Lincoln Derr PLLC

02/19/2026

Excellence deserves recognition — and this year, Tricia Morvan Derr and Sara Lincoln have earned well-deserved honors in the 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers® rankings.

Both attorneys were named in the following categories:
* Top 25 — Charlotte
* Top 50 Women
* Top 100 — North Carolina

In addition:
* Tricia Derr was ranked Top 5 in Business Litigation
* Sara Lincoln was ranked Top 8 in Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense

These distinctions reflect the depth of their experience and the trust they've built with clients and peers throughout the legal community.

Congratulations to Sara and Tricia! 🎉

02/13/2026

We are proud to announce that Sara Lincoln has been recognized in Business North Carolina Legal Elite 2026 in the Litigation category!

As a peer-selected honor, Legal Elite recognizes the top 4% of active North Carolina attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional skill and professional standing. This distinction is a testament to Sara's tireless advocacy for her clients and her unwavering commitment to excellence in the courtroom.

Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved recognition of her impact on the legal community and her continued success in complex litigation.

To see Sara among the full list of this year's honorees, visit the link below:

Business North Carolina Legal Elite 2026NC Favorite Things Edition This marks the 25th class of Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite, which honors the state’s top lawyers as chosen by their peers. Fewer than 1,100 made the list, compared with more than 30,000 attorneys regulated by the North Ca...

12/05/2025

We are thrilled to announce the complete vindication of our clients in a False Claims Act case brought by a former-employee whistleblower and intervened on by the United States and the State of North Carolina.

The plaintiffs alleged our cardiology-practice client submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary procedures between 2014 and 2017. From the beginning of this case, our clients asserted that their care and treatment of their patients was reasonable and necessary and that they had not made any claims to Medicare or Medicaid for medically unnecessary procedures.

The jury listened carefully to the evidence and agreed that of the 28 claims submitted, none of them were false. Sara Lincoln, Phoebe Coddington, Kayla Green, Kelly Vecchio (who sadly lost her battle with cancer before getting to enjoy this victory), and Katherine Screen were the Lincoln Derr team charged with defending the integrity of our clients. It is unusual for healthcare fraud cases to go to trial, and we give a great deal of credit to our clients for having the fortitude to prove that they were right all along.

11/13/2025

Lincoln Derr PLLC is proud to be recognized in the 2026 Edition of Best Law Firms, ranked by Best Lawyers®, as one of the leading law firms in the United States.

This honor reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, the dedication of our team, and our ongoing success in delivering outstanding results for our clients.

Lincoln Derr holds Tier 1 Rankings in the following practice areas:
* Commercial Litigation
* Health Care Law
* Litigation - Health Care
* Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
* Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
* Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Read our full profile on the Best Law Firms® website below:

Learn everything you need to know about Lincoln Derr PLLC's Charlotte, NC, US location and discover their Best Law Firms rankings.

10/03/2025

Our LD trial team delivered a well-earned victory in favor of an ER physician who was accused of causing brain damage to a newborn by failing to diagnose preterm labor at 27 weeks, with the patient delivering on the same day she was discharged from the ER. Plaintiffs also alleged the physician failed to properly diagnose and resuscitate the 27-week premature infant who returned to the hospital following her birth in severe respiratory distress.

The jury carefully reviewed the evidence and fully exonerated the ER physician from any liability whatsoever.

Congratulations to Tricia Derr, Maria Ortiz, and Christian Whittington on securing a major trial win in Anson County!

08/27/2025

Congratulations to Sara Lincoln, Phoebe Coddington, and Erin Alfaro, NCCP on securing a defense verdict in Cumberland County on August 21! Plaintiff alleged that our client failed to diagnose cervical spine disease leading to the plaintiff’s ultimate quadriparesis. This was a challenging case with a very sympathetic plaintiff, who was one of the nicest people we have ever had to oppose.

The jurors who spoke with us after the trial said that our expert witnesses carried the day along with our adept use of technology in the courtroom. Congratulations to this outstanding trial team. This was LD’s 6th trial in 2025 and we are excited to keep things rolling through the end of 2025! 🏆

07/09/2025

Lincoln Derr is honored to be named one of the Best Women-Led Law Firms in the state by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. This recognition reflects our firm's achievements across diverse practice areas, our deep-rooted community engagement, and the strength of our leadership and mentorship.

Being a women-led law firm means leading with resilience, intention, and a commitment to excellence. Lincoln Derr was founded to challenge the status quo -- offering an alternative to the traditional law firm model. Our team understands firsthand the barriers women face in the legal profession, and we actively work to dismantle them. For us, it's not just about who leads the firm -- it's about how we use that leadership to elevate others and create lasting impact in the legal community.

We are most proud of the exceptional team we've built and the meaningful results we've delivered for our clients over the past 16 years. Delivering outstanding service is our top priority, and we believe our sustained success is rooted in the collaborative, high-performance culture we've cultivated from day one.

Thank you to North Carolina Lawyers Weekly for this recognition, and to our peers and the broader legal community for your continued support.

You can read our full feature in the North Carolina Lawyers Weekly special section, "In the Lead: Best Women-Led Law Firms 2025", on page 11.

07/07/2025

Congratulations to Sara Lincoln, Maria Ortiz, and Christian Whittington for obtaining a defense verdict in Scotland County in a wrongful death medical malpractice case! The jury returned their verdict in less than 30 minutes, reflecting the quality of the defense to the claims alleged and the quality of the care rendered by our client. 🏆

06/13/2025

Please join us in congratulating Tricia Derr, Heather Fuller, Phoebe Coddington, and Christian Whittington on securing a defense verdict in Harnett County in a medical malpractice case involving a birth-related brain injury.

This was an incredibly complex and emotional case, and the outcome is a testament to the team's relentless preparation, courtroom skill, and commitment to our client.

Congratulations to this amazing trial team! 🏆🎉

06/09/2025

Chambers and Partners USA 2025 has ranked Lincoln Derr in Band 1 for Litigation: Medical Malpractice Defense - North Carolina, placing us among the most respected firms in this area of practice.

In addition to the firm's recognition, co-founders Sara Lincoln and Tricia Derr have each been individually ranked in Band 1 for their leadership, insight, and consistent results.

Thank you to our clients and colleagues for your continued trust and support. This recognition is more than an honor -- it's a reflection of the meaningful work we've done together, and the relationships that make it possible. It also speaks to the strength of our entire team, whose collaboration and commitment are at the heart of everything we do.

Read more here:

Gain insights on the legal knowledge of Lincoln Derr PLLC in the practice area of Litigation department and discover their rankings.

06/03/2025

We're excited to announce that Sara Lincoln will join some of America's top trial lawyers and judges to teach at the upcoming Building Trial Skills: North Carolina program.

This program, developed by the premier provider of trial skills training, offers hands-on instruction and personalized feedback in a supportive, encouraging environment. NITA's learning-by-doing approach allows participants to take risks, experiment, and focus on each skill, helping them build expertise and develop their own unique advocacy style.

For more information about this program, please visit https://www.nita.org/NC.

We look forward to seeing you there!