There is no substitute for experience when it comes to navigating our legal system. The attorneys at Rose Harrison Gilreath & Powers, P.C. have over 75 years of combined experience. Our firm has represented clients on the Outer Banks and throughout Northeastern North Carolina and Virginia. Our practices focus on contract and employment disputes, personal injury, real estate, estate planning and administration, collections, and corporate matters. We work hard to help guide you through your case and to protect your rights.
Dennis C. Rose
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Dennis began his legal career as a defense attorney with the law firm of Anderson Cox and Ennis in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he worked for insurance companies defending accident claims. In 1993, Dennis moved back to the Outer Banks, and he began his general practice of law by handling various types of criminal and civil cases throughout North Carolina. He continued to develop his trial practice by defending various clients who had been charged with serious felonies, including rape and capital murder.
As the years went by, Dennis continued to develop a civil trial practice by helping his clients resolve contract disputes, employment matters, construction disputes and assisting those persons seriously injured on their job or in other accidents. In 1995, he and his law partner and long-time family friend, Peebles Harrison, began the law firm of Rose & Harrison. In 2000, attorney James R Gilreath, Jr., joined Dennis and Peebles. In 2019, attorney David B Powers joined the firm.
Dennis grew up on a small farm in Southeastern Virginia. He attended James Madison University where he studied Political Science and Economics. Dennis received his Bachelor of Science Degree from James Madison University in 1988. After moving to Nags Head on the Outer Banks, and working with an attorney for a year, Dennis enrolled in law school at the University of Mississippi, where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1992. In 1992, Dennis completed an internship with a United States Magistrate for the United States District Court – Eastern District of North Carolina. Dennis is admitted to practice law in North Carolina and Virginia. Dennis is an experienced trial lawyer who concentrates his practice in civil trial litigation, where he represents both plaintiffs and defendants in trial.
In addition to his practice as a trial lawyer, Dennis is a Certified Superior Court Mediator in North Carolina. He is available to help resolve legal disputes and other legal matters, both before and after a lawsuit is initiated.
Dennis has served as past Secretary, Vice-President, and President of the First Judicial District Bar. Dennis is a member of Mt. Olivet Methodist Church and previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Beach Food Pantry. Dennis enjoys hunting, baseball and spending time with his young daughters.
M. Peebles Harrison
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Peebles was raised on a tobacco farm in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. He attended Hampden-Sydney College where he studied history and economics. He graduated summa cum laude in 1989. After Hampden-Sydney, he attended The Washington and Lee University School of Law where he graduated in 1992. After graduation, Peebles worked as an associate attorney in the employment and labor law section at William Mullen Christian and Dobbins, a law firm in Richmond, Virginia. In 1995, he and his new bride moved to the Outer Banks, where he joined up with Dennis Rose, an old family friend from Dinwiddie to practice law. Peebles and his wife, Avery, reside in Duck and have three children.
Peebles’ law practice has been diverse. He started off handling domestic and collections law matters before taking over the real estate practice. While concentrating in real estate, Peebles handled asset purchases, business acquisitions, and corporate law. He also continued his work in employment law and estate administration.
Peebles is an attorney admitted to practice in North Carolina and Virginia. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court - Western District of Virginia, United States District Court - Eastern District of Virginia, and United States District Court - Eastern District of North Carolina. Peebles is a member of the Virginia Bar Association, and the North Carolina Bar Association.
Peebles currently is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Hampden-Sydney College and Senior Warden of the Vestry for St. Andrew’s By-The-Sea Episcopal Church; Chair, Board of Directors, Outer Banks Family YMCA; and Past-President of the Dare County Jaycees, where he was recognized with the Charles Hawkins Award as one of the top ten chapter Presidents in North Carolina. He has also served as a Director, Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce; Member, Outer Banks Hospital Development Council; and Member, Law Council, The Washington and Lee School of Law. Peebles is a past director for the Bank of Hampton Roads, Inc. and Lawrenceville Brick, Inc.
James R. Gilreath, Jr.
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Jim currently manages Rose Harrison Gilreath & Powers real estate team where he routinely helps realtors, buyers, sellers and their lenders bring their Outer Banks real estate transactions to a successful conclusion. In addition, Jim and the firm have extensive experience assisting the interval ownership industry with their real estate needs on the Outer Banks when they need local experienced lawyers.
Jim also manages the firm's estate administration (probate) division. He has gained substantial experience as a court appointed administrator in navigating complex contested estates, and guardianships. Jim and his knowledgeable team work daily with our area Clerks of Court in Manteo and Currituck and their probate clerks to ensure your loved one’s North Carolina estate is handled timely, accurately, and with minimal stress to you and your family.
Jim started as a lawyer in the First Circuit Solicitor’s office in Orangeburg, South Carolina as a prosecutor, where he handled a broad range of crimes including serious drug felonies. In 2000, sensing a call to cross the border as a lawyer on the Outer Banks, Jim contacted his fellow Washington and Lee alum, Peebles Harrison, who brought him on as the law firm’s first associate. Jim cut his teeth in North Carolina working on a variety of matters from criminal to family law in the firm’s general practice, trying cases, both jury and nonjury, in both District and Superior Courts of the First District.
