Jones Byrd has broad experience providing counsel and representing individuals, land owners and businesses in civil litigation, specifically in matters relating to eminent domain, a topic about which he is often asked to lecture and write. As a certified mediator, he is equally skilled resolving disputes prior to trial as he is building vigorous cases before administrative agencies, trial and appellant courts as well as district courts, court of appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. Byrd’s efforts have assisted victims of product defects, medical malpractice, personal injury, clergy abuse and other matters to recover multi-million dollar awards that often exceed negotiated settlements from manufacturers, developers, government agencies and utilities. In addition, he has successfully represented an international company defending eminent domain against county government seeking to condemn land for landfill.
Prior to joining The Van Winkle Law Firm in 1995, Byrd was a principal with a neighboring Asheville, N.C., law firm.
Awards and Honors
• AV Peer-Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyer of the Year – Personal Injury Plaintiff, 2012
• Best Lawyers in America
• North Carolina Super Lawyers
• Published Appellant Opinions in DOT v. Blevins, 363 N.C. 649, 686 S.E.2d 134 (2009), DOT v. Haywood Oil, 195 N.C. App. 668; 673 S.E.2d 712 (2009), and Intermount v. PSNC, 150 N.C. App. 539, 563 S.E.2d 626 (2002)
Publications
• Trial Briefs
- “Condemnor Payment of Judgment Interest until Satisfaction,” by Jones P. Byrd, Sr. and Matthew W. Kitchens, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Trial Briefs, December 2011
- “Evidentiary Issues in Land Condemnation Cases,” by Jones P. Byrd, Sr., North Carolina Advocates for Justice Trial Briefs, June 2003
• Published Appellant Opinions
- DOT v. Blevins, 363 N.C. 649, 686 S.E.2d 134 (2009)
- DOT v. Haywood Oil, 195 N.C. App. 668; 673 S.E.2d 712 (2009)
- Intermount v. PSNC, 150 N.C. App. 539, 563 S.E.2d 626 (2002)
Community Involvement
• All Souls Cathedral, Former Member, Endowment Committee
• Blue Ridge Bicycle Club
• Buncombe County Board of Elections, Former Chairperson
• Leadership Asheville
• League of American Bicyclists
• Pisgah Legal Services
• Wake Forest University School of Law
• YMCA of Buncombe County, Former Chairperson, Central Services Board of Directors
Professional Affiliations
• 28th Judicial District Bar
• American Association for Justice
• American Bar Association
• Harry C. Martin American Inns of Court
• North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Legislative Chairperson and Former Chairperson of Eminent Domain Section
• North Carolina Bar Association, Member, Litigation Section Council Member and Former Co-Chairperson of the Legislative Committee
• North Carolina State Bar
