49 Ward and Smith Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for 2022

Best Lawyers® has recognized 49 Ward and Smith attorneys in more than 30 practice areas from across the firm’s five offices. 

The 2022 edition of the prestigious guide named 42 attorneys as “The Best Lawyers in America,” seven were recognized as “Ones to Watch,” and two were honored as “Lawyer of the Year.”

Released annually since 1983, Best Lawyers® highlights the most accomplished and highly acclaimed legal practitioners in their respective practice areas. The recognition is based entirely on peer review, and 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. 

The Ward and Smith attorneys recognized in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers® are:

Asheville

Jenny Boyer (2022)

• Tax Law
• Trusts and Estates

Bill Durr (2013)

• Construction Litigation
• Family Law

Zac Lamb (2019)

• Tax Law
• Trusts and Estates

Norman Leonard (2022)

• Litigation – Banking and Finance

Lance Martin (2015)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Joanne Badr Morgan (2020)

• Banking and Finance Law
• Real Estate Law

Bill Wolcott (2018)

• Real Estate Law

Greenville

Drake Brinkley (2020)

• Real Estate Law

Charles Ellis (1995)

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

Brad Evans (2016)

• Antitrust Law
• 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

Cliff Parson (2021)

• Real Estate Law

Greg Peacock (2010)

• Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Trusts and Estates

Knox Proctor (2010)

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

Lauren Quinn (2021)

• Family Law

Eric Remington (2020)

• Land Use and Zoning Law

Clint Routson (2005)

• Real Estate Law

Ryan Simmons (2021)

• Patent Law

Troy Smith (1987)

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

Amy Wang (2019)

• Environmental Law

Leigh Wilkinson (2010)

• Health Care Law

Raleigh

Jeff Bandini (2012)

• Real Estate Law

Danny Brader (2021)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Joe DelPapa (2021)

• Corporate Law

Xavier Lightfoot (2021)

• Litigation – Construction
• Litigation – Labor and Employment

Steven Long (2010)

• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Tax Law

Evan Musselwhite (2021)

• Construction Law
• Litigation – Construction

Gary Rickner (1995)

• Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Commercial Litigation

Erica Rogers (2021)

• Intellectual Property Law

Tyler Russell (2020)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Jason Strickland (2019)

• Litigation – Construction

Wilmington

B.T. Atkinson (2010)

• Securities/Capital Markets Law

Jenna Butler (2010)

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

Virginia Carter (2022)

• Trusts and Estates

Trip Coyne (2016)

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

Chris Edwards (2021)

• Commercial Litigation

Sam Franck (2021)

• Community Association Law

Paige Inman (2021)

• Family Law
• Litigation – Trusts and Estates

John Sloan (2018)

• Trusts and Estates

Ryal Tayloe (2009)

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

Jeremy Wilson (2020)

• Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs