HEDRICK GARDNER - Key Persons
Office Wilmington, NC Fax (910) 509-9630 Phone (910) 679-4810 Email acastro@hedrickgardner.com
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 602-8164 Phone (704) 319-5449 Email acsmith@hedrickgardner.com
Amanda Brookie McDonald was passionate about oral advocacy, reading, and writing from a young age, but it wasn't until her sophomore year of college that she realized she wanted to be a lawyer.
"My family says my path was clear much earlier," she said. "When I was young, I put on a mock trial in a children's museum courtroom where I sentenced my grandpa to life without dessert for his horrid suggestion of flushing my dead beta fish down the toilet (rather than holding a proper burial)."
During law school, Amanda received three book awards and was a member of the Order of the Barristers National Advocacy Honor Society. She also received the UNC Craven Moot Court Competition award for third best brief and was twice listed in ‘Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.' While in law school, she worked as a legal extern for Judge Calabria at the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Amanda grew up watching the continual hard work and determination of her mother who owned a small business. "I saw my mom face both the challenging and rewarding aspects of owning a small business," she said. "This instilled in me a great admiration for small business owners and the challenges of running a business; I am excited to work on behalf of businesses of all sizes."
Amanda is passionate about every case that comes across her desk and enjoys the new challenges that each brings. She spent a year as a family lawyer where she gained a whole new understanding of the phrase "counselor" at law. This experience enhanced her client focus; cases are never just about numbers to her, but about the people and parties involved.
While not practicing law, Amanda enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and their golden retriever that they rescued from China.
Experience and Involvement
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 602-8107 Phone (704) 319-5427 Email afye@hedrickgardner.com
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law
- Human Resource Manager
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 900-2691 Phone (704) 602-8035 Email abing@hedrickgardner.com
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 900-2694 Phone (704) 602-8052 Email aschwehr@hedrickgardner.com
Andrea Schwehr enjoys a rewarding career advocating for her clients and never backs down from a challenge when defending cases. After growing up in Raleigh, Andrea moved to Cali, Colombia for high school. During undergrad, she served as a legal intern for a firm in Bogotá, Colombia and later returned to the Carolinas where she worked as a paralegal in Columbia, SC. She is proficient in Spanish, a skill she puts to work in her practice.
During law school, Andrea was Deputy Director of the Pro Bono Project, overseeing 14 projects. Before serving in that role, she was co-coordinator for the Migrant Detention Centers Project. She also served as a Guardian Ad Litem throughout law school and continues to serve as one in Mecklenburg County. She looks forward to continue using her legal skills to better her community.
Passionate about advocating for minorities in the profession, Andrea was involved in the Latino Law Student Association in law school. She proudly helped the association establish a scholarship fund for incoming Latinx students.
Andrea spends most of her free time hiking and exploring with her rescued black lab mix. She also enjoys reading, hiking, swimming, and salsa dancing.
Experience and Involvement
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Counsel to the N.C. Licensing Board for General Contractors
Office Raleigh, NC Fax (919) 832-9425 Phone (919) 341-2658 Email achoi@hedrickgardner.com
Anna has served as counsel to the N.C. Licensing Board for General Contractors for over two decades. She advises the General Contractor's Board and eight other occupational/professional licensing boards, advising on all matters including licensing, minimum qualifications, rulemaking, disciplinary actions, and personnel issues. Additionally, she represents individuals and businesses before other N.C. licensing boards and agencies, including real estate brokers, plumbers, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, pharmacists, retail pharmacies, and licensed child care facilities. She is the former Chair for the Administrative Law Section of the N.C. Bar Association and remains involved in many aspects of administrative/regulatory law. Anna's consistent excellent performance has earned her an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and recognition by Best Lawyers in America® and North Carolina Super Lawyers® in Administrative Law, as well as named a NC Lawyers Weekly 2020 Leader in the Law. She has also assumed leadership positions with the Junior League of Raleigh stretching back to 1994 and serves as State Regent for the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Ashley Pollard enjoys putting her competitive spirit to work for her clients. In her career, she utilizes the discipline, work ethic, and patience that she learned through playing sports as she grew up.
Ashley attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Media and Journalism with a second major in History and a minor in Social and Economic Justice.
