After graduating from law school, I knew that I wanted to help families in the community where I grew up. I knew I didn't want to fight for corporations. I knew I didn't want to work far away from family and friends. That is the reason why I have been helping families in Charlotte and the surrounding area since the day I started practicing law.
My practice today is focused on resolving family law matters without the cost, delay, and stress of the courtroom whenever possible. Some clients want their divorce handled quietly and efficiently through negotiation. Some clients want to avoid attorneys standing between them and their spouse and prefer the process of mediation. I believe strongly in the value mediation and settlement bring to families going through divorce — they preserve relationships, protect children, and give people more control over their own outcome than a courtroom ever will.
That said, not every case can be resolved this way. When a spouse is unreasonable, vindictive, or unwilling to negotiate in good faith, litigation becomes necessary. In those situations, our firm's trial attorneys step in to advocate aggressively in the courtroom. I draw on my years of trial experience and my background as a North Carolina Board-Certified Family Law Specialist to work alongside those attorneys — helping shape strategy, prepare witnesses, and build the strongest possible case when court is the only path forward.
Whatever your family law needs, I am prepared to guide you toward the resolution that serves you and your family best.
I am the product of a divorce. I have seen family and friends go through the divorce process. I have seen firsthand that divorce can be done the right way and the wrong way. My family is important to me, and I understand your family is important to you and must be handled correctly.
Here's a little bit of information about me. I am married and have two children. I have two dogs, Charley and Coco that we adopted from the shelter.
My free time is spent chopping firewood and hanging out with friends. I love competitive sports. I played college baseball. I love watching football. I'm a big Carolina Panthers fan. If it has a ball, a winner, and a loser, I usually like to watch it.
I graduated from Cornell University with an engineering degree. I decided to become a lawyer after working several years as an engineer. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law in 2008. I have practiced family law in Mecklenburg and the surrounding counties ever since.
I became a Board-Certified Specialist in Family Law with the North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization in 2013 and I was re-certified as a board-certified specialist in 2019. In 2018, I became a NCDRC Certified Family Financial Mediator because I saw the benefit that mediation can provide to families in a divorce. That certification, combined with my trial background, is what shapes how I practice today: pursuing settlement and mediation first, while making sure clients — and the attorneys who may need to take a case to court — are never caught unprepared.
Family law is what I do – I don't dabble.
So what am I aiming to do? My goal is to help people going through a divorce or struggling for their children or grandchildren resolve their cases with as little conflict as possible, while making sure they have strong advocacy behind them if court becomes necessary. My goal is to build trust with my clients by listening to them, caring about their needs, settling their cases through negotiation and mediation whenever possible, and championing their rights.
Certifications
- Board Certified Family Law Specialist
- North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization 2013 - present
- Certified Family Financial Mediator
- North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission 2018 - present
Awards & Accolades
- Legal Elite, 2023-2026
- SuperLawyer, 2020-2026
- Top 100: 2026 NC Super Lawyers
- Best Lawyers, Family Law Mediation 2025-2026
- Best Lawyers, Family Law 2020-2026
- Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms 2024-2026
- AV Preeminent | Martindale Hubbell, 2018-2026
- Client Champion Platinum | Martindale Hubbell, 2022-2026
- Client Champion Gold | Martindale Hubbell, 2021
- Client Champion Silver | Martindale Hubbell, 2019-2020
- Top 30 Matrimonial & Family Law | The National Advocates, 2019-2022
- 10 Best Client Satisfaction | American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 2018-2022
- Peer Review Rated | Martindale Hubbell, 2018
- 10 Best Law Firms | American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, 2018-2019
- Rosie Award | Rosen Law Firm, 2013
