Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. Over 83,000 leading attorneys globally are eligible to vote, and we have received more than 13 million votes to date on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. For the 2017 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, 7.3 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in almost 55,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, therefore inclusion in Best Lawyers® is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."
Ward and Smith, P.A. attorneys recognized as 2017 Best Lawyers® include:
Asheville
Derek J. Allen (2009) [5]
Land Use and Zoning Law
Litigation — Land Use and Zoning
William S. Durr (2013) [5]
Family Law
Lance P. Martin (2015)
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Greenville
A. Charles Ellis (1995) [20]
Medical Malpractice Law — Plaintiffs
Personal Injury Litigation — Plaintiffs
Lynwood P. Evans (2013) [5]
Medical Malpractice Law — Plaintiffs
E. Bradley Evans (2016)
Commercial Litigation
Litigation — Construction
Paul A. Fanning (2011) [5]
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Litigation — Bankruptcy
Michael P. Flanagan (1995) [20]
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Litigation — Bankruptcy
Merrill G. Jones, II (2013) [5]
Corporate Law
John M. Martin (1995) [20]
Family Law
Personal Injury Litigation — Plaintiffs
New Bern
Donalt J. Eglinton (2009) [5]
Commercial Litigation
Copyright Law
Litigation — Construction
Litigation — Intellectual Property
Litigation — Patent
Patent Law
Trademark Law
S. McKinley Gray, III (2009) [5]
Litigation — Labor and Employment
Workers' Compensation Law — Employers
William R. Lathan, Jr. (2005) [10]
Banking and Finance Law
Financial Services Regulation Law
Gregory T. Peacock (2010) [5]
Litigation — Trusts and Estates
Trusts and Estates
C. H. Pope, Jr. (1995) [20]
Land Use and Zoning Law
Real Estate Law
Timber Law
E. Knox Proctor V (2010) [5]
Administrative / Regulatory Law
Banking and Finance Law
Corporate Law
Financial Services Regulation Law
Clint D. Routson (2005) [10]
Real Estate Law
J. Troy Smith, Jr. (1987) [30]
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
David L. Ward, Jr. (1983) [30]
Banking and Finance Law
Corporate Law
Financial Services Regulation Law
International Trade and Finance Law
Litigation — Antitrust
Leigh A. Wilkinson (2010) [5]
Health Care Law
Kenneth R. Wooten (2005) [10]
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Litigation — Construction
Raleigh
William Joseph Austin, Jr. (2009) [5]
Employment Law — Management
Labor Law — Management
Workers' Compensation Law — Employers
Albert R. Bell, Jr. (1995) [20]
Employment Law — Management
Labor Law — Management
William E. Martin (2013) [5]
Real Estate Law
Michael L. Miller (1991) [25]
Arbitration
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Mediation
Tax Law
Trusts and Estates
Gary J. Rickner (1995) [20]
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
James F. Verdonik (1995) [20]
Corporate Law
Technology Law
Venture Capital Law
Wilmington
Thomas S. Babel (2013) [5]
Commercial Litigation
Jenna Fruechtenicht Butler (2010) [5]
Commercial Litigation
Litigation — Securities
Litigation — Trusts and Estates
Personal Injury Litigation — Plaintiffs
Edward J. Coyne, III (2016)
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Ryal W. Tayloe (2009) [5]
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Litigation — Construction
Litigation — Real Estate
(Year) First year the lawyer was listed.
(*) Lawyers who are listed for the first time in Best Lawyers.
[] Total number of years of inclusion.
