Manning Fulton’s Judd Welborn Named a 2026 Managing Partner to Watch

North Carolina Lawyers Weekly honors his leadership in a transformative year that included a new Raleigh headquarters, a Durham office relocation, a refreshed brand, and a growing AI initiative.

For the third time, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly has named Manning Fulton Managing Partner Judd Welborn to its Managing Partners to Watch List. The 2026 list recognizes the leaders behind some of North Carolina’s most respected law firms, and Judd’s return to it reflects a consistent record of steering Manning Fulton through change while keeping the firm focused on clients. The honor caps one of the most significant years in the firm’s recent history, and much of that progress traces directly to Judd’s leadership.

In September, Manning Fulton opened its new Raleigh office at GlenLake V and introduced a modernized brand and in October, it relocated its office in downtown Durham on the American Tobacco Campus. Judd led the moves with a clear purpose: not just to change addresses, but to build a platform designed around how clients want to be served and how attorneys work today. Superior locations and physical spaces that balance focused work with collaboration gives the firm an advantage in recruiting and retaining top talent. The location of its headquarters also positions Manning Fulton for long-term growth in an area expected to be among Raleigh’s most active for development over the next decade.

Judd’s impact reaches well beyond brick and mortar. As artificial intelligence, rising client expectations, and a shifting economy reshape the delivery of legal services, he has ensured Manning Fulton evolves alongside the businesses, families and individuals it represents. Under his direction, the firm continues to advance its AI initiative, adopting tools that help attorneys work more efficiently while keeping sound judgment and personal service at the center of every client relationship. That forward-looking approach has kept Manning Fulton competitive in both revenue growth and profitability, and it positions the firm to guide clients with confidence through whatever lies ahead.

According to Judd, “This recognition really belongs to our attorneys and staff. Every decision we made this year, from our new spaces to how we use technology, came back to one question: how do we better serve our clients while providing our legal professionals with the tools and platform to succeed? I’m proud of how our team answered it, and I’m excited about where Manning Fulton is headed.”

The complete 2026 Managing Partners to Watch Power List is available here.