In 1955, Terry Sanford, Don McCoy, Stacy Weaver, Jr., and J. Dickson Phillips formed the firm that would become McCoy Wiggins. In 1960, Terry Sanford began his storied political career by being elected governor of North Carolina with the help of two of the firm’s young associates, Richard Wiggins and Al Cleveland. Richard and Al are now the firm’s senior partners. J. Dickson Phillips, meanwhile, began teaching at the University of North Carolina School of Law and was eventually made dean of the school. In 1978, he was confirmed as a judge on the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
In ensuing years the firm represented clients like Mid-South Insurance Company, North Carolina Natural Gas, Cape Fear Bank and Trust Company, and United Carolina Bank. The opposing counsel in one Mid-South Insurance case was a classmate of author John Grisham, and that case went on to be the inspiration for the novel and movie The Rainmaker. In the movie, actor Jon Voight portrayed the character based on Richard Wiggins.
We’ve been there as North Carolina has changed. North Carolina Natural Gas was one of the last publicly traded companies to be based in the firm’s hometown of Fayetteville, and the firm represented NCNG in several bond transactions in excess of thirty-million dollars. The firm also represented NCNG in its sale to Carolina Power and Light. In 1997, the firm represented the Rockefeller family in the sale of the 10,500 acre Overhills estate, formerly a resort frequented by that family’s friends, to the United States Army.
Throughout our history we’ve never forgotten our commitment to pursuing individual justice. We have been – and continue to be – proud to represent individuals who have been injured or wronged by the actions of others, individuals and families whose property is being taken by a government entity, and those seeking to safely and legally become Americans.
Today the firm’s attorneys represent and advise clients like BB&T, Methodist University, and large charitable foundations with the benefit of those years of experience. We are proud of what we’ve accomplished in the past, but even more excited about our clients’ future. We invite you to get in touch.
