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Our
People

Samuel B. Potter Photo

Samuel B. Potter

Partner

Sam’s legal experience is broad and diverse. While his current practice is focused on real estate and business matters, he has also tried cases to verdicts in all state trial level courts, including the North Carolina Business Court, as well as federal court.

Sam’s unique background in litigating high level business, real estate and construction disputes helps him educate his clients with a true understanding that smart planning and prevention can avoid unnecessary and expensive legal disputes.

Practice Groups:

  • Business
  • Land Use & Zoning
  • Commercial Real Estate

Bar Admissions:

  • North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for Eastern and Western Districts of NC
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

Education:

  • University of North Carolina at Asheville, B.A., 2003
  • Villanova University School of Law, J.D., 2006

Recent Transactions and Engagements:

  • Over $342 Million in real estate transactions in 2022
  • Successfully represented property owners in rezoning, special use permit and other land use matters covering hundreds of acres
  • Advised buyers and sellers of businesses in the construction, building products, home services, and franchise industries, including in sales to publicly traded companies
  • Serve as general counsel to real estate developers and construction companies, including providing advice on the acquisition, financing and disposition of real estate, drafting large scale construction contracts and providing day-to-day advice on all aspects of developing residential, mixed-use, multifamily and commercial projects

Other Experience:

  • Former Chair of the Board of Directors for the Cameron Art Museum
Thomas S. Babel Photo

Thomas S. Babel

Partner

Tom Babel’s practice, spanning over 20 years in large law firms and as in-house corporate counsel, encompasses a broad range of business law and litigation matters.

Practice Groups:

  • Business
  • Litigation
  • Construction

Bar Admission:

North Carolina

  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of NC
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit

Ohio

  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of OH
  • U.S. Court of Appeal for the 6th Circuit

Education:

  • Moritz College of Law at The Ohio State University, J.D., 1998 (with Honors)
  • Miami University of Ohio, B.S., 1995

Awards and Recognitions:

  • AV (Preeminent) Peer Review Rating for Ability & Ethics from Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America’s for Business Litigation (2013-2018)
  • Super Lawyers for Litigation (2017-2018; 2023-2024)
  • Legal Elite for Construction (2022-2023)
  • Yellow Belt Legal Lean Six Stigma

Professional Associations:

  • North Carolina Bar Association

Recent Transactions and Engagements:

  • Representation of purchaser in asset purchase of 40 retail locations with a value in excess of $30 Million
  • Defense verdict for general contractor and an award of over $2 Million on general contractor’s counterclaim in a defective construction arbitration
  • Plaintiff’s verdict for an international water treatment company’s covenant not to compete and misappropriation of trade secrets claims resulting in an award in excess of $5 Million
  • Victorious claim for equitable adjustment for federal contractor on a federal contract for construction of military barracks

Other Experience:

  • Former member Board of Trustees Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
  • Former Chairman Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Foundation
  • Former member Board of Trustees Cape Fear Community College Foundation
Gregory M. Katzman Photo

Gregory M. Katzman

Partner

Greg Katzman, having over a decade of experience practicing law, handles areas in Business Formation, Re-Organization & Management, Estate Planning, Probate, and Tax Planning & Defense Services.

Practice Groups:

  • Business
  • Taxation
  • Trusts & Estates

Bar Admission:

  • North Carolina
  • S. District Courts for the Eastern Districts of NC

Education:

  • University of Missouri at Columbia Journalism and Political Science
  • University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law

Other Experience and Professional Associations:

  • New Hanover Bar Association (Former President and Treasurer)
  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Former member of North Carolina Advocates for Justice
  • Paul Harris Fellow and former Board Member of the Rotary Club of Wilmington

Publications and Speaking:

  • National Business Institute speaker on Trusts, Tax Planning, Probate, and other estate planning and business planning matters
C. Wes Hodges, II Photo

C. Wes Hodges, II

Partner

Wes is a native of Wilmington, where he has practiced law for more than two decades, with a focus on civil litigation. In 2003, Wes started his own law firm, C. Wes Hodges, II, PLLC. From then until June 2024, when he joined Equitas Law Partners, Wes was the senior partner in his firm which grew over the years to include other attorneys and partners (Hodges & Coxe, PC; Hodges Coxe Potter & Phillips LLP; Hodges Coxe & Potter LLP; Hodges & Coxe LLP). Wes has a broad-based general civil litigation practice, including but not limited to business litigation, construction litigation, real estate litigation, homeowner association litigation, condemnation actions, and planning and zoning litigation.

