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About LeeAnne

A Wilmington family lawyer with heart and a long road here.

From the Bronx to Wake Forest, from a first-grade classroom to the courtroom, LeeAnne brings real-world compassion to every family she serves.

My story

I was born in the Bronx, where I lived with my family until I moved to North Carolina in 1998. I came to the Tar Heel state to attend Wake Forest University on an academic and merit scholarship, and I graduated early, with Honors.

Unsure whether to attend graduate school or law school, I spent two years living and working abroad. I spent nearly a year in London, and I was privileged to secure a grant to live in Costa Rica, where I volunteered for Planned Parenthood and Colectiva Por el Derecho a Decidir. Before returning home, I spent several months in New Zealand working at a lodge, where I learned to enjoy hiking, fishing, and snorkeling.

I attended Carolina Law as a Willis Whichard Scholar, and I stayed close to the work I care about: child advocacy and domestic violence.

The road here

  1. 1998Moved from the Bronx to North Carolina to attend Wake Forest University.
  2. AbroadTwo years in London, Costa Rica, and New Zealand.
  3. 2002Returned to North Carolina to teach first grade at Arts-Based Elementary School in Winston-Salem. Sixteen students she misses dearly to this day, along with snacktime, storytime, and recess.
  4. 2006Earned her J.D. from UNC School of Law in May, then began at a small general practice firm in Wilmington.
  5. 2007Admitted to the North Carolina Bar.
  6. 2009Admitted to the District of Columbia Bar.

Today

I practice family law and juvenile law. I am honored to be the Attorney for the Guardian ad Litem program in both New Hanover County and Pender County, and I am a member of the Family Law Sections of the American Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association.

I chaired the Criminal Justice/Paralegal Department at Miller-Motte College, where I taught aspiring paralegals for eight years, and I am honored to teach Continuing Legal Education classes in family law to other attorneys. I have also taught at UNCW since 2018.

At Carolina I was actively involved in student government, the Pro Bono Board, and the Domestic Violence Advocacy Group. I received the Ilene B. Nelson Grant for Child Advocacy and the Class of 2000 Public Interest Scholarship, and I was inducted into the Frank Porter Graham Honor Society and the Order of the Barristers.

My husband and I live in Wilmington and are blessed to raise our children in this beautiful city. We attend St. Luke AME Zion Church.

Awards & recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in AmericaFamily Law
    2026
  • North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society
    2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020
  • Community Partners AwardYWCA
    2025
  • Business North Carolina Legal EliteFamily Law
    2024, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014
  • Razor Walker AwardLaw, Child Advocacy · UNCW Watson College of Education
    2023
  • Starfish AwardPublic Advocacy · Smart Start of New Hanover County
    2023
  • Pro Bono Publico AwardLegal Aid of North Carolina
    2023, 2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012
  • Wilmington’s Best AttorneyWilmington Magazine
    2021, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013
  • Community Partner of the YearA Safe Place
    2017
  • Leader in the LawNorth Carolina Lawyers Weekly / Elon Law School
    2016
  • Women to WatchBusiness · WILMA Magazine
    2015
  • Top Hometown HeroTCP Magazine & WIDU Radio
    2015

A steady hand for your family.

Reach out today and let us help you understand your options.

Call 910.795.0230