Taylor Gibbs Selected as a YLD Star of the Quarter
Taylor Gibbs, a civil litigator at Blanco Tackabery and co-chair of the NCBA DEI Committee, has been selected as a Young Lawyers Division Star of the Quarter — an honor that means the world to her.
She joined YLD for the opportunity to connect with fellow legal professionals. Since her firm takes on cases across the state, Gibbs is constantly traveling to courthouses spanning from Asheville to New Bern, unable to get involved in her local bar and build relationships there. At NCBA, however, the connections she has made finally helped her feel connected to a community.
Being in YLD means being in a space full of intelligent and amazing lawyers who understand how I feel and have so much advice and support to share. Despite being an introvert, I always have so much fun at YLD events and feel so welcome by everyone, even though we work in different areas and places.
Originally born in South Carolina, Gibbs primarily grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, and now resides in Winston-Salem. She attended Appalachian State University, where she graduated in 2020 with a major in political science and a minor in religious studies. During her time there, she played on the drumline in the marching band and played Quidditch, now known as quadball, with the Appalachian Apparators — both of which were among the best experiences of her life.
Gibbs dreamed of becoming a lawyer since middle school, but following the pandemic and some burnout, she decided to take a year off before starting law school. During that time, she earned her paralegal certificate from UNC Charlotte and worked as a legal assistant at the real estate firm Brady & Kosofsky, which helped solidify her decision to become an attorney.
While at Wake Forest School of Law, along with meeting some of her best friends, highlights for Gibbs included involvement in the Black Law Students Association and the Appellate Advocacy Clinic. She also gained valuable experience through summer internships with Womble Bond Dickinson and her now full-time firm, Blanco Tackabery. Gibbs graduated from law school in 2024.
Her current work spans a range of areas, but Gibbs primarily focuses on housing law, creditors’ rights and breach-of-contract matters, particularly those involving debt collection. She is happy to say she was recently admitted to the South Carolina Bar, and by mid-April, she will be admitted to all three federal districts in North Carolina.
Not only is Gibbs a co-chair of the DEI Committee alongside fellow Young Lawyers Division Star of the Quarter Tia Overway, but they are also currently the only members who make up the committee — a factor that further cements why both women were chosen as Stars of the Quarter. Although planning events with just two people can be difficult, with help from other YLD leadership they successfully organized events such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at the food bank and the Black History Month trivia night.
My experience is mainly colored by thankfulness to Tia and the other members who have helped us. I never expected to be given this honor of Star of the Quarter, but it is so meaningful that others have seen the work the DEI Committee has accomplished the past few months. Even with this honor, I plan to continue working hard on the committee and support others in YLD when I can.
Participating in NCBA events is a highlight of Gibbs’ time with the association and simply something she does for fun. Whether it’s YLD quarterly meetings or general events, she enjoys her time and hearing everybody’s plans, willing to go the distance and make long drives to attend, especially knowing how much work goes into planning them. The YLD retreat has always been a favorite of hers.
At last year’s YLD retreat, one of the team-bonding events involved passing a volleyball to each other and trying to keep it off the ground for 26 passes. The legal field, especially in litigation, can feel adversarial, so passing a ball around and laughing with other YLD members was truly a beautiful experience and showed that you can have a community in the legal field.
Gibbs’ future goals with YLD consist of making the DEI Committee more prominent and continuing to promote her colleagues through blogs and other opportunities to help show that YLD extends beyond the Triangle. She encourages new members to be present and take advantage of what the division has to offer, even if it can feel intimidating to put yourself out there.
With everything happening in the world today and all the cases I deal with, it sometimes feels like the legal field is clouded by adversity and endless stress. However, YLD helps me see the sun through the clouds and that it is possible to be part of a community that extends beyond the workplace. Because of that, I always try to be kind to others, both in and out of the courtroom, and assist them in any way I can.
Outside of work and NCBA commitments, you’ll find Gibbs unwinding by playing video games like League of Legends, reading and watching anime.
The Young Lawyers Division is often referred to as the service arm of the NCBA because so many young lawyers are involved in a multitude of worthwhile projects and public service endeavors. YLD provides a pathway into both the legal profession and the NCBA, with countless opportunities to lead and serve. Learn about upcoming opportunities.