[##_1L|1082784786.png|width="258" height="66" alt=""|_##]Helms Mulliss Wicker, PLLC, (HMW) announced today that it won the top ranking, “Highly Recommended,” in the debut issue of Benchmark: Litigation, The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys.

HMW received the top ranking as a result of the firm’s success in several recent engagements in which it represented clients including Bank of America, BASF, and SAS Software in commercial or trade secrets litigation. The litigation group’s work on the Lowe’s Motor Speedway pedestrian bridge collapse litigation and Duke University Health System’s surgical sterilization litigation was also recognized.

Benchmark: Litigation also cited five members of the firm’s litigation group for excellence. Peter J. Covington, firm chairman, Douglas W. Ey, Jr., litigation practice area leader, members Jonathan E. Buchan, Jr. and L.D. Simmons II and E. Osborne “Ozzie” Ayscue Jr., the firm’s senior trial lawyer, were highlighted in the review.

“We are honored that a respected publisher of international legal journals highly recommends our firm,” said Covington. “This recognizes our litigation group’s experience and excellence, which allow us to address critical client needs and exceed client expectations.”

Benchmark: Litigation drew on Legal Media Group’s extensive database of contacts, conducting extensive face-to-face interviews with leading legal professionals, in-house counsel, judges and business owners. To be listed in Benchmark: Litigation, a firm needed to be consistently mentioned by peers and clients. To achieve the ranking of “Highly Recommended,” a firm needed to be mentioned most often and defined as being definitively dominant in their particular jurisdiction.

For more information on HMW’s litigation practice, visit www.hmw.com.

About Helms Mulliss & Wicker:
HMW is recognized as one of America’s Best Law Firms by Corporate Board Member magazine, ranked as a Top Ten Bond Counsel by The Bond Buyer, ranked Highly Recommended in Benchmark :Litigation, The Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneysand is named a Go-To Law Firm by Corporate Counsel magazine. The firm is comprised of 145 lawyers, 20 who are designated Super Lawyers in the 2007 North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine and 21 who are recognized as Best Lawyers in America. HMW focuses on three practice areas: commercial litigation, complex finance and corporate law. Within these practices, specialty areas include: government relations, securities, mergers & acquisitions, employer services, private equity and others. The firm represents Fortune 100 companies and the nation’s largest financial institutions as well as many high-growth and start-up companies. Helms Mulliss & Wicker maintains offices in Charlotte, Raleigh and Wilmington, NC. For additional information, visit www.hmw.com.