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Specialization Award Recipients

The awards were presented on March 14, 2008 at the Washington Duke Inn at the annual luncheon for certified specialists. The Board of Legal Specialization holds the luncheon, which recognizes new certified specialists along with the award winners, in celebration of the certification program and our specialists throughout the state.

The 2008 Howard L. Gum Service Award was presented to Jaye Meyer

Jaye is the Chair of the Family Law Specialty Committee. Jaye was nominated by her fellow committee members as a “selfless servant who has a smile on her face no matter how daunting or challenging the task!”

The 2008 James E. Cross Leadership Award was presented to Terri Gardner

Terri is a certified specialist in business bankruptcy law, practicing in Raleigh .

Her nomination drew attention to her leadership with the following points:

•  Active in bankruptcy law for 25 years

•  One of the initial authors of the NC Bankruptcy Practice Manual

•  Served on both the Bankruptcy Law Specialty Committee as well as the Board of Legal Specialization

•  Also serves on the Executive Committee of the American Board of Certification

•  Active in the American Bankruptcy Institute, including service on the Advisory Board and the Ethics Committee

•  Highly regarded speaker at state-wide and national seminars

•  Author of many articles and manuscripts on bankruptcy

•  Named to the Business North Carolina “Legal Elite” as well as the Hall of Fame

•  Recognized as one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in NC, and as a “Super Lawyer”

Her nominator sums up this impressive list with the following “Her substantial achievements and volunteerism are complemented by her welcoming of new practitioners and the encouragement she offers to other attorneys to seek specialization and otherwise develop their practice. Apart from any award, her cheery attitude, her concern for her clients, the professionalism she exhibits in her cases, and the care she takes in her practice place her among the legal elite in the bankruptcy field.”

The 2008 Sara H. Davis Excellence Award was presented to J. Kirk Osborn

His family received the award on his behalf. – Tania Osborn, wife; Michela and Jenna Osborn, daughters

As you know, nearly a year ago, Kirk died suddenly, leaving his wife and two teenage daughters. He was in the flower of his life and the height of his legal career. Kirk was a certified specialist in state and federal criminal law, as well as criminal appellate law, one of only 8 lawyers state-wide to achieve this distinction.

His nomination reminds us that Kirk stepped up to represent one of the Duke Lacrosse players during a time when they were the most unpopular defendants in America , having been branded as “hooligans”. Kirk spent his career defending the unpopular, the broke, the guilty and the damned. He was the first Public Defender in Orange and Chatham Counties , building a PD program that is now one of the flagship operations in our State.

His nominator reports the following “I have had the absolute privilege of working with Kirk as co-counsel in numerous cases, including two capital murder cases. Kirk succeeded because he outworked the State, was a gifted orator and advocate, and was incredibly smart. None of Kirk's clients whom he represented in Superior Court received the death penalty. Kirk was incredible.”