We are pleased to announce that the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in America© recognizes 23 firm attorneys, including 8 Bell, Davis & Pitt attorneys named "Lawyer of the Year."

The "Lawyer 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 "Lawyer of the Year" designation for their respective practice area are:

• John A. Cocklereece Jr. — Litigation and Controversy – Tax in the Triad
• Ward B. Davis — Appellate Practice in Charlotte
• Arthur J. DeBaugh — Trade Secrets Law in the Triad
• Bradley Friesen — Litigation – Land Use and Zoning in the Triad
• Stephen D. Poe — Financial Services Regulation Law in the Triad
• Alan M. Ruley — Litigation – Insurance in the Triad
• Robin J. Stinson — Family Law in the Triad
• Kevin Williams — Bet-the-Company Litigation in the Triad

A total of 23 attorneys from the firm have been named to the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers in America© list. The Bell, Davis & Pitt attorneys recognized this year, along with the relevant practice area(s), are:

• Frank Bell (Real Estate Law)
• Daniel C. Bruton (Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; and Litigation - Bankruptcy)
• D. Anderson Carmen (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Construction Law; Litigation - Construction)
• John A. Cocklereece, Jr. (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 (Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Tax Law)
• Ward Davis (Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Banking and Finance, Litigation-Construction, Litigation-Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law -Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants)
• William K. Davis (Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants)
• Arthur J. DeBaugh (Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Copyright Law; Litigation-Intellectual Property; Trade Secrets Law; Trademark Law)
• Joshua B. Durham (Commercial Litigation)
• Andrew Freeman (Commercial Litigation, Litigation-Banking and Finance, Litigation-Intellectual Property)
• Bradley Friesen (Litigation - Land Use and Zoning; Litigation - Real Estate)
• Marc E. Gustafson (Commercial Litigation; Employment Law - Individuals; Litigation -Labor and Employment)
• James M. Iseman, Jr. (Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Corporate Law, Tax Law; Trusts and Estates)
• Mark A. Jones (Criminal Defense: White-Collar)
• Mallory M. Oates (Real Estate Law)
• Walter W. Pitt, Jr. (Administrative/Regulatory Law; Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Real Estate Law)
• Stephen D. Poe (Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Financial Services Regulation Law; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Real Estate Law.)
• Elizabeth M. Repetti (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation - Bankruptcy)
• Alan M. Ruley (Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation-Banking and Finance, Litigation-Insurance; Litigation-Intellectual Property)
• Amy K. Smith (Trusts and Estates; Tax Law; Elder Law)
• Robin J. Stinson (Family Law; Family Law Mediation; Family Law Arbitration)
• Kevin G. Williams (Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Litigation-Insurance, Litigation-Intellectual Property)
• Charlot F. Wood (Commercial Litigation; Employment Law - Individuals; Employment Law - Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Workers' Compensation Law - Employers)

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 eligibility check.