ward and smith P.A

Summer’s grand finale is almost here, and Wilmington is getting ready to dress in its coastal best for a night of music, great food, community, and a cause that truly matters. The 2026 Last Chance for White Pants Gala, a Black and White Coastal Gala benefiting Lower Cape Fear LifeCare, takes place on Saturday, August 29, 2026, at the Brooklyn Arts Center in downtown Wilmington.

Ward and Smith is proud to announce that 75 attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers in America. First published in 1983, Best Lawyers is one of the legal profession’s most respected peer-reviewed guides. This year, 62 Ward and Smith attorneys were named to The Best Lawyers in America®, including five selected as “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas and by geographic locations: Lance P.

Attorney Allen Trask has been elected to a three-year term on the Cape Fear Museum Associates Board. The election took place at the organization’s annual meeting, where Cape Fear Museum Associates, Inc. also honored four retiring board members and named officers for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Allen returns to an organization he knows well.

Mary Catherine Baker, an attorney in Ward and Smith’s Asheville office, has been reappointed co-chair of the Buncombe County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers’ Division. The Young Lawyers’ Division serves attorneys under the age of 37 or within their first five years of practice in Buncombe County, organizing events and initiatives that promote networking, mentorship, and pro bono participation among the area’s newer lawyers.

Ward and Smith attorney Amy Wooten has been selected to serve on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee for the 2026-27 fiscal year. The NCBA’s committees play an important role in supporting the organization’s work on behalf of its members, the legal profession, and the public. The Professionalism Committee develops and oversees professionalism initiatives and recommends a recipient for the annual H.

Ward and Smith is proud to announce that four of our attorneys have been named 2026 IP Stars by Managing Intellectual Property, a distinction recognizing leading intellectual property practitioners across more than 70 jurisdictions worldwide. Rankings are determined based on merit and endorsements from peers and clients, reflecting the exceptional talent and dedication of our IP team.

August 14, 2026 Work authorization rules for Haitian workers with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) have changed quickly over the past few weeks. Employers with TPS-authorized employees from Haiti should pay close attention, because a series of court rulings and government actions means the window for continued protection is closing fast. Below, Ward and Smith explains what happened, what it means for employment authorization, and the steps employers should take now.

Ward and Smith attorney Sean Foerster has been named a 2026 “Legal Elite” in South Carolina. He was recognized in the Eminent Domain category for the Midland Region. Sean practices out of Ward and Smith’s Columbia office, where his work centers on litigation with particular depth in creditors’ rights, eminent domain, and real estate disputes.

Emily Sullivan, a real estate and land use attorney in Ward and Smith’s Wilmington office, has joined the Board of Directors of Good Shepherd Center. Good Shepherd Center is a Wilmington nonprofit dedicated to feeding people experiencing hunger, sheltering people experiencing homelessness, and helping individuals transition to stable housing.

A new chapter for the Cape Fear Museum of History and Science begins on Saturday, August 22, 2026, with the Summer Soiree, a grand-opening celebration for its new downtown Wilmington campus. From 6 to 9 p.m., guests will be among the first to explore the new Grace Street Campus and its galleries while enjoying a signature cocktail and curated bites by Pine Valley Market.