Harris, Creech, Ward & Blackerby Elevates Nina Banfield to Partner

Harris, Creech, Ward & Blackerby, P.A., is pleased to announce that Christina (Nina) J. Banfield has been elevated to partner as of January 1, 2026. Nina joined Harris Creech in 2018 and focuses her practice on professional liability and insurance defense, general civil litigation, and appeals. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in linguistics, graduating magna cum laude from the University of Tennessee, and her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law, where she served on the Wake Forest Law Review, including a term on the Board of Editors. 

Nina primarily works with clients in the healthcare and legal industries, defending physicians, attorneys, and other licensed professionals from accusations of professional misconduct and helping them preserve their careers and reputations. Her work also encompasses representing insurance companies in the defense of disputed automotive liability claims, helping to ensure that only valid claims are paid and that litigation is resolved fairly. In addition, she has extensive experience handling appeals, with her appellate advocacy work dating back to arguing in federal appellate court while still in law school. She is admitted to practice in North Carolina state courts; the U.S. District Court for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 

Nina’s clients appreciate the discipline she brings to her matters — ensuring that she has a thorough understanding of each client’s needs, goals, and budget and crafting litigation strategies designed to meet those individualized objectives. She devotes equal zeal to both major corporate clients and individual defendants, with no matter being too big or too small for her to master. She explains the facts and the law to her clients in clear, relatable terms and diligently keeps them apprised of major developments in their matters. 

Outside of her legal practice, Nina spends most of her time with her husband and daughter and is an active member of the New Bern theatre community. Her passion for childhood education is reflected by her service as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Riverside Leadership Academy, a New Bern public charter school focused on a project-based learning curriculum. She has also received numerous honors and recognitions for the excellence of her practice, including being named a “Young Gun” by Business North Carolina and a “Rising Star” by Superlawyers®.

Nina looks forward to continuing her work on behalf of her clients in her new capacity as partner.