Recognized in three areas spanning creditors’ rights, commercial litigation, and construction litigation; listed since 2024.
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 20, 2026) – Smith Debnam partner John M. Sperati has been recognized in three areas in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®: Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights; Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation and Construction Litigation. Together, the recognitions reflect a practice built around problems that rarely stay neatly within one area of law.
Sperati represents banks, credit unions, finance companies, private equity firms, and other financial institutions across all 100 North Carolina counties in matters involving secured interests, collateral recovery, foreclosure, judgment enforcement, bankruptcy, and related disputes.
His construction practice is informed by his construction industry experience before law school. That background gives him a working familiarity with the people, projects, and payment issues behind construction disputes. He represents contractors, homebuilders, subcontractors, owners, sureties, suppliers, developers, engineers, and others in lien and bond claims, warranty disputes, litigation, arbitration, and mediation.
“John’s three areas of recognition fit together in the way his clients experience their problems,” said Smith Debnam Managing Partner Jerry T. Myers. “A construction dispute can become a payment problem; a payment problem can become a bankruptcy matter. John understands the legal issues and the underlying business realities across that entire chain.”
Sperati has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2024 and was a co-recipient of the National Creditors Bar Association’s 2024 Member of the Year award. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from North Carolina Central University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University.
About Smith Debnam
Founded in 1972, Smith Debnam Attorneys at Law has built its reputation by helping businesses, financial institutions, professional service providers, and individuals navigate important legal decisions with confidence. From headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, and regional offices in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, the firm serves clients across diverse industries, delivering comprehensive legal counsel in litigation, business and transactional matters, creditors’ rights, family law, estate planning, and personal representation. Whether helping a financial institution manage risk, guiding a family-owned business through growth, assisting a family in planning for the future, or resolving complex disputes, Smith Debnam combines deep legal experience with integrity, responsiveness, and a commitment to building relationships that span generations.
