Forty-seven Ward and Smith attorneys were honored by the Best Lawyers® for their accomplishments in more than 30 practice areas.
The 2023 edition of the prestigious guide names 40 attorneys as "Best Lawyers in America." Of that, six were recognized as "Lawyer of the Year." Additionally, seven attorneys earned the "Ones to Watch" distinction.
Only the top 5.3% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.
Released annually since 1983, Best Lawyers® highlights the most accomplished and highly acclaimed legal practitioners in their respective practice areas. The recognition is based entirely on peer review, and the publication's methodology is designed to capture the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues as accurately as possible.
The Ward and Smith attorneys recognized in the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers® are:
Asheville
Jenny Boyer (2022)
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
Bill Durr (2013)
- Construction Litigation
- Family Law
Zac Lamb (2019)
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
Norman Leonard (2022)
- Litigation - Banking and Finance
Lance Martin (2015)
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Joanne Badr (2020)
- Banking and Finance Law
- Real Estate Law
Greenville
Drake Brinkley (2020)
- Real Estate Law
Charles Ellis (1995)
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Brad Evans (2016)
- Antitrust Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Construction
Lynwood Evans (2013)
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Paul Fanning (2011)
- Banking and Finance Law
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Litigation - Bankruptcy
Michael Fields (2018)
- Banking and Finance Law
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Merrill Jones (2013)
- Corporate Law
John Martin (1995)
- Family Law
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
New Bern
Don Eglinton (2009)
- Commercial Litigation
- Copyright Law
- Litigation - Construction
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Litigation - Patent
- Patent Law
- Trademark Law
Ken Gray (2009)
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Bill Lathan (2005)
- Banking and Finance Law
- Financial Services Regulation Law
Bill Martin (2013)
- Real Estate Law
- Real Estate Law
Greg Peacock (2010)
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Trusts and Estates
Knox Proctor (2010)
- Administrative/ Regulatory Law
- Banking and Finance Law
- Corporate Law
- Financial Services Regulation Law
Lauren Quinn (2021)
- Family Law
Eric Remington (2020)
- Land Use and Zoning Law
Clint Routson (2005)
- Real Estate Law
Ryan Simmons (2021)
- Patent Law
Troy Smith (1987)
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Law
Amy Wang (2019)
- Environmental Law
Leigh Wilkinson (2010)
- Health Care Law
Raleigh
Whitney Campbell Christensen (2023)
- Government Relations Practice
Xavier Lightfoot (2021)
- Litigation - Construction
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
Steven Long (2010)
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Tax Law
Evan Musselwhite (2021)
- Construction Law
- Litigation - Construction
Erica Rogers (2021)
- Intellectual Property Law
Tyler Russell (2020)
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Jason Strickland (2019)
- Litigation - Construction
Jim Wilson (2013)
- Health Care Law
Wilmington
B.T. Atkinson (2010)
- Securities/Capital Markets Law
Jenna Butler (2010)
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Securities
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Virginia Carter (2022)
- Trusts and Estates
Trip Coyne (2016)
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Litigation - Construction
Chris Edwards (2021)
- Commercial Litigation
Sam Franck (2021)
- Community Association Law
Paige Inman (2021)
- Family Law
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
John Sloan (2018)
- Trusts and Estates
Ryal Tayloe (2009)
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Litigation - Construction
- Litigation - Real Estate
Allen Trask (2023)
- Cannabis Law
Jeremy Wilson (2020)
- Medical Malpractice Law- Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
