Barbara E. Ruark

Barbara E. Ruark co-founded Orbock Ruark & Dillard, PC with founding partners, Maureen T. Orbock (retired) and Roger L. Dillard, Jr. (of counsel) in 1995.  Ms. Ruark was previously a partner in the Winston-Salem law firm of Petree Stockton where she practiced in the areas of insurance litigation and workers’ compensation defense.  Ms. Ruark has practiced exclusively in the area of workers’ compensation defense since creating our firm.  She has been awarded the highest professional rating of "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell.

Ms. Ruark received a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Wake Forest University in 1984.  She graduated magna cum laude from the Wake Forest University School of Law in 1987 and served as Notes and Comments Editor for The Wake Forest Law Review.  She has also served as an adjunct professor for the Wake Forest University School of Law, and as an advisor and instructor for its successful National Trial Team.  She has given numerous presentations to insurance carriers and employers in the area of workers’ compensation defense.  She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association and its Workers’ Compensation Section, and the Forsyth County Bar Association.  She served as the 2009-2010 Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and continues to serve on the section council.  Ms. Ruark has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers by U.S. News & World Report from 2011 through 2022.  Best Lawyers in America has named Ms. Ruark the 2018 and 2021 "Lawyer of the Year" in its Triad workers' compensation defense division.  Barbara's leisure interests include spending time with her family, church activities, boating and camping.