Salisbury, NC

Mona Lisa Wallace

Founding partner of Wallace & Graham, P.A. She has successfully litigated numerous significant personal injury, wrongful death, defective drug, asbestos, class action, and mass-tort claims, taking on some of the largest corporations in the world. Mona Lisa was one of the first and most successful asbestos trial lawyers in the Southeast, representing thousands of employees with asbestos exposure and achieving important legal precedents like the Satterfield decision. She expanded the firm into other practice areas, including successful class actions for employees and retirees (e.g., $178M+ settlement for medical/retirement benefits), taking on predatory lenders (payday loans), and class action lawsuits against car dealers. She co-counseled with the U.S. Department of Justice on improper medical billing/warranty practices, resulting in multi-million dollar settlements. Her firm has successfully sued corporations for environmental abuses, notably representing 500 neighbors against Smithfield Foods in swine nuisance litigation, winning over $500M in verdicts and earning her the Public Justice American Trial Lawyer of the Year award in 2020. She was also appointed Co-Lead Counsel for plaintiffs in the Camp Lejeune Justice Act litigation. Her current legal efforts focus on excessive/unfair medical billing by hospital chains and improving nursing home care. She is a National Merit Scholar and a significant philanthropist, supporting the Wallace Educational Forum and the Novant Health Wallace Cancer Institute.

Mona L. Wallace is a partner at Wallace & Graham, focusing on civil litigation, workers’ compensation, personal injury, mass and toxic torts, and product liability. She is a National Merit Scholar and has been actively involved in Public Justice and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, where she won the prestigious Ebbie Award in 2006.

Bill Graham

Partner with Wallace & Graham, joined in 1993. Former prosecutor and strong supporter of law enforcement and military service members. He has served on the North Carolina Rules Review Commission, is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, and was formerly Secretary of the Cabarrus County Board of Elections. He is a founding member of the Board of Directors of Community Bank of Rowan and a successful businessman. Active in the Republican Party, he is a strong supporter of The Jesse Helms Center and an active member of the American Conservative Union, having served on the U.S. Agriculture Committee for Senator Jesse Helms. He spearheaded a grassroots movement against the state gas tax, saving North Carolina taxpayers $159 million in 2007. Mr. Graham is acknowledged as a dedicated North Carolina wrongful death attorney and personal injury litigator, with extensive experience in Navy veteran mesothelioma cases, toxic exposure, and chemical exposure. He serves on the Catawba College Board of Trustees.

Whitney Wallace Williams

Partner at Wallace & Graham, joined in 2008. She leads the firm’s workers’ compensation injury department and litigates personal injury and complex civil litigation matters. Whitney has tried numerous cases before the North Carolina Industrial Commission, with wins in the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. She was part of the litigation team that won the Public Justice Trial Lawyer of the Year award in 2020 for their work on the Smithfield Foods environmental litigation. Whitney is deeply engaged with her community, serving on various boards and commissions, and was honored for her community leadership in the Salisbury Post's 'Spirit of Rowan' (2021) and awarded the North Carolina Main Street Champion (2022). She created and chairs the firm's charitable arm, Wallace & Graham Gives.

James A. Davis

James is the right choice for the client seeking a blend of experience, academics, peer recognition, and wisdom. His experience includes not guilty verdicts in capital and non-capital murders; $2.29 million and other six-figure civil verdicts; exclusion of the State's premier DWI expert; oral argument in the appellate courts; and scores and scores of high-level federal and state jury trials with an impressive verdict record. His academics include recognition as a Board Certified Specialist in Federal Criminal Law, State Criminal Law, and Family Law by the N.C. State Bar; faculty presenter at 47 CLEs; and visiting lecturer at law schools and the UNC-School of Government. His peer recognition includes a ten-time selection as Super Lawyer; four-time selection to The Best Lawyers in America; selection as a member of Legal Elite in criminal law by Business North Carolina (2025); selection as an "Icon" by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly (2023); selection as "Lawyer of the Year" in DWI Defense in the Charlotte area by The Best Lawyers in America (2021); recipient of the Professor John Rubin Award for contributions to legal training programs for Indigent Defense Services (2019); service in governing roles with the N.C. State Bar; and election as past president of the district bar. His wisdom is found in over three decades of practice in high-level criminal, civil, and family law cases across many courts. James loves making a difference in individual lives, particularly when facing complex, high-stakes cases. Born and raised in Rowan County, N.C., and the father of four children, he has been involved in a number of civic and community leadership positions.

W. Marlowe Rary, II

Marlowe Rary joined Whitley, Jordan & Inge, P.A. in 2018 and became a named partner in 2021. He handles district court practice, including DWI, drug possession, assault, and traffic charges, and manages the personal injury practice, having settled over $1 million in cases.

William M. Graham is a partner at Wallace & Graham, specializing in wrongful death and personal injury litigation. He has extensive experience with Navy veteran mesothelioma cases, toxic exposure, chemical exposure, and defective drugs, and is a strong supporter of law enforcement and military families.