Van Winkle announces promotion, welcomes new attorney

June 13, 2008 — The Van Winkle Law Firm has announced one promotion and welcomed one new attorney to the practice.

W. James Johnson, head of the Construction and Professional Design Group, has recently been promoted to principal of the firm. This is the second promotion for Johnson, who joined the firm in 2002; in 2006, he was named junior principal. He focuses his practice on the representation of contractors, design professionals, owners and developers in construction matters, contract negotiations, business disputes and licensing and insurance matters. Johnson earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a B.A. in English from Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C.

Matthew W. Kitchens has joined the firm's Construction and Professional Design Group. Upon graduating with honors from the Mississippi College School of Law in 2002, Kitchens clerked at the Mississippi Supreme Court and worked at the firm of Kitchens and Ellis. He brings to The Van Winkle Law Firm extensive experience in civil and criminal defense matters, including products liability, personal injury, consumer rights and other complex litigation matters.

"These changes to our construction team illustrate our commitment to providing comprehensive legal services to the construction industry throughout North and South Carolina," said Philip Smith, president of The Van Winkle Law Firm.

Founded in 1907, The Van Winkle Law Firm is the largest practice west of Charlotte and one of the oldest in the state. The firm offers the region’s most extensive list of practice areas, and its force of nearly 40 attorneys and more than 60 support professionals represents clients in every level of the federal and state court systems.