Members & Firms

MEET:  Lori R. Keeton

Lori Keeton is the owner and partner at the Law Offices of Lori Keeton in Charlotte, NC. With experience in municipal law, her practice focuses on defending police officers who are facing lawsuits involving alleged use of excessive force. Lori is a graduate of the University of Florida School of Law. An active NCADA member since 2004, Lori is a past chair of our Government Practice Group.  Join us in getting to learn a little bit more about Lori!

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice? My stepfather was Judge Advocate General of the Army and then Dean of Mississippi College School of Law. My mother was an English teacher. Together, they taught me to love words and recognize their potential power which naturally led to a career in litigation (…and of course my sisters represented the perfect sparring partners to help me hone my skills!)

What would you do if you were not a lawyer? I would be a teacher if I were not a lawyer. I taught remedial English at a community college in Fort Myers, Florida the summer between my first and second years of law school. The majority of my students were older than I was and had full time jobs in addition to taking classes. English was a second language for many of them. They worked so hard to improve themselves. It was incredibly rewarding to watch them progress over the course of the semester.

Fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? I worked as a courier for a large law firm while in high school and on breaks from college. It taught me SO much about who I wanted to be- and who I did not want to be- once I became an attorney.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? Dolly Parton- I love her confidence, her kind heart and her work ethic… not to mention her hair (Tease it to Jesus!)

What excites you the most right now? My almost three-year-old goldendoodle, Finn. For anyone who follows me on Facebook or Instagram, this comes as no surprise to you as I post pictures of him constantly. I never thought I would be “that person,” but I am 100% “that person” when it comes to Finn.

What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self? “Don’t worry- your time is coming!”

MEET:  Sydney P. Davis

Sydney P. Davis is an associate in the Litigation Section at Poyner Spruill LLP, based in the firm's Rocky Mount office.  Sydney focuses her practice on civil and commercial litigation, defending her clients in federal and state courts.  She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Law in 2021.

What are your future goals and aspirations for your career?  To continue to strengthen and hone my legal writing skills; to become the most effective advocate for my clients; and to be a role model/mentor for first-generation attorneys like myself.

What are you reading or listening to?  1989 (Taylor’s Version) by Taylor Swift (on repeat).

If you could have any superpower what would it be?  The ability to have more than 24 hours in a day – we could all use a few more hours to be the best version of ourselves.

How do you define success?  To me, success is satisfaction. Satisfaction is not being content but always yearning for more, while still being pleased with what you’ve accomplished to date. Accomplishments are like building blocks that carry you to new heights on the strong foundation you have built.

Connect with Sydney!

MEET: John L. Kubis, Jr.

John Kubis is a partner at Teague Campbell, LLP and works in the firm's Asheville office. He specializes in complex litigation, catastrophic injuries, and large loss litigation. He earned his law degree from the Appalachian School of Law in 2007 and is licensed to practice law in Kentucky and North Carolina. Additionally, he has previously served as the chair of the Construction practice group for the NCADA. If you're not familiar with John, take a moment to learn more about him here.

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice?  One semester in engineering made it quite clear that was not my calling. In all seriousness, I knew from a relatively young age that I wanted to do something that made a difference. That leaves a lot of options and was not very original, but for me it seemed clear that it would involve some kind of advocacy. Eventually, after a pit-stop in biotech, a brief stint at a think tank in D.C., and some time at the Kentucky Supreme Court, I found my calling in litigation which allowed me to advocate on behalf of people, governments, and businesses that find themselves in bad situations. It also allowed me to cater to my competitive streak.

How has membership in NCADA benefited your professional life?I’ve said many times that North Carolina has one of the best and most collegial bars anywhere, and I think some of the very best of those people find their way into the NCADA. It’s been a great place to make connections with your peers, many of whom you will cross paths with throughout your career. Having those personal relationships goes a long way to defuse stressful situations while in the trenches of a difficult case.

What would you do if you were not a lawyer?  Probably something highly impractical like a travel writer.

What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome?  Learning that you really don’t know much of anything as a young lawyer can be a jolting experience. Realizing that it takes quite a long time before you know a little bit about what you’re doing, and that someone is always going to know more than you do is both a humbling process and an important lesson in life. Identifying good lawyers and doing what they do is a really solid strategy.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why?  Ben Franklin. He was so instrumental in shaping American democracy through his writings and political philosophy and was key in popularizing many of the values we identify as uniquely American. It would be fascinating to get his take on how things look now.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever done?  Drove down to the middle of the Everglades at the turn of the millennium to watch the band Phish play an all-night set.

What excites you the most right now?  Travel. Exploring new and familiar places, for me, is one of life’s great pleasures. I’m always looking forward to the next adventure and currently getting ready to go to Northern Europe.

