Our Firm

Leadership
Following the traditions set by their predecessors, many McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A. attorneys are natives of Western North Carolina and hold a special connection to the neighbors they serve. The firm has always encouraged volunteerism in its endeavors to better the Asheville community. Each attorney at McGuire, Wood & Bissette is an active member of the community through leadership and participation in numerous civic and non-profit organizations and several partners have served the city through public office. The collective role they play as involved citizens informs the direction of their legal work, strengthening the firm's offering as a whole to the community.

Tradition
For more than a century, McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A. has served clients throughout Western North Carolina and across the region and nation. It has represented individuals, small businesses and large corporations, protecting their interests in all areas of the law. Each client is served by an extraordinary team of attorneys and staff with one collective goal: exceptional service and results.

The oldest continually practicing law firm in Asheville, McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A.'s origins can be traced back to 1894 when founder Haywood Parker gave up teaching to become an attorney. One year later, he joined Louis M. Bourne to establish the firm of Bourne and Parker. Since its inception, this Asheville NC law firm has engaged in a general civil practice geared toward commerce and industry.

The firm's early years are rich with history. General Theodore Davidson was North Carolina's Attorney General before joining the firm in 1903. In 1936, Haywood Parker's son, Frank M. Parker, joined the practice. The younger Parker was appointed trustee of Carl Sandburg's family trust by Sandburg himself and was also made an honorary member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Tribe after 25 years as tribal attorney. He went on to serve on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. Former United States District Attorney James M. Baley, Jr. was a partner in the firm from 1953 until 1973 when he, too, was appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Experience
Today, as McGuire, Wood & Bissette, P.A., the firm continues to engage in a general civil practice with a focus on the business, financial and litigation needs of its clients. The firm draws upon the diverse skills and experiences of its attorneys, many of whom are board certified in various areas of practice and licensed in several states, including North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia.