Ward and Smith has been honored in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.
The firm has made its mark in the legal field by being ranked regionally in 28 practice areas, earning this esteemed recognition.
To be included in the 2025 Best Law Firms® list, firms must demonstrate professional excellence, receiving high ratings from both clients and peers. A prerequisite for consideration is that at least one attorney from the firm must be listed in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Impressively, Ward and Smith had 67 attorneys receive this distinction.
"At Best Lawyers, we are proud to recognize law firms that show an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and client satisfaction," said Philip Greer, Chief Executive Officer of Best Lawyers. "In the legal arena, credibility is earned through consistent quality, which has propelled these firms to the forefront of the legal industry."
Achieving a ranking in Best Law Firms signifies high-quality legal practice and a depth of legal proficiency. Recognized firms, categorized into three tiers, receive acclaim on both national and metropolitan levels, reflecting the extent of their practice and geographic reach. Receiving a tier designation represents an elite status, reflecting the integrity and reputation earned by law firms.
Ward and Smith received the following rankings in the 2025 Best Law Firms®:
Asheville
Regional Tier 1
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Litigation - Banking & Finance
- Real Estate Law
Regional Tier 2
Raleigh
Regional Tier 1
- Antitrust Law
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Litigation - Construction
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Trademark Law
Regional Tier 2
- Banking and Finance Law
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Law
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Health Care Law
- Litigation - Bankruptcy
- Litigation - Intellectual Property
- Real Estate Law
Regional Tier 3
Wilmington
Regional Tier 1
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Corporate Law
- Environmental Law
- Family Law
- Litigation - Construction
- Litigation - Trusts & Estates
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Real Estate Law
- Trusts & Estates Law
Regional Tier 2
- Health Care Law
- Land Use & Zoning Law
- Litigation - Labor & Employment
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
The 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan-based practice areas. The highest-rated firm in each national practice area attains the prestigious "Law Firm of the Year" honor. The transparent, collaborative research process employs qualitative and quantitative data from peer and client reviews, supported by proprietary algorithmic technology, to produce a tiered system of industry-led rankings of the top 4% of the industry.
Respected for over 14 years, Best Law Firms®, ranked by Best Lawyers®, provides the most credible global rankings of exceptional firms. Its rigorous, peer-driven evaluations signify high-quality practice and broad legal expertise. For more information, visit www.bestlawfirms.com.
