About Your Local Chapel Hill & Durham Attorneys
Matthew Charles Suczynski
Matthew grew up in Buffalo, New York before moving to North Carolina. Matthew has been a resident of the Orange/Durham County community for over a decade. Matthew resides in Chapel Hill with his wife Catherine and their three children. Catherine earned her Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and subsequently went to work for UNC.
Matthew has appeared in the court rooms of more than 20 different counties in North Carolina and has the unique perspective and experience of knowing how court works in a variety of locations from the State Capitol to the smallest of towns. Matthew can handle your case whether it is a felony in Mocksville or a traffic ticket in Raleigh. Additionally, Matthew has extensive trial experience having tried dozens of cases of all types in various locations. Along with District 15-B Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Nieman, Matthew co-founded the North Carolina Driver’s License Restoration Project (NCDLRP). The NCDLRP received the University of North Carolina School of Law’s Pro Bono Student Project of the Year award along with the North Carolina Bar Association’s Law Student Group Pro Bono Award. Matthew has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star, declaring him one of the top lawyers in NC under age 40. He has obtained a 10.0/10.0 rating from Avvo.com, which is the highest level possible.
Education
- BAR ADMISSIONS
- 2006 – North Carolina
- 2008 – U.S. District Court – Eastern District of North Carolina
- 2008 – U.S. District Court – Middle District of North Carolina
- EDUCATION
- 2006 – Juris Doctor, University of Akron
- 2006 – Master of Business Administration, University of Akron
- 2003 – Bachelor of Arts, State University of New York at Buffalo
Experience
- WORK EXPERIENCE
- Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC, Chapel Hill, NC
- February 2009 – Present
- Police actions violated the Constitution, judge rules, The Daily Tar Heel, January 26, 2010
- Could he be a good American?, Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2011
- Everett Law Firm, P.A., Chapel Hill, NC
- August 2006 – February 2009
- Attorney
- Revaluations and reality, The News & Observer, January 25, 2009
- Judges have leeway in setting bond, The Daily Tar Heel, March 27, 2008
- Ian N. Friedman & Associates, LLC, Cleveland, OH
- April 2004 – August 2005
- Law Clerk
- Some cases Matthew worked on while with Ian N. Friedman & Associates, LLC
- Joanne Schneider’s three-year sentence for bilking investors not right, prosecutor argues, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 8, 2009
- Firefighter Found Not Guilty of Murder
- In Balraj’s Realm, The Plain Dealer, December 5, 2004
- Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC, Chapel Hill, NC
Memberships And Interests
- MEMBERSHIPS
- American Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
- District 15-B Bar Association
- Orange County Bar Association
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice
- Susie M. Sharp Inn of Court
VOLUNTEER WORK
- Ward Edwards Mock Trial Program – Judge
- Carolina Mock Trial – Judge
- Parkinson’s Action Network – Congressional Coordinator
- North Carolina Drivers License Restoration Project
Proudly Serving Durham & Orange County As Well As The Surrounding Triangle.
Michael Robert Paduchowski
Mike earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While attending law school Mike worked for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, was a member of the Holderness Moot Negotiation Team, achieved Dean’s List honors and was named to the prestigious Order of the Barristers. Mike also graduated from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan Flagler Business School with a degree in Business Administration in 2003.
Mike is a skilled litigator and accomplished negotiator who utilizes his knowledge of the local court system and trial process to efficiently and effectively handle criminal, traffic, DWI, and personal injury matters. Mike and his wife, Brittney, have been members of the Chapel Hill/Durham community for almost two decades. He gives back to the local community by coaching youth sports, serving as a Resident Judge in Teen Court, and volunteering as a supervising attorney for the NC Drivers License Restoration Project. Mike was named to the list of NC Legal Elite by Business North Carolina magazine, several years running. Mike has also achieved the highest ratings possible from Martindale-Hubbell (Preeminent AV Rating), Lawyers.com (5.0/5.0), and Avvo.com (Superb 10.0/10.0). In addition, Mike received the Client Distinction Award for exemplary client service and the Alumnus of the Year award from the UNC chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon for extensive volunteer work in the community. Mike believes that communication is key and takes pride in providing personal legal service to each and every client.
Education
-
EDUCATION
- 2007 – Juris Doctor, University of North Carolina School of Law
- 2003 – University of North Carolina, Kenan Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Experience
-
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC
- June 2011 – Present
- Maitland Law Firm, Managing Associate
- August 2007 – May 2011
- Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Intern
- 2006
- Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC
Memberships And Interests
-
MEMBERSHIPS
- American Bar Association
- North Carolina Bar Association
- District 15-B Bar Association
- Orange County Bar Association
- Susie M. Sharp Inn of Court
VOLUNTEER WORK
- North Carolina Drivers License Restoration Project
- Orange County Teen Court
FRATERNITIES/SORORITIES
- Sigma Phi Epsilon
Proudly Serving Durham & Orange County As Well As The Surrounding Triangle.
Ray Jeremy Griffis Jr
An Alamance County native, Ray earned his Juris Doctorate from North Carolina Central University School of Law. He received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in History from Campbell University. Prior to joining the Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC, Ray served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Durham County District Attorney’s Office where he handled thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases in both District and Superior Court. While serving as an Assistant District Attorney, Ray was part of the Violent Crimes and Homicide Team where he prosecuted a multitude of violent crimes ranging from Felony Assault to First Degree Murder. Ray’s professional experience gives him a unique perspective on criminal law by allowing him to understand how both sides of the process operate.
Before joining the Durham District Attorney’s Office, Ray worked as a Staff Attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina in Pittsboro, North Carolina. While working for Legal Aid of North Carolina, Ray provided free legal representation to North Carolinians in various civil matters.
Ray and his wife Kimberly reside in Alamance County. Ray enjoys spending time with his family and performing community service with his fraternal organization, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Education
- EDUCATION
- Juris Doctor – North Carolina Central University School of Law (Cum Laude)
- Bachelor of Science – Campbell University
Experience
- WORK EXPERIENCE
- Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC
- December 2019 – Present
- Durham District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney
- March 2017 – December 2019
- Legal Aid of North Carolina, Staff Attorney
- September 2015 – March 2017
- Law Office of Matthew Charles Suczynski, PLLC
Memberships And Interests
- MEMBERSHIPS
- North Carolina Bar Association
- Durham County Bar Association
VOLUNTEER WORK
- Durham Expunction And Restoration (D.E.A.R.) Program
FRATERNITIES/SORORITIES
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.