Real Estate

Civil and Administrative Litigation

Corporate Law

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (BA with Distinction and Highest Honors, 1999)

University of North Carolina School of Law (JD, 2002)

North Carolina

Washington, DC

Tryon Civitan Club (President, 2009-2010)

Craven County Chamber of Commerce (Leadership Craven, 2007)

NC Bar Association

Craven County Bar Association

Health Care

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, (J.D. 1965)

• Wake Forest University, (1959)

• North Carolina State Courts

• United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts

• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

• United States Supreme Court

• One of the original founders of North Carolina Society of Healthcare Attorneys (predecessor of Health Law Section of the North Carolina State Bar Association)

• One of the draftsmen of the North Carolina Regional Solid Waste Management Authority Act

• Served as counsel in the first municipal financing of a county-owned building in North Carolina

• Mediation/Arbitration

• Civil Litigation

• Employment Law

• Local Government

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 1989

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., 1992

• Certified Arbitrator

• Certified Superior Court Mediator

• Certified Law Enforcement Trainer (Legal)

• Craven County Bar Association, former president

• North Carolina Bar Association

• 3B Judicial District Bar Association

• North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys

• Defense Research Institute

• Eastern North Carolina Inn of Court

• Past President, Craven County Chapter, American Heart Association (1996-1998)

• Past President, New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club (2000-2001)

• Advisor, Havelock High School Mock Trial Team (1998, 1999)

• N.C. Legal Elite (2009)

• N.C. Super Lawyers (2010-2021)

• Rated AV/Preeminent (highest possible rating) for ethical standards and legal ability by Martindale-Hubbell since 2013

• American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) since 2019 Member, Executive Committee (2022-2023)

• Former Member, Board of Directors, the NC Association of Defense Attorneys.

• Current ADR Practice Group Chair, NC Association of Defense Attorneys.

• National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals since 2019

• NC Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Council (2017-2020)

• Bar Councilor, NC State Bar (2020-2023)

• Estate Planning

• Probate

• Guardianship/Fiduciary

Kyle Dickerson helps clients with all aspects of estate planning and estate administration, which includes creating personalized plans for the future, and guiding those who have lost a loved one through the probate process to ensure both assets and family are protected. Kyle advises clients on planning strategies ranging from basic wills to complex trusts, long term care asset protection, special needs planning, and guardianship.

Kyle represents executors and trustees with the challenging tasks involved in the administration of estates and trusts, asset valuations, management of estate assets, and the preparation of probate court filings. He has significant experience in identifying and resolving issues created by family-owned business and interests in other closely-held companies in the estate planning and administration context.

Kyle also represents clients in corporate governance and transactional matters including entity selection/formation, operation, and mergers/acquisitions. He regularly negotiates and drafts a variety of commercial and business documents such as shareholders agreements, employment agreements, and stock and asset purchase agreements.

Kyle frequently lectures to civic and community groups on various topics relating to estate planning and administration, special needs planning, guardianships and Medicaid asset protection planning.

• The University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2000)

• The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (B.A., 1996)

• Executive Committee and Incoming Chair (2023), New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce

• Executive Committee & Secretary, Eastern Carolina YMCA Board of Directors (Twin Rivers YMCA, New River YMCA)

• Past Treasurer New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce

• Past Charmian, Salvation Army Advisory Board for Craven and Pamlico Counties

• Past president Craven County Bar Association

• North Carolina Super Lawyers ‘Rising Star’ (2012)

• Member, National Association of Elder Law Attorneys

• Member, Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section of North Carolina Bar Association

• Academic Book Award, Real Property I

• Academic Book Award, Real Property II

• Academic Book Award, Criminal Procedure

• Local Government

• Civil Litigation

• Real Estate

• Estate Planning

• Probate

• Guardianship/Fiduciary

• Business Law

• Campbell University (J.D., M.B.A., 2007)

• North Carolina State University, NC (B.S., magna cum laude, 2004)

• North Carolina State Courts

• United States District Court for the Eastern District

• Board of Directors: Homebuilders Association of Craven and Pamlico Counties (2015-Present)

