Roberts & Stevens attorneys recognized in Business North Carolina’s 2026 Legal Elite

Roberts & Stevens is pleased to announce that seven of the firm’s attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2026 Business North Carolina Legal Elite, a listing of the state’s best attorneys in their fields. The attorneys recognized by this year’s annual publication are: William Clarke, Vincent D. Childress, Jr., David C. Hawisher, Ann-Patton Hornthal, Mary Robinson Hervig, John D. Noor and Abbie N. Hornberger.

For more than two decades, Business North Carolina has invited active members of the N.C. State Bar to vote for their most-esteemed peers. Attorneys cannot vote for themselves nor for members of the Legal Elite Hall of Fame, which is made up of top vote-getters of each category from previous years. This year, only 3% of the state’s 30,000 active attorneys were selected for Legal Elite recognition.

William Clarke, a partner with the firm, was named this year’s overall winner in the Environmental category. This is Clarke’s second time in the Legal Elite Hall of Fame, previously receiving the top spot in the same category in 2012. Clarke focuses on environmental permitting and compliance, environmental and administrative litigation, water quality issues and the representation of local governments on environmental matters.

Vincent D. Childress, Jr., a partner with the firm, is recognized this year in the Corporate category. With more than 35 years in the practice areas of business and corporate law, trust and estate planning and probate, and healthcare law, Childress has significant experience handling entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, business financing, corporate contracts, tourism and healthcare organizations.

David C. Hawisher, a partner with the firm, is recognized in the Appellate category. Hawisher’s practice focuses on appellate litigation, as well as insurance defense and health care regulatory compliance. His experience includes briefing cases in the Fourth Circuit, the Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina, the North Carolina Supreme Court and the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Ann-Patton Hornthal, a partner with the firm, is recognized in the Litigation category. Hornthal represents clients in litigation and pre-litigation matters in the commercial, professional liability and personal injury setting. She regularly practices in state and federal courts, appellate courts and before licensing boards.

Mary Robinson Hervig, a partner with the firm, is recognized in the Tax and Estate Planning category. Hervig helps clients with wills and trusts, including tax planning as necessary. She is a Bar Certified Specialist in estate planning and probate law and advises clients in advance medical directives and powers of attorney.

John D. Noor, a partner with the firm, is recognized in the Environmental category. In his environmental practice, Noor has worked on Brownfields Redevelopment, permitting under the Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, nuisance actions, administrative rulemaking, oil and natural gas leasing and energy performance contracting.

Abbie N. Hornberger is recognized in the Young Guns category. Hornberger represents individuals and organizations of all sizes to whom she provides assistance with an array of transactions, including entity formation and structuring, business succession, corporate contracting and business financing.

Business North Carolina magazine has honored Tar Heel lawyers in this way since 2002, giving the state’s lawyers an opportunity to support and recognize their peers. Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite is the only award that gives every active lawyer in the state the opportunity to participate.