Johnston Allison Hord is excited to be working this summer with four talented summer associates, Matthew Ashley, Richard Beekman, Kolbe McQuaid, and Lucas Thornton. All four summer associates are rising 3Ls and will be assisting the firm for the duration of the summer. Please read below to learn more about Matt, Dick, Kolbe, and Lucas.
Matthew Ashley
Matt is a Charlotte native and rising 3L at the University of North Carolina School of Law. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Virginia. Matt served as a Judicial Intern for Judge Bell of the District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
Matt believes a career in law will be challenging with each day being filled with crafting solutions for unique problems. The areas of law that interest Matt the most are Energy and Corporate. He hopes to have a long career in private practice where he can develop meaningful relationships with clients and assist them in advancing success in their companies.
The favorite piece of advice Matt has received is to, “run your own race.” Everyone will do things at their own pace and level of achievement. It doesn’t matter if you get there faster or slower than they do. You must put in the time and effort, and eventually, you will get there. Pursuing a legal career can be grueling, and Matt credits being able to go home to his wife and daughter with making life a lot more fun.
Richard “Dick” Beekman
Dick grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is a rising 3L at the Wake Forest University School of Law. Before attending law school, he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in History and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he served as the Student Body President, and before college, he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps.
Interested in Corporate and Commercial Real Estate Law, Dick hopes to be known as an attorney that gives good, accurate, and honest advice to his clients. He was inspired to pursue a career in law through his experience of serving as Student Body President while an undergrad at UNC Charlotte. Helping people through negotiations, sound advice, and navigation of intimidating processes pushed him to pursue a field where he could provide those services to his clients.
Dick’s favorite piece of advice is, “The harder you work, the luckier you get.”
Kolbe McQuaid
Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Kolbe is a rising 3L at the University of North Carolina, where he is also on the Board of the UNC Law Review. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in business and minored in political science at Belmont Abbey College. While an undergraduate, Kolbe played on his university Tennis Team.
Kolbe credits his pursuit of a legal career to a professor and mentor at Belmont Abbey. His mentor was an ex-AUSA and steered him toward law school, where he found a passion for Tax and Real Estate law. No matter which field of law he enters, Kolbe aims to master his craft and help his clients.
Advice that has helped guide Kolbe is, “Prioritize your relationship with God, family, and friends in that order.”
Lucas Thornton
Lucas from Teachey, NC, is a rising 3L at the University of North Carolina School of Law. He also attended UNC Chapel Hill for college and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English.
As a teenager, Lucas was inspired to pursue a career as an attorney after witnessing a disagreeable estate dispute that greatly affected his family. He was also an avid fan of Law and Order leading his mother to joke that the show was his version of Saturday cartoons. Interested in several types of Litigation including Employment and Fiduciary disputes, Lucas plans to achieve a long and fulfilling legal career where he is stimulated professionally and intellectually.
Lucas credits his father with giving him his favorite piece of advice, “Don’t worry about things outside your control.”
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