Join us in welcoming Kenzie Rakes to Morningstar Law Group! Kenzie brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience, having previously worked at the esteemed North Carolina Department of Justice. Her impressive background and dedication to the legal field make her an invaluable addition to our team. Kenzie joins our talented Litigation and Government Investigations, Negotiation, and Litigation practice groups and will work from our Raleigh office.

“Kenzie is an exceptionally strong addition to our Government Investigations, Negotiation, and Litigation team. She is a highly effective team player and leader who has successfully handled significant government-related disputes and litigation at all levels of the court system.” said Morningstar Law Group partner and former First Assistant Attorney General of North Carolina Swain Wood.

Learn more about Kenzie, her experience, and her practice at Morningstar Law Group HERE.

The post Welcome, Kenzie Rakes! appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

We saved this news for Valentine’s Day! Eleven of our attorneys were selected to 2023 Super Lawyers, including two attorneys recognized as “Rising Stars.”

Attorneys selected:

• Keith Anthony, Business Litigation
• Bill Brian, Land Use/Zoning
• Amie Carmack, Employment & Labor
• Nil Ghosh, Land Use/Zoning (Rising Star)
• Chris Graebe, Business Litigation
• Will Graebe, Business Litigation (Rising Star)
• Grayson Hale, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Chris Jackson, Business Litigation
• Gene Jones, Business/Corporate
• Shannon Joseph, Business Litigation
• Mack Paul, Land Use/Zoning

Congratulations to all for the well-deserved recognition!

The post We Love Our Super Lawyers! appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

We are pleased to announce, a bit belatedly (we’ve been nose-down working hard for our clients), that Morningstar Law Group was named to the list of Best Law Firms for 2023. At the national level, we were recognized for our work in Land Use & Zoning Law. And at the metropolitan level, we were recognized for work across the following practice areas.

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Commercial Litigation
• Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
• Copyright Law
• Corporate Governance Law
• Corporate Law
• Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Employment Law – Management
• Labor Law – Union
• Land Use & Zoning Law
• Litigation – Antitrust
• Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Litigation – Labor & Employment
• Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
• Litigation – Mergers & Acquisitions
• Litigation – Real Estate
• Mergers & Acquisitions Law
• Real Estate Law
• Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Securities Regulation
• Venture Capital Law

This recognition is more about our clients than it is about our firm. Without them, we’d not have the opportunity to exercise our experience and knowledge on their behalf and to help them achieve their business goals.

The post “Best Law Firm” in National and Metropolitan Tiers appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Congratulations to our 2023 Lawyers of the Year, Ones to Watch, and Best Lawyers! Following is the official announcement.

25 Morningstar Law Group Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers^® Lists

Morningstar Law Group is pleased to announce that 23 lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, four lawyers have received the honor of “Lawyer of the Year” for 2023 and two lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

Best Lawyers has published their list for over four decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.

“Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with the purpose of highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession. After four decades, we are proud to continue to serve as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals worldwide,” says CEO Phillip Greer.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Morningstar Law Group would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2023 The Best Lawyers in America list:

• Keith P. Anthony – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Litigation – Real Estate
• Jason L. Barron – Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Real Estate Law
• William J. Brian, Jr. – Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Litigation – Real Estate
• Patrick L. Byker – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law
• Amie Flowers Carmack – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Union, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Kenneth G. Carroll – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Christopher Fulmer – Corporate Law
• Nil Ghosh – Real Estate Law
• Christopher T. Graebe – Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation
• Grayson S. Hale – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• J. Christopher Jackson – Litigation – Intellectual Property
• W.H. “Kip” Johnson III – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, and Venture Capital Law
• Gene A. Jones Jr. – Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Shannon R. Joseph – Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, and Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
• John Kivus – Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Michael J. Ovsievsky – Real Estate Law
• Lee A. Patterson III – Corporate Law
• Mack A. Paul IV – Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law
• Scott Ryan – Corporate Law
• Molly Stuart – Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law
• Mitchell A. Tuchman – Copyright Law
• Jennifer Collins Van Doren – Corporate Law
• Randy Whitmeyer – Copyright Law

Morningstar Law Group would also like to congratulate the four lawyers who received the honor of “Lawyer of the Year” for the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® list:

• Keith P. Anthony – Litigation – Land Use and Zoning in Raleigh
• Jason L. Barron – Land Use and Zoning Law in Raleigh
• Shannon R. Joseph – Arbitration and Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions in Raleigh
• Mitchell A. Tuchman – Copyright Law in Raleigh

Morningstar Law Group would also like to congratulate the two lawyers listed in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list:

• Harrison M. Gates – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Labor and Employment in Durham
• William Graebe – Commercial Litigation in Raleigh

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About Morningstar Law Group

Morningstar Law Group is a premier North Carolina business law firm with offices in Raleigh and Durham. Its attorneys have been recognized among the best in their field, with a special focus on business law, intellectual property and technology, litigation, and real estate and land use. The firm’s clients represent every aspect of the North Carolina economy, including entrepreneurs who have built successful companies from the ground up and those who are in the process of doing so.

Learn more at morningstarlawgroup.com.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.

