North Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division projects earn 2026 ABA Awards of Achievement for public service and DEI-focused content.
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 14, 2026) – A year of programming focused on inclusion, connection, and community engagement through the North Carolina Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division has earned national recognition for two projects co-led by Smith Debnam attorney Taylor Gibbs.
Gibbs served as co-chair of the NCBA Young Lawyers Division’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee during the 2025-26 bar year alongside attorney Tia Overway. Working as a two-person committee, Gibbs and Overway developed programming and content designed to bring members of the legal community together, encourage broader participation in the profession, and create opportunities for education and service.
The ABA Young Lawyers Division recognized two of those initiatives with 2026 Awards of Achievement. The YLD received an award in the Service to the Public category for its Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service and an award in the Newsletter category for the DEI Committee’s monthly blog series.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service brought YLD members together in January to volunteer at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh, combining community service with a recognition of Dr. King’s commitment to serving others.
Throughout the year, Gibbs and Overway also wrote a monthly DEI blog series highlighting cultural and historical observances and the legal professionals connected to them. Topics included Native American Heritage Month, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Black History Month, and International Women’s Day. Each installment introduced readers to a legal professional whose background or work offered a meaningful connection to that month’s theme.
“Taylor understands that being a lawyer means contributing to the profession as well as serving clients,” said Jerry T. Myers, managing partner of Smith Debnam. “She saw opportunities to bring people together, stepped forward to help lead the work, and followed through. That combination of initiative, curiosity, and genuine interest in others is something we value at Smith Debnam, and we are proud to see the work she and Tia led recognized nationally.”
The ABA Awards of Achievement recognize projects developed by state and local young lawyer organizations across the country. The ABA presented the awards during the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago. While the honors were awarded to the NCBA Young Lawyers Division, Gibbs and Overway co-led both recognized projects through the DEI Committee.
“Tia and I wanted to create opportunities for young lawyers to learn from one another, serve their communities, and feel more connected to the profession,” Gibbs said. “The goal was to make people feel seen and give them another reason to engage. Having both projects recognized by the ABA is meaningful because it shows that even a small committee can make a real impact.”
Gibbs is an associate in Smith Debnam’s Creditors’ Rights practice and is based in the firm’s Charlotte office. She focuses her practice on consumer collections, representing financial institutions, lenders, and creditors. She earned her Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Appalachian State University. She is admitted to practice in North Carolina and South Carolina and before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina.
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.
