Edward L. Bleynat, Jr.
Edward L. Bleynat, Jr. has been a lawyer for more than 30 years. He began his legal career as Clerk to the Honorable James G. Exum, Jr., then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. He is a founding member of the Ferikes Bleynat & Cannon firm.
Ed is an AV Preeminent Peer Rated Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell, is continuously selected to multiple practice sections in Best Lawyers in America and North Carolina Super Lawyers, and is included in the 2024 Commercial and Consumer Litigation Power List by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. He is a Master of the Bench in the Harry C. Martin Chapter of the American Inns of Court, where he has served as President. Ed is licensed in North Carolina and Tennessee.
Ed grew up and raised his family here in Asheville. He is the author of two volumes on the Synoptic Gospels and is actively involved in church, civic, and community activities as director, trustee, or volunteer. He and his wife Anne are new grandparents with a renewed appreciation for non-stop air travel.
Practice Focus
- Business Litigation
- Civil Litigation
- Major Personal Injury
- Real Estate Litigation
- Construction Matters
- Contract Law
- Consumer protection litigation (particularly involving financial institutions)
Clerkships
- Law Clerk to Hon. James G. Exum Jr., Chief Justice, Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1989–1991
Honors
- Harry C. Martin Chapter of the American Inns of Court
- Master of the Bench
- Past President
- Super Lawyers North Carolina, since 2019
- Best Lawyers in America, since 2020
- Litigation – Real Estate Section (since 2020)
- Litigation – Land Use and Zoning Section (since 2020)
- Commercial Litigation (since 2021)
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
- The MAVL Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award (1998)
- Commercial and Consumer Litigation Power List, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, 2024
Professional Associations
- North Carolina Bar Association
- 28th Judicial District Bar
- Harry C. Martin Chapter of the American Inns of Court
President; 2018-2019
Immediate Past President, 2019-2020
Education
- J.D., with honors, University of North Carolina, 1989
- B.S., magna cum laude, Clemson University, 1986
Bar Admissions
- North Carolina, 1989
- Tennessee, 1991
Professional Dedication
- Lawyer Representative and Captain, Sawbones v. Jawbones, Doctor-Lawyer basketball fundraiser for Western Carolina Medical Society and Pisgah Legal Services
Community Engagement
- Member, National Moot Court Competition and Holderness Moot Court Bench, 1988–1989
- Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyer serving clients through Pisgah Legal Services since 1995
- Past President, Board Chair, and Board Member, Lake Logan Episcopal Center
- Past Chair and Board member of the Trustees of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
- Past Chair of the Discernment Committee, Trinity Episcopal Church, Asheville
- Past Senior Warden, Vestry member, and Capital Campaign member Trinity Episcopal Church, Asheville
- Past member, Bishop Search Committee, Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina
- Past Board Member and Secretary, Carolina Day School, Asheville
- Past Middle School Basketball Coach, Carolina Day School, Asheville
- Past YMCA Basketball Coach
- Asheville City League Basketball and Volleyball
- Rotary Club of Asheville, Member
Representative Cases
- Price and Price Mechanical of N.C., Inc. v. Miken Corp., 191 N.C. App. 177, 661 S.E.2d 775, 2008.
- TD Bank, N.A. v. Mirabella, ___N.C. App. ___, 725 S.E.2d 29, 2012.
- Douglas v. McVicker, 150 N.C. App. 705, 564 S.E.2d 622, 2002.
- Synovus Bank v. Karp, 887 F.Supp.2d 677, W.D.N.C. 2012.
- Murphy v. Glafenhein, 110 N.C. App. 830, 431 S.E.2d 241, 1993.
- Hopkins v. Ciba-Geigy Corp., 111 N.C. App. 179, 432 S.E.2d 142, 1993.
- Mickles vs. Duke Power Company, 342 N.C. 103, 463 S.E.2d 206, 1995.
- G.P. Publications, Inc. vs. Quebecor Printing-St. Paul, Inc., 125 N.C. App. 424, 481 S.E.2d 674, 1997.
Biography
- Born in Lexington Park, Maryland
- Married to law school classmate, the former Anne Freels, since 1990; Father of Web, Elizabeth, and Luke Bleynat.
- Author of two volumes (to date) on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke: The Synoptic Gospels, a Journey into the Kingdom: Volume I, From Bethlehem to the River Jordan; The Synoptic Gospels, a Journey into the Kingdom: Volume II, From The Desert to the Mount
- Ed’s lifelong interests include team sports, especially basketball; reading the great books; and enjoying the art of conversation
- Ed grew up in Valdese, looking up from his family’s Burke County yard at the Blue Ridge Mountains. Anne grew up atop Walden’s Ridge in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. They wanted to raise their family in the Southern Appalachian Highlands, and settled on eclectic, embracing and fascinating Asheville.