What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self?  Relax. It will all work out.

Thank you, John, for sharing!

 MEET:  Kayla N. McDaniel

Kayla McDaniel is an attorney at Cranfill Sumner LLP located in Charlotte. She specializes in Employment and Municipal law. Kayla recently graduated from the Campbell University School of Law in 2021, and we're excited to introduce you to her!

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice?  I have always had a strong sense of justice, so I knew I wanted to be in a field where I had the opportunity to make a difference with my work. In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ve also always appreciated a good argument. Litigation is a great fit for me because no two days are alike, and I find the variety and challenging nature of this work to be very rewarding.

What are your future goals and aspirations for your career?  I can’t see myself being anything other than a litigator, and my goal is to continue to expand my practice defending private employers and municipalities facing employment actions in the Charlotte area.

Who and/or what inspires you?  Possibly a corny answer, but I have tremendous respect for the people I work with at my firm. I feel extremely lucky to be surrounded by such talented partners and associates and they inspire me to be a better lawyer.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why?  Jon Krakauer because he wrote some of my all-time favorite books, and has had an incredibly fascinating life.

What are you reading or listening to?  I tend to juggle multiple books at once because I have a fairly short attention span, so right now I’m reading Hello Beautiful and The Secret History for fun, and Happy Place for my book club.

What excites you the most right now?  Traveling! I just got back from Germany and am planning a road trip in California next year.

Describe your perfect day outside of work. My perfect day outside of work would be spent hiking around the Blue Ridge Parkway with my shih tzu Buttons (she’s 12 but surprisingly adventurous!) and then going to my favorite used bookstore and to yoga, and ending the day with a concert.

If you could have any superpower what would it be?  I’ve actually thought about this a lot before, and I would definitely pick teleportation strictly for the convenience, because I love traveling and would be able to see so much more of the world if I didn’t have to deal with the whole “getting there” process.

How do you define success?  Professionally, I define success as the feeling of satisfaction in your work that comes from knowing that you put everything you had into it, no matter the outcome. Outside of work, I would say that success means having a life that is centered around meaningful relationships with friends and family.

Connect with Kayla!

MEET: Trisha L. Barfield

Trisha Barfield is a litigation attorney specializing in commercial defense at Carruthers & Roth, P.A. in Greensboro, NC. Trisha received her J.D. in 2017 from Elon University School of Law and joined NCADA in 2020.

Join us in getting to know Trisha a little bit!

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice? Before law school, while working as the Executive Assistant to the Health Director of Cumberland County, North Carolina, my boss at the time looked at me one day and said, “You should go to law school,” and my immediate response was “You’re crazy!” I had never considered it before then, though I knew I had always wanted to pursue a post-graduate degree of some sort and was considering an MBA or MPH program at the time. After two years passed, I realized I could not stop thinking about the idea of going to law school, so I decided to give it a try and never looked back. I entered law school knowing I wanted to be in court.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? Bob Barker. I grew up watching the "Price is Right" every day after school and always dreamed about getting on the show. After seeing the feature about him, his life and accomplishments, after he passed away recently, I think it would be fascinating to talk to him for a few to learn and gain words of wisdom about how he approached all things in his life, personally and professionally, with such ease, charisma, confidence while maintaining a pleasant demeanor when interacting with others.

What are you reading or listening to? I am not currently reading or listening to a book, but if I were it would be a suspenseful thriller. At times, I listen to crime podcasts and, I try to listen to "The Mindset Mentor" podcast daily while getting ready for the workday.

What excites you the most right now? I got engaged recently, and my part time “job” planning our 2024 wedding is one of the most exciting things to me right now.

Describe your perfect day outside of work. At the beach with my fiancée and our Siberian Husky, Mellie.

MEET:  George W. Miller, III

George W. Miller III is a partner at Haywood, Denny & Miller, LLP located in Durham, NC. He specializes in insurance defense and holds a degree from Campbell University, graduating in 1996, and has been a member of NCADA since 1999.  Join us in getting to know George a little better!

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice? I enjoy the competitive nature of the work and I enjoy being exposed to infinite fact patterns. Every case is different, and every litigant has their own particular foibles. It is fun to watch and interact with human nature.

How has membership in NCADA benefited your professional life?  I find it helpful bouncing fact patterns, theories, practice tips and results off of colleagues. It can give you confidence that you are heading in the right direction.

What would you do if you were not a lawyer? Probably a High School football coach.

What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome? My lack of technology skills.

