25 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized as 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Ward and Smith is pleased to announce that 25 of its attorneys were recognized in the 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Of those honorees, 15 attorneys were named North Carolina Super Lawyers, including two selected to the Top 100 North Carolina Super Lawyers list, and 10 attorneys were recognized as North Carolina Rising Stars.

Each year, Super Lawyers evaluates attorneys statewide through a rigorous, multi-phase selection process that includes peer nominations, independent research, and peer evaluations. Only a small percentage of attorneys in North Carolina are named to the Super Lawyers list, while the Rising Stars designation is reserved for attorneys age 40 or younger or those in practice for 10 years or less.

The attorneys selected for inclusion in the 2026 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists are:

Asheville

Clint H. Cogburn

Rising Stars, Land Use/Zoning

Zachary F. Lamb

Super Lawyers, Estate & Probate

Lance P. Martin

Super Lawyers, Top 100, Bankruptcy: Business

Greenville

A. Charles Ellis

Super Lawyers, Personal Injury: General – Plaintiff

E. Bradley Evans

Super Lawyers, Business Litigation

Lynwood P. Evans

Super Lawyers, Personal Injury: General – Plaintiff

Paul A. Fanning

Super Lawyers, Top 100, Creditor Debtor Rights

New Bern

Angela P. Doughty, CIPP/US, AIGP, FIP

Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property

Gregory T. Peacock

Super Lawyers, Estate & Probate

Raleigh

Whitney Campbell Christensen

Rising Stars, Government Relations

Arthur J. DeBaugh

Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property

Justin T. Hill

Rising Stars, Employment & Labor

X. Lightfoot

Rising Stars, Employment & Labor

Emily G. Massey

Rising Stars, Employment & Labor

25 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized as 2026 North Carolina Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

Rising Stars, Business/Corporate

Gavin B. Parsons

Super Lawyers, Business Litigation

Mayukh Sircar, CIPP/US

Rising Stars, Technology Transactions

Jordan M. Spanner

Rising Stars, Business Litigation

Wilmington

Payton Collier Bullard

Rising Stars, Business Litigation

Christina D. Cress

Rising Stars, Utilities

Alexander C. Dale

Super Lawyers, Appellate

John M. Martin

Super Lawyers, Family Law

Will Oden

Super Lawyers, Employment & Labor

Ryal W. Tayloe

Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation

Jeremy M. Wilson

Super Lawyers, Personal Injury: General – Plaintiff

About Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. North Carolina lawyers who receive the highest point totals during this selection process are further recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers Top Lists. Visit Super Lawyers for additional information about the recognition methodology.