Recognized in Appellate Practice, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Litigation – Bankruptcy; listed since 2025.
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 20, 2026) – Smith Debnam partner Landon Van Winkle has been recognized in three areas in the 2027 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America: Appellate Practice, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Litigation – Bankruptcy.
The recognition follows Van Winkle’s elevation to partner in January and reflects a practice built on precision. A former U.S. Marine mortarman, he credits his military service with instilling the attention to detail, flexibility, and discipline he now applies to civil litigation, bankruptcy, and appellate matters for financial institutions and other businesses.
Van Winkle’s bankruptcy perspective is unusually broad. After law school, he clerked for a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge and later represented corporate and individual debtors in Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13 before focusing his practice on creditor representation. That experience allows him to evaluate a dispute from more than one vantage point and identify the details most likely to affect leverage and outcome.
“Landon is meticulous without losing sight of the mission,” said Smith Debnam Managing Partner Jerry T. Myers. “He wants to know the client’s primary goal, the secondary goal, and the facts that could change either one. That discipline is especially valuable in bankruptcy and appellate work, where small details can have outsized consequences.”
Van Winkle became a Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law in 2024. He was selected to North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars again in 2026 and was a co-recipient of the National Creditors Bar Association’s 2024 Member of the Year award. He earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from Campbell University School of Law.
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.
