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

August 14, 2019

Ward and Smith, P.A.

Best Lawyers®, one of the most respected and trusted attorney rating service 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 Laywers® honored a Ward and Smith attorney.

39-Attorneys-Best-Lawyers-2020

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 Laywers® 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.