Trawick H. “Buzzy” Stubbs, Jr.

Founder/Partner Emeritus

Trawick “Buzzy” Stubbs has been a leader in bankruptcy law in North Carolina for over 50 years.
Mr. Stubbs served as the Chapter 13 Trustee for over 40 years. Although retired from this position he remains a leader in the business and consumer bankruptcy community in North Carolina. Mr. Stubbs became an inaugural member of the class of Board Certified Specialist in both Business and Consumer Bankruptcy by the North Carolina State Bar over 35 years ago. In 2012, Mr. Stubbs received the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bankruptcy Section of The North Carolina Bar Association in recognition of his contributions “to the betterment of the NCBA Bankruptcy Section and the profession” and honored him as one “who has set an aspiring example for those who follow.”  Mr. Stubbs enjoys assisting and helping train younger attorneys. In 2014, Mr. Stubbs led the effort to create the Stubbs Bankruptcy Clinic located at Campbell Law in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 2021, Mr. Stubbs was named to the Bankruptcy Hall of Fame by the Business North Carolina for a continued show of excellence in the field of bankruptcy.  Mr. Stubbs has focused his career on helping individuals and small business owners navigate financial concerns. Mr. Stubbs also has a long history of representing members of the agricultural community in matters including crop insurance claims, disputes with the United States Department of Agriculture, federal criminal matters, and other agricultural litigation.  Mr. Stubbs is very active in the New Bern community and his philanthropic efforts are well-known throughout the area. Mr. Stubbs serves as a member of the board of numerous community organizations and hosts a weekly Bible Study every week. In 2021, Mr. Stubbs was named to the Bankruptcy Hall of Fame by the Business North Carolina for a continued show of excellence in the field of bankruptcy.  In 2012, Mr. Stubbs received the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bankruptcy Section of The North Carolina Bar Association in recognition of his contributions “to the betterment of the NCBA Bankruptcy Section and the profession” and honored him as one “who has set an aspiring example for those who follow.” In addition to helping small business owners navigate financial setbacks, Mr. Stubbs has a long history of representing members of the agricultural community, including row crop farms, hog farmers, producers, and farmers in agricultural matters, including crop insurance claims and disputes with the United States Department of Agriculture, federal criminal matters, and other agricultural litigation 

Education

  • Duke University Law School, J.D 1967, Order of the Coif, Duke Law Journal 
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1964 A.B in History with Honors Morehead Scholar 

Awards

  • Legal Elite Bankruptcy (2007)
  • Super Lawyers® – Top 100 Lawyers in North Carolina (2008-2023)
  • 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Bankruptcy Selection of the North Carolina Bar Association 
  • Super Lawyers – Business Bankruptcy (2018)
  • 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers 10+ years selected to Super Lawyers
  • 2021 Bankruptcy Hall of Fame

Professional Membership

  • American Bankruptcy Institute 
  • American Bar Association
  • Craven County Bar Association  
  • Federal Bar Association 
  • Fourth Circuit Bar Association 
  • National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees
  • North Carolina Advocates for Justice 
  • North Carolina Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section 

Certifications

  • North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization
  • Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law

Bar Admissions 

  • North Carolina, 1967
  • United States Supreme Court 
  • Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina 
  • U.S District Court, Middle District of North Carolina 
  • U.S District Court, Western District of North Carolina 
  • U.S Tax Court

Community Involvements 

  • CarolinaEast Health System  Board Member (2012-2020)
  • Craven County NAACP, First Recipient of the President’s Award, 100th Anniversary

Patrick riley

Managing Partner

Since 2008, Mr. Riley has focused his practice on business and consumer bankruptcy matters. He has helped thousands of individuals and business owners navigate through the bankruptcy process. In 2010, Mr. Riley was appointed as Special Counsel to the Chapter 7 Trustee and served in that role until the trustee retired. Mr. Riley enjoys assisting clients with credit and personal finance matters. He was formerly an Accredited Financial Counselor ® and published “I Hope I Never See You in My Office” in May 2011. 

Mr. Riley has represented a diverse clientele of both debtors and creditors. He has represented banks in foreclosure proceedings and Chapter 11 bankruptcy matters. He has represented investment institutions in licensing actions against financial advisors. Mr. Riley served as general counsel for a multi-state corporation and assisted them with credit and financing transactions. He has litigated bankruptcy matters across North Carolina and in other jurisdictions including New York, Delaware, and Maryland. In 2019, Mr. Riley became a Board Certified Specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy law by the North Carolina State Bar. In 2020, Mr. Riley became a Board Certified Specialist in Business Bankruptcy law by the North Carolina State Bar. He has served as the mentor to new potential specialists since this time. Mr. Riley is also passionate about assisting clients with their business and estate planning needs. He is motivated to help clients meet their immediate objectives and prepare for future life events. 

Mr. Riley holds the distinction of being an Eagle Scout and dedicates time as an adult volunteer with his son’s Cub Scout Pack in Wrightsville Beach. He often chides that he “will always be an Eagle Scout first, and lawyer second 


Education

  • Wake Forest University B.A (2004)
  • Oxford University, St Peter’s College Richter Fellowship 
  • Wake Forrest University School of Law J.D (2007)

Bar Admissions

  • US District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina 
  • US District Court, Middle District of North Carolina 

Certification 

  • North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization
  • Board Certified Specialist in Business Consumer Bankruptcy Law

Professional Memberships

  • North Carolina Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section
  • National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys

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