Sam Coleman

Sam joined the firm in 1995 and has been on owner/officer since 1996. He has served as the Vice President and currently serves as the President of the firm.

Education

Sam completed a B.A. in Psychology in 1991 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his J.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1994.

Professional

Member of Orange County, 15B Judicial District (President 2002-2003) and North Carolina (Former council member, Criminal Justice Section) Bar Associations; North Carolina Advocates for Justice; National Association of Defense Lawyers.

Leigh Peek

Joined the firm in 1996 and has been an owner and officer since 2003. Leigh serves as secretary of the firm. Leigh concentrates in family matters including divorce, separation and child support.

Leigh is also available as a Guardian ad Litem and a mediator in family/domestic matters.

Education

Leigh earned a B.A. from East Carolina University in 1981. She achieved a Master Degree from the University of North Carolina in 1993.

Katherine Merritt

Katie joined the firm in 2007 and has worked closely with Doug to establish a successful civil litigation and estate planning practice.

Education

B.A. Social Science and Spanish, Gardner-Webb University 2004. J.D., Campbell School of Law 2008.

Professional

Member of the Orange County, 15B Judicial District (Current Secretary/Treasurer) and North Carolina State Bar Associations. Member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

Alonzo B. Coleman, Jr.

Lonnie was one of the founding partners of the firm and has been an active member of the firm for nearly 40 years. Although Lonnie was appointed to the District Court Bench in 1996, he has rejoined the firm following State-mandated retirement and now brings his considerable legal experience to bear on our civil and criminal cases.

Lonnie also has a love for the Spanish language and has dedicated fourteen years to study and develop fluency.

Education

B.S. Engineering, Evansville College 1961; J.D. Universrity of North Carolina School of Law 1965.

Professional

Member of the Orange County, 15B Judicial District and North Carolina State Bar Associations. Former District Court Judge. Former State Senator. Former North Carolina Bar Counselor. Member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice (Former Board Member under Academy of Trial Lawyers). Licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, and the United States District Court, Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina.

Doug Hargrave

Doug joined the firm in 1976 and has been an owner/officer since 1980. Former president of the firm, Doug now serves as the mentor to our associate, Katherine Merritt, and works with our personal injury and estate clients.

Education

Wake Forest University B.A. cum laude, 1972; University of North Carolina Law School J.D., 1976.

Professional

Member of the Orange County (former President), 15B Judicial District and North Carolina State Bar Associations. Admitted to practice before the United States District Court, Middle District of North Carolina and the United States Supreme Court.

Doug has served the community as a former director of the Hillsborough Youth Athletic Association (HYAA), former President of the Cedar Grove Ruritan Club and a member of the BB&T Advisory Board.

Geof Gledhill

Geof joined the firm in 1975 and has been an owner/officer since 1980. Geof concentrates on municipal law and was the County Attorney for more than 30 years.

Education

Geof earned a B.S. from Widener University in 1966. He graduated cum laude from North Carolina Central University School of Law with his J.D. in 1975.

Professional

Member of the Orange County, 15B Judicial District and North Carolina Bar Associations. Licensed to practice before the United States District Court and the United States Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit. Member (former President) of the North Carolina Association of County Attorneys.