LAW FIRM CAROLINA - Key Persons
Biography:
Adam Marshall is a partner at Law Firm Carolinas and focuses his practice on representation of community associations in North Carolina. Specifically, providing guidance to the firm's community association clients regarding matters of governing document interpretation, association governance, and collections. In addition, Adam appears in court in foreclosure cases for unpaid community association assessments. He is a member of North Carolina's Community Association Institute (CAI) and regularly gives educational presentations to community association managers and association board members at various CAI organized events and conferences. Adam leads the firm's land use, zoning and planning section and also practices in the area of corporate law, debt collection, and residential real estate. He focuses much of his corporate work on advising and assisting clients with business acquisitions and sales, and more specifically with assisting dentists in the acquisition and transition of dental practices.
Adam is active in the local community and has served on various boards and commissions for the City of Greensboro, including service as a member of the Human Relations Commission, Greensboro Criminal Justice Advisory Commission, Board of Adjustment, and Zoning Commission. Adam served as the Chairman of the Greensboro Zoning Commission for the 2019-2020 term. Adam was also involved in a work group organized through the North Carolina Coastal Federation for Advancing Nature-based Stormwater Strategies to Reduce Flooding and Improve Water Quality in North Carolina.
Andrew is an avid writer both professionally and recreationally. He has performed regularly at local music venues as well as for charitable events such as Pawpalooza, an animal rescue fundraiser. He published an article about the evolution of U.S. asylum law in the 2015 issue of the Elon Law Review. In his free time, Andrew enjoys writing songs, playing music and spending time with his friends and family. He is also an avid N.C. State Wolfpack fan. Andrew lives in Greensboro with his wife, daughter and four cats: Tuck, Hank, Larry and Gunny.
Emily Meister is a dedicated attorney, licensed in both North Carolina and South Carolina, with more than 15 years of experience.
Emily has represented both individuals and corporations in a variety of matters, including litigation, corporate formation and governance, personal injury and employment matters. She has appeared in state, federal and the North Carolina Business Court, tried numerous cases in jury and bench trials, and undertaken appeals in state and federal courts. In her commercial litigation practice, she has handled matters statewide in many industries, representing primarily closely held companies and shareholders in governance disputes, contract disputes, business torts and employment matters.
Emily's litigation experience has provided valuable insight and enabled her to further benefit clients when drafting and reviewing contracts, business plans and other agreements. She is committed to finding practical and creative solutions to meet the needs of her clients.
Emily is admitted to practice in the state courts of South Carolina and North Carolina, all North Carolina Federal District Courts and various appellate courts, including the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Emily is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Greensboro and has served on numerous community organization boards and committees, including Heartstrings, Inc. and the Children's Ministry Committee for Guilford College United Methodist Church.
Outside of the office, Emily is an avid supporter of Clemson University and enjoys attending sporting events, spending time with her family, cooking, gardening, reading and traveling.
Harmony Taylor is a partner with Law Firm Carolinas in Charlotte North Carolina. Harmony focuses her practice on representation of community associations on litigated and non-litigated matters. Harmony regularly advises on association governance, assists with director and member meetings, represents communities in district and superior courts, and represents associations in complaints brought before local human relations commissions on Fair Housing and other discrimination claims. Harmony regularly speaks to boards, managers and owners on community association related topics, including North Carolina's Community Association Institute Law Day, the national Community Association Institute conference, and the national Community Association Institute Law Seminar. Harmony is an active member of the Community Association Institute and serves on the Legislative Action Committee for the North Carolina Chapter and the North Carolina State Bar Real Property Section Council.
Harmony also represents individuals and entities in negotiating and drafting leases and contracts and litigating disputes arising from these agreements. Harmony has participated in hundreds of mediations and over twenty jury trials, and has litigated cases in district and superior courts across North Carolina through the appellate level.
