We are honored to announce that Jim Smith and Rebecca Hurst have each been named “Lawyer of the Year” in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America®!
Jim has been given the 2026 Lawyer of the Year award for Corporate Law, while Rebecca has received the 2026 Lawyer of the Year designation for Mergers and Acquisitions Law. This distinction is particularly noteworthy, as it is awarded to only one attorney in each practice area and geographic region per edition.
In addition to these honors, both Jim and Rebecca have been recognized in numerous practice areas in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®:
Jim Smith
- Banking and Finance Law
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Governance Law
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Real Estate Law
- Securities / Capital Markets Law
- Securitization and Structured Finance Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates

Rebecca B. Hurst
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Real Estate Law
- Nonprofit / Charities Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates

We are incredibly proud of Jim and Rebecca for this well-deserved recognition. Their commitment to excellence, leadership in the legal field, and dedication to their clients continue to set the standard.