Recognition

Recognition is a regular feature of NC Lawyer. To submit notices, email Russell Rawlings.

Courtney, a white woman with brown hair, wears a black blouse.Courtney M. Achee of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Charlotte has been appointed to a two-year term as chair of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) KnowledgeNet Charlotte Chapter. IAPP KnowledgeNet Chapters bring local privacy communities together through educational meetings and networking activities.

Suzanne, a white woman with curly brown hair and glasses, wears a white blouse with black flowers.Suzanne Chester, who serves as managing attorney at The Child’s Advocate in Raleigh, was honored last fall by the Wake Women Attorneys as its 2022 Woman of the Year. The Child’s Advocate is a project of Legal Aid of North Carolina, where Chester served as a staff attorney and supervising attorney from 1998-2012. She has held her current position since 2014.

Laura, a white woman with brown hair, wears a mustard-colored sweater and is smiling.Laura Graham, who serves as Professor of Legal Writing and Director of Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research at Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem, was honored recently by the Association of American Law Schools as the recipient of a 2023 Section Award for Excellence in Legal Education. Graham was honored in the category of Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research.

William, a white man with grey hair, wears a white shirt, blue tie, and navy jacket.William W. Plyler of Raleigh, who practices with Miller Monroe & Plyler in Raleigh, was honored last fall as the 2022 recipient of the Joseph Branch Professionalism Award, which is the highest honor bestowed by the Wake County Bar Association. Plyler has practiced law in Wake County for more than 40 years and is a past president of the Wake County Bar Association and the 10th Judicial District Bar.

Recipients of the UNC School of Law Alumni Association’s annual alumni awards, who will be honored on February 17, include the following NCBA members:

Alice, a white woman with blond hair, wears glasses, a white blouse and grey jacket.Alice Mine of Chapel Hill, who serves as executive director of the North Carolina State Bar, will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award. Mine practiced law in Durham before joining the State Bar as assistant executive director in 1993. She has served as executive director since October 2018.

Sarah, a white woman with brown hair, wears a navy dress and is smiling.Sarah Hill McIntyre of Durham, who is a collaborative family law attorney with Two Families Law, will receive the Outstanding Recent Graduate Award. In addition to her practice and extensive pro bono contributions, McIntyre serves as an adjunct professor at UNC School of Law where she works with the Domestic and Sexual Violence Clinic.

Willis, a white man with white hear, wears a grey shirt, blue tie and black jacket.Willis Whichard of Tillman Whichard & Cagle PLLC in Chapel Hill will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Whichard is the only person in the history of this state to serve in both chambers of the General Assembly and also hold office as a judge on the N.C. Court of Appeals and justice on the N.C. Supreme Court. He is also a former dean of Campbell Law School.

Russell Rawlings is director of external affairs and communications for the North Carolina Bar Association.