Biography:
Born and raised in the state of Virginia, Ian completed his undergraduate studies at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. Following his time at Virginia Tech, Ian graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi in May of 2020. After graduating law school, and during the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ian moved to St. Augustine, Florida where he worked as a Community Association Manager (CAM) and helped manage homeowner and condominium associations. Upon passing the Bar, Ian joined Law Firm Carolinas in September of 2021, bringing with him the unique experience of working with Community Associations from the manager side. During his free time Ian enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors (especially playing corn hole and spending time in the mountains and on the water), and cheering on his favorite sports teams, especially his beloved Virginia Tech Hokies.
John has been a life long resident of North Carolina and has lived in Greensboro since 2003.
He attended UNC Greensboro as a film studies major, during which he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper, and graduated in 2010. During his time in law school, John was a member of the Moot Court Board, including finishing first in the school's intramural Moot Court Competition. Upon graduation, he was awarded the John Marshall Award for Excellence in Constitutional Studies and named a member of Order of Barristers.
In his spare time John enjoys distance and trail running to try and balance out his love of baking and cooking. He enjoys travel when the opportunity presents itself and spending as much time with friends and family as possible.
Biography:
Rachel graduated from Charleston School of Law in May of 2019. During Law School, Rachel was a member of the Charleston School of Law Moot Court and Trial Advocacy teams. Rachel received an award for oral advocacy at the Touro Law Center's Fifth Annual National Moot Court Competition in Law & Religion.
Rachel was born in Chesapeake, Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Communications from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. When Rachel is not practicing law, she enjoys cooking, baking, spending time with her family, friends, and dogs.
Steve Black represents homeowner and condominium associations as well as cooperatives in both North Carolina and South Carolina on most all issues, including providing legal advice and litigating cases. In addition, he heads up the firm's assessment collection practice. Steve regularly speaks on community association and is licensed in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Board Certified in Residential Real Estate. There are less than ten attorneys in the Carolinas with this level of designation and certification.
In addition to his legal experience, Steve brings a perspective to the community association world that few other attorneys can-in the past 20 years he has served as President, Vice President, and Secretary of the associations for his own neighborhoods.
With more than 30 years of experience, firm co-founder T. Keith Black has built a reputation as one of Greensboro's top trial lawyers and mediators, with particular expertise in family law and real estate. A certified family law specialist, Mr. Black has resolved hundreds of cases through negotiation, mediation and trial, and has extensive experience in all areas of family law, including separation, divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, and equitable distribution.
Mr. Black also represents real estate companies, developers and homeowner associations in matters ranging from general litigation and contract disputes to residential real estate closings. Among other cases, he has successfully represented numerous Section 8 apartment complexes in disputes involving breach of lease agreements, property damage claims, and allegations of discrimination and retalitatory eviction.
In addition to his practice, Mr. Black has taught continuing legal education programs on behalf of the Greensboro Bar Association and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.
Zach Wilson practices in the firm's Community Association, Landlord-Tenant, and Civil Litigation groups, primarily representing landlords, housing providers, homeowners associations, townhome associations and condominium associations throughout North Carolina. He assists common interest communities with collection of delinquent assessments, foreclosures, disputes among neighbors, as well as providing guidance on the interpretation, application, and amendment of association governing documents. Zach counsels residential and commercial landlords, owners, and management companies faced with tenant disputes, evictions, occupancy issues, and security deposit disputes. He provides support to landlords by drafting leases, contracts, demand letters, and negotiating and litigating general civil disputes.
Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Richmond, Zach attended Campbell University School of Law, where he was a published member and submissions editor of the Campbell Law Review, and served as the chief justice of the student honor court, presiding over student conduct and academic violations. During law school, he was an intern with a federal trial judge, Judge Ann Marie Calabria of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, Senator Tamara Barringer, the Wake County Attorney, and the civil division of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Following law school, Zach began his career in primary law publishing, while also assisting several local attorneys with legal research and writing, before practicing community associations law with a Triangle-area law firm.
Outside the office, Zach enjoys training for marathons, fly and bass fishing, cheering for the Tar Heels and his hometown Pittsburgh sports teams, and spending time discussing legal quandaries with his wife, Chelsea, who practices at a Raleigh tax and business law firm.