Business Details
18 Years
experience
Award-Winning Legal Representation in North Carolina
Founded in 2008, the Cotton Law Firm has established itself as a trusted legal advocate across North Carolina. Our boutique firm combines the precision of large-firm expertise with a family-oriented approach, prioritizing inclusion, respect, and personalized attention. With offices in Fayetteville, Lumberton, Durham, and Rocky Mount, we serve clients statewide in criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning matters. Our team includes former insurance industry professionals who leverage insider knowledge to maximize client outcomes.Recognized through awards like the Fayetteville Observer's Best Attorney and Top 40 Under 40 honors, we maintain a strong commitment to community service and pro-bono work. Our proven track record includes multi-million dollar settlements while maintaining accessible, affordable representation through electronic document systems and flexible payment options.
Services
Criminal Defense
Traffic Violations
Personal Injury
Estate Planning
Wrongful Death
Auto Accidents
Negligent Security
Details
- Year established: 2008
Highlights and features
- We offer 15+ years of legal experience with former insurance industry professionals on staff
- Our team has secured over $2.2 million in client settlements
- We maintain a 4.9+ star rating from verified client reviews
- We provide 24/7 text notifications for court dates and case updates
- Our firm offers flexible payment options including online payments and free initial consultations
What people say
Award-winning attorney team
Millions awarded in settlements
Personalized attention
Free consultations
Proven track record
Services
Personal Injury
We represent clients injured through others' negligence in North Carolina. Our team handles auto accidents, slip-and-falls, and wrongful death cases with proven success securing multi-million dollar settlements. We work on contingency, only charging fees when we win your case. Our process includes free consultations, evidence collection, insurance negotiations, and aggressive courtroom representation when needed.
Criminal Defense
We defend clients facing criminal charges across North Carolina. Our experienced attorneys handle DUIs, drug offenses, assault cases, and more. We leverage insider knowledge from former insurance and legal aid experience to challenge evidence and negotiate reduced charges. Our approach combines aggressive litigation with personalized strategy sessions to protect clients' rights throughout the legal process.
Estate Planning
We help clients create comprehensive estate plans including wills, living trusts, and power of attorney documents. Our attorneys guide clients through asset protection strategies while ensuring compliance with North Carolina requirements. We offer document preparation, trust funding assistance, and succession planning to protect clients' legacies and family interests.
Traffic Violations
We defend clients against traffic citations including speeding, reckless driving, and license violations. Our team challenges points accumulation that affects insurance rates and driving privileges. We handle both minor infractions and serious offenses, leveraging former claims adjuster experience to negotiate reduced penalties and maintain clean driving records for our clients.
Wrongful Death
We represent families in wrongful death cases resulting from negligence or misconduct. Our attorneys handle claims for medical expenses, lost income, and emotional damages while navigating North Carolina's contributory negligence laws. We work to recover compensation for funeral costs, pain and suffering, and future financial support the deceased would have provided.
People
Nichole M. Cotton
Founder & Attorney
Nichole Cotton founded the firm after working in insurance and legal aid. She specializes in criminal traffic disputes and personal injury cases, securing millions in client settlements. A former claims adjuster, she brings unique insight to insurance negotiations. She holds a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law and a Master's in Business Management.
Milton Barba
Attorney Of Counsel
Milton transitioned to law after a construction career, focusing on criminal traffic defense. A first-generation Ecuadorian attorney, he leverages cross-cultural understanding in client representation. He graduated from law school after career changes driven by community service motivations, bringing practical insights to legal challenges.
Katie A. Lawson
Estate Planning Attorney
Katie specializes in estate planning with advanced taxation expertise from University of Washington studies. She combines financial knowledge with personalized legal strategies for wills and trusts. Her background in banking informs comprehensive asset protection approaches that distinguish our estate planning services from local competitors.
Questions
What areas of law does Cotton Law Firm specialize in?
We specialize in criminal defense, personal injury, estate planning, and traffic violation cases across North Carolina.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes, we provide free 30-minute consultations for all case types at our Fayetteville, Lumberton, Durham, and Rocky Mount offices.
How are attorney fees structured?
We work on contingency for personal injury cases and offer flexible payment options for other services. No fees unless we win your case.
What makes your firm different from others?
Our team includes former insurance professionals who understand both sides of claims, giving us unique negotiation advantages for client outcomes.
Do you serve clients statewide?
We represent clients in all 100 North Carolina counties, with particular focus on Cumberland, Robeson, Harnett, and surrounding areas.
How do you handle case communications?
We provide 24/7 text notifications, electronic document access, and regular case updates through our client portal system.
