Raleigh, NC – Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce that Rebecca Joyner is this year's recipient of the firm's Catharine Biggs Arrowood Women’s Achievement Award. Rebecca is an accomplished bond lawyer who has helped local governments bring large-scale public projects to fruition across North Carolina, a strategic leader who has served on nonprofit boards, and a beloved mentor and advocate for underrepresented voices.
For over 20 years, Rebecca has served as a counselor to local governments in need of public finance solutions. She has represented local governments and lenders on a variety of well-known capital projects across North Carolina, including the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC), the revitalization of Fayetteville Street and the construction of the Raleigh Convention Center, and the City of Wilmington’s purchase of the former PPD headquarters to consolidate city services.
She has been elected as a Fellow in the American College of Bond Counsel, which recognizes lawyers who have established reputations among their peers for their skill, experience, and high standards. She was also instrumental in the creation of North Carolina Women in Public Finance, which supports women’s careers in a historically male-dominated profession by fostering relationships and providing educational opportunities.
In addition to her public finance work, Rebecca is recognized by her peers within Parker Poe for her strategic approach to leadership and finance. She currently serves on the firm's board of directors and chairs the firm's Finance Committee.
She has served on the boards of directors for several nonprofits as well, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina, the Achievement Academy of Durham, and CASA. She recently finished a five-year term that included serving as board chair of CASA, which provides access to stable, affordable housing for people who are homeless or at risk in the Triangle. Her leadership included helping to guide the nonprofit through the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic and hiring a new executive director.
Parker Poe created its Women's Achievement Award in 2021 to recognize the achievements of women in the legal profession. Catharine Biggs Arrowood – the first female partner at Parker Poe and one of the first female chairs of an executive committee at a major law firm in the Southeast – was its inaugural recipient. The award is now named after her, and she presented it to Rebecca as part of a celebration that brought together the entire firm in person or virtually.
“Part of being a good lawyer is being a good public servant,” Catharine said in presenting the award. “Part of being a good lawyer means you work in the community to make things better for people. Rebecca, you are a shining example of that. We are so proud of you, and thank you for all you have done.”
Catharine asked Rebecca about her background, including what brought her to Parker Poe. Rebecca grew up in Mooresville, NC, before moving to New York City to work as an analyst at Moody’s focused on municipal bond finance. She met the then-leader of Parker Poe’s Public Finance Group, Don Ubell, through that role. She received an offer from Parker Poe and one of New York’s largest law firms.
“With every person I met at Parker Poe, I thought, these are my people — I should be here,” Rebecca said.
They also discussed how Rebecca became involved in nonprofit board service, including at CASA.
“It can be hard as a transactional lawyer to find a place to plug in on the pro bono side of things, so board service has often been a good way for me to support the community in a different capacity,” Rebecca explained. “CASA was relevant to what I do on a day-to-day basis in terms of supporting affordable housing and analyzing financing agreements. It felt like a natural use of my skill set to help the community.”
In addition, Catharine asked how Rebecca juggled her career and her vibrant family life.
“It has everything to do with having a supportive team,” Rebecca answered. She described how her mentors at Parker Poe supported her — and emphasized to the audience how she and other firm leaders can support them today.
Rebecca said one of the things that made this award so special was “being celebrated by people who are mentees of mine.” Several nominators emphasized her impact as an “incredible mentor,” including how she built their confidence when they were still unsure of themselves. One wrote that Rebecca has tapped her to be a leader on several projects, “even when I doubted myself, and has been there every step of the way to talk through my questions and concerns to make sure I feel supported.”
“She is a true public servant,” a nominator said, “in the sense that she takes on leadership roles, not for the accolades and visibility it will give her personally, but as a way to give her a platform to champion and advocate for others.”
In addition to Rebecca and Catharine, the recipients of Parker Poe's Women's Achievement Award have been:
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has more than 275 lawyers in eight offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, DC. The firm provides legal counsel to many of the largest companies and local governments in the Southeast.
Parker Poe is a member of two leading international legal networks: TerraLex and the Employment Law Alliance. TerraLex and the ELA have chosen Parker Poe to help guide clients through the challenges of global business.