Retail & E-Commerce
Overview
Helping Retail and E-Commerce Businesses Navigate Growth, Compliance, and Transactions
From traditional storefronts and multi-location retailers to emerging brands and online businesses, the retail industry continues to evolve alongside changing technology, consumer expectations, and methods of doing business. We help retailers and e-commerce companies manage the legal issues that come with operating and growing across physical and digital markets.
Whether launching a new brand, opening or leasing a location, developing an e-commerce business, negotiating supplier and distribution agreements, managing employees, or protecting customer information and intellectual property, we provide legal counsel tailored to retail and e-commerce businesses. Our attorneys help clients structure companies, protect trademarks and brand assets, manage privacy and data security concerns, navigate commercial relationships, and position their businesses for continued growth.
Rankings & Recognitions
Business North Carolina “Legal Elite”
Fifteen Manning Fulton attorneys were recognized in Business North Carolina’s 2026 “Legal Elite,” with three additional attorneys named “Legal Elite Young Guns.”
2026
- Mike T. Medford - Antitrust & Complex Business Disputes
- William C. Smith - Bankruptcy
- Judson A. Welborn - Construction
- Jennifer L. Weaver - Corporate Law
- Thomas I. Lyon - Corporate Law
- William B. Gwyn - Corporate Law
- William S. Cherry - Employment
- Jessica B. Vickers - Litigation
- Alison R. Cayton - Real Estate Law
- Douglas J. Short - Real Estate Law
- Joseph B. Bass - Real Estate Law
- Jessica Elliott - Real Estate Law
- B. Zachary Taylor - Real Estate Law
- Sandra M. Clark - Tax & Estate Planning
- Steve T. Byrd - Tax & Estate Planning
- Chris Bobby
- Lawrence D. Graham
- Matthew P. Muntean
North Carolina Super Lawyers
Twenty-three Manning Fulton attorneys were recognized by Super Lawyers in 2026, including 17 Super Lawyers and 6 Rising Stars.
2026
- Joseph B. Bass - Real Estate
- Stephen T. Byrd - Estate & Probate
- Alison R. Cayton - Real Estate
- William S. Cherry III - Business Litigation
- Sandra Martin Clark - Estate & Probate
- William B. Gwyn Jr. - Business/Corporate
- Deborah L. Hildebran-Bachofen - Estate & Probate
- Thomas I. Lyon - Mergers & Acquisitions
- Barry D. Mann - Real Estate
- Michael T. Medford - Business Litigation
- Kevin A. Prakke - Securities & Corporate Finance
- Douglas J. Short - Real Estate
- William C. Smith, Jr. - Civil Litigation Defense
- Ritchie W. Taylor - Franchise/Dealership
- Jessica B. Vickers - Business Litigation
- Jennifer L. Weaver - Business/Corporate
- Judson A. Welborn - Business Litigation
- J. Patrick Bailey - Real Estate
- Angela C. Baldwin - Estate & Probate
- Chris N. Bobby - Business/Corporate
- Lawrence Graham, Jr. - Civil Litigation Defense
- Matthew P. Muntean - Business/Corporate
- B. Zachary Taylor - Real Estate
Best Law Firms: Metropolitan Tier 1
The firm secured 26 ranked practice areas, with 19 of those achieving the highest Tier 1 status.
2026
- Appellate Practice
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Business Organizations
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Commercial Finance Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Corporate Law
- Health Care Law
- Insurance Law
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Insurance
- Litigation – Labor & Employment
- Litigation – Real Estate
- Litigation – Real Estate
- Litigation & Controversy – Tax
- Mergers & Acquisitions Law
- Real Estate Law
- Real Estate Litigation
- Tax Law
- Trusts & Estates Law
Best Lawyers in America®
Twenty-seven Manning Fulton attorneys were recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® across a broad range of practice areas.
2027
- Eugene F. Dauchert, Jr. - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Randolph M. Fletcher - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law
- Dieter Mauch - Employment Law Management; Labor and Employment Litigation
- Charles L. Steel IV - Corporate Law; Tax Litigation and Controversy; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
- Reich L. Welborn - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Real Estate Law
- Holly B. Martin - Trusts and Estates
- Joseph B. Bass - Real Estate Law
- Stephen T. Byrd - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
- Alison R. Cayton - Commercial Finance Law; Real Estate Law
- William S. Cherry III - Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Employment Law Management; Insurance Law; Insurance Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Labor and Employment Litigation
- Sandra Martin Clark - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law; Corporate Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
- James H. Clarke - Corporate Law; Healthcare Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Jessica L. Elliott - Real Estate Law
- William B. Gwyn, Jr. - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law; Commercial Finance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Deborah L. Hildebran-Bachofen - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
- Thomas I. Lyon - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Corporate Law
- Barry D. Mann - Real Estate Law
- Michael T. Medford - Antitrust Law; Appellate Practice; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Antitrust Litigation; Insurance Litigation; Labor and Employment Litigation; Tax Litigation and Controversy
- Charles H. Munn - Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Kevin A. Prakke - Business Organizations; Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities Regulation
- Natalie M. Rice - Commercial Litigation
- Douglas J. Short - Real Estate Law
- William C. Smith, Jr. - Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Construction Litigation
- Ritchie W. Taylor - Business Organizations; Corporate Law; Franchise Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Jessica B. Vickers - Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law
- Jennifer L. Weaver - Business Organizations; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Trust and Estates
- Judson A. Welborn - Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law; Franchise Law; Banking and Finance Litigation; Construction Litigation; Land Use and Zoning Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Tax Litigation and Controversy
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
Eight Manning Fulton attorneys were recognized in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
2027
Recognized attorneys
- Matthew Muntean - Business Organizations; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- J. Patrick Bailey, Jr. - Real Estate Law
- Angela C. Baldwin - Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Trusts and Estates
- Cecilia Barreca - Business Organizations
- Chris N. Bobby - Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Tax Law
- Lawrence D. Graham - Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation
- Corinne E. O’Reilly - Business Organizations
- B. Zack Taylor, Jr. - Real Estate Law