Anna S. Mills of The Van Winkle Law Firm has been named Chair of the NC LEAP Steering Committee. NC LEAP exists to assist low-wealth entrepreneurs with their legal needs in starting or expanding their businesses through pro bono service by North Carolina business and transactional lawyers.
The Steering Committee is comprised of attorneys who are members of the North Carolina Bar Association and community representatives.
Ms. Mills works with clients to help them successfully buy, sell and finance their businesses. She also counsels businesses and nonprofits regarding employment, corporate, contract and intellectual property issues and emerging issues related to sustainable products and services.
For more information on NC LEAP, please visit: ncleap.ncbar.org.
To contact Ms. Mills, please email her at: amills@vwlawfirm.com.
The Western District of North Carolina (WDNC) Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) held its first CLE event at the Biltmore Park Hilton in Asheville, North Carolina on April 23, 2010.
Carleton Metcalf, President of the WDNC Chapter of the FBA, presided at the half-day program which included a judicial panel and segments on substantive and procedural aspects of federal civil practice in the Western District. Approximately 90 people attended the event, including attorneys from North and South Carolina, law clerks, and a distinguished group of judges. Persons interested in learning more about the District’s Chapter of the FBA are encouraged to visit the website at http://fedbar.org/WDNC.html
Carleton Metcalf is a principal with the firm. He has chaired the firm’s Litigation Practice Group since 2007.
On Friday, March 5, 2010, North Carolinians had the opportunity to call and talk, by phone, to a North Carolina lawyer at no charge. Attorneys from Van Winkle’s business group, including Allan Tarleton, Larry Harris, Anna Mills, Jeff Dunlop and Travis Smuckler, participated in 4All at the WLOS station in Asheville. Attorneys were available from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. To get more information, please contact the NC Bar Association at (800) 662-7407 or call WLOS at (828) 684-1340.
Click here to view Allan Tarleton’s interview with WLOS.
On April 23, 2010, the WDNC Chapter of the Federal Bar Association will host a half-day program on civil practice in the Western District.The event will take place at the Hilton Asheville at Biltmore Park, 43 Town Square Boulevard, Asheville, NC and will include a judicial panel as well as segments on substantive and procedural aspects of civil practice.To view the complete Agenda and Registration Form, please follow this link.Additional information concerning the Chapter is also available at http://fedbar.org/WDNC.html
On Tuesday, March 16, Phil Smith was awarded Pisgah Legal Services’ Roy W. Davis, Jr. Award. The following is a reprint of the announcement in the event booklet from the evening, “Jazz for Justice.”
Phil embodies the professional ideal of service by attorneys to the community, particularly the responsibility of attorneys to serve people who cannot afford legal assistance. Phil has repeatedly donated his srvices to lead local Bar efforts to fulfill the promise of equal justice under law. Access to legal assistance underpins the goal of justice in our country.
In 1998, PLS was threatened by an effort to merge it as a local non-proft into a statewide legal aid program. PLS would have lost its local Board of Directors and local leadership of the program. Phil Smith worked zealously and successfully to represent PLS without compensation in a complex set of issues to preserve PLS as a local and independent non-profit agency.
A few years later, Phil joined the Pisgah Legal Services Board of Directors. He served two three-year terms, including two years as Vice President and two years as President. In this period and under Phil’s leadership, PLS programs expanded steadily, as did volunteer attorney participation in those programs.
While President, PLS was challeneged again by external forces, this time by a lawsuit in federal court by the Legal Services Corporation in Washington, D..C. seeking to take the PLS office and parking lot on Montford Avenue in Asheville. A loss of this resource would have greatly impeded PLS. Phil led another successful and organized effort of local attorneys. Under his leadership, the lawsuit was favorably resolved, enabling PLS to retain ownership of its real estate.
Once that issue was resolved, Phil served with a special group of PLS leaders to find and finance large office space so that PLS can double the number of people it serves annually. This project involved many, many meetings and considerable vision, in addition to generous financial contributions.
As president of the Van Winkle Law Firm, Phil continues his long-standing support for the mission of PLS. The firm’s support for PLS has been crucial to PLS’ growth and stability over the years. Previous recipients of the Roy W. Davis, Jr. award are Roy Davis, Jr., Walter Allen, Larry McDevitt and Ward Hendon.
by Jeff Dunlop - Beginning March 19, 2010, if certain employers hire a formerly unemployed worker, the employer will not have to pay Social Security tax for the new hire. The pay-roll tax holiday is available for wages paid to both full-time and part-time employees, as well as rehired employees of the employer who were previously laid-off. The pay-roll tax holiday ends December 31, 2010 and there are some technical requirements to qualify, but an employer can save as much as $6,621.60 for the year per employee, so the sooner the employer hires a formerly unemployed worker the greater the tax savings.
On Wednesday, March 3rd, Michael Thompson and the Hendersonville Van Winkle Real Estate Team hosted a reception for Beverly-Hanks & Associates. Thirty Realtors joined the Van Winkle team at the Hendersonville Country Club for lunch and a question and answer session.
Van Winkle provides comprehensive real estate law services for commercial and residential clients, representing real estate buyers, sellers, developers, and financial institutions. (Pictured: Michael Thompson)
On Tuesday, March 16th, Phil Smith of The Van Winkle Law Firm will be honored by Pisgah Legal Services with the Roy Davis Award. For more details, or to purchase tickets, please see the link below.
On Friday, March 5, 2010, North Carolinians can call to talk, by phone, to a North Carolina lawyer at no charge. Attorneys from Van Winkle’s business group, including Allan Tarleton, Larry Harris, Anna Mills, Jeff Dunlop, and Travis Smuckler, will participate in 4All at the WLOS station in Asheville. Attorneys will be available from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. To participate or to get more information, please contact the NC Bar Association at 1-800-662-7407 or call WLOS at 1-828-684-1340.
