Portrait of W. Chris Parnell

W. Chris Parnell

Senior Counsel

chris.parnell@offitkurman.com
Charlotte, NC – 704.716.0833
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Chris Parnell focuses on real estate property transactions, including foreclosure proceedings, REO transactions, commercial real estate closings, title dispute resolution, title issues, real estate acquisition, and development.

He also represents commercial and residential lenders in loan transactions as lender’s counsel, drafting loan documents, workout agreements, modifications, deeds-in-lieu, and numerous other loan-related documents. He advises individual clients in business transactions, including creating, representing, and advising corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships.

Representative clients include American Security Mortgage Corp., South State Bank, First National Bank of PA, Chicago Title Insurance Co., Regions Bank, Sharonview Federal Credit Union, Select Bank and Trust Company, Home Investment Fund entities, Red Stick Acquisitions, LLC and SN Servicing Corporation.

    Education

    • (J.D., 1975)
    • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (A.B., 1971)

    State Bar Admissions

    • North Carolina

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina

    Professional Affiliations

    • North Carolina Bar Association, Real Estate Section
    • Mecklenburg County Bar, Real Estate Section
    • North Carolina Bankers Association, Member

Services

Firm Highlights

  • Publications & News
    32 Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Edition of Maryland Super Lawyers 
    32 Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Edition of Maryland Super Lawyers 
  • Blog Posts
    No Standard, Still Liable: How OSHA Regulates Ergonomics Without an Ergonomics Rule
    No Standard, Still Liable: How OSHA Regulates Ergonomics Without an Ergonomics Rule
  • Publications & News
    Wojciech “Voytek” Jackowski Named to ULI New York Program Steering Committee
    Wojciech “Voytek” Jackowski Named to ULI New York Program Steering Committee
  • Publications & News
    Fara Rodriguez Included in Spear’s Family Law Indices 2026 as a Recommended U.S. Family Lawyer
    Fara Rodriguez Included in Spear’s Family Law Indices 2026 as a Recommended U.S. Family Lawyer
  • Podcasts
    Efficient Litigation Balancing Time and Cost
    Attorneys Sarah Sawyer and Russell Berger of Offit Kurman discuss how litigation strategy depends not only on cost and risk but also on how long it takes to reach court and trial. Using Maryland as an example, they compare the faster district court process that can reach trial in roughly four to six months and typically under a year, versus circuit court jury trials with full discovery that generally take at least a year. They note that time affects leverage and helps explain why most civil disputes settle. Timelines can vary by state, county, case volume, COVID-era disruptions, and factors like AI and pro se litigants.
  • Publications & News
    Offit Kurman Adds Four Attorneys to Support Continued Growth
    Offit Kurman Adds Four Attorneys to Support Continued Growth
  • Publications & News
    Matthew Karmel Named to 2026 Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Energy
    Matthew Karmel Named to 2026 Lawdragon 500 Global Leaders in Energy
  • Podcasts
    Love, Trusts, and Prenups: "Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage"
    Hosts Danielle Friedman and Herb Fineburg dig into the New York Times bestseller Strangers by Belle Burden, using the book's real-life inspired story to unpack how prenuptial agreements and trusts actually work when a marriage ends. The conversation centers on Belle's inheritance from her wealthy family, the prenup she signed under pressure from her husband James, and the costly decision to pull money from an irrevocable trust to buy real estate in joint names. Danielle and Herb break down the critical difference between a prenup, which can be modified or waived by the couple, and a trust, which cannot be changed once established. They examine where Belle's trustees fell short, why titling inherited assets jointly can undo the protection a trust is designed to provide, and what a trustee should do instead when a beneficiary asks to withdraw significant funds. The episode closes with practical lessons for anyone who is a trust beneficiary, a trustee, or entering a marriage with inherited wealth, including why independent counsel matters at every stage.  
  • Blog Posts
    Estate Planning Essentials for Maryland’s Unmarried Couples
    Estate Planning Essentials for Maryland’s Unmarried Couples
  • Podcasts
    Meet Travis Mills
    Jim Ries of Offit Kurman interviews Travis Mills, owner-operator of Fully Promoted Aberdeen, Maryland, a branded apparel and promotional products company serving business owners and corporations. Travis explains how branded polos, quarter zips, and promotional items help businesses look professional and can support closing deals. He shares that he’s most proud of the company’s community-based approach as part of a larger franchise network. Travis says the next six months will focus on increasing visibility as the business approaches its two-year anniversary in September. He also reveals he served 21 years in the Coast Guard, including two tours in Iraq.