Attorneys

Robert C. Ekstrand

Bob Ekstrand co-founded the Firm in 2002.  Prior to opening the Firm, Bob worked in the Raleigh office of Kilpatrick Stockton, LLP. 

Bob represents both civil litigants and criminal defendants in a broad spectrum of cases. While Bob is no stranger to high profile and high stakes litigation, he believes that some of his most successful representations have been those no one ever heard about, particularly where the Firm's early intervention prevented potentially controversial cases from arising at all.

Mr. Ekstrand received his J.D. from Duke Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of Law & Contemporary Problems and a member of the Moot Court Board. He earned his B.A. in Literature, summa cum laude, from the University of Maryland.  While at Maryland, Bob won the University’s Byrd-Elkins award for outstanding student leadership and the College of Arts & Humanities' Highest Academic Achievement Award for his Honors Thesis on Percy Shelley's Prometheus Unbound.

Mr. Ekstrand returned to Duke to teach Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure from 2005-2008.

Mr. Ekstrand is admitted to practice in North Carolina and Texas.

 

Samantha J. Ekstrand

Samantha Ekstrand co-founded the Firm in 2002.  Her principal areas of practice include research, preparation, and strategy for both criminal and civil litigation, simple wills and estate planning, and education law.

Ms. Ekstrand received her J.D. from Duke Law School, and received an M.A. in History from Duke University.  While at Duke, Samantha worked as a staff editor for the Duke Law Journal, and served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Duke University Women’s Lacrosse Team—a position she enjoyed for seven years.  Samantha also has several years of experience teaching at the high school level.
 
Samantha earned her B.A. in History and Government cum laude from Dartmouth College.  As a college lacrosse player, Samantha earned All Academic American Honors 

Ms. Ekstrand is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and North Carolina.

 

Stefanie A. Sparks

Stefanie joined the Firm in 2005 after graduating from Duke University with a B.A. in History and Political Science.  Now, Stefanie is a third-year student at Georgetown Law School, and continues to be a vital part of our work as a North Carolina Bar Certified Legal Intern. Stefanie prepares cases for court settings.  She interviews clients and witnesses, reviews, collects, and organizes evidence, and works closely with Mr. Ekstrand in trial preparation and developing the pre-trial and trial strategy.

While a student at Duke, Stefanie was a four-year varsity letter winner and two-time captain for the Women’s Lacrosse Team.  As a senior, she led her team to the program’s first ACC Championship and its second NCAA Final Four Appearance at Navy Stadium in Annapolis.  Twice she earned a spot on the All-ACC Honor Roll.  Stefanie served as a volunteer assistant coach for the two years following graduation, which included two more trips to the Final Four.  Duke established an annual award in her name, given each year to the Duke women’s lacrosse player who "best exemplifies the qualities of a great leader." 

Since her arrival at Georgetown Law, Ms. Sparks has served as an assistant coach for her former rival, the Hoyas' women's lacrosse team. Most recently, Ms. Sparks won an editorship on Georgetown's Journal of Legal Ethics, and published an excellent article on the ethical dimension of high-profile litigation.

 

Susanna L. Carls

Susanna Carls joined the Firm in the summer of 2009, after graduating from Duke University, earning a B.A. with a major in Art History and a minor in Sociology. Born and raised in the shadows of UCLA, Ms. Carls won a full scholarship to Duke to become a member of Duke's Varsity Volleyball Team. In her four years on the hardwood of Cameron Indoor Stadium, Ms. Carls led Duke to two ACC Championships, was a team Captain, and earned, among other honors, ESPN the Magazine's Academic-All America Honors.

 

Sara O. Couch

Sara Couch joined the Firm in the sumner of 2009, after graduating from Duke University, where she earned a B.A., majoring in Political Science, with minors in Economics and History. The daughter of two educators, Ms. Couch was born and raised in Kentucky. At Duke, Sara walked-on to the Duke Women's Crew Team, then earned a scholarship, four varsity letters, and was twice named to the All ACC Academic Team.