Marks Arnold and Byron Kirkland Named “Lawyer of the Year” in 2011 by The Best Lawyers in America®

Raleigh, NC (December 9, 2010) – Smith Anderson Partners Marks Arnold and Byron Kirkland have both been named “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America in 2011 in their respective practice areas.

Mr. Arnold, who focuses his practice on Commercial Transactions and Mergers and Acquisitions, has been named Best Lawyers’ 2011 Raleigh Corporate Lawyer of the Year.

Mr. Kirkland, who practices in the areas of Capital Markets, Securities, and Mergers and Acquisitions, has been named Best Lawyers’ 2011 Raleigh Securities/Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year.

Best Lawyers compiles its lists conducting peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The current, 17th edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2011) is based on more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. Best Lawyers designates “Lawyers of the Year” in high-profile legal specialties in large legal communities. Only one lawyer in each specialty in each community is being honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”