Marie Claire (“MC”) practices general litigation, which includes contract disputes, landlord/tenant issues, real property disputes, trust and estate litigation, business disputes, medical malpractice defense, and additional defense related work. She enjoys the variety and the chance to work with all Van Winkle’s litigation partners. MC started her career at a small criminal defense firm in Wilson, NC, which put her in the courtroom every day. She still seeks out the courtroom now as much as possible and you might see her at one of Western North Carolina’s courthouses. MC is licensed in North Carolina and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the Buncombe County Bar Association, and the Buncombe County Bar Pro Bono Committee. MC volunteers with Pisgah Legal Services’ Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyers program and is a part of Pisgah Legal’s Housing Fellows program.
Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Real Property Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Medical malpractice
- Landlord Tenant Disputes
Awards & Honors
- 2025 Best Lawyers in America – “One to Watch” in Litigation-Real Estate
Education
- American University Washington College of Law, J.D., Cum Laude, 2019.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 2019; Majors in English and Political Science.
- Hendersonville High School, Top 5% of Class, 2012.
Professional Affiliations
- Admitted to Practice in North Carolina;
- NC Bar Association;
- Buncombe County Bar Association.
Community Involvement
- Buncombe County Bar Pro Bono Committee Member
MC enjoys hiking with her husband and both of their families. She also enjoys running, yoga, and tennis. Although she is not musically talented herself, MC loves all types of music, from live concerts, to Spotify playlists, and collecting Vinyl Records. MC and her husband both graduated from UNC Chapel Hill, so of course they are huge Carolina Basketball fans. MC loves her home state and is so happy to be back home in the mountains.
