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
Rankings & Recognitions
While we are honored by the recognition both Manning Fulton and our attorneys have received, accolades have never been our singular aim. They are a reflection of the steady, strategic counsel our clients rely on and the standards we bring to every engagement.
Recognition Earned Through Steady Counsel
Since its founding, Manning Fulton has been guided by a simple principle: the highest measure of our work is the confidence placed in us by our clients.
Distinctions earned by our attorneys through peer review, professional organizations, and respected legal publications underscore the firm’s longstanding emphasis on rigor, integrity, and accountability. These values were established by our founders and continue to guide how we advise today’s institutions, enterprises, and private clients.
Our culture of close collaboration and mentorship, where emerging talent works alongside experienced partners, helps ensure continuity and consistently high-quality representation. Recognition from the legal community affirms this approach while reinforcing the standards that have shaped Manning Fulton for generations.
In a profession often measured by accolades, we remain focused on what endures: sound judgment, responsive service, and counsel that stands the test of time.
Rankings & Recognitions
Recognized attorneys
- 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
Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” in America
The firm secured 26 ranked practice areas, with 19 of those achieving the highest Tier 1 status.
2026
- Tier 1 Ranking in Raleigh for nineteen practice areas in 2026
- Tier 2 Ranking in Raleigh for four practice areas in 2026
- Tier 3 Ranking in Raleigh for three practice areas in 2026
Best Lawyers in America®
Manning Fulton attorneys were recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® across a wide range of practice areas.
2026
Recognized attorneys:
- 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; 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; Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Real Estate Law
- 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 – 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
- Michael S. Harrell – Commercial Litigation; Family 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 – 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
- 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
- Jennifer L. Weaver – Business Organizations; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Judson A. Welborn – Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law; Franchise Law; Construction Litigation; Land Use and Zoning Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Tax Litigation and Controversy
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
Legal Elite
- 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
Recognized by Chambers & Partners USA
Manning Fulton’s Commercial Real Estate Practice Group and four attorneys were recognized in the 2026 Chambers USA Legal Guide.
2026
Real Estate practice group selected for North Carolina (Band 3) in 2024-2026
Chambers recognized the following attorneys:
- Mike Medford – Insurance NC (Band 1)
- Barry Mann – Real Estate NC (Band 4)
- Alison Cayton – Real Estate NC (Band 4)
- Doug Short – Real Estate NC (Band 4)
Entrepreneur “Top Franchise Supplier”
Manning Fulton was named one of the nation’s top franchise legal suppliers by Entrepreneur magazine.
2025
Franchise Times “Legal Eagle”
Ritchie W. Taylor was recognized in Franchise Times’ 2025 “Legal Eagles” list for his work in franchise law.
2025
Lexology Index: Franchise Law 2026
Four Manning Fulton attorneys were named Global Leaders in Franchise Law in the 2026 Lexology Index – Franchising.
2026
Recognized attorneys:
- Ritchie W. Taylor
- Judson Welborn
- Natalie Rice
- Mike Medford
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent®
Manning Fulton and members of its legal team have earned Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating, its highest standard for professional excellence and ethical standing.
North Carolina Lawyers’ Weekly “Leaders in the Law”
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
Super Lawyers
- 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