HBS Attorneys Selected as 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

HBS is proud to announce Asheville Partner Issac N. Northup, Jr., Raleigh Partner Elizabeth Pharr McCullough have been recognized on the Super Lawyers 2025 North Carolina List. Raleigh Partner Brian J. Manikowski and Associate Kelsey Heino and Charlotte Associate Christian Ferlan were honored on 2025 North Carolina Rising Stars List.

2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers

Isaac N. Northup, Jr.

Ike was recognized for the eighteenth year for his exceptional work in medical malpractice defense. Over the past 40 years, Ike has concentrated his area of practice in the field of medical malpractice defense litigation involving catastrophic and birth injuries and complex medical matters.

He has tried in excess of 75 medical malpractice trials to jury verdict. He also has tried multiple other cases involving will caveats, theft of trade secrets, arson, fraudulent lending, and a host of automobile and general liability cases. Ike is routinely consulted by health care providers concerning licensing boards issues, privilege issues, and risk management.

Elizabeth Pharr McCullough

Elizabeth was acknowledged for her work in medical malpractice defense. She has successfully handled numerous medical malpractice cases and has taken many of them to trial. She has obtained numerous defense verdicts in cases of alleged medical malpractice, many of which involved catastrophic injury or death.

Elizabeth also represents clients before the North Carolina Medical Board, the North Carolina Board of Nursing, the North Carolina Board of Pharmacy, the North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy, and the North Carolina Board of Social Work Certification and Licensure.

2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars

Brian J. Manikowski

Brian was honored for the first year for his work in surety matters. His practice focuses on the defense of high-exposure transportation, construction defect, law enforcement liability, and premises liability matters.

Brian has significant experience in all stages of litigation and has defended cases in both state and federal courts. He is also well versed in the different avenues of alternative dispute resolution and will zealously advocate to achieve a favorable result for his clients.

Kelsey Heino

Kelsey was recognized for her work in medical malpractice defense law. Prior to joining HBS, she gained experience as an associate at a trial firm, where she second-chaired a diverse case load of multi-million dollar medical malpractice matters. She was also selected as an insurer’s primary counsel for treating provider depositions related to the Camp Lejeune Justice Act litigation.

Christian Ferlan

Christian was honored for his third consecutive year for his work in state, local, and municipal matters. He focuses his practice on the defense of law enforcement agencies as well as general liability, long-term care, and real estate matters. He has gained valuable experience defending local governments, law enforcement officers, and fire departments in a wide variety of cases under federal and state law.

Christian has defended cases implicating the First and Fourth Amendments, as well as the North Carolina Constitution, including federal and state appeals. He has also advised local governments on ordinance drafting and legislation. In addition to working with local governments, Christian has represented individuals and long-term care facilities in a wide range of professional negligence and general liability claims in state court and arbitration.

About Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive, and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys. The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law.

The full list of this year’s recipients can be found on the Super Lawyers website.

About Hall Booth Smith

Established in 1989, Hall Booth Smith, P.C. is a full-service law firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Experienced across a wide range of legal disciplines, HBS attorneys pride themselves on providing knowledgeable, proactive, client-specific counsel to individuals, domestic and international corporations, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s promise: “Serving to Achieve Excellence.”