RALEIGH (Jan. 12, 2007) – For the fourth time in six years, lawyers surveyed by Business North Carolina magazine have chosen a lawyer with Manning, Fulton & Skinner P.A. as the state’s top real-estate lawyer.

Samuel T. “Ted” Oliver Jr. was the leading vote-getter among real-estate lawyers in the magazine’s 2007 “Legal Elite,” an annual list of the top Tar Heel lawyers. The rankings are based on a survey where ballots were mailed to nearly 18,000 lawyers across the state asking them to name the best lawyers in 14 categories.

Lawyers at Raleigh-based Manning Fulton have consistently been the top real-estate lawyers in the survey. Charles L. Fulton won the recognition in 2002 and 2003, and Barry D. Mann in 2005.

“We think this recognition reflects the expertise and reputation we’ve built in real estate and other fields,” said David D. Dahl, Manning Fulton’s managing partner. “But the real honor is in doing the best by our clients.”

Other Manning Fulton attorneys were listed in the 2007 list of top Tar Heel lawyers as well.

John C. Dorsey was rated among the state’s top lawyers in tax and estate planning. Judson A. Welborn was recognized both as one of the state’s top litigators and in a new category for “Young Guns” – lawyers under 40.

For 52 years, Manning Fulton has helped North Carolina’s leading companies and individuals build their futures, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies and the largest privately held company in the state. The firm’s 35 lawyers represent clients in the following industries: Agribusiness, Automotive, Aviation, Construction, Financial Services, Franchise, Government, Hospitality, Insurance, Manufacturing/Sales, Medical Practices, Publishing, Real Estate, Sports/Entertainment, Technology and Warehouse/Distribution.