Raleigh, NC – August 22, 2025 – Tharrington Smith, LLP is proud to announce that 26 of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. This year’s honorees include 20 attorneys named to Best Lawyers and 6 attorneys named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
We are especially proud to share that Russell D. Babb, co-managing partner of Tharrington Smith, has been named the 2026 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in Raleigh for Criminal Defense: General Practice. This prestigious recognition is awarded to only one lawyer in each practice area and location, underscoring Russell’s leadership and outstanding work on behalf of clients.
Since its first edition in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America® has been a trusted guide to legal excellence. The 2026 edition continues its tradition of recognizing the top 5% of U.S. attorneys through a rigorous peer-review process. Lawyers are evaluated by their peers for professional expertise and undergo thorough verification to ensure they are actively practicing and in good standing. Tharrington Smith is proud to have attorneys consistently honored in this distinguished list, reflecting the firm’s long-standing commitment to excellence across diverse practice areas.
The following 20 Tharrington Smith attorneys are recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America®:
- F. Hill Allen – Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar (recognized for 15 consecutive years)
- Russell D. Babb – Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White Collar (recognized for 9 consecutive years)
- Mary Aiken Barrow – Family Law (recognized for 3 consecutive years)
- Jonathan A. Blumberg – Education Law (recognized for 14 consecutive years)
- Lynn P. Burleson – Family Law (recognized for 26 consecutive years)
- Howard Cummings – Criminal Defense: General Practice (recognized for 6 consecutive years)
- Sonya DuBree – Family Law (first year recognized)
- Melissa Hill – Criminal Defense: White-Collar (recognized for 17 consecutive years)
- Evan Horwitz – Family Law (recognized for 11 consecutive years)
- Douglas E. Kingsbery – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar (recognized for 22 consecutive years)
- Rod Malone – Construction Law (recognized for 3 consecutive years)
- Steven D. Mansbery – Family Law (recognized for 11 consecutive years)
- Jaye Meyer – Family Law (recognized for 26 consecutive years)
- Fred M. Morelock – Family Law, Family Law Mediation (recognized for 16 consecutive years)
- Carolyn Murchison – Education Law (recognized for 5 consecutive years)
- Jeffrey R. Russell – Family Law (recognized for 3 consecutive years)
- Roger W. Smith, Jr. – Criminal Defense: General Practice, DUI/DWI Defense (recognized for 11 consecutive years)
- Wade M. Smith – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar (recognized for 42 years)
- Ken Soo – Appellate Practice, Litigation – Labor and Employment (recognized for 6 consecutive years)
- Alice C. Stubbs – Family Law (recognized for 16 consecutive years)
In addition, Tharrington Smith, LLP is proud to recognize 6 attorneys named to the 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list:
- Casey Fidler – Family Law (recognized for 3 consecutive years)
- Lacy Hansen – Criminal Defense: White Collar (first year recognized)
- Sharon Lin – Education Law (first year recognized)
- Joshua Renz – Education Law (first year recognized)
- Patricia Robinson – Education Law (recognized for 3 consecutive years)
- Maya Weinstein – Education Law (first year recognized)
About Best Lawyers®:
Best Lawyers® is the most established global network of legal professionals, recognized for identifying the top attorneys through a rigorous, peer-review process. It provides elite lawyers and law firms with tools to enhance visibility, credibility, and client engagement. In addition to delivering data-driven legal recognition, Best Lawyers offers industry insights and innovative marketing solutions. Through its Best Law Firms® platform, it simplifies the law firm selection process, helping clients make informed decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.bestlawyers.com.
About Tharrington Smith LLP:
The attorneys at Tharrington Smith LLP pride themselves on providing the highest quality professional legal services available. The motto “We don’t deal with cases, we deal with people” is the foundation of our practice, and we have been building successful relationships in the state since 1964. Because of this, our firm has grown practices that reach across North Carolina and has earned a reputation that spreads across the nation. Focusing on the core proficiencies of family law, education law, criminal defense, criminal tax defense, and civil litigation, Tharrington Smith, LLP has helped countless individuals, companies, and governmental boards find lasting resolutions to their legal issues in North Carolina for 60 years.
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