Adams, Rayford K. (Trip), III
Mr. Adams’s primary practice areas are
bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and commercial disputes and workouts. He has more than thirty years of experience in all aspects of bankruptcy matters and has represented creditors, lessors, committees, debtors, guarantors and trustees in a broad range of matters.
Representative Experience
- Representation of creditors and debtors in bankruptcy cases and troubled loan workouts, including matters involving real estate developers, builders, commercial real estate lessors and tenants, manufacturing enterprises, retailers, religious organizations, and individuals
- Representation of creditors and debtors in bankruptcy litigation matters, including preference and fraudulent transfer defense, relief from stay, lease rejection, cash collateral, claim objections, section 363 bankruptcy sales, dischargeability, denial of discharge, chapter 11 plan confirmation, defense of involuntary bankruptcy petitions, constructive trust litigation, and related bankruptcy matters
- Representation of clients in bankruptcy appeals in the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States
- Representation of buyers and sellers in asset and stock purchases of businesses
- Representation of commercial lessors and tenants in lease negotiations
- Representation of parties in commercial litigation involving breach of contract and business torts
- Selected as the receiver in state court receiverships
- Former Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Winston-Salem Division
Education
- Davidson College, B.S., 1972
- Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., 1979
Admissions
- North Carolina State Bar
- United States District Courts for the Middle, Western and Eastern Districts of North Carolina
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Supreme Court of the United States
Teaching Experience
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Elon University School of Law (2008 – present) – teaches bankruptcy course; Preceptor to first year students; Guest lecturer in contracts class
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Wake Forest University School of Law (Fall 1998) – taught debtor – creditor law course; Guest lecturer in bankruptcy courses
- Frequent speaker at seminars, including those sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Foundation, Middle District Bankruptcy Seminar, Inc., National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, National Business Institute, Lorman Education Services, Sterling Education Services, Inc., North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, Community Bankers Association of North Carolina, and the Greensboro Bar Association
Specialization, Awards & Distinctions
- Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law, North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization (since 1987)
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine for bankruptcy law
- Named in Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite for bankruptcy law
Affiliations
- North Carolina Bar Board of Legal Specialization Bankruptcy Specialization Committee, Chair 1995-1998; Member 1991-1998
- North Carolina Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section, Council Member, 1988-1991; Treasurer, 2002-2004
- American Bar Association
- Greensboro Bar Association
- American Bankruptcy Institute
- Turnaround Management Association
- National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees
- Middle District Bankruptcy Seminar, Inc., Officer and Director, 1994-2010
Community Activities
- First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC
- Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network, Inc.
- Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro
- Sea Island Habitat for Humanity (Johns Island, SC)
- The Caring Program for Children, Inc., President and Chair, 1995-1997; Director, 1991-1997
- Human Rights Committee of the Murdoch Center