What is your favorite legal movie or TV show and why? Currently, Suits. While totally unrealistic from the legal perspective, I can relate to Harvey. Historically, The Firm. While not for the same reasons as Tom Cruise experienced, I can see how one can get trapped in a firm.

Fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? I lived in DC and worked for a US Senator before law school.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? Thomas Jefferson. Guy had some pretty good foresight.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever done? I Skydived in College. After completing all the prep and training, and about 5 minutes before we were to go up for my first jump, the business owner took me aside and told me that my Dad was representing the company in a lawsuit filed by a woman who’s chute tragically did not open and she was rendered a quadriplegic. While I still jumped that day and a few times afterwards, the experience was suddenly a bit different than I had imagined.

What excites you the most right now? Personally, all three of my kids are in college, preparing to start out on their own journeys, and my wife and I are loving the empty nest. Professionally, after 27 years of doing it, I feel like I am getting the hang of it.

What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self? Don’t be afraid to go for it. Every case can be settled, that doesn’t mean they should be.

Kudos to George for fearlessly taking the leap! 

MEET: John Willardson

John Willardson is a long-time member and a past president of NCADA. He is a dedicated solo practitioner at Willardson Law Firm in Wilkesboro, NC, where he also holds the position of Wilkesboro Town Attorney. John is a graduate of UNC School of Law, Class of 1972.  John has also been an active volunteer with the North Carolina State Bar, the Chief Justice's Commission on Professionalism, the YMCA Northwest North Carolina, and a community volunteer in Wilkesboro where you may have seen him serving up hot dogs at MerleFest!  

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice?  In high school, I thought that I would attend law school. At UNC, I double majored in Spanish and Political Science, spent one year in Medellin, Colombia at the University of Antiqouia and by the end of my junior year, had resolved to attend law school. I applied for and was accepted to law school but two weeks after graduation, the US Army requested my presence for basic training at Ft. Polk, LA after which I attended AIT at Fort Sam Houston, TX where I was initially trained as a combat medic and then received advanced training in physical therapy. I served 6 years in Army Reserve medical units. All of that delayed my start of law school until 1969. In law school, I realized that my interest was in litigation and having grown up in Santa Monica, California, expected to live and work in a large city. However, following law school, I had the privilege to serve as research assistant to the late Judge Robert A. (Fred) Hedrick of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and while clerking at the NC Court of Appeals, Governor Robert Scott appointed a lawyer from North Wilkesboro, the late Julius A. Rousseau, Jr., as a Superior Court judge. Although neither my wife nor I had ever been to Wilkes County, Judge Hedrick encouraged me to interview with that firm. I did so and was offered and accepted a position to begin in August, 1973 when my position as Research Assistant to Judge Hedrick ended. My wife and I moved to Wilkes County in August, 1973 and have not left. For the last 50+ years, I have engaged in a general law practice with an emphasis on defense law. Our firm’s practice covered many northwest North Carolina counties. In 2014, I became the Wilkesboro Town Attorney and have greatly enjoyed my municipal law practice in addition to my ongoing litigation practice. Since 2015 I have practiced solo for the first time in my career.

How has membership in NCADA benefited your professional life? Membership in the NCADA has certainly broadened my horizons and has allowed me to meet great lawyers and extraordinary people throughout the state.

What would you do if you were not a lawyer? Were I not a lawyer, I either would have applied for a position with the diplomatic corps or would have pursued advanced degrees with the goal of teaching Latin American/Central American history and/or political science.

What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome? As a young associate, it was truly “baptism by fire” beginning with a solo jury trial my first day in the office and one or two solo civil jury trials during the next two or three months. There was little training or guidance other than on the job training and learning through observation. It was certainly a challenge to develop the self-confidence needed to try cases when the only prior experience was in a trial advocacy class in the third year of law school

What is your favorite legal movie or TV show and why? During the 1980’s, my favorite legal television series was Paper Chase because it was such a reminder of what law school was like. Without question, my favorite legal movie is “To Kill a Mockingbird” because Atticus Finch exemplifies what each of us should aspire to do and be in our respective law practices.

Fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? I am still hoping to be discovered by a major league baseball team, but am starting to lose hope.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? Without question, it would be the late Dean Smith because he was brilliant, great leader and coach, a masterful tactician and an even better human being.

What is the strangest thing you’ve ever done? Riding in a single engine Beech Bonanza from the Wilkes County airport to the John Wayne airport in Orange County, CA and back and spending about 22 hours in the cockpit over a 2-1/2 day period.

What excites you the most right now? Playing tennis, Carolina athletics and the return of NASCAR and the reopening of the North Wilkesboro Motor Speedway after a 26-year hiatus.

