Raleigh, N.C. (August 20, 2020) – Smith Debnam today announced that eleven Smith Debnam lawyers were named in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers® in America. Best Lawyers® in America is one of the most respected peer-review publications in the legal profession. In all, the eleven Smith Debnam attorneys appearing in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers® in America represent eight distinct areas of law: Banking and Finance, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Family Law, and Real Estate
Smith Debnam congratulates the following attorneys and their respective practice areas recognized in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers® in America:
BANKING AND FINANCE LAW
- Byron L. Saintsing– Saintsing is a senior partner at Smith Debnam and leads the firm’s construction law practice. He frequently serves as a guest speaker, providing legal analysis on many topics centered around commercial real estate development and equipment leasing.
BANKRUPTCY AND CREDITOR DEBTOR RIGHTS / INSOLVENCY AND REORGANIZATION LAW
- Franklin Drake– Drake is a nationally recognized speaker on financial services regulation and compliance-related matters, with over 31 years of experience representing clients in the financial services industry.
- Ronald Jones – Jones heads Smith Debnam’s Charleston, South Carolina office. As a certified specialist in bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law by the South Carolina Supreme Court, Jones concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial law and bankruptcy.
- Bettie Kelley Sousa– Sousa is a Board-Certified Specialist in Creditors’ Rights and has over 36 years of experience representing companies and entrepreneurs in business litigation and employment law.
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
- Thurston Debnam, Jr.– Debnam is one of the firm’s founding partners and has more than 31 years of experience in commercial planning and business litigation.
CORPORATE LAW
- Thurston Debnam, Jr.– Debnam is one of the firm’s founding partners and has more than 31 years of experience in commercial planning and business litigation.
- Bettie Kelley Sousa– Sousa is a Board-Certified Specialist in Creditors’ Rights and has over 36 years of experience representing companies and their owners in business litigation and employment law.
FAMILY LAW
- Alicia Jurney– Jurney is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar and serves as a collaborative attorney with the Integrated Accountability and Collaborative Transparency Program (IACT).
- Lynn W. McNally– McNally is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar and Certified Family Financial Settlement Mediator by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission.
- John W. Narron– Narron is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar and has been practicing law in North Carolina since 1977.
- Rose H. Stout – Stout has been a Board Certified Family Law Specialist by the North Carolina State Bar since 1991, with extensive trial experience in family law court. Stout and McNally lead the firm’s family law group.
REAL ESTATE LAW
- Lauren V. Reeves– Reeves is a partner inside Smith Debnam’s real estate, foreclosure, and creditors’ rights sections. She represents lenders, individuals, and businesses in real estate matters, including real estate closings, purchasing, leasing, selling, financing and all issues of title arising in both residential and commercial real estate transactions.
- Jeff D. Rogers– Rogers heads the firm’s foreclosure practice. He has 31 years of experience representing creditors, lenders, and businesses of all sizes on matters of foreclosure, bankruptcy, and collections.
About Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers publishes The Best Lawyers® in America by geographic region and practice area, recognizing lawyers for excellence based on an exhaustive peer-review survey where, on average, over 50,000 attorneys across the U.S. cast more than 5.5 million votes on the legal and professional abilities of other lawyers. For this reason, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
About Smith Debnam
Founded in 1972, Smith Debnam is a leading, multi-practice regional law firm for institutions and private individuals who value a responsible and caring approach from an accomplished team of experienced legal professionals. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, the firm represents clients in Banking, Financial Services, Equipment Leasing, Construction, Mortgage Servicing, Manufacturing, and Professional Services industries. Smith Debnam has extensive experience in state and federal courts across a diverse list of practice areas, including Corporate and Business Law, Business Litigation, Commercial Bankruptcy and Reorganization, Foreclosures, Creditor Representation, Consumer Collections, Commercial & Residential Real Estate, Construction Law, Employment Law, Equipment Leasing & Finance, Family Law, Elder Law & Advocacy Services, Trusts & Estates, Probate Litigation, and Tax Law.
