“Always responsive and attentive. His knowledge of the law is amazing. When you need a lawyer and someone who will look out for you… Lynn will be there for you.”
Lynn Burleson practices exclusively in the field of family law. He was admitted to the practice of law in North Carolina after receiving his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Juris Doctor degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law. Before joining Tharrington Smith in 1999, Mr. Burleson served as a district court judge and was a partner in the law firm of Kilpatrick Stockton. He has served as an adjunct professor of law for the Wake Forest University School of Law and High Point University. Mr. Burleson is a frequent speaker at law schools and at continuing legal education programs and has presented manuscripts on a wide range of topics including absolute divorce, divorce from bed and board, alimony, child support, and more. Mr. Burleson is North Carolina State Bar Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is certified as an AAML matrimonial arbitrator. As one of the drafters of the North Carolina Family Law Arbitration Act, he serves as a family law arbitrator upon request. He is a Diplomate of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers.
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer
North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, 1991
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 1993 – present
AAML Certified Arbitrator, 1999- present
American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomate, 2008 – present
North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Section Distinguished Service Award, 1990
North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award, 2007
North Carolina Super Lawyers, since 2006, Top 100 List 2006, 2007, 2008
Business North Carolina Magazine Legal Elite Family Law Section, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Best Lawyers in America®, Family Law Section, since 1995
Raleigh Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” 2009
Wake Forest University School of Law
J.D., 1980
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
M.A. Public Administration, 1974
B.A. Political Science and Sociology, 1970
United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
North Carolina State Bar, Member, 1980
North Carolina Bar Association, Member, 1980
Family Law Section, Member, 1980
Board of Governors – Family Law Chair, 1991-1992
Uniform Laws Commission Family Law Arbitration Act Drafting Committee, Observer-Member, 2013 – present
Wake County Bar Association, Member, 1999 – present
10th Judicial District Bar, Member, 1999 – present
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 1993
North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, member, 1993
American College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomate, 2008
Forsyth County Bar Association, Member, 1980-1999
Twenty-First Judicial District Bar Member, 1980
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow; Past President of North Chapter; Counsel for the North Carolina Chapter; At-Large Manager of the State Chapter; Chair Emeritus of National Arbitration Committee; Racial Ethnic and Other Diversity Committee Member; Certified Matrimonial Arbitrator; Former North Carolina Chapter Delegate to National Board of Governors
American Bar Association – Family Law Section
Custody Mediation Rules Committee, Twenty-First Judicial District
Diplomate of American College of Family Trial Lawyers
Forsyth County Bar Association: President, Clinical Committee, Equitable Distribution Committee, Youth Leadership Luncheons/Mentor, Chambers Hearing Committee
Forsyth County Young Lawyers Association
Joint Committee of the North Carolina Association of District Court Judges and the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, Co- Chair (1995-97).
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers
North Carolina Bar Association: Board of Governors Executive Committee, Family Law Section member, Chair (1991-1992), Legislative Committee Chair, Alimony Legislative Subcommittee Member, North Carolina Family Law Arbitration Act Committee Chair, Curriculum Committee, Collaborative Law Committee
North Carolina Bar Association Foundation: Board of Directors
North Carolina Board of Law Examiners: Select Drafting Committee
North Carolina College of Advocacy
North Carolina Conference of Bar Presidents: Executive Committee
North Carolina District Attorneys Association
North Carolina State Bar
Tenth Judicial District Bar
Uniform Laws Commission Family Law Arbitration Act Drafting Committee Observer- Member
Wake County Bar Association
Wake County Collaborative Family Law Group- Charter Member
Former Assistant District Attorney, 21st Judicial District in Winston-Salem, NC, 1981-1984
Former District Court Judge, 21st Judicial District in Winston-Salem, NC, 1984-1987
Kilpatrick Stockton, 1987-1999 in Winston-Salem, NC
Wake Forest University School of Law, adjunct professor, 1982-1984
High Point University, adjunct professor, 1986-1987 and 1994-1999
“Family Law Arbitration”, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Kentucky Chapter and Louisville Bar Association 20th Annual Family Law Seminar, April 25-26, 2019.
Matrimonial Arbitration Handbook, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Co-Editor, 2018 Edition.
“There’s Money on the Table: Issues in High-End Family Law Cases- High Alimony and Child Support Awards,” Family Law Intensive Seminar, North Carolina Bar Foundation, October 29, 2015, February 4, 2016
“Family Law Arbitration,” Indiana State Bar Association Annual Meeting, French Lick, Indiana, October 8, 2015.
Course Planner, It’s a Small World After All, 2012 Family Law Section Annual Meeting, North Carolina Bar Foundation, May 4-5, 2012.
“Arbitration,” Deal or No Deal? Attacking/Enforcing Agreements, Orders and Awards, North Carolina Bar Foundation, September 25, 2009
“Family Law Arbitration: Third-Party ADR,” Campbell Law Symposium, Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Raleigh, North Carolina, February 22, 2008.
“Family Law Arbitration,” Family Law Issues, Wake County Bar Association, Raleigh, North Carolina, May 2, 2007.
Forsyth Court Volunteers, Inc.: Board of Directors
Knollwood Baptist Church: Board of Directors, Moderator, Trustee, Choir, Refugee Resettlement Committee, Constitution Committee Chair, Sunday School Teacher, Senior Pastor Selection Committee, Personnel Committee Chair, Usher, 1980-1998
Law Explorer Post 21: Post Advisor, 1982
Lawyers Finance Committee Co-Chair for Re-Election of Judge Biggs to District Court Bench in Forsyth County
Forsyth County Juvenile Justice Council: Executive Committee, Review and Comment Committee Chair
Forsyth County Co-Chair of Committee to Re-elect K. Edward Greene to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
Mental Health Association of Forsyth County: Board of Directors, President, 1984
Neighborhood Justice Center: Board of Directors, 1983
North Carolina State Special Olympics: Olympic Village Director, 1976
North Carolina Statewide Co-Chair of Committee to Elect Clarence P. Horton, Jr. to the North Carolina Court of Appeals
SAFEchild – Board of Directors, Personnel Committee Chair and Corporate Committee Co-Chair, 2007
610 Hillsborough Street Condominium Homeowners Association, Inc., Board of Directors, President, 2000
Steering Committee to Elect Judge William B. Reingold to North Carolina Superior Court
Steering Committee to Re-elect District Court Judge William B. Reingold
Steering Committee to Re-elect District Court Judge Margaret Sharpe
Steering Committee to Re-elect Judge Linda McGee to North Carolina Court of Appeals
Steering Committee to Re-elect District Court Judge Roland B. Hayes
StepUp Ministry: Life Skills Co-Partner, 2011-2012
Theater in the Park: Board of Directors- 1974
United Way Campaign Representative, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, 1994
Wake Forest University School of Law: Trial Court Judge, Judge in Regional Client Interview Competition
Winston-Salem Fair Housing Committee, 1983
Winston-Salem Human Relations Commission, 1983
Young Men’s Christian Association: Central Branch, Board of Directors, Youth Services Committee Chair and Executive Committee Member; Metropolitan YMCA of Greater Winston-Salem, Board of Director, 1991
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