Current Employment Position(s)

Attorney

Lawyer Overview

My life experience and educational background allow me to provide caring, compassionate counsel and sound legal advice to my family law clients. I received my law degree from Wake Forest University Law School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina in 1995. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma (1987), and a Master's Degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in finance, from M.J. Neely School of Business at Texas Christian University (1990).

Dealing with emotions and the human psyche is a big part of family law, but knowing business and finance is very helpful also--especially in resolving economic issues, such as dividing assets like retirement plans or closely held family businesses. In addition to my MBA, I also worked as a financial analyst for a large corporation prior to attending law school. Because of my background and experience in finance, I am able to analyze financial statements, tax returns and accounting information.

I have also acquired significant real-world experience in the practice of family law. After graduating law school, I was an Associate Attorney with a family law firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. After three years, I joined a civil litigation firm in Durham, North Carolina, where I continued to practice family law as well as general civil litigation. I opened my solo practice in Greensboro in 2002.

I am a North Carolina Board Certified Family Law Specialist. The Board of Legal Specialization was created in 1983 by the North Carolina State Bar and began certifying North Carolina lawyers as legal specialists in 1987. The goals of the legal certification program are twofold. First, the program assists in the delivery of legal services to the public by identifying those lawyers who have demonstrated special knowledge, skill and proficiency in a specific field. Second, the legal specialization program seeks to improve the competency of members of the bar by establishing an incentive for lawyers to participate in continuing legal education and to meet the other requirements of specialization.

The North Carolina State Bar Specialization Program conforms to the family law specialist a lawyer must:

• Be an active member in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar for at least five years.
• Devote at least 1/3 of his or her practice to family law for the past five years.
• Attend at least 45 hours of continuing legal education in family law.
• Be favorably evaluated by other family law attorneys and judges.
• Pass a six hour written examination in family law.

I am also certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission as a Family Financial Mediator and am specially trained in Family Collaborative law.

I am an active member of the North Carolina State Bar, the Texas State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Greensboro Bar Association Family Law Section, The North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the Guilford Inn of Court. I am admitted to practice in all courts in the states of North Carolina and Texas, as well the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

After hours, I serve on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Attorneys, the North Carolina Equality Institute, and as a presenter for the Family Life Council of Greater Greensboro's "Parenting Children of Divorce" seminar. I also enjoy outdoor activities and spending time with my family.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law
• Adoption
• Child Support
• Custody & Visitation
• Divorce

Representative Cases

• Wagner v. Dillard Department Stores, Inc., 2001 USAPPLEXIS 19278 (4th Cir. 2001) (United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit 2001)

West Practice Categories

Family Law, Adoption, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce

Bar Admissions

• North Carolina
• Texas
• U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina
• U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit

Certification/Specialties

• Family Law, North Carolina Board
• Family Financial Mediator, North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission

Professional Associations and Memberships

• North Carolina State Bar (Member)
• Texas State Bar (Member)
• North Carolina Bar Association (Member)
• Greensboro Bar Association, Family Law Section (Member)
• North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (Member)
• Guilford Inn of Court (Member)
• North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Attorneys (Board of Directors)
• North Carolina Equality Institute (Board of Directors)

Classes and Seminars

• Presenter, Family Life Council of Greater Greensboro's "Parenting Children of Divorce" Seminar

Past Employment Positions

• Family Law Firm, Raleigh, North Carolina, Associate Attorney
• Civil Litigation Firm, Durham, North Carolina

Education

• Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston Salem, North Carolina, September, 1995
  J.D.
• University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 1987
  Bachelor of Arts
  Major: Psychology
• Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 1990
  Master of Business Administration
  Major: Finance

Accepts Credit Cards

Address

910 North Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401-1513

Phones

(336) 790-0165
(877) 509-6616

Faxes

(336) 544-1257

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.greensborofamilylaw.com
http://www.gsofamilylaw.com