Best Lawyers® Names Three Waldrep Wall Attorneys 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in the Triad Area

Waldrep Wall Babcock & Bailey PLLC attorneys John W. Backcock (Commercial Transactions / UCC Law in Triad), J. Dennis Bailey (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants in Triad), and James Lanik (Litigation – Bankruptcy in Triad) were recently recognized by Best Lawyers as 2026 “Lawyer of the Year.”  

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this a significant and coveted accolade. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments. 

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity. 

In addition to the “Lawyer of the Year” award, these attorneys were also listed in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the following practice areas: 

• John W. Babcock
  • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) 
  • Commercial Finance Law 
  • Corporate Law 
  • Health Care Law 
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law 
  • Tax Law 
• J. Dennis Bailey
  • Commercial Litigation 
  • Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants 
  • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants 
• James Lanik
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 
  • Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law 

For more than four decades, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular distinction.