Ten Van Winkle attorneys honored in state, national publications

February 23, 2007 — As The Van Winkle Law Firm kicks off its centennial year, the firm announces that 10 of its attorneys have been honored by their peers in the latest editions of the top legal directories in North Carolina and the United States.
                             
Best Lawyers in America, the nation’s preeminent legal referral guide, honors seven attorneys of The Van Winkle Law Firm in its 2007-2008 edition: Jones Byrd (in the Construction Law, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, and Personal Injury Litigation categories), Cynthia Eller (Real Estate Law), Barry Kempson (Trusts and Estates), Brian Lavelle (Tax Law and Trusts and Estates); Larry McDevitt (Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation), Philip Smith (Commercial Litigation) and Albert Sneed (Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law). Kempson, Lavelle, Smith and Sneed have been honored 10 years or more in this publication. The current edition of this biennial directory is based on 1.8 million detailed evaluations of attorneys by other attorneys.

Six Van Winkle attorneys have ranked among the top in the North Carolina by appearing in the 2007 edition of North Carolina Super Lawyers. Only five percent of attorneys in the state are named in this prestigious list, which is determined by surveys of more than 14,000 active lawyers across the state who have been in practice five years or more. Appearing in the publication are Robert Haggard, Kempson, Lavelle and Adam Shealy, all for their work in Estate Planning and Probate, and McDevitt and Allan Tarleton for their work in Civil Litigation Defense.

Business North Carolina magazine’s 2007 Legal Elite edition recognizes four Van Winkle attorneys for their outstanding work. Haggard is listed for his Tax and Estate Planning practice, McDevitt and Smith for their Litigation practice, and Sneed for his Business and Litigation practices. Only 3 percent of the State Bar membership appear on the list, which is determined from the results of more than 18,000 ballots sent to every member of the Bar living in the state.

Founded in 1907, The Van Winkle Law Firm is now the largest practice in Western North Carolina and one of the oldest in the state. The firm offers the region's most extensive list of practice areas, and its force of nearly 40 attorneys and more than 60 support professionals represents clients in every level of the federal and state court systems.