Lawyers on the Move – June 25

The board of directors of the Maritime Law Association of the United States has voted to admit Seth P. Buskirk as a “Proctor in Admiralty,” based on a review of the subject’s breadth of experience and degree of success in maritime cases.  Buskirk is an associate with Clark, Newton and Evans of Wilmington.

Shelby Duffy Benton of Goldsboro is the new president of the North Carolina Bar Association and Kearns Davis will serve a term as president-elect. Benton and Davis were installed June 20, at the NCBA Annual Meeting in Asheville. Benton, who operates Benton Family Law, has practiced law in Goldsboro since 1985. The NCBA honored Benton in 2012 for her community involvement by presenting her with the Citizen Lawyer Award. Davis is poised to become president in 2016.

Smith Moore Leatherwood has added John W. Reis as a partner in the firm’s litigation team in Charlotte. Reis’ practice focuses on subrogation and commercial litigation claims.

Hutchens Law Firm has hired two attorneys in its Fayetteville office. Graham Kidner, who is general counsel to the firm, spent 21 years in Freddie Mac’s legal division, and Shiann Schmidt, a new associate, was previously an assistant district attorney in Hoke County.

Meghan D. Engle, an associate at Katten Muchin Rosenman, received the Katten Pro Bono Service Award on June 15. Engle, one of 10 recipients selected from across the country, was recognized for helping obtain domestic violence protective orders for domestic abuse victims and for assisting juveniles facing truancy proceedings in Mecklenburg County.

Craige Brawley Liifert & Walker and Jenkins Law Group have announced a July 1 merger to form Craige Jenkins Liipfert & Walker. The newly merged firm will have two Winston-Salem offices and an office in Kernersville.

Nelson Mullins, based in Columbia, South Carolina, with offices in Raleigh and Winston-Salem, has announced the opening of its New York City office located on Madison Avenue. The firm also adds two new corporate attorneys: Former JP Morgan Chase Bank Executive Director Steve Hantz, who joins as a partner in Nelson Mullins’ real estate capital markets group, and Gillian Deutch, who joins as an associate.