NARRON WENZEL, P.A. - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Benson Recreation Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee
- Member of the Benson Rescue Squad Advisory Committee
Benton Sawrey concentrates his practice in civil litigation and business transactions. He enjoys helping small business owners plan to transfer a small business from one generation to the next in an orderly manner, or grow that business by buying and selling assets. Additionally, Benton has experience in fiduciary and corporate litigation, having brought and defended actions on behalf of several clients in contested estates.
Benton is a native of Smithfield and attended Smithfield-Selma High School. He is a third generation graduate of North Carolina State University, and obtained his Bachelors in Political Science. Upon graduation, he attended the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the South Carolina Journal of International Law & Business.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Johnston UNC Health Board of Directors
A native of eastern North Carolina, David F. Mills received his college and law school degrees from Campbell University. He is a dedicated member of the community and has served our area not only as a lawyer but also as an involved citizen. His legal career in Johnston County began in 1991 when he joined the firm of Mast, Schulz, Mast, Mills, Johnson, & Wells, where he later became partner.
David is a former Adjunct Professor of Bankruptcy at Campbell University School of Law, where he served as Director of the Stubbs Bankruptcy Clinic. In this capacity he helped to teach law students about the practical aspects of bankruptcy law practice while providing needed legal assistance to indigent clients.
David is a former member of the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association, and has also served as its chair of the Law Practice Management Section. He formerly served on the NCBA's Membership Committee and Professionalism Committee, as well as the Legislative Affairs Committee of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. He currently served on the Council of the North Carolina Bar Association Bankruptcy Section.
David is currently a member of the Johnston UNC Health Board of Directors which operates two full-service hospitals with nearly two thousand employees. He is past chairman of the Board of Directors of the Johnston Health Foundation, the philanthropic supporter of the hospital system. He previously served on the boards of the Johnston County Tourism Authority, the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation, and as chair of the Smithfield-Selma Area Chamber of Commerce. He has served his church as chairman of the Centenary United Methodist Church Trustees Committee and vice-chair of the church's Finance Committee.
James Narron focuses his practice on estate and trust planning, asset protection, and tax planning and controversies for high net worth individuals. He has broad experience in probate issues and corporate governance, and has worked with companies across the southeastern United States. His experience includes numerous appeals and litigation, particularly in state appellate courts.
James speaks and writes frequently on tax issues, and has delivered recent lectures at the Georgia Federal Tax Conference, the Duke Estate Planning Council Annual Seminar, and the Virginia Bar Association Estate Planning and Administration Section Annual Meeting. He recently served as Vice President of the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association.
James is a native of Johnston County and still farms the land that came from his grandfather, where he raises registered South Devon cattle and pine timber. He is active in community and philanthropic endeavors, including recent service as Chairman of the Board of the North Carolina Community Foundation, Incorporated.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (A.B. 1970) Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1975) New York University School of Law (LL.M. in Taxation, 1983)
Jason Wenzel focuses his practice on commercial real estate and corporate and business transactions. His clients range from large entities to individuals. From hotels to subdivisions, to improved and vacant land, Jason routinely handles complex real estate transactions throughout North Carolina. Jason regularly assists his clients in all aspects of commercial lending, leases, and like kind exchanges.
Jason grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, before moving to southeastern Michigan to finish high school. After completing his undergraduate studies at Albion College in Michigan, he chose to return south to attend law school at Wake Forest University. He has practiced with this firm for 20 years and serves as its managing partner.
Jason is married with two children and is active in his community. An Eagle Scout, he has enjoyed serving for the last four years as a Den Leader in his son's Pack. He is a past Assistant District Governor for Rotary District 7110; a past Board Chair of the Triangle East Chamber of Commerce; has served as the Vice-Chairman of the Johnston County Board of Adjustment for the last 9 years; and currently serves on the Johnston Health Foundation Board.
For the first 8 years of his practice, Jason served on the criminal indigent court appointed list representing criminal defendants.
Over his career, he has worked with various nonprofit groups and the State of North Carolina in dozens of transactions to preserve land associated with Civil War battlefields, notably near the Battle of Bentonville in Johnston County.
Jason has handled scores of hotel transfers, refinancings, defeasances, and SBA loans. He has handled hundreds of like-kind exchanges.
He has handled the sale and purchase of several minor league baseball teams.
As the farms in eastern North Carolina continue to give way to development, he has drafted, negotiated, and litigated numerous access and utility easement matters.
Matthew is a graduate of Campbell Law School. He started his legal career in legal career in Lillington, North Carolina. After a year of practicing in Harnett County, Matthew started his own firm in his hometown of Durham. During the seven years that he ran his own practice, Matthew gradually narrowed his main practice area to focus on residential real estate closings.
Matthew joined Narron Wenzel in 2022, and he focuses his practice on real estate. He is excited to engage the new opportunities that this position entails.
Matthew is a native of North Carolina and currently lives in Raleigh. He enjoys exploring the Triangle area's many greenway trails and spending time with his fiancé and their two dogs.
Education
Southeastern College at Wake Forest (B.A., 2006)
Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law (J.D. 2010)
Hampton Whittington focuses his practice on personal injury, wrongful death and work-related accidents. He represents his clients with personal, professional service to ease their legal concerns while he fights vigorously for them.
Hampton has been a certified Superior Court Mediator since 1996, and has mediated over 1000 cases in various areas of the law.
Hampton is an active member of the community in his native Benson where he lives on the family farm. He has served as President of the Benson Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Benson Museum of Local History, and Commissioner of the Banner Fire District. He has also served as the Johnston County Bar Association President and as President of the Eleventh Judicial District Bar. He was named Benson Citizen of the Year in 1994.
Prior to joining the firm in 1981, Hampton practiced law in Durham from 1975-1979 and served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Eleventh District from 1979-1981.
Stephanie Norris focuses her practice on estate planning, trusts, and corporate transaction work and succession planning. She enjoys assisting clients with their estate planning needs, large and small, based in our Smithfield office. She also has experience in corporate governance and customs and international trade law, and she is a licensed customs broker.
Stephanie received her law degree from Georgetown with a Certificate in World Trade Studies. She is licensed to practice in North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
Stephanie is a native of Archer Lodge and attended Clayton High School. She is a Tar Heel born and bred, graduating from UNC Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Business Administration. Stephanie then worked in finance, audit, and international trade compliance for the General Electric Company, including roles across the United States, Europe and Australia. She was most recently in Washington, DC, where she attended law school before making the wise & well-timed decision to come home to Johnston County in 2019. She loves spending time boating on North Carolina's rivers with her family, especially her four nieces.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.S., magna cum laude 2007) Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 2018)