The post 25 Morningstar Law Group Lawyers Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® Lists appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

We are delighted to announce that Chambers USA has awarded a Band 1 Rating for 2022 to Morningstar Law Group in Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use. Chambers has also recognized four of our Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use partners as top lawyers in North Carolina in their 2022 ranking. Bill Brian (William Brian) has been awarded ranking in Band 1, and Jason Barron, Patrick Byker, and Mack Paul have all been awarded ranking in Band 2. 

In regards to Jason, Bill, Patrick and Mack, Chambers noted: 

“Jason Barron has a robust practice that sees him regularly handling zoning and land use matters.”

“William Brian offers decades of experience in zoning and land use matters and is widely recognized as a market leader in the space. He wins praise for his handling of land use litigation. ‘He is a very good lawyer with a strong land use practice.’”

“Patrick Byker is best known for his abilities in zoning and land use work.”

“Mack Paul has extensive experience advising developers, landowners and businesses on land use and zoning matters. He also has particular expertise in relation to coastal developments.”

The post Morningstar Law Group Partners Ranked in Chambers USA 2022 Top NC Lawyers appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Morningstar Law Group would like to welcome Matthew (Matt) Limoli to our team and he and his family to North Carolina. Matt is joining our litigation team and will work from the Durham office.

Prior to joining Morningstar Law Group, Matt practiced as a partner in a boutique commercial litigation firm in Kansas City. “Matt brings over 10 years’ worth of solid civil litigation experience to the firm, and we are delighted to welcome him to our group!” said Bill Brian, chair of Morningstar Law Group’s litigation practice group.

Learn more about Matt and his practice HERE.

The post Welcome Matt Limoli! appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

The post What a Great Team! appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Belated congratulations to our attorneys named to the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, 22 in total including 2 recipients of Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year award – Shannon Joseph for Litigation – Antitrust and Mack Paul for Litigation – Real Estate. In addition, Harrison “Hank” Gates was named to Ones to Watch in America for Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment.

Following are all attorneys named to the list.

• Keith Anthony: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
• Jason Barron: Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• William Brian, Jr. : Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate
• Patrick Byker: Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Amie Flowers Carmack: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Union, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Kenneth Carroll: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Christopher Fulmer: Corporate Law
• Nil Ghosh: Real Estate Law
• Grayson Hale: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• J. Christopher Jackson: Litigation – Intellectual Property
• W.H. “Kip” Johnson III: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation, and Venture Capital Law
• Gene Jones, Jr.: Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Shannon Joseph: Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
• John Kivus: Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Michael Ovsievsky: Real Estate Law
• Lee Patterson III: Corporate Law
• Mack Paul IV: Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Land Use and Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law
• Scott Ryan: Corporate Law
• Molly Stuart: Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Mitchell Tuchman: Copyright Law
• Jennifer Van Doren: Corporate Law
• Randy Whitmeyer: Copyright Law

Best Lawyers has published their list for over four decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in over 75 countries.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

The post 22 for 22! North Carolina Law Firm Morningstar Law Group Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers and Lawyer of the Year appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Mack Paul, a partner in our firm’s Real Estate and Land Use practice group, joined two other local business leaders in an interview with Triangle Business Journal (TBJ) regarding their business outlook for 2021.

Asked “Based on the information you have now, how do you see your company performing in 2021? What do you think will emerge as opportunities and potential headwinds for your business?”, Mack responded “As 2021 begins, we expect continued strong demand from our business clients confronting Covid-caused challenges. We are helping pharmaceutical companies continue their work on vaccines and therapies. Clients continue to need assistance with pandemic-related protocols and transitions with employees. We are working with many clients whose supply chains were disrupted as they solve those issues. And we are fielding an unprecedented number of calls from investors and real estate developers looking to get into a market known for its knowledge workers, wonderful amenities and healthy environment. Also, the productivity of our attorneys, and I suspect many others who have work at this time, is through the roof. The anxiety, sadness and boredom brought on by this pandemic has been largely channeled into work. Once we are all vaccinated later this year, we could see a mass exodus for a much-needed break in Tahiti. My hope and belief is that the local businesses, nonprofits and industries that require face-to-face interactions will see a massive resurgence.”

To provide a firm-wide perspective in his response, Mack consulted with fellow Morningstar Law Group partners Amie Carmack, Grayson Hale, Shannon Joseph, and Jennifer Van Doren.

The post Morningstar Law Group’s Mack Paul Looks at 2021 appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Morningstar Law Group would like to welcome Britney Weaver to our team. Britney, a litigation attorney in Durham, joined our Litigation Practice Group on January 25. She brings a meticulous approach to litigation that allows her to resolve matters efficiently and effectively.

“We are delighted to welcome Britney to our growing litigation practice. Britney brings important experience in family law and criminal law, in addition to her general civil litigation experience which will help us to broaden and deepen the services we offer to our clients,” said Bill Brian, a partner at Morningstar Law Group.

After graduating NC Central University School of Law in 2016, Britney worked at Morningstar Law Group and another private North Carolina firm. Her litigation experience involves real estate and land use, employment and workforce issues, and family law. We are pleased to have Britney back at Morningstar.

The post Welcome Britney Weaver! Britney joins as Litigation Associate. appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.