Smith Debnam partner recognized among 250 attorneys statewide for a practice spanning construction disputes and complex business matters
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 17, 2026) – Smith Debnam partner Byron L. Saintsing has been named to North Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2026 North Carolina Legal 250 in the Construction Law category, placing him among 250 attorneys recognized statewide for sustained professional achievement and influence.
Saintsing is one of two Smith Debnam attorneys selected for this year’s Legal 250, together with partner Caren D. Enloe, who was recognized in Consumer/Commercial Law. His selection reflects nearly four decades of work at the intersection of construction disputes, commercial litigation, finance, workouts, and bankruptcy.
North Carolina Lawyers Weekly describes the Legal 250 as its premier recognition program. Its editorial team selects attorneys who have demonstrated sustained success and an ability to navigate evolving client needs, legal developments, technology, economic challenges, and strong community engagement.
That breadth is particularly relevant in construction law, where a dispute rarely exists in isolation. Contract rights, payment issues, financing, distressed assets, business relationships, and sometimes bankruptcy can converge on the same project. Saintsing’s experience across those areas allows him to evaluate not only the immediate legal issue but also the broader business consequences. He represents owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and other businesses in construction and commercial disputes. His broader work in commercial litigation, creditors’ rights, equipment finance, workouts, and bankruptcy gives him an additional vantage point when a construction project or business relationship begins to unravel.
“Byron sees connections other people can miss,” said Smith Debnam Managing Partner Jerry T. Myers. “A construction dispute may begin with a contract, but he is also thinking about the money, the business relationship, the assets, and what happens three moves from now. Nearly four decades of working across construction, commercial litigation, finance, and bankruptcy have given him an unusually broad field of vision. Clients benefit from that perspective.”
Saintsing’s involvement in construction law extends beyond his client work. He has held leadership positions within the North Carolina Bar Association’s Construction Law Section, including serving as treasurer and a member of its council. North Carolina Lawyers Weekly recognized him as a Power Player in construction litigation in 2024 and 2025. He has also lectured and written on legal and business issues and provided media analysis on distressed debt, workouts, and commercial bankruptcy.
His selection to the North Carolina Legal 250 recognizes the judgment that comes from seeing a construction matter not simply as a dispute to be won, but as a business problem that ultimately has to be solved.
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.
