Smith Debnam Narron Drake Saintsing & Myers, LLPis proud to announce that Jerry T. Myers, John W. Narron, Rose H. Stout, and Bettie Kelley Sousa, Partners of Smith Debnam have been selected again as North Carolina Super Lawyers®. Only 5% of a state’s licensed attorneys are named Super Lawyers, outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis through a rigorous process that includes peer nominations, independent research, and review by attorneys in the same practice areas.
Again recognized as a Super Lawyer in Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, Jerry Myers is Smith Debnam's Managing Partner. He concentrates his practice in creditors' rights with an emphasis on debt collection, judgment enforcement, and commercial litigation. Jerry has served as President of the Commercial Law League of America, the nation's preeminent organization of creditors' rights professionals, and is certified in the field of Creditors' Rights Law by The American Board of Certification. Having practiced in the creditors' rights field for more than 20 years, he has written and lectured extensively on debt collection and judgment enforcement. Jerry was also instrumental in forming the North Carolina Creditors Bar Association, a specialty bar whose members are committed to advocating for the rights of those who make credit available, as well as to educating the general public on managing credit effectively. Until recently, he served as the organization's President.
John Narron has been practicing law in North Carolina since 1977 and has been a partner with Smith Debnam since 1987. John's practice consists of litigation, arbitration, mediation and business transactions. For 35 years, John has provided advice and litigation services to clients in central and eastern North Carolina in all manner of civil disputes frequently involving equitable distribution proceedings, alimony trials, will caveats, employment disputes, personal injury trials and negotiations, and a wide variety of commercial business disputes. One of the first North Carolina attorneys to become Board Certified as a Family Law Specialist, John again was recognized as a Super Lawyer in Family Law.
Rose Stout, another of Smith Debnam’s five Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, was selected again as a Super Lawyer in that field. Rose has been practicing since 1985 and with Smith Debnam since 1989. She represents clients in all aspects of domestic law, including divorce, custody, equitable distribution, child support and alimony. She has extensive trial experience at the district court level and has spoken at family law seminars on various family law issues. A certified mediator and an experienced arbitrator, Rose has acted in both capacities in family law matters.
Bettie Kelly Sousa again has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Business Litigation. Bettie has been with Smith Debnam since 1981 and has a wealth of experience in state and federal courts, including bankruptcy courts, at both trial and appellate levels. She represents mostly businesses and business owners in a variety of matters, including contract drafting and disputes, business break-ups, and employment issues. Certified as a Creditors' Rights Specialist by The American Board of Certification since 1993, she has recently served as the organization’s President and Chair. She just completed a two-year term on the Board of Directors for the Wake County Bar Association and Tenth Judicial Bar, and was recognized in 2011 as a Woman Extraordinaire by Business Leader magazine. As an adjunct faculty member, she teaches a course in Business Litigation at Wake Forest University School of Law, her alma mater.
For more information about Smith Debnam, please visit www.smithdebnamlaw.com or the International Society of Primerus Law Firms.