In 1982, after serving as a judge for the Wake County District Court, The Honorable Judge John Hill Parker (JD ’69) joined forces with Joe Cheshire and he established a section of the firm dedicated to the practice of family law. In 1993, he was joined by Jonathan McGirt (JD ‘93), the recipient of the 1993 American Jurisprudence Award for excellent achievement in the study of advanced family law. He became a Partner with the firm in 1996. In 1996, Lorion Vitale (JD ’95) became a member of the firm and became a Partner in 1999. Prior to joining the firm, she practiced law for a civil litigation firm in Winston Salem. The following year, Kimberly Bryan (JD ’92), who had been operating a family law practice in Raleigh since 1992, joined the firm as a Partner. The family law section has dedicated its practice to counseling clients through the dissolution of a marriage,

custody and support disputes, the division of property, valuation of small business and complex corporations, domestic violence actions, pre and post nuptial agreements, the defense of civil claims, including alienation of affections and criminal conversation, and the appeal of a court’s decision. The majority of the members of the section are Certified by the North Carolina State Bar as Family Law Specialists.

The family law section is experienced in handling family law cases of all levels of complexity and at any stage from inception through appeal. The section provides quality, individualized representation to resolve a client’s issues. The members are proponents of alternative dispute resolution methods such as settlement conferences, mediation and collaborative law to resolve disputes in an amicable fashion so as to avoid the emotional and financial expense of litigation. But, in the event a case is not resolved, all of the family law partners are accomplished trial lawyers.

The family law section emphasizes the importance of continuing legal education. Members of the section are extensively involved in legal education by actively organizing seminars for other lawyers on family law and other related topics; teaching colleagues at lawyer education seminars; writing articles on family law topics; monitoring appeals and legislation; and regularly attending continuing education classes. Further, the partners of the section have served as leaders members of various organizations to enhance the practice of family law, improve legislation and promote professionalism.