• Board of Directors: Religious Community Services (2009-2014)

• Board of Directors: United Way of Coastal Carolina (2015-2017)

• Finance Committee: Garber United Methodist Church (2016-2020)

• New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce: Leadership Craven Program (2008)

• Carteret County Chamber of Commerce: Leadership Carteret Program (2007)

• Neuse River Region Association of REALTORS (2008-present); Affiliate of the Year Award (2014 & 2017)

• Education Committee: Neuse River Region Association of Realtors (2014-2020)

• North Carolina Bar Association (Member of the Real Estate and Local Government Sections)

• Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity

• Local Government

• Business Law

• Estate Planning

• Probate

• Health Care

• Real Estate

• Account Collections

• North Carolina Central University (J.D., 2009)

• Appalachian State University (B.S.B.A., 2006)

• State Courts of North Carolina

• United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (Certified in Healthcare Compliance)

• American Health Lawyers Association

• Health Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association

• Health Law Section of the American Bar Association

• Craven County Bar Association

• North Carolina Bar Association

• 3B Judicial District BaR (Secretary (2012), Vice President (2013), President (2014))

• Camp Albemarle (Board of Trustees (2012-present) President/Chairman (2015-present))

• Rotary Club of New Bern (President (2017-2018) Membership Chair (2013-2017) Director (2014-present))

• Craven County Partners in Educations (President (2019) 2nd Vice President (2017-2018) Board of Directors (2016-present))

• Articles Editor, N.C. Central Law Review (2008-2009)

• Publication of Law Review Casenote: “Persecution Based on Persecution: How Gao v. Gonzales Broadens The Interpretation of Asylum Law” N.C. Cent. L. Rev. 97 (2007)

• Co-Author, American Health Lawyers Association, “Cloud Computing Resources Toolkit” (2011)

• Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite (2013, 2014)

• Civil Litigation

• Employment

• Workers’ Compensation

• Alternative Dispute Resolution

• Appalachian School of Law (J.D., 2005)

• University of North Carolina at Wilmington (B.A., 2001)

• State Courts of North Carolina

• The Great Trent River Raft Race Committee (2019)

• Craven County NC Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors (2019)

• North Carolina Bar Association

• Craven County Bar Association

• North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys

• Real Estate

• Local Government

• Account Collections

• Civil Litigation

• Estate Planning

• Probate

• Campbell University School of Law, J.D., 2016, cum laude

• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, B.A., 2013, (majoring in Political Science and History, with a minor in Entrepreneurship)

• Craven County Bar Association, President, 2022-23

• Salvation Army of New Bern Advisory Board, Vice-Chair

• New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

• Tryon Palace Foundation Board of Directors

• Neuse River Region Association of Realtors Education Committee Member

Civil Litigation

Lawson Hester has extensive civil trial litigation experience representing municipalities, counties, corporate entities and insurers in high exposure civil rights and constitutional law claims/issues, including class actions, as well as government contracts, HUD compliance, risk analysis, zoning, tort liability, and governmental and private liability matters. Lawson has tried more than 140 civil cases to verdict or judgment, handled more than forty appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Federal Circuit, and successfully defended appeals to the United States Supreme Court.

Lawson frequently lecturers in continuing legal education seminars on civil trial practice, including effective deposition practice, tort reform, corporate/private attorney-client privilege, civil rights, governmental liability, ethics, and the art of cross-examination.

• University of Mississippi, B.A. (English and Political Science) – 1984

• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D. – 1986

• Mississippi, 1987

• Tennessee, 2021

• North Carolina, 2021

• Rated AV Preeminent 5.0 by Martindale-Hubbell

• Selected for Woodward White’s Best Lawyers in America

• Mid-South Super Lawyer, 2019-2021 - Top Rated Lawyer for Products Liability and Personal Injury Defense

• Selected as 2018 Leading Civil Rights Litigator of the Year – Mississippi

• Lifetime Achievement Award, America’s Top 100 Attorneys – Mississippi

• Appointed as Attorney Advisor to Chairman of Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions, District Judges’ Association, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals

• Member of the Defense Research Institute.

