WALLACE & NORDAN - Key Persons
Daneen Lipscomb's practice focuses on Estate Planning and Administration. Originally from Wilmington, North Carolina, Daneen graduated in 2006 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American Studies.
After graduation, Daneen moved to San Francisco, California where she worked as a Case Manager for the Motions Unit of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Daneen then went on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles, California. While in law school Daneen served as a Dean's Fellow and was a member of the Moot Court Honors Program and the Southwestern Journal of International Law. Following law school Daneen worked as a law clerk and research attorney for the Los Angeles Superior Court where she assisted a variety of judges in civil, probate, family law, and personal injury courts.
In 2016, Daneen and her family were able to relocate back to the east coast and be closer to family and friends. Daneen is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and California. She currently resides in Cary, North Carolina, with her husband, Jim, and their son, Henry.
Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation, Political Law and Litigation
John Wallace represents political party committees as well as trade associations, nonprofit organizations, state and federal PACs, and candidate committees. As such, John is active in federal courts, state courts and in administrative forums, including the State Board of Elections and the Federal Election Commission. His litigation practice has been concentrated in political , First Amendment, unfair trade practice, business tort, contract, ERISA and class action matters.
In his election law practice, John represents the North Carolina Democratic Party as well as an array of Democratic candidates, state and federal trade associations and business affiliated committees, and various nonprofit organizations and their affiliated political committees.
John's ethics law practice includes representation of lobbyists, lobbyist principals and grassroots organizations, including for-profit and non-profit entities. John advises his clients on compliance with state ethics and campaign finance laws and regulations and represents clients before the State Ethics Commission.
John attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1973. He then attended the University of Florida School of Law, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1976.
Upon graduation, John began his career as antitrust coordinator for the National Association of Attorneys General. In this capacity, he coordinated multidistrict antitrust litigation brought by State Attorneys General and assisted in various appellate court matters. He then served as Assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust Division of the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Lauren, a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, is enthusiastic about melding her experience in campaigns with her legal training. In 2016-17, she worked as a field manager for three different candidates: a local municipal race, a legislative campaign, and a Court of Appeals re-election campaign.
Lauren graduated from Brown University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies. Her love of cooking led her to complete an Associate of Science degree in Culinary Science from Johnson & Wales University in Miami, Florida. Lauren then went on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in law school, Lauren was a member of the North Carolina Law Review.
After law school, Lauren clerked for the Honorable Robin Hudson at the North Carolina Court of Appeals. She then practiced law with The Jernigan Law Firm representing individuals injured on the job or in accidents. She developed strong relationships with clients during challenging times in their lives.
Lauren felt fortunate to have the opportunity to be home with her 3 children while her family moved up and down the East Coast for her husband's job. She was thrilled to return to her hometown, spend more time with her family, and get re-involved in the Wake County legal community.
Lauren is actively engaged with her community in many capacities. She serves as the Vice-President and Advocacy Chair of her children's school PTA, volunteers in numerous classrooms, and helps support the most food-insecure students at her children's public schools. In addition, she works as a Sunday school teacher in her congregation and serves on the Congregation Board, Religious School committee, and Finance committee. She loves to cook, exercise, read, and spend time with her family and friends.
Matt's practice focuses on commercial and public interest litigation as well as commercial transactions. He has represented individuals, companies, and other organizations in contract, tort, financial services, malpractice, employment, utility, product liability, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts. He has also represented parties before state boards and commissions. Matt is a mediator certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct mediations in North Carolina's Superior Courts. During law school, he was an intern to the North Carolina Attorney General's Executive Staff, working on legal and policy issues concerning cyber-crime, university safety, and prisoner reentry programs.
In addition to his legal work, Matt serves as a Wake County Commissioner. Elected countywide to serve more than 1 million residents and oversee an annual budget of more than $1 billion, Matt has overseen local government operations for a wide range of public functions, including school funding, land use, public health, fiscal policy, public safety, and environmental protection. In 2016, he also led a successful effort to pass a $2.3 billion transportation referendum.
In 2015, the Triangle Business Journal named Matt one of the Triangle's "40 Under 40." In acknowledgment of his efforts on the Commission, in 2016, the News & Observer named Matt one of twelve up-and-coming young leaders who are "step[ping] up to lead the Triangle" and called him "perhaps [the board's] most influential progressive voice." Matt received WakeUp Wake County's 2016 Leadership Award for leading a successful effort to pass a $2.3 billion transportation referendum.
Matt lives in Fuquay-Varina, NC with his wife, Molly, and their daughter, Eleanor.
Education:
- Duke University School of Law. J.D., 2009; magna cum laude; Order of the Coif (top 10% of class). Editorial Board member and published note author, Duke Law Journal. Member, Mock Trial Board.
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. B.A., 2005; summa cum laude. Student Body President (2004-2005). Study Abroad: Viennese Diplomatic Academy and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Honors: Order of the Golden Fleece, Order of the Grail-Valkyries.
Practice Areas: Estate Planning & Administration, Income Taxation
Richard Nordan joined the firm in 1985 and became a partner in 1991. He concentrates his practice in the fields of estate planning and administration and is also an expert in the incorporation and organization of small businesses and non-profits. Richard's research skills, knowledge, and experience in taxation and estate matters allow him to provide expert advice in those fields, and he is often called upon by CPAs and other attorneys.
Richard was born in Wiesbaden, West Germany, while his father was serving in the Air Force, but his family roots are in Smithfield, North Carolina. Richard graduated from North Carolina State University with honors in 1978, and became a Certified Public Accountant in 1980. After several years of practice in this field, he returned to school to obtain his Juris Doctor degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina and Wake County Bar Associations, and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants.
His deep interest and involvement in politics has led him to serve as counsel, campaign treasurer, and advisor to several Judges of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, and to the current Attorney General. Richard's interests include bluegrass music and North Carolina's tobacco heritage. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the SPCA of Wake County.