Hillsborough, NC

Stuart M. Paynter

Stuart Paynter is an experienced trial attorney specializing in catastrophic personal injury cases, products liability and other complex litigation. He began his career at Sullivan & Cromwell before starting his own law firm in 2005. Under his leadership, Paynter Law has obtained over $500 million in verdicts and settlements, including one of the largest verdicts of 2018 in a medical malpractice case. He has taken on and won against Fortune 500 companies and other large institutions, including groundbreaking litigation against the NCAA that resulted in a $60 million settlement for student athletes. He has been recognized on the Super Lawyers list from 2023-2025. Prior to starting Paynter Law, Mr. Paynter worked at Sullivan & Cromwell where he represented Microsoft in the antitrust suit brought by the Department of Justice and several state attorneys general, as well as in numerous consumer class actions. Directly after law school, he clerked for the Hon. David S. Tatel of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Mr. Paynter has undertaken extensive pro bono work, representing a class of Portsmouth, Virginia residents who alleged racial discrimination and currently represents a coalition of individuals and nonprofit organizations, including the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP in civil rights lawsuits seeking the removal or relocation of Confederate monuments.

JAMES RAINSFORD

James joined the firm in 2012 and became an owner/officer in early 2014. He currently serves as Vice President of the Firm. James earned his degree in English from College of Charleston. He then went on to graduate from the University of South Carolina School Of Law with his J. D. Upon graduating, James became a prosecutor, spending several years trying complex cases in both North Carolina and South Carolina. In private practice, James has practiced as counsel for plaintiffs and as an insurance defense counsel, providing him with a unique perspective of all sides of civil litigation. James's focus is primarily in personal injury and wrongful death cases as well as civil litigation and felony defense. James is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Massachusetts. He is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. He is well-known for his attention to detail and for zealously advocating for his clients.

JASON MURPHY

Jason joined the firm in 2016 and became an owner/officer in 2021. Jason earned his undergraduate degree in Pre-Law from Campbell University. He then went on to graduate from UNC School of Law. Prior to entering private practice, Jason spent several years in criminal law as an Assistant District Attorney with the Orange County District Attorney's office. Jason's practice encompasses multiple areas of law, including family law, personal injury, wrongful death cases, civil litigation, and felony defense. Jason is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association.

Sara Willingham

Sara Willingham is an experienced trial attorney with extensive experience handling motor vehicle cases, including complex motor vehicle accidents where liability is contested. She has also handled numerous product liability cases, medical malpractice cases, negligent security cases, and premises liability cases. Ms. Willingham arbitrates uninsured and underinsured motorist cases on behalf of injured policy holders. She received a law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law where she was a member of the Law Review and Moot Court and graduated with High Honors in the top 10% of her class. She began work at a general practice office in Clarksville, Tennessee handling mostly criminal, family law, and consumer bankruptcy. From 2007 until 2011, she served as an Assistant Post-Conviction Defender for the State of Tennessee Office of the Post-Conviction Defender in Nashville Handling capital state post-conviction cases.

SAMUEL COLEMAN

Sam joined the firm in 1995 and has been an owner/officer since 1996. He currently serves as the President of the firm. Samuel Coleman earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He then went on to graduate from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. His focus is primarily in criminal matters, providing legal assistance with DWIs, traffic tickets, drug crimes, theft and property crimes, misdemeanors, and expungements. Sam is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. He is also a member of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the National Association of Defense Lawyers. Sam has successfully defended his clients for the past two decades, fostering strong working relationships with the Court and the local legal community.

JOHN D. LOFTIN

John D. Loftin is a third-generation North Carolina lawyer with over 25 years of practice. He has secured numerous multi-million dollar results for clients, argued successfully in state and federal appellate courts, and contributed to shaping North Carolina legal precedent. He holds a Ph.D. in religion from Duke University and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina. In addition to his practice, he teaches Federal Indian Law at the University of North Carolina School of Law.

KATHERINE MERRITT

Katie joined the firm in 2007 and became an owner/officer in the fall of 2011. She currently serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the firm. Katie earned her undergraduate degree in Social Science and Spanish from Gardner-Webb University. She then went on to attend Campbell University School of Law where she earned her J.D. Upon graduating, Katie joined the firm as an attorney and is currently the Managing Partner. Katie is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and the North Carolina Bar Association. Katie's practice includes estate planning, estate administration, guardianship and incompetency, and small business law. Her experience provides her clients with compassionate care and attention to detail.