Thirty-three lawyers from Ward and Smith, P.A. were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 (copyright 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the U.S. The new 2013 Best Lawyers list, the 19th Edition, is based on a rigorous national survey involving more than 4 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
Ward and Smith attorneys recognized as 2013 Best Lawyers are the following:
Asheville
Derek J. Allen (2009) — Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
Michael L. Miller (1995) — Arbitration; Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Mediation; Tax Law;
Trusts and Estates
Greenville
A. Charles Ellis (1995) — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Lynwood P. Evans* — Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
Paul A. Fanning (2011) — Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights /
Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation - Bankruptcy
Merrill G. Jones, II* — Commercial Litigation
John M. Martin (1995) — Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
New Bern
James Lee Davis (1993) — Real Estate Law
William S. Durr* — Family Law
Donalt J. Eglinton (2009) — Commercial Litigation; Copyright Law; Litigation - Construction;
Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Patent; Patent Law; Trademark Law**
Michael P. Flanagan (1995) — Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and
Reorganization Law; Litigation - Bankruptcy
S. McKinley Gray, III (2009) — Litigation – Labor & Employment**; Workers' Compensation Law -
Employers
William R. Lathan (2005) — Banking and Finance Law; Financial Services Regulation Law
William E. Martin* — Real Estate Law
E. Eric Mills (2012) — Copyright Law
Gregory T. Peacock (2010) — Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
C. H. Pope, Jr. (1995) — Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law; Timber Law
E. Knox Proctor V (2010) — Administrative / Regulatory Law; Banking and Finance Law;
Corporate Law**; Financial Services Regulation Law
Clint D. Routson (2005) — Real Estate Law
Frank H. Sheffield, Jr. (1995) — Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental
J. Troy Smith, Jr. (1987) — Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law
David L. Ward, Jr. (1983) - Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Financial Services Regulation
Law; International Trade and Finance Law; Litigation - Antitrust
Leigh A. Wilkinson (2010) — Health Care Law
A. Rexford Willis, III (2012) — Corporate Law; Tax Law
Kenneth R. Wooten (2005) — Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation -
Construction
Raleigh
William Joseph Austin, Jr. (2009) — Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management;
Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Albert R. Bell, Jr. (1995) — Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management
Stuart B. Dorsett (2001) — Trusts and Estates
Gary J. Rickner (1995) — Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation;
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
James F. Verdonik (1995) — Corporate Law; Technology Law
Wilmington
Thomas S. Babel* — Commercial Litigation
Jenna Fruechtenicht Butler (2010) — Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Securities**; Litigation –
Trusts & Estates**; Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Ryal W. Tayloe (2009) — Bet-the-Company Litigation; Litigation - Construction; Litigation -
Real Estate
(Year) First year the lawyer was listed.
(*) Lawyers who are listed for the first time in Best Lawyers.
(**) First time the lawyer was recognized in this category.
