Several attorneys in the Wilmington area were honored in the 2021 edition of
The Best Lawyers in America.
Jill Peters Kaess was named the 2021
Lawyer of the Year for Trusts and Estates in Wilmington. She is a partner at Wilmington-based firm Lee Kaess PLLC.
She is a certified public accountant and is a board-certified specialist in estate planning and fiduciary law with the N.C. State Bar. She has served on the board of directors of the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services Inc. She also served as the vice chair of the board of visitors at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and as secretary for the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation Board of Trustees, according to the firm's website.
Michael V. Lee, also a partner at Lee Kaess, made the list in Real Estate Law. On top of being an area attorney, Lee served as a state senator from 2014-2018. He is currently vying for the District 9 state senate seat against incumbent Sen. Harper Peterson.
Previously while in the legislature, he served as the co-chair of the Education Policy and Appropriations Committee. Lee has also served on the N.C. Department of Transportation board and has chaired the N.C. State Ports Authority board.
Nine attorneys with Murchison, Taylor & Gibson PLLC were named on the 2021
Best Lawyers list. Two of the firm's attorneys earned a Lawyer of the Year Award.
Joseph O. Taylor was named a
Lawyer of the Year for Real Estate Law in Wilmington and
W. Berry Trice who was recognized as Lawyer of the Year in Corporate Law in Wilmington.
Other firm attorneys that made it on the list are:
G. Stephen Diab (Trust & Estates);
Scott M. Holmes (Real Estate Law);
David G. Martin (Real Estate Law);
Franklin E. Martin (Real Estate Law);
Andrew K. McVey (Litigation - Labor and Employment);
Brian G. Morrison (Trust & Estates);
Michael Murchison (Employment Law- Management, Health Care Law & Litigation – Labor and Employment);
Joseph O. Taylor (Land Use and Zoning Law & Real Estate Law); and
W. Berry Trice (Corporate Law).
McGuireWoods' attorney
Henry "Hal" Kitchin was also named on the
Best Lawyers list in the category of Business Litigation. Kitchin is based at the firm's Wilmington office, he practices business, commercial and real estate litigation and regulatory matters, according to the frim. On top of being a local attorney, he also serves as chair of the University of North Carolina Wilmington Board of Trustees.
J. Dickson McLean, another McGuireWoods' attorney, made the list in the category of Corporate Law. He is a former managing partner of the Wilmington office, stated the company website. He represents and counsels corporate clients in the areas of corporate and securities law, and mergers and acquisitions, as well as tax, environmental and employment law, and estate planning for closely-held businesses, states the website.
James W. Lea was recognized as a Lawyer of the Year for his work in Family Law. He has spent 40 years in practice and works exclusively in the area of Family Law. He has been named to
The Best Lawyers in America list the past 15 years.
Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP Attorney
John D. Martin was named to the list in the area of Litigation - Insurance and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants.
James W. McGee Jr., an attorney at The McGee Law Firm, was recognized in the DUI / DWI Defense category. The majority of his law practice focuses on criminal defense, particularly DWI defense, stated the listing.
Jenna Fruechtenicht Butler, a lawyer with Ward and Smith P.A., was honored for her work in Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Securities, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Her practice "experience encompasses various areas of civil litigation in both the federal and state courts and before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority," states the website.
Ward and Smith attorney
Ryal W. Tayloe was named a
Lawyer of the Year in Litigation – Construction. He was also recognized by
Best Lawyers for his work in Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Real Estate.
Also at Ward and Smith, attorney
John R. Sloan was recognized in Trusts and Estates;
Jeremy M. Wilson was recognized for work in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; attorney
Edward James Coyne was recognized for his work in Business Organizations (including LLCs and partnerships) and Litigation - Construction; and attorney
Sam Franck was recognized for Community Association Law.
Editor's note: This is a secondary story to include more area attorneys that were recognized on the Best Lawyers list. These stories compile what was listed online and some local firm announcements and are not a full, comprehensive list of all local attorneys.
Attorneys not included in these stories but made it on the 2021 Best Lawyers List should notify the Business Journal by emailing [email protected].
