The North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA) held its 46th Annual Meeting the weekend of June 8-11, 2023. New officers and directors assumed new roles within the organization at the close of the meeting.
Christopher R. Kiger was confirmed as the 46th President of the Association. Chris is a partner with Smith Anderson, LLP in Raleigh. His trial practice focuses on products liability, mass tort, and commercial litigation. He has significant experience representing manufacturers, insurers, and other corporate clients in both state and federal courts, as well as in multi-district litigation. He has successfully handled the defense of litigation involving a broad array of automotive, industrial, consumer, and medical products. Chris is a graduate of Elon College and received his J.D. from the University of NC in 2002. He was inducted into the Elon College Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998
JD Keister was installed as President-elect. Keister’s civil and complex litigation practice is based in the Raleigh office of McAngus Goudelock & Courie, LLP. He routinely engages in the representation of parties in construction, professional liability, bad faith, real estate litigation, catastrophic loss, commercial litigation and first party defense for insurance carriers. He obtained his juris doctorate from Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law.
As Executive Vice President, Keister served as program chair of this year’s annual meeting seminar and was instrumental in securing engaging and informative content and speakers for the two-day CLE program. A diverse group of speakers and panelists discussing varying aspects of how the practice and law firms are changing post-pandemic and with four generations now in the work force. Programming also included a mock argument before a live and diverse focus group demonstrating juror perspectives during these changing times.
Ashley K. Brathwaite is Immediate Past President. Brathwaite practices with Ellis & Winters, LLP. Her practice is divided between the representation of health care providers, product manufacturers and distributors, and others facing allegations of liability for a catastrophic personal injury. She obtained her J.D. from Campbell University School of Law in 2005. Brathwaite has served on the Board since 2015 in Director and Officer positions. Brathwaite was presented the “DRI Exceptional Performance Award” and the NCADA recognized her for her year of service during the conference.
George Simpson, IV was elected to the office of Executive Vice President. Simpson is the founding member of Simpson Law, PLLC located in Raleigh. After graduating with honors from UNC as a double major, George attended UNC Law School. His practice focuses on insurance disputes and defense, business disputes, regulatory compliance matters, and subrogation claims.
Erin McNeil Young moves to the position of Secretary after serving a one-year term as Treasurer. Erin is a past member of the Board of Directors. Young is an experienced litigator with 23 years of experience in private practice and is now managing litigation for a large corporation for Extended Stay Americas. Young received her J.D. from UNC School of law in 1999.
Daniel M. Nunn was elected to a 2-year term as Treasurer. Nunn is a partner with Caudle & Spears, P.A. in Charlotte and was elected Treasurer after serving a three-year term on the Board of Directors. Nunn represents clients primarily in construction defect litigation, insurance defense litigation, complex civil litigation, business law, and employment law. He obtained his J.D. from University of Miami School of Law.
The NCADA welcomed the following NEW members to the Board of Directors to serve a 3-year term ending in 2026:
- Kara Bordman, Teague Rotenstreich Stanaland Fox & Holt, Greensboro
- Josh Durham, Bell Davis & Pitt, Charlotte
- Lisa Frye Garrison, Garrison Law Group, Asheboro
- Kristine Prati, Wilson & Ratledge, Raleigh
- Stuart Stroud, Wallace Morris Barwick, Kinston
ABOUT the NCADA: North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA) is a professional organization of over 800 attorneys and paralegals who devote a majority of their time representing the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. For more information about the N.C. Association of Defense Attorneys, please contact (919) 239-4463 or visit www.ncada.org.
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