Ward and Smith is proud to announce that Co-Managing Directors Brad Evans and Devon Williams have been named to Business North Carolina’s 2025 Power List, an annual roundup of the state’s most influential leaders across a wide range of industries.
The list recognizes individuals who are making a significant impact in their professions and communities. This year’s honorees span 17 sectors, ranging from agriculture to education to law. More than 30 attorneys were included in the legal category, with a focus on those serving in prominent leadership roles, often at large firms across North Carolina’s metropolitan areas.
Brad and Devon’s inclusion highlights their shared leadership of Ward and Smith, which has grown to include more than 100 attorneys across six offices statewide.
Their individual profiles were featured in a special edition of Business North Carolina that highlights the 2025 Power List honorees and offers a closer look at the people shaping North Carolina’s future.
Brad Evans: Thoughtful Leader and Seasoned Litigator
Based in Greenville, Brad brings a wealth of experience to his practice, handling complex disputes involving intellectual property, business, estate, and professional licensing matters. He’s also known for his work with clients in the construction industry, representing them in both state and federal courts.
In 2023, Brad was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates—an honor reserved for experienced trial lawyers—and he’s also a certified mediator with the North Carolina Supreme Court. Outside of the office, he’s a board member for the North Carolina chapter of The Nature Conservancy and is part of a local morning workout group.
Brad credits U.S. District Judge Malcolm Howard, for whom he clerked early in his career, as a lasting influence: “Despite all of his accomplishments as a soldier, lawyer, and judge, he’s incredibly humble and gracious with everyone.”
You can find Brad’s full profile featured on page 90 of the Power List edition.
Devon Williams: Strategic, Grounded, and People-Focused
Devon, who is based in Raleigh, focuses her legal practice on labor and employment matters and works with clients in the hemp, cannabis, and alcoholic beverage industries. She’s also been named a “Managing Partner to Watch” two years in a row by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly—a recognition of her growing influence in the legal community.
Devon is known for her thoughtful and team-oriented leadership style. “Ensure that everyone on the team understands (a) that their role is important to the mission and (b) how their contribution fits into achieving the goal,” she shared with Business North Carolina.
She begins each day with her family in prayer and counts becoming a mom to her two daughters as the most meaningful change in her life. She also credits longtime Ward and Smith attorney Al Bell as a key mentor who invested in her success from the start.
You can read the full list and their profiles here: Business North Carolina’s 2025 Power List.
