Ward and Smith proudly celebrates an incredible achievement—over half of our esteemed attorneys have gained recognition from one of the nation's most respected legal publications.
Best Lawyers® has selected 44 lawyers for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, with one attorney being named Lawyer of the Year. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.
"For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers® has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions," said Best Lawyers® CEO Phillip Greer. "It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel."
A further eight attorneys earned Ones to Watch® awards, solidifying Ward and Smith's reputation as a preeminent legal force.
The Ward and Smith attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers for 2024 are:
Asheville
| Joanne Badr | Jenny Boyer | Clint Cogburn | Bill Durr |
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| Zac Lamb | Norman Leonard | Lance Martin | |
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Greenville
| Drake Brinkley | Charles Ellis | Brad Evans | Lynwood Evans |
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| Paul Fanning | Michael Fields | Merrill Jones | John Martin |
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New Bern
| Angela Doughty | Ken Gray | Bill Lathan | Bill Martin |
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| Cliff Parson | Greg Peacock | Knox Proctor (Lawyer of the Year) | Lauren Quinn |
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| Eric Remington | Troy Smith | Amy Wang | Leigh Wilkinson |
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Raleigh
| Art DeBaugh | X. Lightfoot | Steve Long | Evan Musselwhite |
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| Erica Rogers | Tyler Russell | Jason Strickland | Devon Williams |
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Wilmington
| B.T. Atkinson | Adam Beaudoin | Jenna Butler | Virginia Carter |
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| Isabelle Chammas | Al Clyburn | Trip Coyne | Chris Edwards |
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| Sam Franck | Paige Inman | Justin Lewis | John Sloan |
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| Ryal Tayloe | Allen Trask | Jeremy Wilson | |
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Recognition by Best Lawyers® is based entirely on peer review. 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. You can read more about Best Lawyer's methodology here.
