Mary uses her tested skills to help families, businesses and individuals solve disputes over wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other fiduciary and estate matters. She excels in cases where estate, trust and fiduciary matters touch other areas of the law including real estate, taxation, corporate, commercial and intellectual property matters. In addition to litigation and trials, Mary handles matters involving trustee vacancies, trust modifications and terminations requiring court approval, including issues involving charitable trusts. She also helps families and individuals facing difficult choices about seeking guardianship for relatives with diminished capacity, particularly when those cases are contested. Mary has extensive jury trial experience. Family disputes over wealth can be very emotional. Clients appreciate Mary’s steady and calm problem-solving skills as well as her in-depth knowledge of the risks and benefits of taking cases to a jury.
Washington and Lee University (J.D., 1994) University of Alabama at Birmingham (B.A. summa cum laude,1989) New College of the University of South Florida (1986)
North Carolina (1998) Alabama (1994) 4th Circuit Court of Appeals U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
In the community, Mary’s service includes:
Business North Carolina Magazine Legal Elite, Litigation (2018, 2020, 2023)
Best Lawyers in America® (2018 – 2024)
Super Lawyers®, Estate & Trust Litigation (2023-2024)