A third-generation lawyer, born and raised in South Carolina, and a Washington and Lee University graduate, (B.A. Geology/Environmental Science 1994), Jim received his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D. 1997). While in law school, he served the South Carolina Environmental Law Journal as Articles Editor and as a member of the Honor Council. Before and during law school, Jim spent several summers working on the Outer Banks. Jim successfully navigated both the North Carolina and South Carolina Bar exams (and I-95) in the same week. Jim is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the South Carolina Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Real Estate Lawyers Association of North Carolina (RELANC). He is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, the Eastern and Western North Carolina Districts of the United States District Court and all state courts in North and South Carolina. Jim currently heads the First Judicial District Bar candidate committee. Jim served as an Out of State Delegate to the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates. Jim remains a certified Arbitrator in North Carolina's First Judicial District.
Jim resides in Manteo with his wife, Ashley, and two sons. Committed to community and church, Jim routinely assists local non-profits with their legal needs, having previously served as counsel to Outer Banks Sporting Events. Jim currently serves on the Roanoke Island Advisory Board of the North Carolina Aquariums-Roanoke Island. Previously, Jim served as President of the Dare County Jaycees, Chairman of the Board of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce (2x-2008 & 2023), a board member of the Community Care Clinic of Dare and a member of the Manteo Rotary Club (past Rockfish Rodeo Chair). Jim and Ashley are both elders at Roanoke Island Presbyterian Church. Outside the office, Jim enjoys hunting, fishing and college sports. In fitter days, Jim completed 7 marathons including two Boston Marathons.
David B. Powers
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David was born and raised in Bon Air, Virginia. He attended college in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia. While attending UVA, David spent his summer breaks working on the Outer Banks. David graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Spanish.
David worked and travelled extensively throughout Australia and New Zealand before permanently settling in Dare County. In 2003, David seized an opportunity to help grow and establish a small local restaurant. As a managing member of the Kill Devil Grill, he learned the intricacies of operating a small business and the importance of building personal relationships, while providing a quality product and even better service.
In 2010, David embarked on his legal education and enrolled as a law student at Regent University in Virginia Beach. He was a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board and represented Regent as a competitor in the regional ABA Negotiations Competition. David was also a member of the Business Transactions Law Society, and he worked as a summer legal associate for Rose Harrison & Gilreath, P.C. in 2012.
After graduating from law school and passing the North Carolina bar exam in 2013, David joined the law firm as a full-time attorney. He is a member of the First Judicial District Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association. David is admitted to practice law in North Carolina, the United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, and the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. David’s practice focuses on providing legal assistance to small businesses in handling corporate, contract, employment, and collections matters.
In the community, David coaches youth sports with Dare County Parks and Recreation, OBX Storm Soccer, and Pride Basketball OBX. David is also a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church. In his free time, David likes to cook, travel, play basketball, and spend time with his family and friends.
Lucia M. Mercurio
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Lucia has dedicated her career to helping people and companies navigate the complex world of litigation.
Lucia started the practice of law in 1989 at the well-regarded firm of Faulkner & Boyce, PC in the town of New London, Connecticut. While at Faulkner & Boyce, Lucia honed her skills as a trial lawyer and conducted depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and jury trials in cases from car wrecks with minor injuries to complex products litigation matters.
In 1996, Lucia joined her former colleague and formed a partnership that focused on injury matters and branched out into employment matters and other general litigation matters representing individuals and business entities.
In 2009, after 20 years of practice, Lucia decided to leave the practice of law and pursue teaching and other interests.
After moving to the Outer Banks in 2018, Lucia joined Rose Harrison Gilreath & Powers in 2020 as a legal assistant in the litigation department. Having returned to the law, Lucia decided to pursue licensure as an attorney in North Carolina and was admitted to practice on November 18, 2022.
Not only does Lucia bring her valuable litigation experience to our firm, but she also speaks Spanish and offers members of our Latino community the ability to discuss their issues in their native language.
Lucia is the granddaughter of Italian immigrants. She received her B.A, magna cum laude, in English and Spanish from Fairfield University. She attended the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she served on the Law Review and graduated with honors. Lucia was admitted to practice in the State of Connecticut in 1989, where she is currently on retired status. She is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut and the State of North Carolina.
Lucia has argued before the Supreme Courts of the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island. She has tried cases in state and federal courts across Connecticut. Lucia is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association.
Lucia is a member of Coastal Family Church where she is always active in a Bible Study either as a participant or as a facilitator. Lucia has two grown sons (one of whom took his first steps on the beaches of the Outer Banks). Lucia’s passion is helping others. When given a chance, Lucia spends time reading Scripture, connecting with family and friends, and crafting.