Ward and Smith attorneys Brad Evans and Paul Fanning have been named among the Top 100 North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2025. This prestigious recognition highlights the state's most distinguished legal professionals.
This marks Brad's first appearance on the exclusive Top 100 list, while Paul is honored for the fourth consecutive year. Both attorneys have consistently demonstrated excellence in their respective fields—Brad in business litigation and Paul in bankruptcy law.
Their recognition is part of a larger firm-wide achievement, with 25 Ward and Smith attorneys honored as 2025 North Carolina Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. This distinction is awarded through a rigorous selection process that includes peer nominations, independent research, and evaluations. Only the top 5% of practicing attorneys in North Carolina are recognized as Super Lawyers. In comparison, no more than 2.5% of the state's lawyers under 40 or have been practicing for less than 10 years are selected as Rising Stars.
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service, identifies outstanding attorneys across more than 70 practice areas. The Top 100 list is an elite subset of attorneys who received the highest ratings during the selection process. You can view the full list of North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars here.
