Manning Fulton Attorneys Shine Again in Business North Carolina’s 2025 ‘Legal Elite’

Manning, Fulton & Skinner, P.A. is proud to announce that twenty of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 edition of Business North Carolina’s “‘Legal Elite’” list. This annual award, voted on by other attorneys across North Carolina, honors the state’s top legal talent in 16 business-related categories.

Our attorneys recognized for 2025 are:

1. Mike T. Medford for Antitrust


2. Ritchie W. Taylor for Business


3. Kevin A. Prakke for Business


4. Jennifer L. Weaver for Corporate Law


5. Thomas I. Lyon for Corporate Law


6. William B. Gwyn for Corporate Law


7. William S. Cherry for Employment


8. Michael S. Harrell for Family Law


9. Jessica B. Vickers for Litigation


10. Judson A. Welborn for Litigation


11. Alison R. Cayton for Real Estate Law


12. Douglas J. Short for Real Estate Law


13. Chris Bobby for Tax & Estate Planning


14. Sandra M. Clark for Tax & Estate Planning


15. Steve T. Byrd for Tax & Estate Planning

In addition, the following five attorneys were named to Business North Carolina’s ‘Legal Elite Young Guns’ 2025 list, including Carlie Smith who was the top vote getter statewide in this category:

• Carlie A. Smith


• Angela C. Baldwin


• B. Zack Taylor


• Lawrence D. Graham


• Matthew P. Muntean

In addition, the 2025 ‘Legal Elite’ edition recognized Manning Fulton’s Legal Elite Hall of Fame member, Barry D. Mann (Real Estate 2005), who is ineligible to win again. To view the full 2025 list, click here.

About Business North Carolina and its ‘Legal Elite’ Methodology

Business North Carolina, the state’s leading business magazine, annually recognizes North Carolina’s top attorneys through its rigorous “Legal Elite” selection process. All active members of the North Carolina State Bar who reside across the state receive ballots from the publication and vote for peers whose work they have directly observed, ensuring the list reflects genuine respect and admiration within the legal community. Voters are not allowed to vote for themselves and may only select members of their own firms if they also select out-of-firm lawyers in the same categories, with out-of-firm votes weighted more heavily. Attorneys receiving the most votes in their respective categories become permanent members of the ‘Legal Elite’ Hall of Fame.

This year, fewer than 4% of the state’s 28,000 active attorneys were selected as ‘Legal Elite.’ To read more visit https://businessnc.com/special-sections/legal-elite/.

About Manning Fulton

Founded in 1955, Manning Fulton is one of North Carolina’s most established law firms, proudly serving clients across the Triangle and eastern North Carolina for nearly seven decades. With over 40 attorneys with a wide range of specialties and experience, the firm provides a full range of legal services to businesses and individuals throughout the state. Manning Fulton remains dedicated to providing its clients with accessible, high-quality legal expertise, fostering long-term relationships built on trust and results. Put simply, we focus on what matters.