMillan Donor 

Duke Energy Legal Department M 

n 

BLI Donor 

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & 

Stewart, P.C. s 

Firm/Business Sponsors 

Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, PLLC M 

Winston & Strawn LLP s 

Diamond ($10,000 & Up) 

Wishart Norris Henninger & Pittman, PA s 

Hunton & Williams DMs 

McGuireWoods LLP DMs 

Individual Sponsors 

Moore & Van Allen PLLC DMs 

Patron ($2,500 & Up) 

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, 

Nancy & Peter Covington m 

PLLC DMs 

Hon. Robert P. Johnston Mm 

Platinum ($7,500 - $9,999) 

Benefactor ($1,000 - $2,499) 

Alston & Bird LLP D 

Hon. Paige McThenia & T. Jonathan 

James, McElroy & Diehl, P.A. Ds 

Adams Mm 

K & L Gates Ds 

Dianne Chipps Bailey Mm 

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP D Mark R. Bernstein Mm 

Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. Ds Francis J. Blanchfield Jr. m 

Gold ($5,000 - $7,499) 

A. Todd Brown Sr. nm 

Charlotte School of Law Msn 

Mark T. Calloway m 

Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A .Dsn 

Hal Clarke m 

King & Spalding LLP DMs 

Tricia Morvan Derr nm 

Poyner & Spruill, LLP Ds 

Robert C. Dortch, Jr. Mnm 

Robert E. Harrington Mm 

Silver ($2,500 - $4,999) 

Gary S. Hemric m 

Hamilton Moon Stephens Steele & 

Katherine S. Holliday Mnm 

Martin, PLLC Ds 

H. Bryan Ives III 

Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo, 

m 

L.L.P. D 

Douglas M. Jarrell m 

Horack Talley PA D 

Amy K. Johnson Mm 

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Patrick E. Kelly m 

LLP D 

Haynes P. Lea m 

Nexsen Pruet, PLLC D 

DeWitt F. McCarley Mnm 

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP D Richard M. McDermott m 

Wells Fargo Legal Department Ms Randel E. Phillips Mm 

Claire J. Rauscher nm 

Nancy M. Roberson m 

In Honor of A. Todd Brown & 

DeWitt F. McCarley and 

in Memory of Robert C. Dortch 

Russell M. Robinson II m 

Raleigh A. Shoemaker m 

Robert C. Stephens m 

John Nicholas Suhr Jr. m 

Richard M. Thigpen m 

David B. Whelpley Jr. m 

Supporter ($300 - $999) 

John S. Arrowood Mm 

R. A. Bigger Jr. m 

Jonathan E. Buchan Jr. m 

Daniel G. Clodfelter M 

Marion A. Cowell Jr. M 

Heather & Chris Culp m 

Joshua D. Davey m 

Hon. Albert Diaz nm 

Hon. Karen Eady-Williams m 

Anthony A. Fox m 

Camille Davidson & Trevor Fuller m 

Henry A. Harkey m 

Margaret Campbell & William Haynes M 

Edward T. Hinson Jr. m 

Robert C. Hord Jr. m 

Carl Horn III m 

Cyrus M. Johnson m 

Hannah H. Kim m 

Nicole Bourget & Mark Kutny nm 

John S. Leary Bar Association M 

Holly & Hal Levinson M 

Sara & Erik Lincoln nm 

Brandon M. Lofton m 

Timothy Patrick Logan m 

Patti & Steve Mayo m 


2011 BFF Giving Guide 

D 

Multiyear Pledge to Bar History Project 

s 

Law & Society Donor 

m 

Unrestricted Gift Donor 

M 

McMillan Donor 

n 

BLI Donor 

Pender R. McElroy nm 

Mecklenburg County Bar m 

In Memory of A. Marshall Basinger II, 

Gary D. Chamblee, George L. Fitzgerald, 

Joseph W. Grier Jr., Jeff Todd Harris, Hon. 

