Attorneys

David Coats is the firm’s co-managing partner and senior litigation partner. North Carolina Super Lawyers named David as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in North Carolina in 2024, as well as in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Phil Collins practices primarily in the areas of employment law, state and federal personnel law, civil rights, constitutional law, personal injury, and insurance coverage. He is an experienced trial attorney who has represented a diverse array of individuals including state employees, law enforcement officers, teachers, healthcare professionals, lawyers, and business owners, among others.

Christina Cress practices primarily in the areas of energy & utilities law, employment law, and administrative law, including occupational and professional licensing matters.

John "J.T." Crook is an attorney in the firm’s litigation section, regularly representing businesses, financial institutions, municipal police departments, insurance companies and their insureds in a variety of civil litigation matters.

Chad is an attorney in the firm's litigation section, where he regularly represents and defends individuals, businesses, landlords, insurers and their insureds in a variety of civil actions throughout courts across North Carolina.

Sabra Faires concentrates her practice in government law, specifically in the areas of administrative law, elections and political law, and taxation.

A trial lawyer with experience in a wide variety of civil and regulatory litigation, Jeff Gray has represented individuals and business entities as both plaintiffs and defendants.

Cody R. Loughridge represents corporate and individual clients in complex civil litigation, including construction, commercial collections, contract interpretation, and various other debtor-creditor disputes.

Charles McDarris practices primarily in the area of administrative, municipal and regulatory law as well as general litigation.

Jeff has represented clients through formation, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate governance and compliance, commercial contract negotiations and much more.

Robert H. Merritt, Jr. (“Robin”) merged his practice with the firm in 2003. He has practiced law in Raleigh, N.C. for over 40 years and concentrates his practice on tax controversies, business acquisitions and divestitures, real estate, commercial litigation and banking law.

Heydt Philbeck concentrates his practice on complex civil litigation in the areas of commercial litigation, employment law, contract disputes, unfair business practices, state and federal personnel law, constitutional law, civil rights and occupational licensing.

Ashley is an associate in the firm’s litigation section. Ashley earned her Juris Doctor from Campbell University School of Law with distinction, receiving the Dean’s Excellence Scholarship and Book Awards in her Legal Research and Writing and Contract Planning courses.

David Wisz regularly represents insurance carriers and their insureds in a variety of civil litigation matters. His broad litigation experience ranges from personal injury defense (including motor vehicle negligence, premises liability, wrongful death, construction jobsite injuries, and toxic torts), construction defect litigation, landowner disputes, and homeowners’ association litigation.