Our Attorneys

Do you need professional legal representation? Our team can help. Our attorneys passionately represent each and every client and as a full service law firm strive to meet all the legal needs of our clients. We have over 50 years of experience in providing professional legal services to citizens in Eastern North Carolina.
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John Williford 

Fields & Cooper NC, Attorneys NC, Lawyer NC, Lawyer Nash County NC
John Williford graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1970 and subsequently served three years active duty in the US Navy. He returned to Chapel Hill for law school as a Morehead Fellow and earned his law degree and was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 1976. He has practiced law in Rocky Mount, North Carolina since 1976. He is admitted to the NC State Bar, the federal district courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina, and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He has argued cases before the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the North Carolina Supreme Court. He has been certified as a specialist in bankruptcy law by the NC State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 1987. He is a member of the Rocky Mount Rotary Club and is active in community activities.

Mark Edwards

Fields & Cooper NC, Attorneys NC, Lawyer NC, Lawyer Nash County NC
Mark is a Board Certified Specialist in Elder Law by the North Carolina State Bar. He practices in the areas of elder law, guardianships, estate planning, and estate administration.
He began his work in the field of elder law at the Wake Forest University School of Law’s Clinic for the Elderly. He is a member of the Elder Law & Special Needs Section of the North Carolina Bar Association where he has served two terms on the Section Council. He serves as a member of the Elder Law Committee of the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) as well as the North Carolina Chapter of NAELA.
Mark received his B.A. degree magna cum laude in 1994 from Wake Forest University and J.D. degree in 1997 from Wake Forest University School of Law.
He joined Fields & Cooper, PLLC, in 1997.
Mark and his wife, Rev. Elizabeth Edwards, reside in Nashville with their two sons. He is an active member of Lakeside Baptist Church. He is a past Board member of The Biblical Recorder, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (serving as Moderator in 2000-2001), and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (national). He is a current Board member of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty in Washington, DC, which advocates for the separation of church and state.
Locally, he is a past Board member of the Nashville Business Council, Nashville Chamber of Commerce, Spring Hope Area Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Tri-County Industries, Inc. and the Boys & Girls Club of Nash/Edgecombe Counties.
 

Mark Osterhout

Fields & Cooper NC, Attorneys NC, Lawyer NC, Lawyer Nash County NC
Mark Osterhout is a partner in the firm. He was born in Durham, North Carolina. He graduated from Belmont Abbey College in 1985 with a B.A. in Political Science. Mark received his law degree from Campbell University in 1988. He was a former Assistant District Attorney in Pitt County. Mark is also a licensed real Estate Broker.
Mark is a licensed member of the North Carolina State Bar and the North Carolina Bar Association. He is also admitted to practice in the Federal District Court of the Eastern District of North Carolina. Mark is a member of the Rocky Mount Board of Adjustment. He has also served as a board member of the Harrison Family YMCA and Tar River Kiwanis.

Practice areas include:
  • Criminal Defense 
  • DWI 
  • Traffic violations 
  • Drug and Alcohol Offenses 
  • Felony Charges 
  • Auto Accidents 
  • Personal Injury 
  • Civil Litigation 
  • Real Property Disputes 
  • Will Contests/Caveat Proceedings

Nick J.J. Berry

Nicholas Berry grew up near Southport, North Carolina, before attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2022, Nicholas graduated from UNC with a double major in History and Philosophy with a minor in Education. Subsequently, he attended Campbell Law School in Raleigh, North Carolina, graduating in 2025. During his time at Campbell Law he was the President of Education Law and Policy Society and participated in Campbell Law’s Education Clinic and Restorative Justice Clinic. His interests include visiting museums, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. As an associate at Fields & Cooper, he looks forward to serving the needs of North Carolinians.


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Rocky Mount Office
422 Sunset Avenue
P.O. Box 4538
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 442-3115

Nashville Office:
213 W. Washington Street
P.O. Box 757
Nashville, NC 27856
(252) 459-2121

Contact Us Today. Our Team is Ready to Help You!