39 Ward and Smith Attorneys Make 2020 Best Lawyers in America® List

Gold 3D stars

Best Lawyers®, one of the most respected and trusted attorney rating services in the country, is recognizing 39 Ward and Smith attorneys as "2020 Best Lawyers."

Released annually since 1983, this list highlights the most accomplished and highly acclaimed legal practitioners in their respective practice areas. Out of the 39 attorneys selected, five are receiving this recognition for the first time as noted in the list below with an asterisk by their names. The year signifies the first time Best Lawyers® honored a Ward and Smith attorney.

ASHEVILLE

Derek Allen (2009)

  • Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning

Bill Durr (2013)

  • Family Law

Zac Lamb (2019)

  • Tax Law
  • Trusts and Estates

Lance Martin (2015)

  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Joanne Badr Morgan (*)

  • Real Estate Law

Bill Wolcott (2018)

  • Real Estate Law

GREENVILLE

Drake Brinkley (*)

  • Real Estate Law

Charles Ellis (1995)

  • Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Brad Evans (2016)

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Construction

Lynwood Evans (2013)

  • Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Paul Fanning (2011)

  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy

Michael Fields (2018)

  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Merrill Jones (2013)

  • Corporate Law

John Martin (1995)

  • Family Law
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

NEW BERN

Don Eglinton (2009)

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Copyright Law
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
  • Litigation - Patent
  • Patent Law
  • Trademark Law

Ken Gray (2009)

  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Workers' Compensation Law - Employers

Bill Lathan (2005)

  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Financial Services Regulation Law

Bill Martin (2013)

  • Real Estate Law

Greg Peacock (2010)

  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates
  • Trusts and Estates

C. H. Pope (1995)

  • Land Use and Zoning Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Timber Law

Knox Proctor (2010)

  • Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Financial Services Regulation Law

Eric Remington (*)

  • Land Use and Zoning Law

Clint Routson (2005)

  • Real Estate Law

Troy Smith (1987)

  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Law

Amy Wang (2019)

  • Environmental Law

David Ward (1983)

  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Financial Services Regulation Law
  • International Trade and Finance Law
  • Litigation - Antitrust

Leigh Wilkinson (2010)

  • Health Care Law

Ken Wooten (2005)

  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Construction 

RALEIGH

John Cella (2018)

  • Trusts and Estates

Steven Long (2010)

  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Tax Law

Gary Rickner (1995)

  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation

Tyler Russell (*)

  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Jerry Sayre (2018)

  • Litigation - Labor and Employment

Jason Strickland (2019)

  • Litigation - Construction

WILMINGTON

Jenna Butler (2010)

  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Securities
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Trip Coyne (2016)

  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Litigation - Construction

John Sloan (2018)

  • Trusts and Estates

Ryal Tayloe (2009)

  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Law
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Real Estate

Jeremy Wilson (*)

  • Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

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.

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