Ed has practiced law in North Carolina for twenty-six years and has represented clients in many legal matters.
Before moving to Asheville in 2013, Ed practiced law in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park (RTP). His legal career began at a small Durham firm where he represented clients in a variety of matters, including domestic law, personal injury law, criminal law, post-conviction appellate litigation and procedures, real estate law, and collections. Ed also began his planned community practice which flourished after the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Planned Community Act in 1999.
Ed later opened his own law firm in Raleigh which focused exclusively on representing homeowner and condominium associations. He represented over 600 homeowner associations in 15 counties. He conducted hundreds of foreclosure proceedings, advised boards, drafted documents, and represented planned communities in Federal bankruptcy proceedings in the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina.
Since joining Allen Stahl + Kilbourne in 2017, Ed has broadened his community association practice. He focuses primarily on the unique issues confronting single-family, townhome, and condominium communities in western North Carolina. In addition to the usual collection and covenant enforcement issues, many older communities in the area have seriously dated and flawed restrictive covenants, bylaws, and architectural guidelines which require extensive revision to conform to existing North Carolina law. Often, communities were improperly created, and Ed specializes in resolving these problems. More contemporary issues include the impact of short-term and vacation rentals on planned communities and the post-Covid transformation to association business being conducted electronically (which holds significant advantages for communities with part-time or seasonal owners). North Carolina’s appellate courts and General Assembly constantly interpret and revise the statutes governing North Carolina’s planned communities, and Ed stay’s abreast of these developments and advises clients accordingly. Ed is always available to assist an association with its legal needs be it enforcing restrictive covenants, revising governing documents, or meeting with and counseling boards on crucial practices and procedures necessary for the effective and harmonious operation of planned communities in our mountain region.
When not working, Ed enjoys Asheville’s vibrant Americana music scene and fly-fishing nearby mountain streams for wild trout.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
• North Carolina Bar Association
• Buncombe Bar
• Community Association Institute Board of Directors, 2000 - 2004
• Community Association Institute Legislative Action Committee, 2006 – 2007
