John W. Narron, Esq.
Areas of Practice:
- Corporate & Business Law
- Estate Planning, Administration & Wills
- Family Law
- Mediation & Arbitration
- Personal Injury & Professional Negligence
Biography:
John Narron has been practicing law in North Carolina since 1977 and has been a partner with Smith Debnam since 1987. John’s practice consists of litigation, arbitration, mediation and business transactions. For 30 years, John has provided advice and litigation services to clients in central and eastern North Carolina in all manner of civil disputes frequently involving equitable distribution proceedings, alimony trials, will caveats, employment disputes, personal injury trials and negotiations, and a wide variety of commercial business disputes. He has also represented various businesses providing advice on real estate issues, employment issues and merger issues.
Since the early 1990′s, John has frequently served as a mediator and as arbitrator to assist clients and their attorneys in resolving their disputes without the need for trial. He has served as mediator in more than 200 family law disputes in Wake County, Franklin County, Johnston County, Wayne County, Guilford County, Forsyth County, and Pender County.
John has served as lead counsel in more than 20 jury trials since 1985. For example, in January 2005, John and fellow Smith Debnam attorney Thurston Debnam participated in a week-long jury trial in which a verdict of over $2,900,000.00 was rendered in favor of their client in a land condemnation case in Wake County. He has also served as lead counsel for other clients who received favorable jury verdicts.
Smith Debnam, often with John as lead counsel, handles numerous appeals before the appellate courts in North Carolina. John is frequently involved in brief writing and in occasional oral argument before these appellate tribunals.
In 1989, John was a member of the first group of 31 lawyers in North Carolina to be recognized as a Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar. He was also selected as a Leader in the Law through North Carolina Lawyers Weekly created to spotlight those within the legal community who are working to better the legal profession through mentoring and involvement within their community as well as going above and beyond in their everyday job.
John continues to dedicate his time to expand his knowledge and educate others on Family Lawissues, as he is a frequent speaker at Family Law seminars. He is head of the firm’s Litigation practice and serves as a managing member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Admissions
North Carolina State Bar
Mississippi State Bar
Education
J.D., University of Mississippi, 1977
B.A., East Carolina University, 1974
Certifications
Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, 1989; Renewed by peer review in 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010
Advanced Divorce Mediation Training, Atlanta Divorce Mediators, Inc., Faulkner University, Jones School of Law, Montgomery, Alabama, October 2004
Listed among North Carolina Super Lawyers 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010
Listed among Best Lawyers in America 2008, 2009, and 2010
Professional Affiliations
North Carolina Bar Association; Chairman, Family Law Council, 2006-2007; Vice-Chairman, Family Law Council, 2005-2006; Family Law Council Member, 2002-2005; Legislative Affairs Committee,2002-2004
NC Advocates for Justice
Tenth Judicial District Bar; Grievance Committee, 1996-1999
Wake County Bar Association; Family Court Advisory Committee, 2007-2010
Family Court Advisory Committee, 2009-2011
Primerus International Society of Law Firms, Family Law Practice Group
Listed among North Carolina Super Lawyers® for Family Law 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
Listed among Best Lawyers in America 2008, 2009. 2010, 2011, 2012
Civic Involvement
Planning board of the Town of Wendell; Chairman, 1978
Wendell Lions Club; President, 1982-1983
SouthLight, Inc.; Chairman of the Board of Directors, 1997-1998
Board of Adjustment, Town of Wendell; Chairman, 2009, 2010
Wake County Historical Preservation Commission; Board Member, 2009-2011
Capital Area Preservation Commission, Board Member, 2008-2010
Representative Cases
Arbitrations (Served as Arbitrator)
02 CVD 15522, Wake County
02 CVD 15569, Wake County
03 CVD 1944, Wake County
03 CVD 3257, Wake County
02 CVD 11075, Wake County
01 CVD 2006, Johnston County
02 CVD 850, Wilson County
96 CVD 4073, Wake County
95 CVD 2789, Wake County
01 CVD 01643, Wake County
08 CVD 7288, Wake County
08 CVD 10705, Wake County
09 CVD 00734, Wake County
Representative Jury Trials
Wake Technical College vs. Slaughter, 02CVS 14518, Wake County
Bogan v. Siebel, 94 CVS 334, Wake County
Perry v. Biggie, 91 CVS 6511, Wake County
Butz v. Holder, 91 CVS 867, Harnett County
Jeffries v. Plummer, 96 CVS 012315, Wake County
Stroud v. Boyd, 00 CVS 01307, Johnston County
Segarra v. Clark, 99 CVS 8065, Mecklenburg County
Appellate cases (served as lead counsel)
Brandt v. Brandt, 325 N.C. 429 (1989)
Caldwell v. Murray Bakery Products, Inc., 101 N.C. App. 242 (1990)
Shear v. Stevens Building Company, 107 N.C. App. 154 (1992)
Butz v. Holder, 113 N.C. App. 156 (1993)
In Re: Foreclosure of Land, 123, N.C. App. 133 (1996)
Williams v. Walnut Creek, 121 N.C. App. 649 (1996)
Johnson v. Pearce, 148 N.C. App. 199 (2001)
Raybon v. Kidd, 147 N.C. App. 509 (2001)
Stell v. Stell, 150 N.C. App. 718 (2002)
Dail v. Steckler, 157 N.C. App. 364 (2003)
Franck v. P’ng, 156 N.C. App. 691 (2003)
Semon v. Semon, 161 N.C. App. 137 (2003)
In the Matter of the Will of John A. Jones, Jr., 655 S.E.2d 407 (2008)
Published Articles
What is a Will Caveat and How Can it be Avoided?, Legal Insights, November 2006
Beware of Interference With A Marriage Under North Carolina Law, Legal Insights, May 2007
Attorney News & Announcements
Four Smith Debnam Attorneys Selected as 2012 North Carolina Super Lawyers®
Practicing: Family Law
