New Attorneys in Three Carolina Offices

North Carolina & South Carolina-For the second time in three months NEXSEN PRUET JACOBS & POLLARD LLC, has added three Experienced attorneys to the NEXSEN PRUET Team. "Rarely do you acquire three solid attorneys from successful law firms," says Managing Partner William (Al) Pollard. "We are adding not only experience, but quality individuals to our team."

In the Charlotte, NC office, Richard (Rick) Marsh, an established Estate and Tax Planning lawyer joined NEXSEN PRUET as a Member. In fact, Business North Carolina Magazine, just selected Rick Marsh, a board certified expert in Estate Planning and Probate Law, as one of North Carolina's Elite Lawyers for 2003 in that practice area.

Marsh represents entrepreneurs and families with significant wealth or substantial businesses. He has considerable experience in the areas of tax-free real estate transactions, planning for tax-advantaged dispositions of family companies, and asset protection planning, and has been highly recognized by his peers.

Marsh graduated from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science. He received his Masters in Business Administration and his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Marsh received his LLM from Georgetown University. Finally, Mr. Marsh is also a CPA.

Marsh is admitted to the bar in all state and federal courts in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, as well as the bar of The U.S. Tax Court. He has chaired the American Bar Association Tax Section Committee on Sales and Exchanges; and has held responsible positions within the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mecklenburg County bars.

In the Greenville, SC office, Michael Pitts, joined Nexsen Pruet as Special Counsel. Pitts works on the Firm's Labor and Employment team and the Firm's Commercial Litigation team. Pitts also has experience in insurance defense and coverage and products liability. Prior to joining Nexsen Pruet, Pitts worked for the Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart law firm

A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Pitts graduated with distinction from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his Juris Doctor from The University of South Carolina Law School where Pitts was a member of the South Carolina Law Review and inducted into the Order of Wig and Robe. Pitts is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He is also a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Bar Association, Greenville County Bar Association, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association and the American Bar Association.

In the Hilton Head, SC office, Melissa Azallion has joined Nexsen Pruet as an Associate and is working on both the firm's Labor and Employment Team and the Immigration Team.

Prior to her employment with Nexsen Pruet, Azallion worked for Cooper & Gentile Co., LPA in Dayton, Ohio, where she practiced in the areas of labor and employment, business immigration, workers' compensation and school law. She has also worked as a human resources administrator and EEO Officer at the University of Dayton, where she was responsible for writing and directing the University's Affirmative Action Plan. Currently, she represents individuals and corporate clients in higher education, manufacturing, health care, government and technology sectors on immigration and labor and employment issues.

Azallion graduated magna cum Laude from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. Azallion is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She received her Juris Doctor from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.

Azallion is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, South Carolina Bar Association, The National Association of College and University Attorneys and The American Immigration Lawyer's Association.

NEXSEN PRUET is a 135-attorney general practice firm founded in 1945, with offices in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm provides a broad range of legal services to the business community and represents companies and other entities in local, state, national, and international venues. www.nexsenpruet.com