What You Should Know About Our Workers’ Compensation Team

When considering a firm to fight for you, look at the team, the track record, and the resources the firm brings to bear. How much experience do the workers’ comp attorneys have? What are their backgrounds? Why should you trust them to fight for you?

We’ve seen workers’ comp from nearly every angle imaginable. Our breadth of experience as a team gives us intimate knowledge of the system, the laws governing it, and the insurance companies’ tactics. If you’ve been injured at work, contact us anytime, 24/7 at 1-866-900-7078 for a free case evaluation.

We Have Attorneys Who Formerly Worked for the Commission

Our team includes two attorneys who formerly served on the North Carolina Industrial Commission (NCIC). In other words, we’re not surprised by what the Commission does, we know how it works, and how to work within the system, striving for the best outcome for our North Carolina clients.

We Have Professionals Who Formerly Worked for Insurance Companies

Some of the people on our team formerly worked for insurance companies and know firsthand how these firms do business. They got tired of defending big insurers who sought to pay out as little as possible to injured workers. Now, they put their knowledge of insurance companies’ tactics and business practices to use fighting for as much compensation as possible for our clients. We know their methods, and how to try to counter them.

We Have NC State Bar Board Certified Specialists

The word “specialist” is a very important one in North Carolina workers’ compensation law. It refers to North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in specific areas of Law. As of January 2025, there are fewer than 150 workers’ compensation specialists licensed in the state.⁵

“Under 27 NCAC 01D Section .2701, the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization has designated workers’ compensation as a field of law for which certification of specialists is permitted. Only attorneys that qualify for this designation are entitled to use the term ‘Board Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation Law.’”

We have several of these NC State Bar Board Certified Specialists on our team. For more background on what it takes to become a workers’ compensation specialist in North Carolina, you can read the NC Bar’s page on legal specialization for workers’ comp.

Our firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers® as one of the “Best Law Firms” for workers’ compensation for the greater Raleigh area in 2025.⁴

Quick Facts About Our Workers’ Compensation Team

• We have several former defense attorneys and paralegals who worked for insurance companies or defense firms, now bringing that inside knowledge to fight for you.
• Several of our workers’ comp attorneys are NC State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation. Helping injured workers is their passion.
• Two of our attorneys served with the North Carolina Industrial Commission.The NCIC is an impartial agency. These attorneys decided to take your side.
• One of our attorneys is a former North Carolina State Senator.He was elected to serve the seventh district of North Carolina for four terms and helped write some of North Carolina’s workers’ compensation law.
• Several of our attorneys are recognized professionals in workers’ compensation. Some speak at seminars for other workers’ compensation attorneys. Others have written books about other areas of law, and several have collected awards for NC workers’ compensation, including eight who were named to the “Best Lawyer”list by Best Lawyers in America for 2025.⁴
• Several of our North Carolina attorneys have more than 10 years of experience in workers’ compensation law.
• Our attorneys are advocates for those in need.And service to others is not something we take lightly. Many of our workers’ compensation attorneys are members of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.
• We have attorneys licensed in North and South Carolina!

Workers’ Compensation Attorneys With Answers

We have a large team of people working for our workers’ compensation clients, led by our core group of North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialists in Workers’ Compensation Law. They are supported by a skilled, experienced staff with dedicated, caring paralegals. Here’s a little more about our team of workers’ compensation attorneys.

	Doug Berger Practicing law since 1990 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Former Deputy Commissioner, NCIC Former Head Administrator, Department of Claims, NCIC Former North Carolina State Senator Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America, 2021 – 20254
	Ryan Bliss Practicing law since 2008 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Formerly worked defending insurance companies Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America, 20254 Listed as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine, 20184
	Margo Carnahan Practicing law since 2009 Member, U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina Formerly worked defending insurance companies Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America, 20244
	Casey Day Practicing law since 2013 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Licensed to practice in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America, 2021-20254 Listed on “Rising Star” list by North Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine, 2022–20234
	Matt Harbin Practicing law since 2000 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar North Carolina Advocates for Justice Order of Service award, 2017, 2018, 2019 North Carolina State Bar Workers’ Compensation Council member Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law by Best Lawyers in America, 2021–20254
	Jarvis Harris Practicing law since 1997 Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Member, North Carolina Bar Association and Greensboro Bar Association Clerked at the North Carolina Industrial Commission
	Matthew Healey Practicing law since 2002 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Named Raleigh Workers’ Compensation “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America, 2015, 2017, 20224 Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law by Best Lawyers in America, 2013–20254 Named to “Super Lawyer” list by North Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine, 2014–2016, 20214 Listed as a “Rising Star” by North Carolina Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010–20134
	Michael Jordan Practicing law since 1993 Rated “Distinguished” by Martindale-Hubbell, 20244 Received Order of Service Award from North Carolina Advocates for Justice, 2007-2015 Member, American Association for Justice Member, Durham Bar Association (former Board of Directors)
	Daniel Lehrer Practicing law since 2010 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America, 2024-20254 Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America, 2021-20234 Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice
	Elizabeth Ligon Practicing law since 2013 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America, 20254 Formerly worked defending insurance companies Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice
	Ali Overby Practicing law since 2015 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Named to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by Best Lawyers in America, 2021-20254 Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice
	Leah Parady Practicing law since 2023 Tried Cases before the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veteran Claims Member, NC Bar Association – Military and Veterans Division Member, National Organization of Veterans Advocates
	Michael Roessler Practicing law since 2008 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Licensed to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law by Best Lawyers in America, 2022-20254 Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice
	Jennifer Taylor Practicing law since 2001 Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs by Best Lawyers in America, 20254 North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Disability Advocacy Section – former chair, vice chair, secretary Member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives Member, North Carolina Bar Association
	Susan Vanderweert Practicing law since 2003 Certified NC Workers’ Compensation Specialist, Board of Legal Specialization of the North Carolina State Bar Named to “Best Lawyers” list for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants by  Best Lawyers in America, 2021-20254 Honored with the North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award, 2024 Formerly worked defending insurance companies Holds Martindale-Hubbell AV “Pre-eminent” Rating4
	Aaron Walck Practicing law since 2021 Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association Member, North Carolina Bar Association Bilingual attorney with extensive experience translating and interpreting in legal settings

If You Were Hurt at Work, Put Our Experience to Work for You

Contact the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin as soon as possible after your work injury. You can reach us online or by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 1-866-900-7078 for a free case evaluation.

We don’t collect an attorney’s fee unless we collect for you!² We’ve helped more than 73,000 clients recover more than $2 billion in total compensation since 1997.¹ Don’t let the insurance companies push you around – tell them you mean business!

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⁵ Figures provided by NC State Bar as of January 2025.