WAKE FAMILY LAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Wake County Bar Association and the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association
Carly G. Baker has practiced exclusively family law litigation and negotiations since graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2017. She was recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" in Family Law from 2020-2023. Carly served as an Adjunct Faculty Member teaching family law in the Meredith College Paralegal Program in 2023
Carly received both her J.D. and her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before attending law school, she received her Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication and minored in history. While attending UNC Law, Carly wrote for the North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology and was an extern at Legal Aid of North Carolina where she represented victims of domestic violence in obtaining protective orders. She was a member and mentor in both the Women in Law organization and the Asian American Law Students Association.
Carly is a member of the Wake County Bar Association and the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association where she serves as a committee chair for the Section. She also serves as the Public Service Chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Wake County Bar Association and is actively engaged in giving back to the community.
I wanted to take the time to write a note regarding how impressive, helpful, and wonderful Carly has been as my counsel. Carly has been wonderful, attentive, gives great advice, and has been so helpful navigating this all-too-lengthy situation. She is whip-smart but perhaps speaking to her skills the most is that she is good people and a good lawyer that you can work with."
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Wake County Bar Association
Helen O'Shaughnessy (formerly Oliver), a partner at Wake Family Law Group, is a board-certified family law specialist. Helen has been previously recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as one of the Legal Elite in North Carolina for family law. She has been selected by North Carolina Super Lawyers for inclusion on the 2009, 2011-2013 North Carolina Rising Stars list and as a North Carolina Super Lawyer since 2016. Helen has earned an AV Preeminent rating for the highest level of professional excellence from Martindale-Hubbell.
Helen is a certified as a Family Financial Mediator and has served as a mediator in family law cases since 2006. Helen also serves as a certified Parenting Coordinator in high conflict child cases. Helen volunteers for The Child's Advocate, an organization that represents children in high-conflict child custody cases in Wake County Family Court.
Helen is a member of the Wake County Bar Association. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and its family law section (and previously served as secretary), its dispute resolution section, and its professional vitality committee (of which she is presently the CLE co-chair). Helen is a member of American Bar Association and its family law section. She is a Past Chair of the Family Law section for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and served as Continuing Legal Education Chair and co-chair for the Advocate for Justice's family law section. She previously served a three-year term as a member of the Tenth Judicial District Bar Grievance Committee.
Helen was a editor for two chapters for the publication North Carolina Family Law Marital Claims Deskbook (fourth edition and fifth edition).
Helen has spoken on family law issues for several organizations including the National Business Institute, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, NC Bar Foundation, North Carolina Central University School of Law, and Wake Forest University School of Law.
Helen received an undergraduate degree from Dickinson College and her Juris Doctor degree from Widener University School of Law in 1997. She was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in 1997.
Helen volunteers as co-leader of her daughter's girl scout troop and is the past president of her daughter's PTA. Currently, she serves on the board of the PTA.
During our darkest hours, Helen was at her best. Her advice and support during this extremely traumatic event were invaluable."
Jake W. Terrell graduated from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in 2017 with a B.A. in History Education. In 2020, he received his Juris Doctor from Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University.
While attending Campbell Law, he interned at Wake County Family Court where he became passionate about pursuing a career in Family Law. Jake was also a member of Campbell's Nationally Ranked Mock-Trial program, competing in national competitions in Alabama, New York, and Puerto Rico. His trial team won the national title at the Hofstra Medical-Legal Mock Trial Competition in the school's first appearance at that tournament.
Jake is a first-generation attorney and was admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in 2020. He is a member of the Wake County Bar Association and also the North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Section, where he serves as the co-chair of the History of Family Law committee.
Justin L. Mauney, a partner at Wake Family Law Group, was admitted to the practice of law in North Carolina in 2007 and focuses his practice on all aspects of North Carolina family law litigation and negotiation.
