Eight Ward and Smith, P.A. Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite"

Ward and Smith, P.A. is pleased to announce the inclusion of eight of its attorneys in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite." In 2007, Business North Carolina mailed more than 17,000 ballots to every member of the State Bar living in North Carolina. The ballot asked one simple question: Among the North Carolina attorneys whose work you have observed firsthand, whom would you rate among the current best? Ward and Smith attorneys recognized as being among this select group are the following: Albert R. Bell, Jr.; Stuart B. Dorsett; Paul A. Fanning; E. Eric Mills; Frank H. Sheffield, Jr.; J. Troy Smith, Jr.; and A. Rexford Willis, III. David L. Ward, Jr., continues to be included in the Legal Elite Hall of Fame.

Mr. Bell has more than 40 years of experience in labor, employment, and government regulation matters, including 30 years of practice in the private sector. His experience encompasses federal and state court litigation of employment issues, including charges of civil rights discrimination. Mr. Bell also advises clients on a wide range of employment regulatory and legislative issues, appearing on their behalf before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, and federal and state wage and hour divisions. He is a frequent lecturer and has written extensively on a wide range of employment and government contract topics. Mr. Bell is included in the current editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, and he has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his respective field of law. He also is recognized in "Super Lawyers," a list of top North Carolina attorneys by North Carolina Super Lawyers.

Mr. Dorsett is leader of the Trusts and Estates Section. His practice experience encompasses tax planning, estate planning, estate administration, and related services to individuals, charitable organizations, and foundations. Mr. Dorsett's practice also involves tax and business succession planning for the owners of closely-held businesses. He is certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Mr. Dorsett is the author of numerous manuscripts on estate planning and administration. He is a frequent lecturer to civic groups and at continuing legal education seminars on topics relating to estate planning and estate administration. Mr. Dorsett is included in The Best Lawyers in America, has been selected as a Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel, has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his respective field of law, and is recognized in "Super Lawyers," a list of top North Carolina attorneys by North Carolina Super Lawyers. Mr. Dorsett was the 2004-2005 chair of the Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the North Carolina Community Foundation. He also was president of the Davidson College Alumni Association and was a member of the college's Board of Trustees.

Mr. Fanning's practice experience encompasses bankruptcy, collections, creditors' rights, and lender liability. He concentrates his practice in representation of creditors in bankruptcy and collections, including workouts, reorganizations, and liquidations. Mr. Fanning is certified by the American Board of Certification and the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law. He has represented lenders, trade creditors, and telecommunications companies in various reorganization proceedings, including commercial real estate, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail transactions. Mr. Fanning is experienced in state court foreclosures and receiverships and other aspects of creditor-debtor litigation. He also represents commercial and residential developers in all areas of their land use and development needs, including zoning and related needs throughout eastern North Carolina. Mr. Fanning's practice routinely involves appearances in front of city and government boards and bodies.

Mr. Mills is a registered patent attorney and focuses his practice on business law matters and all areas of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. He routinely prepares, files, and prosecutes patent, trademark, and service mark applications before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in state and foreign jurisdictions. Mr. Mills additionally assists clients regarding patentability and patent infringement issues; counsels clients concerning the selection, use, and enforcement of trademarks and service marks; and represents clients in domain name disputes and other Internet issues. He also is a licensed professional engineer.

Mr. Sheffield has more than 30 years of experience in environmental law matters. His professional career includes state and local government, environmental consulting, and private law practice. Mr. Sheffield's law practice encompasses federal and state environmental law and regulation, air quality and water quality permitting, hazardous waste remediation, compliance counseling, agricultural operations, and underground storage tank regulation and site cleanup. He also handles legislative initiatives and rulemaking, judicial and administrative litigation and appeals, and serves as counsel to a regional water and sewer authority and city attorney. Mr. Sheffield is the former mayor of Hillsborough, North Carolina (1983 to 1987) and a former chair of the Environmental Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. He is included in The Best Lawyers in America and has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his respective field of law.

Mr. Smith's practice experience encompasses a range of business law, from start up businesses to complex transactional matters. He also represents health care providers, both private and institutional, and regularly is involved in government affairs, land use regulation, and municipal law matters. Mr. Smith has been a continuing legal education lecturer for the North Carolina Bar Association. He is included in The Best Lawyers in America and has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his respective field of law. Mr. Smith is recognized in "Super Lawyers," a list of top North Carolina attorneys by North Carolina Super Lawyers. He is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Hall of Fame.

Mr. Willis works primarily with clients who are forming, acquiring, or disposing of business or investment entities or who are in need of tax planning or representation in a tax controversy. He has been a certified public accountant since 1982. Mr. Willis regularly represents clients with income, estate, excise, employment, sales and use, and property tax problems. In addition to his taxation and business planning areas of expertise, he serves as the firm contact for several of our corporate and business clients. Mr. Willis has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his respective field of law.

Mr. Ward's practice experience encompasses antitrust, banking, labor, personnel, litigation, trusts and estates, and all phases of business law. He has represented banks, bank holding companies, housing authorities, and community colleges on a multitude of issues. Mr. Ward is a member of the American Bar Foundation and Chairman of the Board of the Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina. He also served on the Medlin Commission on the Future of the Courts in North Carolina and chaired its Technology Committee. Mr. Ward is included in The Best Lawyers in America, is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Hall of Fame, and has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his respective fields of law. He also is recognized in "Super Lawyers," a list of top North Carolina attorneys by North Carolina Super Lawyers. Mr. Ward is one of only 113 attorneys nationwide, and the only attorney in North Carolina, included in the BTI Client Service All-Star Team.