New South Law Firm
Legal services that meet our clients' needs where they are when they need them.
We provide advice, counsel, and representation to businesses with general business concerns, including employment matters, and individuals seeking employment advice.
business and employment, North Carolina
Practice Areas
At New South Law Firm, we provide the following legal services.
Employment Law
We recognize and value the importance of fair and lawful employment practices for the mutual success of employees and employers. Whether you are an employer seeking to establish compliant policies or managing a difficult situation, or an employee facing workplace challenges, our experienced team is dedicated to providing effective legal solutions to meet your specific needs.
Business Law
We understand the unique challenges faced by small businesses and are committed to delivering cost-effective, practical legal solutions. Whether you're starting a new venture or looking to strengthen your existing business, our experienced team is here to provide the legal guidance and support your business needs for long-term success.
business and employment Legal Team
Meet the team
Woman-owed, collectively our team has over a century of experience effectively representing clients across the south and beyond. Our partners have each been practicing more than 30 years each and this experience which allows us to provide our expertise to your clients in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Heather A. Benjamin
Partner
Heather provides small businesses with a full range of legal support, including transactional matters, intellectual property, contract negotiations, and employment law. Heather’s forte is helping small businesses establish themselves in North Carolina. Heather began her legal career as in-house counsel to a multinational corporation, focusing on federal regulatory compliance, biotechnology licensing, and representing her client through multiple mergers. As part of a merger, she moved to North Carolina in 2000. In 2002, Heather established her own practice in Carrboro, where she concentrates on advising small businesses in the growth stage on all manner of legal issues. Heather is licensed to practice law in the states of North Carolina, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. She was the 2018 President of the Orange County Bar Association and is currently a member of the Business Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. She is active in her church, the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, and has served as a Blue Ribbon Mentor Advocate with Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and a North Carolina Guardian ad Litem and conflict attorney since 2015. Heather has volunteered with Legal Aid of NC on multiple cases, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, and actively supports an Afghan family who has resettled in her community.
Valerie L. Bateman
Partner
Valerie, a veteran attorney with more than 30 years of public service to the State of North Carolina representing multiple agencies and universities, focuses her legal practice on matters related to employment law. While working on employment law matters, Valerie seeks to build teams and optimize results at the intersection of management, human resources, and the law. From 1987 to 2013, Valerie worked at the North Carolina’s Department of Justice, spending nearly 10 years as an assistant attorney general, followed by a 16-year stint as a special deputy attorney general. In 2013, Ms. Bateman joined the North Carolina Office of State Human Resources as general counsel, where she helped to significantly revise the appeals process for State employees. From 2015, she served as assistant general counsel to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Valerie Bateman earned her bachelor of arts in political science and economics (1983) and juris doctor (1986) degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Valerie is involved in her church, Chapel of the Cross Episcopal Church in Chapel Hill, and currently volunteers as a Guardian ad Litem and on the Kappa Alpha Theta (Beta Rho-Duke) Facility Corporation Board. She has also volunteered in the past as a Girl Scout volunteer (20+years), a Red Cross volunteer, a Blue Ribbon Mentor, a Master Gardener, in her children’s schools, and for the Town of Chapel Hill, on the Inclusionary Zoning Task Force, the Personnel Appeals Board, and the Board of Adjustment.
June K. Allison
Partner
June Allison advises and represents individuals and businesses in a wide range of matters, with emphasis on contract drafting, shareholder disputes, and litigation. June helps business clients develop strong practices to avoid litigation, and also represents them in conflict resolutions and controversies. June started her legal career as an equity member and attorney at Wishart, Norris, Henninger & Pittman P.A. in Burlington NC later transferring to Wishart’s Charlotte office. She became a partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP, in 2015 where she assisted businesses with a variety of commercial matters, contract drafting and review, and commercial litigation. June practiced with The Forrest Firm in its Charlotte Office from 2019-2021. In 2022 she joined Valerie and Heather in forming New South Law Firm. June is licensed to practice law in the state of North Carolina, where she is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association. June received her B.A. from UNC-CH (Phi Beta Kappa) as well as her law degree (J.D.) (Order of the Coif) and M.B.A.
Kathryn Jagoda
Attorney
Kathryn is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Campbell Law School. She began her legal career working for the North Carolina Department of Transportation focusing on environmental litigation and administrative hearings. At New South Law Firm, Kathryn assists a variety of clients, both large and small, with business needs, including complex contract negotiation, employment issues, and corporate document compliance. Kathryn has been an active volunteer with Legal Aid of North Carolina and is currently on the boards of her neighborhood HOA and the PTA at Seawell Elementary School in Chapel Hill. When she has spare time, Kathryn enjoys bike touring and a really good cup of coffee.
Get in touch
Potential new client form
Let's Connect