Practice Groups:

  • Litigation
  • Business
  • Construction

Bar Admissions:

  • North Carolina
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of NC

Education:

  • University of Miami (Fla.) School of Law, 1994 (Magna Cum Laude)
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1991
ANA-CRISTINA JIMÉNEZ Photo

ANA-CRISTINA JIMÉNEZ

Attorney

Ana-Cris took her passion for helping people and has dedicated her career to guiding her clients through some of the toughest moments of their lives. She has been practicing in Southeastern NC for over 13 years, with her primary focus now being Family Law. She has years of experience as a litigator, representing clients in custody, child support, equitable distribution, and alimony trials. Counseling her clients on what to expect in and out of court and finding their best path forward allows her to serve the individual needs of her clients. She has also worked as a Criminal Defense Attorney and a Parent Defender in Abuse/Neglect/Dependency Court in Onslow County.

Practice Groups:

  • Family Law

Bar Admission:

  • North Carolina, 2011

Education:

  • Duke University, B.A. History and Spanish double major, 2007
  • Wake Forest University School of Law, 2010

Memberships:

  • North Carolina State Bar
  • North Carolina Bar Association
  • Onslow County Bar
  • 5th Judicial District Bar
  • Coastal Women’s Association
Corrie Faith Lee Photo

Corrie Faith Lee

Attorney

Corrie’s primary experience is in representing local municipalities, having previously served the Town of Leland as Staff Attorney and the City of Wilmington as Associate City Attorney. She is a former North Carolina Court of Appeals law clerk and is passionate about helping find solutions to legal issues of all kinds, particularly relating to business matters, land use, zoning, and commercial real estate.

Practice Groups:

  • Business
  • Land Use & Zoning
  • Commercial Real Estate

Bar Admissions:

  • North Carolina
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of NC

Education:

  • Campbell University, B.B.A. 2017
  • Regent University School of Law, J.D. 2019
Kayla Jewel Photo

Kayla Jewel

Paralegal

Kayla Jewel offers support in matters related to Business Formation, Reorganization & Management, Tax Defense & Planning, Estate Planning, and Estate Administration.

Practice Groups:

  • Business
  • Taxation
  • Trusts & Estates
  • Estate Administration
Tricia Babel Photo

Tricia Babel

Paralegal

Tricia Babel supports our Business and Litigation Practice Groups.

Practice Groups:

  • Business
  • Litigation
Kate Nevins Photo

Kate Nevins

Paralegal

Kate Nevins supports our Business, Land Use & Zoning and Real Estate Practice Groups.

Practice Groups:

  • Business
  • Land Use & Zoning
  • Real Estate
Makenzie Bennett Photo

Makenzie Bennett

Paralegal

Makenzie offers support in matters related to Estate Planning and Estate Administration.

Practice Groups:

  • Trusts & Estates
  • Estate Administration

Education:

  • Mars Hill University, B.A. in Political Science, 2019
    History and International Studies Minors
Johanna Worth Photo

Johanna Worth

Paralegal

Johanna Worth supports our Business, Litigation and Family Law Practice Groups.

Practice Groups:

  • Business
  • Litigation
  • Family Law
Amanda Ryals Photo

Amanda Ryals

Office Manager

Amanda has over 10 years of experience working in the legal industry, including 8 years as a firm office manager. She handles accounts payable and receivables, manages employee benefits, oversees the day-to-day operations of the office and assists with other miscellaneous firm projects.

Education:

University of North Carolina at Wilmington, B.A. 2012