Lorion MacRae Vitale
LORI VITALE is the founding partner of Vitale Family Law in Raleigh, North Carolina which opened its doors in 2011. Prior to opening her own firm, she was a partner at the firm of Cheshire, Parker, Schneider, Bryan & Vitale, where she practiced family law for 15 years. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She had the honor of serving as President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2015), Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (2011-2012), and Chair of the Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Committee (2007-2012). A graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law, Lori has been recognized in the Best Lawyers in America since 2007, Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite since 2009, designated top Legal Elite for Family Law in 2014, and is now in the Hall of Fame. She has been named in North Carolina Super Lawyers; including the Top 50 Women Attorneys and Top 100 Attorneys from 2012 to the present. Vitale Family Law has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a top family law firm since 2013.
Certified Legal Specialties
- Specialist in the practice of Family Law, North Carolina State Bar Since2001
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, Since 1995
- U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina, Since 1995
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, Since 1996
Education
- Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- J.D. – 1995
- Randolph-Macon Woman’s College Lynchburg, Virginia
- B.A. – 1992
- Major: Philosophy and German
Classes/Seminars
Lori has been a course planner or speaker for the following:
- “Deal or No Deal? Attacking and Enforcing Agreements, Orders and Awards”, NCBA, September 2009
- “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart”, NCBA, Family Law Annual Conference, 2008 – Present
- “Death and Divorce in North Carolina”, NCBA, September 2006
- “Perils and Pitfalls in Alternative Dispute Resolution”, NCBA, September 2005
- “Family Law In Bush’s America”, Family Law Specialist Seminar July 2005
- “Hot Topics in Family Law: Evidentiary Issues in Child Custody” Cases, NCBA, September 2004
- “What About the Children?”, NCBA, September 2002
- “Ethical Considerations When Representing a Special Needs Client”, NCBA, 2011 – Present
- Ethics Discussion (The Uh-Oh Moments….Intensive Equitable Distribution Seminar), NCBA, November 2009 and February 2010
- Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Roundtable Discussion, 2005 – 2007
- “Recent Developments in Professional Responsibility”, Wake Forest University, October 2006
- “Broaching the Alternative Dispute Resolution Subject with Clients”, NCBA, September 2005
- “Interstate Child Support”, Wake Forest University, October 2001
- “Enforcing Your Order and Judgment Through Contempt and Proper Filing of Judgments”, NCATL, September 2001
- “Parol Evidence”, NCBA, May 2001
- “Legal Traps in Bankruptcy, Real Property and Domestic Violence”, NCBA, November 2000
- “Post Trial Practice”, Wake Forest University, October 2000
- “Child Support, Domestic Violence and Ex Parte Contact”, NCATL, January 1999
Honors and Awards
- Named as one of North Carolina’s Top 100 lawyers and Top 50 Women Lawyers in North Carolina Super Lawyer’s Magazine, 2012 to the Present
- North Carolina Super Lawyer, 2011 to the Present
- Rising Star and Outstanding Young Lawyer by North Carolina’s Super Lawyer publication
- Best Lawyers in America, 2007- Present
- Legal Elite by Business North Carolina, 2009 -2011
- President’s Award of Excellence from the Wake County Bar Association and Tenth Judicial District, 2009
Professional Associations, Memberships and Community Activity
- Artsplosure, Board of Directors, 2009 – Present
- Artsplosure, President, 2014-2016
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, , 2007 – Present
- President, NC Chapter of America Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2015
- Chair, Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, , 2011 – 2012
- Chair, Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Committee, , 2007 – Present
- Tenth Judicial District Fee Dispute Committee, Mediator, 2006 – Present
- Chair, Family Law Continuing Legal Education Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association, , 2007 – 2010
- Member, Family Law Council of the North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Section, , 2002 – 2004, 2006-2010
- Tenth Judicial District Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2006 – 2008
- Chair, North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Section’s Equitable Distribution Committee, , 2000 – 2004
- Member, American Bar Association
Past Employment Positions
- Cheshire, Parker, Schneider, Bryan & Vitale, Partner, 1996-2011
