141 Moore & Van Allen Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Best Lawyers Publications

Recognitions

08.2025

Tags:

Moore & Van Allen (MVA) is pleased to announce that the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 117 MVA attorneys who are highly recommended by their peers. This includes eight firm attorneys who have been awarded the Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” designation. In addition, 24 MVA attorneys have been selected to the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. 

In each metropolitan area, only a single attorney in each legal practice area is designated as the “Lawyer of the Year.” The MVA attorneys selected for 2026 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” honors include the following: 

Charlotte

• Daniel “Danny” L. Johnson, Jr. | Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Matthew R. Kain | Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
• Valecia M. McDowell | Litigation - Securities
• James “Jim” P. McLoughlin, Jr. | Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
• Frank E. Schall | Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
• Bradley “Brad” T. Van Hoy | Tax Law

Charleston

• Charles M. Jordan, Jr. | Health Care Law
• H. Manning Unger | Real Estate Law

The MVA attorneys listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2026 Edition) include the following:

Charlotte

• Robert “Bob” V. Baker | Equipment Finance Law; Tax Law
• Holly S. Bannerman | Real Estate Law
• W. Doak Barnhardt | Banking and Finance Law
• Evan M. Bass | Real Estate Law
• John E. Beltz | Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Lauren E. Biek | Banking and Finance Law
• Neil T. Bloomfield | Banking and Finance Law

• Edward “Eddie” S. Booher, Jr. | Banking and Finance Law
• Robert “Bobby” C. Bowers | Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• Jefferson “Jeff” W. Brown | Government Relations Practice; Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law
• Christian E. Buhrer | Tax Law
• John S. Chinuntdet | Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law
• Bernard B. Clark | Tax Law
• Kenneth “Ken” S. Coe | Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Tax Law
• Kathryn “Kate” Gusmer Cole | Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Hillary B. Crabtree | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Kathryn “Katie” E. Duffy | Trusts and Estates
• David L. Eades | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation - Bankruptcy
• John R. Evans | Banking and Finance Law
• John A. Fagg, Jr. | Criminal Defense: White Collar; Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
• Joseph “Joe” A. Fernandez | Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Robert “Rob” A. Fisher | Tax Law
• John T. Floyd | Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Litigation - Construction; Litigation - Land Use and Zoning; Litigation - Real Estate
• Christopher “Chris” T. Fowler | Banking and Finance Law
• Felicia M. Gardner | Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation - ERISA
• Michele M. Glessner | Patent Law; Trademark Law
• Beth Yount Grimes | Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Stephen E. Gruendel | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Stephen “Steve” M. Hader | Immigration Law
• Arlene D. Hanks | Copyright Law; Trademark Law
• W. B. “Ben” Hawfield, Jr. | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• J. Richard Hazlett | Banking and Finance Law
• Michael P. Hebert | Real Estate Law
• Mark R.A. Horn | Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Caitlin N. Horne | Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• James “Jim” W. Hovis | Banking and Finance Law
• Fielding E. Huseth | Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Daniel “Danny” L. Johnson, Jr. | Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Litigation - ERISA
• Christopher “Chris” J.C. Jones | Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Joseph “Jody” D. Joyner, Jr. | Equipment Finance Law; Tax Law
• Matthew R. Kain | Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Trusts and Estates
• Rob Kenny | Equipment Finance Law
• Kimberly Short Kirk | Health Care Law
• James “Jim” R. Langdon | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Joshua D. Lanning | Commercial Litigation
• Anthony “Tony” T. Lathrop | Commercial Litigation; Workers’ Compensation Law - Employers
• Wood W. Lay | Employment Law - Management; Labor Law - Management
• Marcus S. Lee | Corporate Law
• Hal A. Levinson | Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Luis M. Lluberas | Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Dickson M. Lupo | Copyright Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Patent Law; Trademark Law
• Mac McBryde | Banking and Finance Law
• Valecia M. McDowell | Arbitration; Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation - Securities 
• Karin M. McGinnis | Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment; Privacy and Data Security Law
• Peter J. McGrath, Jr. | Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental
• John V. McIntosh | Corporate Law
• C. Wayne McKinzie | Banking and Finance Law
• James “Jim” P. McLoughlin, Jr. | Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Litigation - Antitrust; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions; Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy); Litigation - Securities
• Carolyn P. Meade | Corporate Law
• Thomas L. Mitchell | Banking and Finance Law
• William “Billy” H. Moore, Jr. | Tax Law 
• Paul G. Murphy | Banking and Finance Law
• Thomas “Tom” D. Myrick | Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate; Litigation - Trusts and Estates; Litigation and Controversy - Tax
• Mark A. Nebrig | Commercial Litigation; Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Sarah H. Negus | Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Joseph “Joey” W. Norman | Corporate Law
• Edward P. O’Keefe | Administrative / Regulatory Law; Banking and Finance Law
• William “Tom” Thomas Parrott, IV | Banking and Finance Law
• Thomas A. Pennington | Administrative / Regulatory Law
• Paul J. Peralta | Commercial Litigation; Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• M. Matthew “Matt” Plyler | Banking and Finance Law
• Alan W. Pope | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Jared W. Poplin | Corporate Law
• Stephen “Win” G. Porter, Jr. | Banking and Finance Law
• Andrew R. Price | Banking and Finance Law
• Amy E. Puckett | Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Nader S. Raja | Commercial Litigation
• W. Kevin Ransom | Patent Law; Technology Law
• Ernest “Ernie” W. Reigel | Corporate Law; International Trade and Finance Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Cole B. Richins | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Rob Rust | Corporate Law
• Frank E. Schall | Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) 
• Brennan E. Sheedy | Banking and Finance Law
• Glenn E. Siegel | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Richard I. Simons | Real Estate Law
• Russell “Russ” F. Sizemore | Commercial Litigation; Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment 
• Ryan M. Smith | Banking and Finance Law
• Zachary H. Smith | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Skottowe “Skott” W. Smith, Jr. | Real Estate Law
• Mary Katherine H. Stukes | Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental 
• Jenny G. Sugar | Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Scott D. Syfert | Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Christopher D. Thompson | Real Estate Law
• Christopher D. Tomlinson | Commercial Litigation
• Scott M. Tyler | Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation - Construction
• Bradley “Brad” T. Van Hoy | Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• David S. Walls | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Sara Page H. Waugh | Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Trusts and Estates
• Brett G. Weber | Banking and Finance Law
• J. Mark Wilson | Copyright Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Patent
• Michael “Mike” E. Zeller | Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• William “Bill” H. Zimmern | Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Charleston