Resa L. Harris, Randall W. Lee, Solomon 

Levine, Ernest W. Machen Jr., Darrell Lane 

Matthews, Donald M. Seltzer, William 

Watts Sturges, & William Van Allen 

Daniel A. Merlin Mm 

Alice K. Moore m 

Angela Parrott m 

S. Mujeeb Shah-Khan m 

Claire & Edward Shapack nm 

Mary Kaczmarek & William Soukup m 

Richard E. Thigpen Jr. m 

Sally & William Van Allen M 

Clarence W. Walker m 

John R. Wester Mnm 

Contributor (Up to $299) 

Allain C. Andry m 

Carla N. Archie m 

E. Osborne Ayscue Jr. M 

Martha G. Barber m 

Hon. Lisa C. Bell n 

Hon. Kimberly Best-Staton M 

Christy-Anne Betler n 

Sandra & Robert Bisanar m 

Louis A. Bledsoe Jr. m 

Karla L. Boyd n 

Martin L. Brackett Jr. M 

Teresa & Irving Brenner M 

Herbert H. Browne Jr. m 

Hon. Hugh B. Campbell Jr. M 

Leah & Thomas Campbell m 

Cristy & Don Carroll M 

Caitlin Carson n 

Hon. Ronald L. Chapman Mn 

Christian P. Cherry n 

Shirley Linn & Dumont Clarke M 

John H. Cobb n 

Harold W. Cogdell Jr. n 

Edward G. Connette Mn 

Leslie K. Cooley n 

Anne L. Crotty Mm 

John R. Cunningham III M 

Hon. Donald R. Cureton Jr. n 

Michel C. Daisley M 

George Daly M 

Pamela & William Dannelly M 

J. P. Davis m 

William K. Diehl Jr. M 

Miriam Ann Dixon m 

Catherine El-Khouri M 

Kevin D. Elliott n 

Frank E. Emory Jr. n 

Kenneth F. Essex m 

Hon. Yvonne Mims Evans M 

Ray S. Farris Mn 

Ellen Holliday & Ted Fillette M 

Mark P. Foster Jr. n 

Holly McMillan Gambill M 

M. Heath Gilbert Jr. m 

Anne & Peter Gilchrist M 

Rakesh Gopalan 

Melissa L. Gray n 

John W. Gresham M 

Toni Kaneklides Grove m 

In Memory of Judge Brent McKnight 

David B. Hamilton n 

Hon. Tyyawdi M. Hands n 

George V. Hanna III n 

Edward F. Hennessey IV M 

Brian Heslin n 

Jenny & William Holman m 

T. J. Hooper m 

N. Renee Hughes m 

Thomas M. Hull M 

Jason B. James n 

Lina E. James n 

Meredith S. Jeffries m 

Heather N. Johnson m 

Tanisha P. Johnson m 

Christine & Hon. William Jones M 

Irene P. King n 

James W. Kiser m 

Anthony T. Lathrop Mn 

Tamara & Louis Lesesne M 

Hon. Hugh B. Lewis Mmn 

In Memory of June Nuccio 

Becky & Erik Lindahl M 

Brett A. Loftis M 

Maria G. B. Long Mn 

Marsha Janelle Lyons M 

Lawana M. McAllister n 

Valecia M. McDowell M 

A. Ward McKeithen M 

Hon. Rickye McKoy-Mitchell Mn 

William H. McMullen Jr. nm 

Heloise C. Merrill M 

Mark W. Merritt n 

Hon. Regan A. Miller Mn 

Michael E. Navarro n 

John C. Nipp m 

Hon. Nancy Black Norelli nÆ 

Dennis M. O’Dea M 

Thomas L. Ogburn m 

Sally Higgins & Ray Owens M 

E. Fitzgerald Parnell III m 

Ross H. Parr m 

Sue K. Paty M 

Daniel E. Peterson m 

Christin Jarvis Reische m 

In Honor of Luther T. Moore 

Vaughn K. Reynolds m 

Allen K. Robertson M 

Hope A. Root n 

David S. Rudolf M 

Mary Jordan & Robert Samuel m 

Jane & Ken Schorr M 

Jeffrey J. Schwartz n 

Benjamin F. Sidbury m 

Pamela K. Silverman m 

Robert C. Sink M 

Jackson N. Steele m 

Daniel L. Tedrick m 

Bradley J. Thomas n 

William E. Underwood Jr. M 

Jerry H. Walters Jr. m 

Kristi K. Walters M 

Leslie J. Winner M 

A. Victor Wray m 

The BFF Honor Roll 

The BFF Honor Roll recognizes those 

firms and organizations that have 100% 

attorney participation in donating to 

the Bar Foundation Fund. 

Do you want your firm to receive 

special recognition on the 

BFF Honor Roll? 

Contact Development Committee 

Co-Chairs David Whelpley 

(DWhelpley@mcguirewoods.com) and 

Jon Adams (jadams@lawhssm.com) or 

Director of Foundation Development 

Leah Reed Campbell at 

lcampbell@meckbar.org or 

704/375-8624 for more information.

Jul., 2011 - Mecklenburg County Bar

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