What’s New With the NCAJ NEXT Leadership Fellows?

Drew Culler, NEXT Class of 2022, was elected in June to serve a two-year term on the NCAJ Board of Governors. Culler practices with Johnson & Groninger, PLLC.

Shana Rothwell, NEXT Class of 2023, recently took on a new role as an assistant public defender at the Brunswick County Public Defender Office, fulfilling a goal she has had since becoming a lawyer in January 2022. “NEXT has helped me to enhance my leadership skills and to understand my values and goals as an attorney,” Rothwell said. “Additionally, it has introduced me to the legal community and many of my peers.”

Spencer Fritts, at right, NEXT Class of 2022, The Law Offices of John McCabe, P.A., argued Morris v. Rodeberg, a case dealing with the statute of limitations tolling provision for medical malpractice minors, in September 2023. He has also taken on several roles in NCAJ including vice chair and chair of the Professional Negligence Section, membership chair and vice chair, and is currently serving as chair of the New Lawyers Division. He wrote the Trial Briefs article “New Task Force Takes on the Cap,” and presented as part of the Professional Negligence Update CLE at Convention 2024. “On a professional level, the leadership skills and insights I learned from the NEXT program afforded me the ability to comfortably step into leadership positions and excel,” Fritts said. “More importantly, though, what started as professional connections with my NEXT cohort at the beginning of the program turned into personal, long-lasting friendships outside of the practice of law. To anyone who is on the fence about applying to join this program, take the leap; it is an experience you will cherish for the rest of your long and fulfilling career.”

Nichad Davis, at left, NEXT Class of 2023, was elected in June to serve two-year terms on the NCAJ Board of Governors. Davis practices with the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. He was named to the National Black Lawyers’ Top 40 Under 40 List for 2023.

Amiee Nwabuike, NEXT Class of 2023, O’Malley Tunstall, PC, has become more involved with NCAJ’s Women’s Caucus and the Auto Torts & Premises Liability Section. She participated in the Women’s Caucus Legislative Day in May and is involved with LEAP. She has served as Women’s Caucus membership chair and on the Auto Torts Executive Committee as New Lawyer’s Division liaison. Nwabuike has also presented at a Disbursements CLE, volunteered for the N.C. Mock Trial program on the Case Committee and she co-wrote NCAJ’s amicus brief for Bosworth v. Charlotte. “NEXT gave me a deeper understanding of and appreciation for NCAJ that pushed me to get more involved with the organization, specifically the Women’s Caucus and the Auto Torts Section,” Nwabuike said. “On a more personal level, the lessons from Jes about core values and integrity made me a stronger person. And I think those lessons can benefit any attorney throughout their life and career.”

Gabriel Snyder, NEXT Class of 2023, Ward Black Law, settled a case for $950,000 and, with his wife Audrey Snyder, also an attorney at Ward Black Law, welcomed the birth of their daughter Sophia in October 2023. Snyder is currently serving as chair of the Auto Torts & Premises Liability Section. “NCAJ Next provided me with valuable leadership skills that I use every day,” Snyder said. “Jes and Shannon taught me valuable lessons that not only positively impacted me professionally, but personally as well. The lesson on ‘say/do ratio’ was my favorite. We discussed how important it is for us to do what we say we are going to do 100 percent of the time and if we cannot do the thing we said we would do, we promptly let the person know. Doing that ensures that others trust you and want to work with you.”

Santiago Arroba, NEXT Class of 2022, Osborn Gambale Beckley & Budd, moved to his current firm and began focusing exclusively on litigating catastrophic injury cases. He has also co-chaired NCAJ’s Disbursements CLE four years running and is involved in leadership with NCAJ’s Hispanic-Latino Legal Issues Division, with hopes of helping that division grow. Arroba and his wife welcomed their first child, Leo Sebastian, in August 2023. “The relationships I built during my NCAJ NEXT year have remained strong to this day,” he said. “It has been the most integral part of my networking and referral practice and I cannot imagine where my career would be without the NEXT program. As a young attorney it is often intimidating to take up space in a room full of veterans. NEXT helped me see that not only is it OK for us to take up space, but to own it.”

Ari Sibrey, NEXT Class of 2023, The Clauson Law Firm, celebrated five years of practicing Social Security Disability at her firm in July. She is membership and DEI chair for NCAJ’s Disability Advocacy Section and education co-chair for the Women’s Caucus. This year, she spoke at Campbell Law School as part of the New Lawyers Division’s “How To Get A Job After Law School” panel and presented at the Disability Section CLE in October 2023 on “Client Relationships: Building Trust and Managing Expectations.” In February, Sibrey added Lily Pad, a German shepherd mix puppy, to her family. “Participating in the NCAJ NEXT Leadership program allowed me to be more confident in taking on leadership roles within NCAJ and other organizations,” she said. “I know my voice and opinions have value and I can make meaningful contributions without having reservations or doubts. I am grateful it allowed me to be present in spaces where our top leaders are discussing and making important decisions that impact NCAJ for the betterment of its members.”

Helen Baddour, NEXT Class of 2022, Brown Moore & Associates PLLC, serves on the NCAJ Board of Governors. She settled a dram shop case for over $1 million three months after her first child, Margaret Touloupas, was born in July 2023. She has also been involved in NCAJ’s Women’s Caucus and served as legislative co-chair for the Auto Torts & Premises Liability Section, as an NCAJ PAC Trustee and has been helping organize NCAJ’s LEAP program. “NCAJ NEXT bridged the gap between being a member and being a leader within NCAJ,” Baddour said. “I met some wonderful young(er) lawyers who I now consider my dear friends. I gained invaluable leadership skills and enjoyed thought provoking exercises with my colleagues. I also learned more about NCAJ and the governing process that we often don’t get to see unless we are in leadership.”

Drew Culler, NEXT Class of 2022, was elected in June to serve a two-year term on the NCAJ Board of Governors. Culler practices with Johnson & Groninger, PLLC.

Gagan Gupta, NEXT Class of 2022, Tin Fulton Walker & Owen PLLC, was elected to a two-year term on NCAJ’s Board of Governors in June. He joined Tin Fulton as a partner, thanks in large part to the connections made during the NEXT program. Gupta also authored an article about remote work for Trial Briefs. “I stumbled into NCAJ through the NEXT program and the organization is now my associational home,” he said. “I am grateful that I accidentally discovered this group of professional colleagues and now personal friends. I feel like I already owe my career to this organization.”