We are pleased to announce that the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America^®recognizes 28 Bell, Davis, & Pitt attorneys, including 6 Bell, Davis & Pitt attorneys named "Lawyers of the Year."*

The "Lawyers of the Year" award recognizes the attorney with the highest overall peer feedback for a practice area in a specific region. The attorneys who received the "Lawyers of the Year" designation for their respective practice areas are:

Charlotte

• Edward B. Davis Appellate Practice

Triad

• Daniel C. Bruton Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Galen G. Craun III Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Mark A. Jones Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Michael D. Phillips Litigation - Health Care
• Kevin G. Williams Litigation - Intellectual Property

A total of 25 attorneys from the firm have been named to the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America^® list. The Bell, Davis & Pitt attorneys recognized, along with the relevant practice area(s), are:

Charlotte, NC

• Edward B. Davis (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013)
  • Appellate Practice
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Mediation
• Joshua B. Durham (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2019)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Lacey Moore Duskin (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)
  • Litigation - Construction
• Marc E. Gustafson (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Employment Law - Individuals
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Mediation
• Jeremy Sugg (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)
  • Commercial Litigation

Winston-Salem, NC

• Frank M. Bell, Jr. (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1989)
  • Real Estate Law
• Daniel C. Bruton (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010)
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Bankruptcy
• Kris Bryant (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Corporate Law
• Jones P. Byrd, Jr. (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• D. Anderson Carmen (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2009)
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Construction Law
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Mediation
• John A. Cocklereece, Jr. (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011)
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Litigation and Controversy - Tax
  • Tax Law
  • Trusts and Estates
• Galen G. Craun III (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2015)
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Tax Law
• William K. Davis (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1993)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
  • Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Adam T. Duke (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
  • Real Estate Law
• Andrew Freeman (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2020)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Bradley Friesen (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2021)
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
  • Litigation - Real Estate
• Clara Ignich (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)
  • Collaborative Law: Family Law
  • Family Law
  • Family Law Arbitration
• James M. Iseman Jr. (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2015)
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Corporate Law
  • Tax Law
  • Trusts and Estates
• Mark A. Jones (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2017)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Litigation - Health Care
• Mallory M. Oates (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2021)
  • Real Estate Law
• Michael D. Phillips (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Health Care
• Walter W. Pitt, Jr. (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1995)
  • Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Real Estate Law
• Alan M. Ruley (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Amy K. Smith (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007)
  • Elder Law
  • Tax Law
  • Trusts and Estates
• Kevin G. Williams (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010)
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates

To learn more about the above attorneys visit the "Our Team" page HERE.

*Recognition for Best Lawyers is based entirely by peer review by leading lawyers. The Best Lawyers methodology includes a nomination process, peer-review voting, analysis of feedback, and an eligibility check.