Alex J. Hagan

Deborah L. Hildebran-Bachofen has been practicing with Manning Fulton since 1988. Debbie has a broad range of experience with closely-held corporations, including corporate mergers, acquisition and structuring issues, planning and tax accounting issues, private debt placement, and tax planning. Debbie becomes an important part of the company’s outside management team, advising business owners on day-to-day operations, drafting and negotiating contracts, and advising on financial matters...

Sabra J. Faires is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law and Tax Law. Sabra J., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sabra J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Fred D. Hutchison is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Technology Law and Venture Capital Law. Fred D., who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Fred D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steven Bader is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Steven, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lynn Burleson is a native of Albemarle, North Carolina. He was admitted to the practice of law in North Carolina after receiving his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Public Administration degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Juris Doctor degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law. Before joining Tharrington Smith, Mr. Burleson served as a district court judge and was a partner in the law firm of Kilpatrick Stockton. He has served as an adjunct professo...

Drew Patty is a partner with Phelps Dunbar, LLP in the firm's Intellectual Property and Cybersecurity Groups. He also leads the firm's Artificial Intelligence Working Group. With 30 years of experience in a broad range of transactional intellectual property matters and related litigation, he also has a growing AI and data privacy practice. His chemical patent experience includes patent preparation and prosecution in the fields of oilfield proppants and other downhole chemicals, refinery catal...

Benjamin Worley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Consumer Law. Benjamin, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Susan Vanderweert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Susan, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As a partner at the firm, Ben Whitley joins his father to provide comprehensive legal representation for their clients. The motivation for the Whitley family’s commitment to law stems from a desire to assist injured individuals, particularly when they face challenges against larger corporations. "Every case proceeds from a position of strength or we don’t proceed at all," says Ben, who has been involved in personal injury law since the beginning of his career for over two decades....

B. Ford Robertson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. B. Ford, who practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which B. Ford is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.