We love keeping up with our alumni! Class Notes are compiled from information submitted by alumni and press releases received from law firms. Please submit your class notes by emailing law_alumni@unc.edu.
1974
John C. Boger, Wade Edwards Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, was awarded the “2025 Lifetime Champion Justice” Award from the N.C. Justice Center. (May 2025).
1977
William M. Begley, of Begley Law Firm PA in Black Mountain, N.C., was inducted in the North Carolina Bar Association’s Legal Practice Hall of Fame. (Jun. 2025)
Richard T. Boyette, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 list. (Aug. 2025)
1980
Michael L. Robinson,was named the Chief Judge of the North Carolina Business Court. (Jan. 2025)
1981
Steven H. Sholk, of Gibbons P.C. in Newark, N.J., had his article “A Guide to Election Year Activities of Section 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) Organizations,” published as part of the course materials of the New Jersey State Bar Association seminar, Pay-to-Play 2025 – The Latest in Campaign Finance. (Jul. 2025)
1982
Herman Spence III, received the North Carolina Bar Association Tax Section’s “Tax Lifetime Achievement and Service” Award for 2025. (Jun. 2025)
1984
H. Lee Evans Jr., of Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in Civil Litigation Defense in the 2025 edition of Super Lawyers. Additionally, he was named in the 2026 Best Lawyers for Health Care Litigation and Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants. (Feb. and Aug. 2025)
1985
C.D. Taylor Pace, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 list. (Aug. 2025)
1986
Samuel Hawley ‘Lee’ Poole Jr., of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Charlotte, N.C., was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 list. (Aug. 2025)
1987
Stephanie H. Autry, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 list. (Aug. 2025)
C. Mark Holt was honored with “The National Conference of Bar Foundations Excellence” Award. (Aug. 2025)
1991
George Bailey Autry Jr., of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 list. Additionally, he was listed as “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers. (Aug. 2025)
Sandra Woods Mitterling Schilder, partner of Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, N.C., was named 2025 Legal Elite in her practice area of Construction by Business North Carolina magazine and honored in Construction Litigation by Super Lawyers. Additionally, she was named in the 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers in Construction Litigation, Insurance Litigation and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants. (Feb. and Aug 2025)
Dorothy B. Burch, partner of Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in the 2025 edition of Super Lawyers for her Business/Corporate Law practice, as well as included in the publication’s “Top North Carolina Women Lawyers” for the fifth year. Additionally, she was named in Best Lawyers 2026 Edition for her practice areas Corporate Law, Real Estate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. (Feb. and Aug. 2025)
1992
W. Scott Fuller, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 list. (Aug. 2025)
1994
Ian Taylor has joined Buchalter as a shareholder in Seattle, W.A. (Jul. 2025).
1995
David K. Liggett, partner of Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized for his Business Practice in North Carolina 2025 Super Lawyers on their Business/Corporate Law list as well as in Business North Carolina’s 2025 Legal Elite list. Additionally, he was named in the 2026 Best Lawyers Guide in his practice areas of Business and Corporate Law, Insurance Law, Mergers & Acquisitions and Reinsurance Law. (Feb. 2025)
Andrew T. Meunier, principal of Meunier Carlin & Curfman in Atlanta, G.A., celebrated the fifteenth anniversary of the firm’s founding. (Apr. 2025)
1998
Melissa D. Brumback, partner of Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, N.C., was named in Construction Litigation by the 2025 edition of Super Lawyers as well as the publication’s “Top 50 North Carolina Women Lawyers.” Additionally, she was named in North Carolina Lawyers Weekly magazine’s 2025 “Power List” for excellence in Construction Law. She was also recognized in Best Lawyers in its 2026 edition. (Feb., Apr., and Aug. 2025)
2000
Stephanie E. Satterfield, principal of Jackson Lewis P.C. in Greenville, S.C., was recognized in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA for her Labor and Employment practice. (Feb. 2025)
2001
