Five Carruthers & Roth Attorneys Named Triad “Lawyer of the Year”

Carruthers & Roth, P.A. announced today that five of the firm’s attorneys have been named Best Lawyers 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas in the Triad area. Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this accolade particularly significant.

Carruthers & Roth attorneys recognized as 2021 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” are:

Michael J. Allen – 2021 Triad “Lawyer of the Year” for Copyright Law

June L. Basden – 2021 Triad “Lawyer of the Year” for Commercial Finance Law

J. Scott Dillon – 2021 Triad “Lawyer of the Year”
for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Richard L. Vanore – 2021 Triad “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants

Keith A. Wood – 2021 Triad “Lawyer of the Year”
for Tax Law

The attorneys being honored as “Lawyers of the Year” are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer-review assessments. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity.

Michael J. Allen dedicates his practice to protecting clients’ rights, assets, and relationships. His unique blend of experience in negotiating, contracting, counseling, and litigation helps him provide meaningful insight to clients at any stage of their business relationships. In addition to his intellectual property practice, Mike has substantial experience in contract preparation, negotiation and litigation, including as to employment, non-competition, non-solicitation and non-disclosure agreements, license and royalty agreements, independent contractor agreements, and distribution, vendor, and supply agreements. He earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Westminster College in 1982 and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 1985. For 2021, Mike has also been recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Intellectual Property. Mike was previously honored as Greensboro Copyright Law “ Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for 2017 and 2019.

June L. Basden is both an attorney and a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience in commercial finance and banking law. She represents national and regional banks, financial institutions and commercial lenders in a variety of finance transactions, with a special focus on commercial lending and creditors’ rights. June has extensive experience in asset-based lending, factoring, single-lender and syndicated credit facilities, loan workouts and modifications, foreclosures, bankruptcies and commercial real estate transactions. She received her B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1983 and her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill in 1986. For 2021, June has also been recognized by Best Lawyers for her work in Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Commercial Transactions / UCC Law. June was previously honored by Best Lawyers as Greensboro Commercial Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2018. She was also recognized by Best Lawyers as Greensboro Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2014 and 2017, and as Triad Banking and Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2020.

J. Scott Dillon maintains a broad-based transactional, tax and estates practice, with a particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and the design and operation of qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation plans, and employee benefit programs. Scott’s clients include a wide variety of closely-held, family-owned businesses and their owners, and he provides legal consulting and documentation in all aspects of their operations. Scott earned his B.A., cum laude, from North Carolina State University in 1979 and his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill in 1983. For 2021, Scott has also been recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, and Corporate Law. He was previously honored by Best Lawyers as Greensboro Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2013.

Scott was also recognized by Best Lawyers as Greensboro Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law ”Lawyer of the Year” for 2019 and Triad Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) “Lawyer of the Year.”

Richard L. Vanore is a litigator experienced in professional malpractice, health law, personal injury, commercial disputes and other areas of civil litigation. As a core member of the Carruthers & Roth Healthcare and Litigation practice teams, he works closely with insurance companies, physicians, dentists, hospitals, individuals, real estate developers and property owners. Richard received his A.B. in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1969 and his J.D., with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law at Chapel Hill in 1973. For 2021, Richard has also been recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants. He was previously honored by Best Lawyers as Greensboro Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” for 2012 and Greensboro Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants “Lawyer of the Year” for 2017.

Keith A. Wood is both an attorney and CPA with a special background in taxes. He also is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Keith’s practice is focused on business, tax and estate planning for a wide range of clients, including new startups, entrepreneurs and multigenerational family owned businesses. He counsels these closely held enterprises in the unique challenges they face – from succession planning, tax planning and management structures to effective compensation strategies. Keith frequently speaks to groups on tax and business succession topics and has been honored by the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants with multiple “Outstanding Speaker” awards. Keith received his B.S. and J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For 2021, Keith has also been recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships).

Carruthers & Roth also announced today that 15 of the firm’s attorneys were named to The Best Lawyers in America 2021. The 2021 list was compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review survey that examines the professional abilities of attorneys by other attorneys.