Recognition Earned Through Steady Counsel
Manning Fulton is defined by decisive judgment, disciplined practice, and a deep commitment to those we serve. While we are honored by the recognition our attorneys and firm have received, accolades have never been our aim. They are a reflection of the steady, strategic counsel our clients rely on and the standards we bring to every engagement.
Since its founding, Manning Fulton has been guided by a simple principle: the highest measure of our work is the confidence our clients place in us.
The 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, Howard Manning, Charles Fulton, and William Skinner, 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, ensures continuity and consistently high-quality representation. Recognition from the legal community affirms this approach, but the most meaningful acknowledgment remains the trust our clients place in us to help navigate change, protect what they have built, and plan confidently for what comes next.
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.
Selected Honors and Distinctions
Our attorneys and the firm have been recognized by the following organizations, among others:
- American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
- Benchmark Litigation
- Recognized by Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms” in U.S. News & World Report
- Tier 1 Ranking in Raleigh for twenty practice areas in 2025
- Tier 2 Ranking in Raleigh for four practice areas in 2025
- Tier 3 Ranking in Raleigh for three practice areas in 2025
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in America in U.S. News & World Report
- Twenty nine Manning Fulton attorneys named in 2025
- Three Manning Fulton attorneys have received prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” designations in Raleigh
- Barry Mann (Real Estate Law)
- Reich Welborn (Mergers and Acquisitions Law)
- Michael Medford (Insurance Litigation)
- Recognized by Business North Carolina “Legal Elite”
- Ten Manning Fulton attorneys named on “Legal Elite” list in 2025
- Five Manning Fulton attorneys named on “Young Guns” list in 2025
- Recognized by Chambers & Partners USA
- 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 Magazines “Top Franchise Supplier”
- Franchise Times “Legal Eagles”
- International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
- Lexology Index (previously Who’s Who Legal)
- Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (AV Ratings)
- North Carolina Lawyers’ Weekly “Leaders in the Law”
- Recognized by North Carolina Super Lawyers
- Eighteen Manning Fulton attorneys named to “Super Lawyers” list in 2025
- Ten Manning Fulton attorneys named to “Rising Stars” list in 2025
- Triangle Commercial Real Estate Women (TCREW)
- Triangle Business Journal’s inaugural Triangle Law Awards recipient for Estate Planning 2026