Firm News

We are proud to announce that Dan was featured in the recent North Carolina State Bar Spring 2023 Journal!  Dan Pope’s connection to Ukraine and Ukrainian culture is deeply important to him and to his family. Uniting for Ukraine (“U for U”) provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the US and stay temporarily in a two-year period of parole.  Find out how Dan and attorney Benjamin A. Snyder, chair of the Immigration Subcommittee of the North Carolina State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, joined forces to help a family arrive in the United States by reading the full publication here.

We give sincere thanks to all, including Dan and Ben, who have supported the humanitarian aid for Ukraine.  To find out more about the United for Ukraine project, visit DHS, USCIS or United for Ukraine.

We are pleased to announce that 3 attorneys have been named 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers by Super Lawyers magazine!

James E. R. Ratledge for Workers’ Compensation

Reginald B. Gillespie, Jr. for Business Litigation

Daniel C. Pope, Jr. for Workers’ Compensation

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a rigorous multi‐phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.  Congratulations Jamie, Reggie, and Dan!

The 2022 North Carolina Public Risk Management Association’s Annual Educational Conference will be held in Wrightsville Beach, September 11, 2022 through September 14, 2022.  Attorney Frances M. Clement, along with Henry Smith of Fayetteville Public Works Commission, will speak before other professionals on “Drugs, Lies & Dollar Bills:  A Breakdown of the Intoxication Defense, Misrepresentation Defense, and Penalties for Safety Violations”.

The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys 45th Annual Meeting and 12th Biennial Judicial Candidates’ Forum will be held in Wilmington, June 16, 2022 through June 19, 2022.  Attorney Kristine L. Prati, 2021-2022 Vice-Chair of the Workers’ Compensation practice group of the NCADA, will speak before other professionals on “Futility” Cases In Workers’ Compensation.  Her session will provide a history of “futility” cases, the issues related to such cases, and lessons learned.

The North Carolina Industrial Commission recently issued decisions in the first round of extended benefits cases, in which claimants are arguing entitlement to temporary total disability benefits past the 500-week cap. On May 19, 2022, Attorneys Paul F. Toland and Kristine L. Prati attended the joint seminar offered by the NCADA and NCASI to learn more about the history of the legislation, analyze the cases decided to date, and explore strategies moving forward.  If you have questions about how this may impact your claim, or wish to discuss extended TTD benefits in North Carolina, contact them today to learn more!

James E.R. Ratledge, Reginald B. Gillespie, Jr., and Daniel C. Pope, Jr. have been named North Carolina 2022 Super Lawyers by Super Lawyers magazine! Each year, Super Lawyers recognizes the top five percent of lawyers in North Carolina via a patented multiphase selection process involving peer nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. Congratulations!