Crosswhite Law Firm

Crosswhite Law, PLLC, proudly traces its roots back to 1873, when Major William MacKendrie Robbins, a decorated military officer and public servant, established a law practice in Statesville, North Carolina. Born on October 26, 1828, Major Robbins served as an officer from 1861 to 1865 and later as a North Carolina Senator and U.S. Congressman. Following his congressional service, Major Robbins relocated from Salisbury to Statesville, where he founded what is now Crosswhite Law, PLLC. His leadership extended beyond law, serving as a Commissioner for Gettysburg National Military Park from 1894 until 1905.

Over the decades, the firm became a cornerstone of the community, with Major Robbins’ legacy continuing through the family lineage. His son-in-law, Benjamin F. Long, joined the practice in Statesville, bringing further prominence to the firm. Long, born in 1852, was a distinguished attorney in his own right and became the great-grandfather of the renowned fresco painter Benjamin F. Long IV. Long’s daughter, Marie, married another attorney, Edward M. Land, who joined the family practice in 1914, continuing the tradition of legal service in Statesville.

The firm's evolution continued with Neil S. Sowers, a native of Statesville, who joined Mr. Land in 1932, forming the firm of Land & Sowers. The tradition was passed on through Neil Sowers’ daughter, Jessie Sowers, who married William E. Crosswhite in 1956. After graduating from Wake Forest Law School in 1961, William E. Crosswhite joined the firm alongside his father-in-law and Isaac T. Avery, further expanding the firm’s reach in the Statesville community. For years, the firm was known as Sowers, Avery & Crosswhite, and interestingly, Isaac Avery also married into the Land family, further intertwining the firm’s legacy.

The tradition continued through the next generation with William E. Crosswhite’s two sons, Joseph N. Crosswhite and Robert N. Crosswhite, both of whom followed in their father’s footsteps. Joseph N. Crosswhite, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, became licensed to practice law in North Carolina in 1995 after years of service in the military and legal practice in Georgia. He now serves as the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge in Iredell and Alexander County. Robert N. Crosswhite, licensed in both Montana and North Carolina, joined the firm in 2000, focusing in estate planning, elder law, and estate administration.

Through nearly 150 years of family leadership and service, the firm now known as Crosswhite Law, PLLC, has remained a pillar of the Statesville legal community. Generations of attorneys have continued the firm's dedication to providing exceptional legal service, guided by family values, integrity, and a deep commitment to the people of Iredell County and beyond.

For nearly a century and a half, this family-led law firm has evolved, adapted, and thrived, earning its place as one of North Carolina’s most storied legal institutions. Crosswhite Law, PLLC, exemplifies the strength and stability of family leadership and its enduring impact on legal practice, community involvement, and client service. We are honored to nominate Crosswhite Law, PLLC, for recognition as one of North Carolina’s premier family-led law firms.