FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREENSBORO, N.C. — CR Legal Team, LLP, a personal injury law firm serving clients across North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, announced that seven of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Among them, Attorney Russell A. Brinson was named the Best Lawyers® 2027 Business Organizations “Lawyer of the Year” in Charlotte.
Best Lawyers® is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Recognition is based on the Purely Peer Review® methodology, which draws on confidential evaluations from other attorneys rather than paid submissions or marketing influence. Only a small percentage of practicing lawyers nationwide are included each year, and “Lawyer of the Year” honors are awarded to a single attorney per practice area, per metropolitan region.
“We Stand Up For You® isn’t just our Brand Promise, it’s the standard our attorneys hold themselves to every day,” said CR Legal Team Chief Marketing Officer, Lauren Watson Roberts. “This recognition from Best Lawyers® reflects the trust our attorneys have earned from their peers across the legal profession- it also demonstrates the Whole-Person Legal Care™ we’re committed to delivering for every client we serve.”
2027 “Lawyer of the Year”
Russell A. Brinson (Charlotte, N.C.), attorney at CR Legal Team, was named the Best Lawyers® 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” in Charlotte. A North Carolina native with small-town roots in Kenansville, Brinson has spent the last 15 years focused on helping injured people throughout the state, bringing insight gained from his earlier work representing businesses, including insurance companies, to anticipate the defenses his clients now face. He earned his business administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his J.D. from the Wake Forest University School of Law.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2027
Michael T. Brown, Jr. (Greensboro, N.C.) was recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants. Brown, CR Legal Team’s Managing Partner, joined the firm in 2003 after earning degrees in political science and history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his J.D. from Campbell University School of Law. He is also a North Carolina State Bar Board-Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation.
Peter H. Burke (Birmingham, Ala.) was recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Insurance Law, Litigation – ERISA, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs, and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. The Birmingham-based Partner focuses his practice on consumer class actions, multi-district tort litigation, ERISA long-term disability, and personal injury, and has been listed in Super Lawyers since 2011.
Russell A. Brinson (Charlotte, N.C.) was recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Litigation – Construction, in addition to his “Lawyer of the Year” honor noted above.
Kathleen Quinn DuBois (Greensboro, N.C.) was recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants. DuBois is a Senior Partner Attorney who leads CR Legal Team’s Administrative Law Division, overseeing Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability matters. She is also a Board-Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation.
Karonnie R. Truzy (Greensboro, N.C.) was recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. Truzy, a Partner at CR Legal Team, focuses his practice on traumatic injury litigation involving automobile and commercial motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, nursing home liability, and wrongful death. He has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 attorney and is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. He is also a Board-Certified Trucking Attorney.
Hardison Wood (Greensboro, N.C.) was recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. Wood, who has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2014, focuses on catastrophic injury litigation and has published widely on products liability and motor vehicle defect law. He earned his J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2027
James M. Trotter (Greensboro, N.C.) was recognized in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. Trotter joined CR Legal Team in June 2024 after practicing as a plaintiff’s attorney in California, where he was part of trial teams that secured multiple large verdicts, including a $23.7 million bench trial verdict for a Southern California motorcyclist. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School.
ABOUT CR LEGAL TEAM
Formerly Crumley Roberts, CR Legal Team is a 37-year-old injury law firm with offices, partnerships, and affiliations throughout the United States. Led by Majority Partner and Chief Executive Officer Chris Roberts, along with a Team of Executive Vice Presidents and other personal injury attorneys, the law firm remains committed to STANDING UP for its clients, for its communities, and for its own Team Members through legal practice groups and through community and employee programs offered by The Roberts Center for Leadership, Education, Advancement and Development. Please visit CRLegalTeam.com for more information regarding the law firm, its legal practice areas and its community programs as well as for Media Inquiries.