Justin has been outstanding in his counsel regarding my case. The decision to divorce is always a difficult one and when children are involved it severely complicates matters. Justin has proven to be exceptional in his advice, his grace, and his guidance. His knowledge of family law is surpassed only by his ability to negotiate with extremely difficult people. It is my experience that you truly care about the law and the people you serve over the "holy dollar" that accompanies your counsel. My ex-wife and I will continue to have our difficulties but our children are doing much better due in large part to the legal assistance provided by Justin."
Job Titles:
- Selected to Chair Family Law Section of NC Bar Association
Katie is a Past Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), a group with membership of over 1400 family law attorneys from across the state. She previously served a 3-year term as a Council Member for the Family Law Section and was Secretary of the Section from 2011-2020. She serves on the Section's Adoption and Modern Family Committees. Katie is also a member of the Wake County Bar Association and served a 3-year term on the Board of Directors. She is the immediate past Chair of the Tenth Judicial District's Grievance Committee, which investigates complaints involving lawyers' ethical conduct. She has previously served on the Tenth Judicial District's Fee Dispute Resolution Committee. Katie is also an ally attorney member of the LGBT Family Law Institute, a group of family law practitioners from across the country who are experienced in representing members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Katie is a frequent speaker across the state on family law and ethics issues.
Melanie Phillips Lucky, a partner at Wake Family Law Group, is a board-certified family law specialist who represents clients in all aspects of North Carolina family law litigation and negotiations. Melanie has practiced family law exclusively since 2012.
Melanie received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2011. While in law school, Melanie was admitted to the Child Advocacy Law Clinic, where she represented children and parents in abuse and neglect cases. She also participated in the Campbell Moot Court Competition and interned for the California Attorney General's Office and the San Francisco City Attorney's Office (child protection and family services division). Prior to law school, Melanie received her B.A., cum laude, in English from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Melanie was admitted to the California State Bar in 2011 and the North Carolina State Bar in 2014. She is licensed to practice in North Carolina and California (inactive). Melanie is a member of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Wake County Bar Association. She was selected for inclusion as a "Rising Star" in family law each year from 2020-2023 by the publication North Carolina Super Lawyers.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Wake County Bar Association
Michael F. Schilawski is a partner at Wake Family Law Group. He is a native of Wisconsin, but has resided in Cary, North Carolina since 1965.
Mike was admitted to practice in North Carolina in 1982, after having received a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971, a master's degree in education from North Carolina State University in 1976 and a Juris Doctor degree from Campbell University in 1982. While in law school, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Campbell Law Review. Prior to attending law school, Mike was employed for seven years as a public secondary school teacher, coach, guidance counselor and assistant principal.
In 1989, Mike was first certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization; he has limited his practice to family law since 1989. Mike is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States District Courts for the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina, the North Carolina Supreme Court and all subordinate courts. He has successfully argued family law cases before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court.
Mike was certified as a Family Financial Mediator by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission in 1999. He serves frequently as a mediator and an arbitrator in family law cases.
Mike is a member of the Wake County Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and has been a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 2004.
Mike is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs. He has earned an AV-Preeminant rating, the highest rating given by Martindale-Hubbell. Mike has been recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer in Family Law (2006-2023), by Business North Carolina magazine as one of the Legal Elite (2009- 2023, Hall of Fame, 2010) and was selected by US News and World Reports for inclusion on its list of The Best Lawyers in America in 2009-2023 (Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year, 2019). Mike has also been included in North Carolina Lawyers Weekly's "Power List" in 2022 and 2023.
Michael Schilawski is skilled at facilitating settlements in cases he mediates. He seems determined to reach a settlement."
Michael Schilawski has the ability to relate to any client in mediation."
All of my clients feel that he understands and empathizes with their unique situations. He makes my clients comfortable… they believe that he really, sincerely wants to help."
Nancy L. Grace is a partner at Wake Family Law Group. She has been a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law since 2003. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a NCDRC certified Family Financial Mediator. Nancy has earned an AV rating, the highest rating given by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been designated by her peers as a Super Lawyer in Family Law by North Carolina Super Lawyers each year from 2008 to the present (also earning Top 100 North Carolina attorneys and Top 50 Women attorneys). She has been included in Best Lawyers in America each year since 2014, and, in 2017 and again for 2023, Nancy was named Lawyer of the Year in Family Law in Raleigh by Best Lawyers in America.