Natasha N. Branch, of Title Resource Group, has a new position as Vice President, Education and Underwriting Counsel for North Carolina. (Jun. 2025)
Christopher W. Brooker, Chairman of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution team, has expanded his litigation practice, and is now licensed to practice law in Indiana, as well as Kentucky. (Jun. 2025)
2002
Jason J. Burt has a new position as deputy director at Division of Enforcement, United States Securities and Exchange Commission. (Apr. 2025)
Q. Shanté Martin of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Charlotte, N.C., was honored with the Ann L. Majestic Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Bar Association. (Apr. 2025)
2005
Ashleigh Elizabeth Carter Black, partner of Ragsdale Liggett PLLC in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in North Carolina 2025 Super Lawyers on their Real Estate Law list as well as in Business North Carolina’s 2025 Legal Elite list. Additionally, she was selected to the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers for her Real Estate Law practice. (Feb. and Aug 2025)
Charlotte A. Mitchell has joined McGuireWoods, LLP in Raleigh, N.C. as partner. (Apr. 2025)
Amie Fonville Sivon, partner at Ragsdale Liggett in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized for her Appellate Practice in both the 2025 editions of Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite list and North Carolina 2025 Super Lawyers. Additionally, she was selected to Best Lawyers’ 2026 Guide for Appellate Practice, Construction Litigation, and Insurance Litigation. (Feb. and Aug. 2025)
2006
Melody J. Jolly, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Wilmington, N.C., was recognized as a 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyer. Additionally, she was recognized in the Best Lawyers in America 2026 list. (Feb. 2025 and Aug. 2025)
2007
Mary Katherine H. Stukes of Moore & Van Allen PLLC, LLP, in Raleigh, N.C. was selected for the Charlotte Business Journal’s 2025 Women in Business Awards program as well as the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Environmental Lawyers – The Green 500 guide. (Feb. 2025)
Andrew Tsui has joined Arnall Golen Gregory LLP as a partner in Washington, D.C. (Feb. 2025)
2010
Michael F. Easley Jr. has joined McGuireWoods LLP in Raleigh, N.C. as partner. (Mar. 2025)
2011
Richard T. McCotter, of the Offices of the United States of United States Attorneys of the Eastern District of Virginia, argued his first case to the United States Supreme Court. (Apr. 2025)
2012
Chelsea J. Corey, of Haynes and Boone, LLP, in Charlotte, N.C. was named among “The American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Week” honorees. (Feb. 2025)
2013
Christina D. Cress, of Ward and Smith, P.A. in Wilmington, N.C., was appointed by Governor Josh Stein to serve on the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force. (Aug. 2025)
William M. Scott, of the Environmental Defense Fund in Raleigh, N.C.was appointed by Governor Josh Stein to serve on the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force. (Aug. 2025)
Asher P. Spiller, of the North Carolina Department of Justice, Environmental Division, was appointed by Governor Josh Stein to serve on the North Carolina Energy Policy Task Force. (Aug. 2025)
2014
Elizabeth C. Buckley was named partner of Fox Rothschild in Raleigh, N.C. (May 2025)
Eva Glen Gullick Frongello was elected as partner of Parker Poe in Raleigh, N.C. (Feb. 2025)
Giles C. Rhodenhiser was selected to serve on the Law360 North Carolina Advisory Editorial Board for 2025. (Mar. 2025)
Andy J. Ligotti was elected as partner of Alston Byrd in New York, N.Y. in their Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group. (Feb. 2025)
2015
R. Robert El-Jaouhari, of Cranfill Sumner LLP in Raleigh, N.C., was recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers in their 2025 North Carolina Rising Stars list. (Feb. 2025)
Ellis W. Martin was named partner of Fox Rothschild in Greensboro, N.C. (May 2025)
2016
Jessica C. Eck has a new position as deputy district director at Newnan, G.A. Office of Representative Brian T. Jack. (Apr. 2025)
2018
Jin Xin, of Greenberg Traurig in Miami, F.L. was selected as a 2025 “40 Under 40” Award recipient by the Miami-Dade Bar Young Lawyers Section. (Feb. 2025)
2019
Ariella Z. Walsh,of Cranfill Sumner LLP, in Charlotte, N.C. was recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers in their 2025 “North Carolina Rising Stars” list. (Feb. 2025)
2020
Sebastian L. Brana has joined Ogletree Deakins as an associate in Richmond, V.A. (Feb. 2025)