Ashley graduated magna cum laude from Liberty University School of Law. During law school, she was a brief writer for the Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship, and assisted in drafting an amicus brief on behalf of a defendant who was before the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. Ashley also served as the Submissions Editor for the Liberty University Law Review and was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Board and the Women's Law Society. As a member of the ADR Board, she competed in negotiations and mediation competitions. Ashley interned at law firms in Greenville and New Bern, NC during her summers in law school, and was a student in the Legal Aid Clinic serving clients at the Virginia Legal Aid Society during her third year.
When not practicing law, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cooking, and listening to true crime podcasts. She enjoys both playing and watching sports, and can often be found cheering for the Tar Heels.
Experience and Involvement
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 602-8058 Phone (704) 602-8010 Email awalsh@hedrickgardner.com
Austin Walsh is an experienced and trusted trial attorney who provides accurate, concise counsel to solve your legal challenges.
Office Raleigh, NC Fax (919) 832-9425 Phone (919) 719-2827 Email bwilliams@hedrickgardner.com
Brian Williams, a Raleigh native and partner in the firm's Raleigh office, is a trial lawyer, business counselor, and problem-solver. Whether it is investigating claims, strategic planning or appearing in court, Brian uses his vast and varied experience to help each client achieve their goals.
Within his diverse litigation practice, Brian handles construction-related claims, manufacturing and industrial accidents, product liability claims, business disputes, unfair and deceptive trade practices, trucking accidents, premises liability claims, insurance coverage disputes, and selective personal injury claims.
While Brian has experience representing clients in a variety of industries, he has a deep understanding of issues facing both the construction and telecommunication industries. For more than two decades, he has regularly represented real estate developers, general contractors, subcontractors and national telecommunication companies in claims involving catastrophic injury, death, or substantial property damage in cases involving road construction accidents, combustible dust explosions, roof collapses, trench collapses, air compressor explosions, bridge collapses, overhead power line electrocutions, fall protection failures, utility pole failures, building defects, fires, breach of contract disputes, contract drafting, insurance coverage, and more.
Brian strives to be a true partner to his clients and seeks to develop a well-rounded understanding of each client's legal, business and personal objectives and motivations in order to devise the best plan forward. He is always mindful of the big picture and how decisions and actions may affect his clients' businesses and personal lives.
When not solving his clients' problems, Brian can be found trying new restaurants with his wife or coaching his twin sons' athletic teams or helping their Boy Scout troop. He is a self-proclaimed cinephile who enjoys movies and podcasts devoted to movies. He also leads an active lifestyle and has completed four marathons, three 200-mile relay races, and one-half Ironman. In fact, one of his proudest moments was in 2011 when he ran his first marathon - The Marine Corps Marathon - in Washington, DC. Not only did he surpass his fundraising goals in supporting diabetes research, but he was inspired to see disabled veterans persevere to finish the race. Brian says, "It was extremely inspiring and was a milestone moment for me."
Experience and Involvement
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 602-8068 Phone (704) 319-5465 Email bmulenex@hedrickgardner.com
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 631-4404 Phone (704) 602-8195 Email bmiller@hedrickgardner.com
Office Raleigh, NC Fax (919) 832-9425 Phone (919) 719-2835 Email rwilson@hedrickgardner.com
Office Wilmington, NC Fax (910) 509-9630 Phone (910) 216-4397 Email ccook@hedrickgardner.com
Cara Cook relentlessly helps each client reach their goals. Whether that involves utilizing her ability to craft persuasive legal arguments or engaging directly with clients in a diligent and responsive matter, Cara is intent on producing the best outcome possible as a workers' compensation attorney in Hedrick Gardner's Wilmington office.
Cara attended Wake Forest University School of Law where she earned her JD and served as Managing Editor of the Wake Forest Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law. She also participated in the Environmental Law Society and Environmental Law & Policy Clinic. Her experience includes an externship in DC at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and an internship at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, where she drafted court documentation and acquired familiarity with numerous areas of law, including veterans' law, government contracts, patents, and international trade.
During her free time Cara hikes, explores the Appalachians, and loves checking out new restaurants and local concerts.