• Christopher “Chris” T. Colwell | Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Transactions / UCC Law; Equipment Finance Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law
• Reid E. Dyer | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Lesley A. Firestone | Administrative / Regulatory Law; Commercial Litigation; Energy Law; Environmental Law; Litigation - Real Estate
• Brandon Gaskins | Commercial Litigation; Employment Law - Management; Land Use and Zoning Law
• Jenny M. Heichelbech | Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Charles M. Jordan, Jr. | Health Care Law
• Cynthia J. Lowery | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Paul M. Lynch | Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Douglas “Doug” M. Muller | Admiralty and Maritime Law; Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation
• Christopher A. Ogiba | Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation - Construction; Litigation - Labor and Employment; Litigation - Real Estate; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Trudy H. Robertson | Commercial Litigation; Health Care Law; Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• William “Bill” D. Rust | Health Care Law
• H. Manning Unger | Commercial Transactions / UCC Law; Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Real Estate Law
• David B. Wheeler | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Raleigh

• John A. Zaloom | Employment Law - Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment 

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list recognizes U.S. attorneys who have been in private practice for less than 10 years and exhibit outstanding professional excellence. The 24 MVA attorneys selected for the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America include the following: 

Charlotte

• Laura S. Browder | Real Estate Law

• Jules W. Carter | Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Financial Services Regulation Law; Litigation - Banking and Finance

• Amanda McQuade Dole | Corporate Law

• C. Wheeler Frost | Banking and Finance Law

• Kyle J. Jacob | Litigation - Labor and Employment

• Jennifer L. Kim | Immigration Law

• Rachel M. LaBruyere | Privacy and Data Security Law

• John A. Lightbourne | Financial Services Regulation Law

• Micah J. Long | Nonprofit / Charities Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates

• Tucker J. McKinley | Intellectual Property Law

• Sydney E. McKinney | Intellectual Property Law

• Elena F. Mitchell | Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar

• Drew P. Newman | Commercial Litigation

• Joseph M. Piligian | Commercial Litigation

• Kaitlin M. Price | Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar

• Miles J. Reynolds | Corporate Law

• Hannah E. Shows | Real Estate Law

• Laura B. Truesdale | Environmental Law

• T. Graves Upchurch | Banking and Finance Law

• Seth T. Walker | Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law

• Harris “Mac” M. Watkins | Banking and Finance Law

• Ashley C. Ziff | Real Estate Law

Charleston

• Michaela L. Cronin | Trusts and Estates

Raleigh

• William “Will” D. Curtis | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Now in its 32nd year, The Best Lawyers in America is one of the most highly regarded attorney referral publications in the United States. Best Lawyers evaluates attorneys through extensive surveys of leading lawyers who assess the legal abilities of their peers. Lawyers are not permitted to pay a fee to participate or be recognized. The 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America is based on more than 26 million evaluations from attorneys, while the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America is based on more than 5.4 million evaluations.