Of Counsel Reid Acree

Rhine Law Firm, P.C. Brings in “Of Counsel” Attorney M. Reid Acree, Jr.

WILMINGTON, North Carolina—Rhine Law Firm, P.C., is proud to announce that M. Reid Acree, Jr., a board-certified specialist in workers’ compensation law and an NC-certified mediator, has joined the firm. Mr. Acree will be serving “of counsel,” bringing over 29 years of experience handling workers’ compensation, Social Security disability, employment matters, personal injury, and asbestos-related disease claims. His practice takes him all over North Carolina and even into South Carolina.

Very few lawyers in the United States are allowed to designate themselves workers’ compensation law specialists. Only 3.7% of attorneys—less than 150—in NC are board-certified by the North Carolina State Bar, and Mr. Acree is one of them. In his state-wide plaintiff’s practice, Mr. Acree has focused on asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers, as well as SSD claims. After graduating Wake Forest University’s law school in 1986, Mr. Acree moved to Atlanta to begin his practice. At the time, Mr. Acree represented insurance companies and corporations in workers’ compensation and employment law claims. After moving back to North Carolina, his career took a “sharp turn” during a total disability claim by an injured worker, who suffered from a debilitating condition. Mr. Acree negotiated the workers’ comp settlement down from $165,000 to $55,000 at the insurance carrier’s behest, but on the way to mediation, he met the worker and his son. The worker prompted his son to be courteous to Mr. Acree, even though they would soon be adversaries. That encounter changed Mr. Acree’s life.

“I felt that I needed to make a real difference in people’s lives, and I made a commitment to protect the rights of those who have not always gotten a ‘fair shake’ in life, and to stop working for insurance companies.”

In 1999, Mr. Acree moved across the state to Salisbury, North Carolina, and began working for the workers, representing hundreds of Carolina maintenance, mill, and factory laborers in asbestos-disease claims such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and other cancers. However, his practice spanned all of North Carolina and South Carolina. In 2003, he founded his own firm to continue protecting victims. Today, M. Reid Acree, Jr., only represents injured workers and their families. This fits perfectly with the philosophy of Rhine Law Firm, P.C. A top personal-injury firm based in Wilmington, North Carolina, Rhine Law Firm, P.C., has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for deserving victims. With Mr. Acree on the team, Rhine Law Firm, P.C., looks forward to bringing justice to people who have been injured while simply doing their job.

In addition to his law practice, M. Reid Acree, Jr., has been certified as a mediator by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission and mediates for other lawyers in the areas of workers’ compensation and civil litigation. He is a past member of the NCBA Workers’ Compensation Section Council and the NCBA Education Law Section Council. He currently serves on the State Bar Board for the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) and regularly speaks at CLE seminars regarding workers’ compensation matters. He is rated AV Preeminent® by his legal peers on Martindale-Hubbell®.

Mr. Acree has been practicing law since 1989, and received an economics degree before going for his JD. He is licensed to practice in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia (inactive) and before the United States Supreme Court. When not at work, Mr. Acree volunteers his time on local boards such as the Rowan County Red Cross, the Community Care Clinic, Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary, and Salisbury Academy, or spends time riding his bicycle. He and his wife proudly support several animal rescue organizations.

We invite you to contact Rhine Law Firm, P.C., at (910) 772-9960 for a free initial consultation with one of our experienced North Carolina civil litigation attorneys regarding your legal needs.

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