Experience and Involvement
Office Raleigh, NC Fax (919) 832-9425 Phone (984) 279-3480 Email cduhon@hedrickgardner.com
Job Titles:
- Partner
- General Counsel to Several North Carolina
Office Raleigh, NC Fax (919) 832-9425 Phone (919) 341-2639 Email clee@hedrickgardner.com
Catherine also serves as general counsel to several North Carolina occupational licensing boards, and advises boards on a variety of legal issues, including the N.C. Public Records laws, statutory reporting and auditing requirements, personnel matters, State Open Meetings laws, State ethics laws, rulemaking matters, and legislative liaising. She routinely appears before Boards and the NC Office of Administrative Hearings to prosecute disciplinary matters.
Office Raleigh, NC Fax (919) 832-9425 Phone (919) 719-2825 Email cvail@hedrickgardner.com
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 602-8178 Phone (704) 319-5426 Email dlevy@hedrickgardner.com
Dave volunteers his legal services as a pro bono attorney with the Council for Children's Rights in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was named Mecklenburg County Pro Bono Attorney of the Year in 2010. He was also selected to the North Carolina Rising Stars list, published nationwide in Super Lawyers® Magazine, in 2010 and 2013-2018. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in NC are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. In 2021, he was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021-2023 in Construction Law. He holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 602-8118 Phone (704) 602-8018 Email dwinebarger@hedrickgardner.com
Deepa is an attorney in the firm's Charlotte office. Her practice focuses in the area of workers' compensation. She is an active member of the North Carolina State Bar and North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys.
Office Raleigh, NC Fax (919) 832-9425 Phone (919) 719-3762 Email ddittmar@hedrickgardner.com
Derek Dittmar developed strong advocacy skills early in life. These skills, coupled with his quick understanding of complex issues, make him a strong and empathetic defender of his clients.
He is proud to be the first person in his immediate family to attend law school and put his advocacy skills to work serving others.
At Campbell Law, Derek wrote for the Law Review where he published an article on negligence law and technology. He competed on the employment law trial team, and on the award-winning international law moot court team where he was recognized as a top advocate. He also ran an award-winning pro bono project for service animal law in his third year.
During law school, Derek earned an LL.M. in legal practice from Nottingham-Trent University in England. His thesis, which discussed the constitutional law implications of disability-accommodating technology, earned recognition as the top submission in the worldwide cohort. He also attended Baylor Law School's Academy of the Advocate in St. Andrews, Scotland, where he was recognized as the top advocate and author of the top brief. His legal internships included time serving the Honorable Bryan Collins at the Wake County Superior Court and at the misdemeanor division of the office of the Wake County Public Defender.
Derek currently practices out of Hedrick Gardner's Raleigh office, accompanied by his loyal companion, a black lab named Howard from Guide Dogs for the Blind. Derek has a passion for digital accessibility and, in addition to frequently writing and speaking on the topic of best practices and legal requirements for accommodating persons with disabilities, holds an international certification in digital accessibility and accommodation best practices.
Before joining Hedrick Gardner, Derek worked for the North Carolina Judicial Fellowship, a staff counsel-style office with the Administrative Office of the Courts where he provided judicial clerk services for district and superior court judges across the state.
When he is not practicing law, Derek enjoys traveling to the mountains and spending time with his wife. His hobbies include reading, craft beer, and writing and performing original americana/folk music. He has six guitars and enjoys local live music.
Experience and Involvement
Office Wilmington, NC Fax (910) 509-9630 Phone (910) 679-4804 Email ebennett@hedrickgardner.com
Office Raleigh, NC Fax (919) 832-9425 Phone (919) 719-3750 Email epappas@hedrickgardner.com
Office Wilmington, NC Fax (910) 509-9630 Phone (910) 679-4802 Email elewis@hedrickgardner.com
Erica exemplifies work-life balance and values the time she spends with her husband, Scott Lewis, and their three children. She also enjoys reading at the beach, traveling in the United States and abroad, and running half marathons.
Office Charlotte, NC Fax (704) 602-8099 Phone (704) 602-8197 Email eeisenoff@hedrickgardner.com
Erika is a Partner in the firm's Charlotte office. Erika's practice focuses primarily in the area of workers' compensation. Erika represents employers and insurance carriers before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, and throughout all stages of litigation. Prior to joining Hedrick Gardner, Erika served as a law clerk for three different judges at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. This experience gives Erika a unique perspective when defending clients.