Manning, Fulton & Skinner, P.A. is proud to announce that 18 of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” list. This is the 25th class of Legal Elite attorneys, which honors the state’s top legal talent in 17 practice areas. This year, fewer than 3% of the state’s 30,000 active attorneys were designated as “Legal Elite.”
Our attorneys recognized for 2026 are:
- Mike T. Medford for Antitrust & Complex Business Disputes
- William C. Smith for Bankruptcy
- Judson A. Welborn for Construction
- Jennifer L. Weaver for Corporate Law
- Thomas I. Lyon for Corporate Law
- William B. Gwyn for Corporate Law
- William S. Cherry for Employment
- Jessica B. Vickers for Litigation
- Alison R. Cayton for Real Estate Law
- Douglas J. Short for Real Estate Law
- Joseph B. Bass for Real Estate Law
- Jessica Elliott for Real Estate Law
- B. Zachary Taylor for Real Estate Law
- Sandra M. Clark for Tax & Estate Planning
- Steve T. Byrd for Tax & Estate Planning
In addition, the following three attorneys were named to Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite Young Guns” 2026 list:
To view the full 2026 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.
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 seven decades. With over 30 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.
