It’s been our tradition since day one. Fourteen years ago we opened our doors, and every year since, we’ve paused for an afternoon to do it all over again — good food, better company, and a lot of laughs with the people we spend our days (and let’s be honest, plenty of nights) working alongside.

This year’s celebration kept the streak alive. Attorneys and staff from every corner of the firm swapped the conference room for the party room, traded case updates for old stories, and took a well-earned moment to enjoy each other’s company. Whatever seriousness we bring to the work, we bring just as much joy to celebrating it.

Fourteen years down. Here’s to many more.

And pardon the redacted photo, we had to hide our new brand. Stay tuned for its official launch!

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Best Lawyers® is the oldest and one of the most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession. Recognition is based entirely on peer nominations and evaluations from other attorneys in the same practice areas and geographic regions — lawyers cannot buy or apply for inclusion. Being selected by one’s own peers is one of the most meaningful forms of professional recognition in the field, and being named Lawyer of the Year is rarer still, reserved for a single attorney per practice area, per metro region.

We’re honored to see so many of our colleagues recognized this year, and even more pleased to see that recognition span across practice areas and career stages — from long-established partners to attorneys just beginning to build their reputations.

2027 Best Lawyers

• Alexander Horn
• Amanda Bambrick
• Amie Flowers Carmack
• Ann Anderson
• Christopher Fulmer
• Christopher T. Graebe
• David Nahm
• Gene A. Jones Jr.
• Grayson S. Hale
• Harrison M. Gates
• J. Christopher Jackson
• Jason L. Barron
• Jeffrey L. Roether
• Jennifer Ball
• Jennifer Collins Van Doren
• John Kivus
• Keith P. Anthony
• Lee A. Patterson III
• Mack A. Paul IV
• Michael J. Ovsievsky
• Mitchell A. Tuchman
• Nil Ghosh
• Patrick L. Byker
• Randy Whitmeyer
• Scott Ryan
• Shannon R. Joseph
• W.H. “Kip” Johnson III
• William J. Brian, Jr.

2027 Lawyers of the Year

• Gene A. Jones Jr.
• Jason L. Barron
• W.H. “Kip” Johnson III

2027 Ones to Watch

• Alexandria Jakubiak
• Britney Weaver
• Leticia Shapiro
• Nick Bogdash

Congratulations to all of our recognized attorneys. This kind of acknowledgment from fellow practitioners reflects the trust our clients place in this firm every day, and we’re grateful to have such a deep bench of talent to celebrate.

The Best Lawyers in America© is published annually by Best Lawyers®, based on an exhaustive peer-review survey of practicing attorneys. Learn more at bestlawyers.com.

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Congratulations to Sarah on this exciting milestone! Learn more about Sarah and her practice at HERE.

The post Congratulations to Attorney Sarah Niss Reber! appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

Hank and Britney covered key developments from the U.S. Supreme Court and the Fourth Circuit, shifting EEOC enforcement priorities, the growing challenges surrounding employee political expression, and the rapid rise of AI in workplace operations. Their presentation focused on practical strategies employers can use to respond to evolving legal standards, manage risk, and build thoughtful workplace policies for 2026 and beyond. We appreciate the opportunity to support RTAC ACC each year and to engage with so many in-house leaders on the issues that matter most to their organizations.

The presentation is available HERE.

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While we appreciate the recognition, we have never measured our success simply by the size of our roster. To us, client service will always be more important than our headcount.

However, we view this growth as a direct reflection of the trust our clients place in us. It is a testament to the quality of legal services we strive to provide every day and, most importantly, the deep talent and dedication of our attorneys and professional staff.

Thank you to our clients for your continued partnership, and to our incredible team for making this milestone possible.

The post Growth Driven by Client Trust – Morningstar Law Group Ranked 10th Largest Firm in the Triangle appeared first on Morningstar Law Group.

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Ann joins us as Counsel in our Real Estate and Land Use practice, bringing extensive experience in land use, planning, zoning, and civil litigation.

Before joining Morningstar, Ann served as Town Attorney for Chapel Hill and as a tenured professor at the UNC School of Government, where she taught and advised North Carolina judges. Her background gives her a unique perspective on the legal challenges faced by real estate developers, municipalities, and property owners.

“Ann’s expertise in land use, municipal law, and civil litigation makes her an exceptional addition to our team,” said Jason Barron, Partner and Integrator at Morningstar. “Her insight and guidance will be invaluable to clients navigating planning, zoning, and land use issues.”

Our Real Estate and Land Use group continues to grow — now 12 attorneys strong — helping clients move projects forward across North Carolina.

We’re thrilled to have Ann on board and look forward to the experience and perspective she brings to the team.

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If an employer decides to take action based on social media use, that action should align with applicable law, company polices, company culture, the severity of the offense, and decisions the employer will make in the future.  

Federal, state and local laws govern whether an employer can take an employment action based on social media use, even when the use disrupts business.  For example, some state and local laws specifically safeguard employees’ conduct (whether on-duty or off-duty) related to their political views.  Others protect employees’ off-duty conduct, including social media use, requiring employers to link the conduct to the job before taking disciplinary action. While federal laws do not directly protect political affiliation or speech in the private employment context, anti-discrimination laws may be implicated when employee speech involves a protected characteristic (e.g., race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran status, etc.), and federal law protects employees who engage in concerted activities to improve the terms and conditions of their employment.

Company policies may prohibit certain conduct and/or promise protection for political speech or off-duty conduct. Companies should honor their policies and apply them consistently. Now would be a good time to refresh relevant policies and training (social media, code of conduct, safety, etc.) and consider a reminder to employees about the importance of following the law and company policies with respect to communications inside and outside of work.

Each situation must be considered on its own facts and in light of the employer’s risk tolerance and cultural priorities. For example, action may be appropriate if a social media post promotes violence, is egregiously offensive, or targets a person’s or group’s protected characteristics (e.g., age, race, sex or ethnicity), but a post that civilly expresses one’s opinion on a loaded political issue (e.g., gun control, abortion, or immigration), even if different from the company’s views, might not warrant action.  And, employers should consider the precedent they may be setting when they make a decision in an individual case, even when the action they want to take is not specifically prohibited by applicable law.

There are a wide variety of potential responses to these situations, depending on the circumstances.  We can help businesses sort through the complications and find an appropriate course of action.

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