• Recipient, Gray Award for excellence in writing, 1984

• Winner, University of Mississippi School of Law Mock Trial Competition, 1986

• Civil Litigation

• Employment Law

• Business Law

• Campbell University School of Law (J.D. 2018)

• North Carolina State University (B.A. 2015)

• North Carolina State Bar

Trey graduated with bachelor’s in sciences from North Carolina State University and then taught high school math for four years in Wake County Public Schools. After teaching, Trey attended Campbell University’s School of Law as the Janette Soles Nelson Public Service Scholar.

During law school, Trey interned with Judge Lucy Inman at the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Judge Kenneth D. Bell at the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Additionally, Trey was the Editor-in-Chief of The Campbell Law Review and worked for two years as a teaching scholar for the Legal Research and Writing program at Campbell University’s School of Law. Trey graduated law school magna cum laude and received the 2021 Scholarship & Leadership Award from the American Law Institute CLE and the Chief Justice I. Beverly Lake, Jr. Constitutional Law Award for an article that he wrote on state constitutional law issues surrounding academic tracking of public-school students, which was later published by the North Carolina Central University’s Law Review.

• Civil Litigation

• Local Government

• Business Law

• Probate

• Guardianship/Fiduciary

• Real Estate

• N.C State University (B.S., Secondary Mathematics Education, 2014)

• Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2021)

Community Involvement:

• New Bern Board of Adjustment, Ward 1 Appointee

• Litigation Council Member at the North Carolina Bar Association (2024-27)

• Board Member of Craven Community Foundation (An Affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation)

• Member of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (Member of Government Liability Practice Group)

• Treasurer/Secretary of the Craven County Bar Association (2023-24)

• Advisory Board Member for SECU’s Howell Road Branch

• Programs Committee Member of the N.C. Bar Foundation (2022-23)

Bar Admissions:

• N.C. State Courts

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of N.C.

• U.S. District Court for the Middle District of N.C.

• U.S. District Court for the Western District of N.C.

• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Publications:

• Article: Checks and Imbalances: 2024 Local Government Case Law Update, The Resource, N.C. Ass’n of Defense Attorneys (June 2024).

• Article: Color-Code Curricula: How North Carolina’s Tracking Regime Creates Micro-Segregation and Violates the State’s Constitution, 44 N.C. CENTRAL L. REV. 29 (2022).

• Policy Brief: “Color-Coded Curriculum – How North Carolina’s Academic Tracking Regime Creates Micro-Segregation and What Our State Can Do to Remedy It”, Center for Racial Equity in Education (2022)

• Comment: Protecting Personal Data: A Survey of Consumer Protections Throughout North Carolina’s Identity Theft Protection Act, 42 CAMPBELL L. REV. 191 (2020).

Presentations

• Ethics for North Carolina Local Government Officials, July 2024.

• Checks & Imbalances: 2024 Local Government Case Law Update, North Carolina Public Risk Managers Association’s Annual Conference, September 2024.

• Tully & Mole’: The Erosion of Public Sector At-Will Employment, North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys’ Government Attorneys “Shop-Talk”, January 2024.

• Fruits of their Own Labor: How the Courts are Stomping Local Governments’ Grapes, North Carolina Public Risk Managers Association’s Annual Conference, September 2023.

• Employment Law: Legal Liabilities for Law Enforcement, North Carolina Police Executives Association’s Annual Conference, July 2023.

Local Government

Civil Litigation

Employment

Real Estate Law

Account Collections

Suffolk University Law School (JD, 2003)

Indiana University (BA, History, 1995)

State Courts of North Carolina

Massachusetts State Courts

United States District Court of Massachusetts

State Senate, Staff (2004-2007)

United States House of Representatives, Staff (1994-1995, 2011-2012)

United States Senate, Staff (1995-1997)

White House, Staff (1997-2000)

Board of Directors, Bridge Over Troubled Waters (2006)

Board of Directors, Hospice of the North Shore (2009)

Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity for Craven County, NC (2023)

Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association (2015-2022)

North Carolina Bar Association

Craven County Bar Association