Several Wilmington-area attorneys have been named to the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, according to a news release. 

Best Lawyers list is based on a peer-review survey, with more than 50,000 attorneys casting more than 5.5 million votes on "the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas," stated a release.

Colleen Shea, an attorney at Cranfill Sumner & Hartzog LLP (CSH Law) was named a Best Lawyers 2021 Lawyer of the Year for medical malpractice law - defendants in the Wilmington metro area, according to the release.

Lawyer of the Year is presented annually to one attorney in each practice area in each market.
 
Shea is a partner at the CSH Law Wilmington office. She is a member of the firm’s medical malpractice, premises liability and professional liability practice groups.

"She focuses on the defense of catastrophic injury cases, healthcare and dental providers sued for malpractice, and mental health specialists accused of malpractice, including boundary violations and sexual exploitation. She also advises physicians, therapists, nurses and dentists on charges before various state agencies," stated the release.

Other CSH Law attorney's included in The Best Lawyers in America 2021 list are: Jason Harris (admiralty and maritime law; personal injury litigation – defendants), John Martin (medical malpractice law – defendants); Rebecca Knudson (personal injury litigation – plaintiffs); and Melody Jolly (professional malpractice law – defendants).

Barnwell Whaley attorney Christopher Hinnant was also recognized on the list for insurance and personal injury litigation - defendants.

McAngus Goudelock & Courie attorneys Chris Bell and Jason Toups were recognized on the list for workers’ compensation law – employers.

And local Brooks Pierce attorneys Charles Baldwin and Ed West also made it on the list. Baldwin was recognized for international trade and finance law. West was recognized for commercial litigation, criminal defense, white-collar, litigation and controversy - tax.

Editor's note: This story is not a full, comprehensive list of all local attorneys. To read about additional attorneys that made it on the list in a secondary story, click here.