Mary Kathryn Kurth

Attorney

Bio

Mary Kathryn Kurth is a first-generation lawyer and a proud North Carolina native who grew up in eastern North Carolina. She has dedicated more than a decade of her legal career to representing individuals and families who have suffered life-changing injuries due to the negligence of others. Her litigation experience includes complex medical malpractice and personal injury cases involving serious and catastrophic injuries.

Mary Kathryn is known for being a compassionate advocate who truly invests in her clients. She believes that strong relationships with clients and their families are essential to achieving justice, and she brings empathy, enthusiasm and an unwavering work ethic to every case she handles. Her clients trust her to fiercely protect their rights and guide them through challenging times.

When not practicing law, Mary Kathryn is very involved in the community. She is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association, North Carolina Advocates for Justice and the Wake County Bar Association. Mary Kathryn is also an active member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church, where she serves as a coordinator of her Missional Community’s service project, which provides a hot meal once a month at the New Bern House in downtown Raleigh. Within our law firm, she leads community service initiatives focused on supporting local causes.

Mary Kathryn lives in Raleigh with her husband, Richard, and their two young sons.

Education

Mary Kathryn is a native of Tarboro, NC. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school class, she attended North Carolina State University, where she obtained her B.A. in political science and a minor in Spanish in 2008.

With a long-standing interest in the law, she obtained her paralegal certification from Meredith College in 2010 and worked as a North Carolina Certified Paralegal at a large personal injury firm until enrolling at Campbell Law School in 2012.

During law school, Mary Kathryn earned multiple merit scholarships and was on the dean’s list. She gained invaluable experience through internships at the North Carolina Department of Justice, in both the Tort Claims and Health & Public Assistance sections, and at the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services. She also served as a research assistant to Professor Patrick K. Hetrick.

Mary Kathryn was a member of the leadership board for the Campbell Law Innocence Project, which is dedicated to exonerating those who are wrongfully convicted of crimes. While in law school, she joined Edwards Kirby as a law clerk. After graduating from law school, Mary Kathryn was awarded a one-year fellowship at Campbell Law School. She was in the inaugural class of Wallace Fellows. As a Wallace Public Service Fellow, she helped oversee 15 student pro bono projects varying from drafting wills to representing clients in obtaining domestic violence protective orders. After her one-year fellowship, Mary Kathryn joined Edwards Kirby as an attorney where she has practiced her entire legal career.

Notable Cases

$1,500,000 settlement after a child drowned in a pool with lifeguards on duty.
$6,000,000 settlement for a child who suffered paralysis from an injury at a recreation center.
$9,450,000 settlement for family killed in tanker truck crash.
$1,050,000 settlement for an employee seriously injured after falling down an elevator shaft.
$1,350,000 settlement for driver who struck parked tractor-trailer resulting in amputation of left arm.
$5,400,000 settlement for child who suffered brain injury because of mother’s untreated pre-eclampsia.
Preston v. Movahed, 374 N.C. 177 (2020) – NC Supreme Court case clarifying procedural rules that apply to medical malpractice cases.
Gullatte v. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, 382 N.C. 57 (2022) – NC Supreme Court case overturning 90-year-old case law that exempted nurses from exposure to liability.
$5,250,000 settlement for backseat passenger of vehicle involved in a motor vehicle collision resulting in partial paralysis of the passenger.
$1,750,000 settlement for minor child and parents after the minor child suffered severe fall-related injuries sustained during an outdoor rock-climbing camp.
$485,000 settlement for man injured at a fitness facility when defective gym equipment fell on him during his workout.
$1,750,000 settlement for minor child and parents after the minor child suffered severe fall-related injuries sustained during an outdoor rock-climbing camp.
$485,000 settlement for man injured at a fitness facility when defective gym equipment fell on him during his workout.

Awards

Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
- Appellate Practice
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Litigation Counsel of America Associate Fellow (2025)
Acquisition International Magazine, Leading Adviser Awards, Leading Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year – North Carolina (2023)
North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Business North Carolina Legal Elite Young Guns (2021, 2022)
National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40

Memberships

North Carolina Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association 4ALL Statewide Service Day Committee 2019-2024
North Carolina Bar Association Women in the Profession Committee 2020-2023
North Carolina Bar Association Women in the Profession Committee Nominating and Awards Subcommittee Co-Chair 2020-2021 · 2019 North Carolina Bar Association Leadership Academy
North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ)
NCAJ Auto Torts & Premises Liability Section
NCAJ Professional Negligence Section
NCAJ New Lawyers Division Membership Co-Chair 2019-2020
NCAJ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee 2023-2024
Wake County Bar Association
Wake County Bar Association Public Service Committee
Campbell Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors
Campbell Law School Alumni Association Board Public Service Committee Co-Chair 2020-2021; Chair 2021-2022
Meredith College Paralegal Program Advisory Committee
Edenton Street United Methodist Church
Edenton Street United Methodist Church West Raleigh Missional Community Volunteer Coordinator