Managing Partner Terry Hutchens started the firm in 1980 with a staff of five. Over the course of nearly four decades, the practice has developed into the HIGH PERFORMANCE LAW™ firm it is today, employing more than 250 people with offices throughout Fayetteville and in Cameron, Charlotte, Southern Pines, and Wilmington, NC as well as in Columbia, SC.
Terry concentrates his practice on matters pertaining to default services and real estate including development, finance, liquidation, and litigation.
During his 40-year career as a licensed attorney, Terry has represented large residential construction companies, providing the legal know-how to enable his clients to acquire raw land, obtain zoning, negotiate required utilities and infrastructure from municipal and private providers, develop subdivisions, and build and sell homes. In addition, Terry has represented and advised commercial construction companies in the same matters, enabling his clients to build retail/office apartments and office buildings, shopping centers, industrial parks, and mixed-use properties. Terry has also provided the legal assistance necessary for his clients to build and manage apartment complexes in North and South Carolina, some built in cooperation with federal (Farm Home Administration and HUD) programs for specific populations (low-income, elderly, special needs) as well as apartment complexes for the general population.
A large part of Terry's practice has always been devoted to representing lenders, including banks, mortgage companies, credit unions, private corporations, the VA, HUD, GSEs and others in legal matters pertaining to real estate finance, the protection and preservation of real estate investments and the liquidation of real property securing mortgage loans. In his practice, Terry has provided nationwide legal services under an outsourced contract to what was at the time one of the largest mortgage servicer companies in the country. The firm continues to provide such legal representation to many of the major lenders and mortgage servicing companies in the country. Terry is a frequent author and lecturer on default servicing matters at mortgage seminars, at on-site training sessions, and Bar sponsored seminars.
For almost four decades, Terry has been trying cases across North Carolina in state and federal courts (including Bankruptcy Court) as well as handling appeals to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and North Carolina Supreme Court. Although a lot of his trials have been about business or real estate, Terry has tried cases as varied as age discrimination, fraud, unfair and deceptive trade practices, contracts, and shareholder disputes.
Awards and Recognitions:
Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Jim Martin, the highest civilian honor given by North Carolina
American Business Ethics Award presented by the Foundation for Financial Service Professionals (2011)
Elected to the Board of Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
Selected* to be on the North Carolina “Super Lawyers” List (2006-2011; 2013-present)
Selected* by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© - Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law (2010-present)
USFN – America’s Mortgage Banking Attorneys Member of the Year (2010)
Methodist University Reeves School of Business recipient "Silver Spoon Award" (2017)
Methodist University Reeves School of Business recipient "American Business Ethics Award" (2011)
Memberships and Affiliations:
American Bar Association (1976-present)
The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation (2011-present)
North Carolina State Bar (1977-present)
North Carolina Bar Association (1977-present)
North Carolina Creditors Bar Association | President (2015-2016) | Member (2014-present)
North Carolina Economic Development Board (1991-1993)
Wake Forest School of Law Board of Visitors (present)
USFN – America’s Mortgage Banking Attorneys (present)
Methodist University, Board of Trustees
Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce | former Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors | Member (present)
North Carolina University System Board of Governors (2019-present)
North Carolina Board of Transportation (1985-1991; 2014-2016)
North Carolina Economic Development Commission (2012-2014)
Cumberland County Bar Association | past President | Member (1977-present)
Peace University Board of Trustees (2004-2008)
