Bettie Kelley Sousa has been practicing law with Smith Debnam since becoming licensed in 1981. She has a wealth of experience in state and federal courts, including bankruptcy courts, at both trial and appellate levels. She represents mostly businesses -- both large and small -- in a variety of matters, including contract drafting and disputes, and issues pertaining to labor and employment laws in North Carolina.

Bettie prides herself in efficiently finding peaceful resolutions for her clients. She is skilled at avoiding litigation and locking down agreements to avoid further disputes. But, if a case requires litigation, she is an accomplished trial lawyer, having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in her many years of practice. Bettie has been certified as a Creditors' Rights Specialist by the American Board of Certification (ABC), and she currently serves as Chair of that organization.  She is also listed among North Carolina Super Lawyers® for Business Litigation in 2011 and 2012 and received a "Woman Extraordinaire" award through Business Leader magazine.

Areas of Practice

  • Business Litigation
  • Creditors' Rights and Collections
  • Employment Law
  • Lender Liability Defense

Admissions

  • North Carolina State Bar
  • North Carolina Courts: Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; Superior Courts; District CourtsFederal Courts: U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; U.S. District Courts, Eastern District, Middle District, Western District; U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, Eastern District, Middle District, Western District

Education

  • J. D., Wake Forest University School of Law, 1981
  • B.A., University of North Carolina, 1978

Certifications

  • Certified as a Creditors' Rights Specialist by the American Board of Certification since 1993

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association; Litigation Section; Labor & Employment Law Section
  • American Board of Certification; Board of Directors; Past President (2012), President (2011), President-Elect (2010), Treasurer (2009); Secretary (2008); Member, Executive Committee; Past-Chairman, Standards Committee
  • North Carolina Bar Association; Business Law Section; Labor and Employment Law Section Commercial Law League of America
  • Wake County Bar Association Board of Directors; Past President, Young Lawyers’ Division Lawyers Support Committee, Chair, WCBA/Tenth Judicial District Bar
  • Primerus Law Society; Business Law Institute, Commercial Law Group
  • Listed among North Carolina Super Lawyers® for Business Litigation in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Women Extraordinaire Winner 2011,Business Leader

Civic Involvement

  • St. Michael's Episcopal Church: Lay Reader, former Sunday School Teacher
  • Meals on Wheels Volunteer
  • Wake Forest Law Board of Visitors