What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self? Believe in yourself, be courteous, respectful and professional, politely accept any adverse rulings by the court, avoid showing or voicing emotion in the face of adverse rulings or during opposing counsel’s cross-examination or closing argument, be vigilant and learn from other lawyers, treat other lawyers as you would want to be treated and always be respectful of the presiding judge and courtroom personnel.

Thanks John for sharing your story!

MEET: Erin McNeil Young

Erin McNeil Young is Senior Litigation for Extended Stay America and is based in Charlotte. In her role with Extended Stay, Erin manages general liability litigation for the company. Prior to going in-house, Erin was in private practice following her graduation from UNC School of Law in 1999. Erin has been an active member of NCADA since joining and is currently serving as an officer of the Association in the role of Secretary. Erin is a breast cancer survivor and shares her journey along with other musings in her blog "Legal Fitness." Get to know Erin and connect with her here!

How has membership in NCADA benefited your professional life?  I have met so many wonderful people – many of whom I am happy to also call my friends. I have learned so much from the seminars and the amazing lawyers who are a part of this organization. I am a better lawyer because of the NCADA.

What would you do if you were not a lawyer? An event planner – specializing in weddings and baby showers!

What is the biggest career challenge you’ve had to overcome? Switching gears from law firm life after 23 years of private practice to in-house after being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.

What is your favorite legal movie or TV show and why? To Kill A Mockingbird – loved the book and movie. Atticus Finch is the quintessential legal prototype.

Fun fact that people probably don’t know about you? A lot of people don’t know that I also own a funeral home. I’m not sure most people would consider that “fun” but it makes for some interesting stories. I’m a riot at cocktail parties.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? Shaquille O’Neal. He just seems like such a good, fun, genuine dude. I’d choose another beverage besides coffee though.

MEET:  Christopher Rhodes, Jr.

Christopher Rhodes Jr. is an Associate Attorney with Ellis & Winters, LLP practicing in the firm's Raleigh office.  Christopher obtained his J.D. in 2022 from UNC Chapel Hill School of Law.  We're happy to get to know Christopher a little bit here!

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice? What began as an interest in public policy and politics evolved into a desire to want to learn how the legal system works and how I could participate in advocating for others.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why? I would truly enjoy the opportunity to grab a coffee with Charles Hamilton Houston. I’m certainly inspired by the work of all the civil rights attorneys who engaged in the profession, however, I would truly like to pick his brain about his approach to amplifying his impact a mentor to so many influential lawyers and how that would translate to the challenges of today’s time.

What are you reading or listening to? I’m an avid podcast listener. My favorite podcast right now is called Acquired, hosted by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal. They do fantastic deep dives into publicly traded companies that are both informative and entertaining.

Describe your perfect day outside of work. A prefect day outside of work would start with a visit to a local Durham coffee shop (shout out to the Daily Beer Bar), then a lunch at any local Durham restaurant. My wife and I have started to indulge in pickleball so an afternoon playing pickleball. Then end the evening at a Durham dive bar. There are plenty in Durham and it’s hard to find a bad one. You may or may not be able to tell that I live in Durham and love it.

If you could have any superpower what would it be? Definitely fly. I hate driving in traffic.

How do you define success? Leaving the world in a better place than when you started in it. It can be difficult to believe that this is possible given the divisiveness of social discourse, however, I am very optimistic that starting with the small things (e.g. being a good person, volunteering in your community, mentoring young people) truly do initiate outsized long term impact. Success is planting those seeds of hope and ensuring that those seeds grow as much as possible while you’re alive and able to do something.

Be sure to connect with Christopher when you're looking for a great dive bar in Durham!

MEET Chris Mewborn

Chris Mewborn is the senior partner at Mewborn & DeSelms, P.A. basing his Workers' Comp practice in Jacksonville, NC.  A 1991 graduate of Campbell University School of Law, Chris has been an NCADA member since 2000.  Chris recently shared a little bit about himself.  Take a minute to get to know Chris!

What drew you to the practice of law and to a litigation and trial practice?  I wanted to help people that had been treated unfairly and felt the best way I could do that was to stand up and speak for them in a courtroom.

How has membership in NCADA benefited your professional life?  The Weekly Updates are a great way to keep up with case law and legislative changes that impact my practice.

Fun fact that people probably don't know about you?  I love to fish and try to incorporate fishing when I travel.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, to grab a coffee with, who would it be and why?  My Dad, who passed away nearly ten years ago.  He provided a lifetime of guidance and inspiration.

What excites you the most right now?  Spending time with family at the beach and fishing.

What is one piece of professional or life advice you would tell your younger self?  Slow down and enjoy the ride.  You will reach your destination.

We bet Chris has some great fish stories! Connect with Chris to swap stories and go fishing!