Charlotte, NC – Feedback from Parker Poe's clients and peers led to 41 of its professionals and 16 of its practice areas being ranked in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA. It is one of the premier guides to the legal profession that develops rankings using in-depth interviews and objective research.
Seven of Parker Poe’s practice areas received the highest possible ranking, Band 1. In North Carolina, the firm received that ranking for its business litigation, environmental, financial restructuring, public finance, and tax practice areas. In South Carolina, the firm received that ranking for banking and finance as well as healthcare.
Twelve of the firm’s individual attorneys also received the Band 1 ranking in their respective practice areas.
In addition, Parker Poe received a nationwide ranking in privacy and data security. The firm is also part of two legal networks that received Band 1 global rankings: TerraLex and the Employment Law Alliance (ELA).
Ranked Practice Areas
- Banking & Finance (Band 1 in South Carolina, Band 4 in North Carolina)
- Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Band 1 in North Carolina)
- Corporate/M&A (Band 4 in Charlotte area)
- Energy & Natural Resources (Band 2 in North Carolina)
- Environment (Band 1 in North Carolina, Band 2 in South Carolina)
- Healthcare (Band 1 in South Carolina, Band 2 in North Carolina)
- Intellectual Property (Band 2 in North Carolina)
- Labor & Employment (Band 2 in North Carolina)
- Litigation: General Commercial (Band 1 in North Carolina, Band 4 in Georgia)
- Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Band 2 in North Carolina)
- Privacy & Data Security: Highly Regarded (Band 3 in USA - Nationwide)
- Public Finance (Band 1 in North Carolina)
- Real Estate (Band 2 in North Carolina, Band 3 in South Carolina)
- Real Estate: Finance (Band 3 in North Carolina)
- Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (Band 2 in North Carolina)
- Tax (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Ranked Professionals
Banking & Finance
Tyler Smith (Band 1 in South Carolina)
Todd Haynie (Band 1 in South Carolina)
Chuck Lee (Band 5 in North Carolina)
Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Chip Ford (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Brian Darer (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Will Esser (Band 3 in North Carolina)
Construction
Russell Killen (Band 3 in North Carolina)
Corporate/M&A
Richard Few (Band 2 in South Carolina)
Energy & Natural Resources
Katherine Ross (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Merrick Parrott (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Environment
Tom Griffin (Eminent Practitioners in North Carolina)
Steve Weber (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Amanda Kitchen Short (Band 3 in North Carolina)
Kevin Dunlap (Band 3 in South Carolina)
Katherine Ross (Band 4 in North Carolina)
Mallory Sparks (Star Associates in South Carolina)
Healthcare
David Summer (Band 1 in South Carolina)
Walt Cartin (Band 1 in South Carolina)
Will Thomas (Band 2 in South Carolina)
Joy Hord (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Robb Leandro (Band 3 in North Carolina)
Intellectual Property
Chris Thomas (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Will Cannon (Up and Coming in North Carolina)
Labor & Employment
Keith Weddington (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Stacy Wood (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Jonathan Crotty (Band 3 in North Carolina)
Litigation: General Commercial
Melanie Dubis (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
Brian Cromwell (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Sarah Hutchins (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Privacy & Data Security: Litigation
Sarah Hutchins (Band 3 in USA - Nationwide)
Privacy & Data Security: Privacy
Sarah Hutchins (Band 5 in USA - Nationwide)
Public Finance
Scott Leo (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Rebecca Joyner (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Carlos Manzano (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Real Estate
Todd Haynie (Band 2 in South Carolina)
Simpson Fant (Band 3 in South Carolina)
Brent Milgrom (Band 3 in North Carolina)
Camden Betz (Band 4 in North Carolina)
Craig Lynch (Band 4 in North Carolina)
Real Estate: Finance
Wanda Townsend (Band 3 in North Carolina)
Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
Jamie Schwedler (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Ellen Smith (Band 2 in Georgia)
Tax
Kay Miller Hobart (Band 1 in North Carolina)
Jimmy Greene (Band 2 in North Carolina)
Scott Manning (Band 3 in North Carolina)
About Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP
Businesses and local governments turn to Parker Poe to structure transactions, navigate regulations, and resolve disputes. Founded in 1884, the Southeast business law firm today has over 300 attorneys across offices in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Washington, DC.
Parker Poe is a member of two leading international legal networks: TerraLex and the Employment Law Alliance. TerraLex and the ELA have chosen Parker Poe to help guide clients through the challenges of global business.