Nags Head, NC

M.H. Hood Ellis

Hood’s practice encompasses a wide range of civil litigation and real estate matters. He represents developers, lenders, businesses, families, and individuals in real estate transactions, both residential and commercial. His extensive trial experience includes real estate litigation, construction litigation, personal injury, and business litigation, representing both entities and individuals. Hood also provides guidance to local municipalities and has served as the Town Attorney for the Town of Edenton since 2007. His practice also includes representing homeowners and other common-interest communities such as Corolla Light Community Association, Inc. and The Currituck Club Property Owners Association, Inc.

L. Phillip Hornthal, III

For over 30 years, Phil has been a trial lawyer, handling everything from personal injury and wrongful death claims to complex business, construction and land disputes, including earning compensation for landowners facing the loss of property to the State and other takers. Recognized by his peers, Phil enjoys an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell, membership in the American Board of Trial Advocates and has been named Legal Elite by Business North Carolina. He is also a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum, which is limited to fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers. Phil has also been a certified mediator since 2011 and likes helping lawyers and their clients resolve difficult cases and is also routinely selected as an arbitrator. All of Phil’s clients come to him with difficult problems, and he is happy to bring his results-oriented practice to bear to resolve them. Phil understands that every case and every client is different, and offers flexible, innovative strategies to achieve results best suited to each client’s situation. After graduating law school in 1993, Phil clerked for the Honorable John Webb on the North Carolina Supreme Court and then practiced with a large insurance defense firm in Raleigh. However, born and bred on the Pasquotank River, he moved home to Elizabeth City with his wife Kristy in 1999, where they happily raised three children and have enjoyed being a part of the Elizabeth City and northeastern North Carolina communities. A lifetime member of Christ Episcopal Church, Phil has also been very active in Boys and Girls Club, Arts of the Albemarle, Carolina United Soccer Association, Rotary and the Elizabeth City Pasquotank County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. In his spare time, Phil enjoys fishing, boating, running, tennis and traveling.

Donald C. Prentiss

Don’s practice focuses on helping individuals throughout the civil litigation process. With more than thirty years of experience in insurance defense litigation, Don is a skilled trial attorney with a vast knowledge of North Carolina motor vehicle, premise liability, and personal injury law. In addition to insurance defense, Don helps injured individuals recover damages for injuries suffered in accidents. He also litigates commercial and contract disputes, involving both individuals and businesses.

Robert B. Hobbs, Jr.

Robert concentrates his practice in real property and local government law. He is the only attorney in Northeastern North Carolina who is a board certified specialist in both commercial and residential real property law. Robert’s practice includes representing real estate developers, lenders, nonprofits, business entities, families, and individuals in real estate transactions. He prepares and negotiates a variety of real estate documents and advises community and condominium associations on bylaw compliance, revisions, and association governance. In addition to his extensive real estate practice, Robert also provides advice and guidance to local governments, and has served as the Town Attorney for the Town of Duck since 2008 and the Attorney for the Dare County Airport Authority since 1990.

Mark Maland

Mark Maland was born in New Hyde Park, New York, just following the end of the second World War. After graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and receiving his J.D. from Wake Forest University, began a wonderfully diverse career. He was admitted to the N.C. State Bar and U.S. Tax Court in 1977, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit in 1978. Mr. Maland has an incredible array of experience in financial law, from bankruptcy, tax, corporate, and estate planning law. Mr. Maland is also a committed community member, serving on the boards for his local United Way chapter and the Pasquotank-Camden public library. He is also a member of the Historic Preservation Committee for Elizabeth City, N.C.

L.P. Hornthal, Jr

A founding member of the firm, Tony’s more than fifty years of practice were primarily spent in the courtroom, focusing on civil trial work. He also represented many institutional clients and was long time attorney for Pasquotank and Dare County public schools. He especially enjoyed mentoring young lawyers, many of whom became his law partners. Tony retired in 2018 and passed away in 2025 at the age of 88.

Louis J. Hallow, III

Johny is a dedicated litigation attorney whose practice spans community associations, land use and zoning, business and corporate disputes, local government matters, general civil litigation, personal injury, and debt collections for individuals and businesses of all types. He is committed to delivering strategic, client-focused legal solutions tailored to the unique needs of each matter. After earning his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2021, Johny returned to Eastern North Carolina to establish his legal career. Since joining our Elizabeth City office, he has built a robust and diverse litigation practice, representing clients including businesses, homeowners’ associations, condominium associations, local governments, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, contractors, franchisees, and individuals. His work has taken him through every stage of litigation-initial consultation, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, hearings, mediations, and trials-across multiple forums, including North Carolina District and Superior Courts, the North Carolina Business Court, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Johny also routinely represents individuals and businesses in recovering outstanding debts, employing a proactive approach that blends demand letters, negotiations, and, when necessary, legal action. His collection work spans industries such as construction, real estate, retail, and community associations, allowing him to tailor strategies that align with his clients’ financial and operational goals. While a tenacious advocate in the courtroom, Johny recognizes the value of alternative dispute resolution and often employs creative, outside-the-box strategies to resolve complex cases efficiently. His approach reflects his belief that every case-whether resolved through trial, negotiation, or settlement-should serve the client’s best interests.