Nancy is a Past President of the Tenth Judicial District Bar, the largest mandatory Bar organization in North Carolina, which includes approximately 5700 Wake County lawyers. Nancy is also a past President of the NC Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She is a former Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA) and a former Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (now North Carolina Advocates for Justice). Nancy has served on the Board of Directors for the Wake County Bar Association/Tenth Judicial District and on the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District. She served for many years as Chair of the CLE Committee for the Family Law Section of the NCBA and is a former editor of Family Forum, a publication of the Family Law Section of the NCBA. Nancy has previously served on the CLE Committee and Communications Committee for the North Carolina Bar Association.
Nancy received a B. A. degree in Spanish in 1982 and a Master's Degree in Teaching in 1986 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught Spanish at North Carolina State University prior to attending law school. In 1996, Nancy received a J.D. with Honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law and then served as law clerk to the Honorable James A. Wynn, Jr. of the North Carolina Court of Appeals (now on the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals) before entering private practice.
Job Titles:
- Member of the North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Section
Norieh Brittain is a native of California where she attended Vanguard University of Southern California and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2006. After relocating to North Carolina in 2011 and after a decades-long career in the corporate world, she chose to pursue her lifelong goal of becoming an attorney. She graduated with honors from North Carolina Central University School of Law in December 2021. In addition to her cum laude distinction, Norieh was the 2019 Clifton Johnson Moot Court Competition Best Oralist and Best Overall Award Winner and later served as the Chair of the Moot Court Board.
Not many people can start law school in the midst of a corporate career, simultaneously raise three small children, and still manage to graduate as one of the top students in the class all while winning trial competitions in the process. Norieh brings that same passion, focus, and determination to her family law career. As a wife and mother, Norieh understands the complexities that come with issues that arise from Family Law. Her passion is to not only protect her clients and their interests but to represent them fiercely.
Norieh is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Section, the Wake County Bar Association, and the Tenth Judicial District Bar.
She is also fluent in the Farsi/Persian language and is one of the only family law attorneys in the state to have that special skill.
Rachel Beard, a partner at Wake Family Law Group, is a board-certified family law specialist who focuses her practice on family law negotiations and litigation. She is also a certified parenting coordinator in high conflict custody matters and certified as a Family Financial Mediator. Rachel served as an Adjunct Faculty Member teaching family law in the Meredith College Paralegal Program in 2023.
Rachel graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002 with a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication and History. Prior to attending law school, Rachel worked for the News & Observer as a sports reporter and later as a website sports producer.
Rachel received her Juris Doctor from the Norman A. Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University in 2012. She was in private practice for several years before joining Wake Family Law Group.
Rachel was selected for inclusion as a "Rising Star" in family law by the publication North Carolina Super Lawyers in 2022 and was also named to the 2022 Business North Carolina magazine's Legal Elite in family law. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Wake County Bar Association. Rachel was the Co-Managing Editor of the publication, North Carolina Marital Claims Deskbook, 5th edition.
Zach Underwood is a board-certified family law specialist who has exclusively focused on family law negotiations and litigation since 2015. His experience has taken him to many counties throughout eastern North Carolina and to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Zach is certified as a Family Financial Mediator by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission and is also a certified Parenting Coordinator in high conflict custody cases.
Prior to joining Wake Family Law Group, Zach practiced family law with a national firm.
Zach graduated from the University of Illinois Springfield with his bachelor's degree in 2011. Throughout college he worked for a local law firm focusing on the administration of the firm. He attended law school at Wake Forest University and received his Juris Doctor in 2014.
During law school, Zach clerked for Judge Cheri Beasley and Judge Robert Hunter on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, as well as Justice Robert Edmunds on the North Carolina Supreme Court. Zach was selected for inclusion as a "Rising Star" in family law in 2023 by the publication North Carolina Super Lawyers.