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RICHARD B. STONE

The firm was founded by Richard B. “Dick” Stone.   Dick grew up in the Swannanoa Valley and was one of the youngest officers to serve in World War II, where he saw action on the European front.  After the war Dick attended Wake Forest College and School of Law, and began practicing law in Black Mountain in 1950.  For most of his career Dick was in solo practice, engaged in the general practice of law.  Dick was the longest serving mayor of Black Mountain, serving 9 consecutive two year terms from 1957 until 1975; during that time Dick also served as the town’s attorney, without pay.  Dick served the town, his community and his profession with devotion and integrity during his career.  Dick died in 1998, and his presence is still felt.  His small town, common sense oriented approach to legal problems is admired and remembered by many clients, and his example of community service and care for his clients remains an ideal for the firm to this day.  

WILLIAM H. CHRISTY

Bill has an active residential and commercial real estate transaction practice, and is assisted in those matters primarily by Donna Farr, who has worked for Richard Stone and Stone & Christy, P.A. for over 25 years.  Bill is involved in all aspects of real estate transactions, from contract formation through closing.  Bill also is active in estate planning and estate administration issues.  Additionally Bill assists many small business in entity selection issues, contract issues, and the varieties of issues that a small business owner faces with legal implications.  Bill’s litigation practice is limited primarily to the litigation of real estate and estate administration matters.  Bill is also certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission to conduct Mediated Settlement Conferences in Superior Court Civil Actions, and is available to mediate Superior Court cases throughout Western North Carolina. 

Bill is a graduate of Warren Wilson College (1979) and UNC-Chapel Hill (MAT-English 1983), where he also was in the first class of Lyndhurst Fellows.  Bill graduated with honors in 1989 from North Carolina Central University School of Law, and then attended the University of Florida where he was awarded the LL.M. in Taxation in 1990. 

Bill is active in many community organizations and groups, serving on numerous Boards of Directors of various non-profit organizations, and holding various positions with those organizations, including providing pro bono legal services through the Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyers with Pisgah Legal Services.  Bill and his family attend and are active members of St. James Episcopal Church where Bill served as Treasurer from 1996 to 2005.  Bill has coached youth soccer and baseball, assisted with Boy Scouts, and is an avid hiker, backpacker,  mountain bike rider and fly fisherman.  Bill is married to Dr. Deirdre Schoen Christy, a Psychologist, and they have three children.        

BRYANT D. WEBSTER

Bryant concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate litigation, estate-based litigation, and collections.  He assists clients in the 25 western-most counties of North Carolina with resolving disputes regarding boundary lines, rights of way, deed contents, and other real property title issues.  Bryant also focuses on handling difficult estates for clients, where settling the decedent’s affairs has led to controversy or legal complications.  Bryant also assists clients in recovering money that is owed them due to failure of a customer or business associate to pay an accrued balance due. 

Bryant graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in English and Political Science.  Bryant is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  Bryant earned his law degree, with Honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law.   

Outside of work, Bryant serves on the Pisgah Legal Services Hotline, giving time monthly to assist indigent clients with telephone inquiries about critical legal issues.  He also serves on the Executive Board of the Daniel Boone Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and acts as their legal counsel.  Bryant is the Treasurer of Nichols-West Asheville Masonic Lodge.  He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Masonic and Eastern Star Home of North Carolina, Inc., located in Greensboro, NC.  Bryant and his family attend Biltmore Baptist Church in Arden.  Bryant is married to Janet Lee Baldwin Webster, and they have one child. 

JAMES M. ELLIS

James enjoys a general practice including civil litigation concerning construction, contract and real property issues, workers compensation, medical malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death,  estate planning and administration, landlord/tenant, guardianship and contract matters.  James also assists his clients in planning for future contingencies to prevent problems before they arise.  When that isn’t possible, James seeks an efficient resolution of disputes concerning a wide variety of issues. 

James relocated to the Black Mountain area to attend Warren Wilson College.  After graduation with honors in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Business Administration, James enjoyed a one year break from school while working in the area.  In the fall of 1993, James entered law school at the University of South Carolina.  Following graduation with honors from U.S.C., James began his legal career in Black Mountain in September of 1996 and joined Stone and Christy in October of 2001. 

Outside of work, James enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, mountain biking and motorcycle riding.  James married Karen Ellis in 1997 and together they have two children.  Staying involved with the community is a priority as well, volunteering with the Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyer Network and serving on the Pisgah Legal Services attorney hotline providing pro bono legal services to low income residents of Western North Carolina.  James has also chaired the Pro Bono Committee of the 28th Judicial District Bar since 2006.   

R. WALTON DAVIS

Walton practices in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, and tax controversies. He assists families and individuals identify and implement plans for the transfer of assets, during lifetime and at death, in ways that minimize taxes, costs and family conflict.  He assists executors and trustees with the effective and efficient administration of estates and trusts.  He also assists taxpayers in situations where the Internal Revenue Service or North Carolina Department of Revenue contends that the taxpayer owes more tax than is reported on a tax return. 

Walton received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in mathematics and his law degree from the University of Virginia.  He holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida Law School, and is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Before he became a lawyer, he was an actuary. 

In the community, he serves on the Boards of Directors for the Swannanoa Valley Montessori School and Youth At Jazz.  He also advises other local nonprofit organizations, including the Asheville Jazz Council and the Jazz Composers Forum.  He and his family attend St. James Episcopal Church in Black Mountain. He plays the trombone with local jazz and rhythm and blues groups. He is married to Dr. Maura Schoen Davis, an early childhood psychologist, and they have two children.

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