Paul A Fanning

Banking and Finance Law

5.0 (1 reviews)

Greenville, North Carolina

27+ years experience

Ward and Smith PA

Updated: Jan 03, 2026

Contact Information

252-215-4027

https://www.wardandsmith.com/attorneys/paul-fanning

120 West Fire Tower Road, P.O. Box 8088, Greenville, NC 27835-8088

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Bio

Paul leads the Creditors' Rights Practice Group and is certified by the American Board of Certification and the North Carolina State Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law. His practice experience encompasses bankruptcy, collections, creditors' rights, and lender liability. He concentrates his practice in the representation of creditors in complex bankruptcy cases and state court collection litigation, including workouts, reorganizations, and contested matters. Paul has represented lenders, trade creditors, farm equipment manufacturers, community associations, contractors and telecommunications companies in various reorganization proceedings, including commercial real estate, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail transactions. He is experienced in state court foreclosures and receiverships and other aspects of creditor-debtor litigation, including appellate advocacy. He has been rated by his peers as being "preeminent" in his fields of law.

Practice Areas

Banking and Finance Law

Awards & Recognition

Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Bankruptcy, Raleigh (2021)
Recognized: Banking and Finance Law
Recognized: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Recognized: Litigation - Bankruptcy
Special Focus: Bankruptcy and Workouts
Special Focus: Collections
Special Focus: COVID-19
Special Focus: Financial Institutions
"Lawyer of the Year," Best Lawyers in America
NC Attorney Pro Bono Honor Society Inductee, NC Pro Bono Resource Center, 2021, 2020
"Top 100 Super Lawyers," Creditor Debtor Rights, North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2022-2024
"Super Lawyer," Creditor Debtor Rights, North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2009-2024
Chambers USA, Bankruptcy/Restructuring – North Carolina, 2019-2023
"Legal Elite," Business North Carolina, Bankruptcy, 2006-2008, 2010-2020, 2022-2024
Chambers USA 2019, Bankruptcy/Restructuring - North Carolina
The Best Lawyers in America, 2011-2019
"Legal Elite," Business North Carolina, 2006-2008, 2010-2019
"Super Lawyer," North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2009-2019

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011

Education

Wake Forest University, J.D., graduated 1998
The University of North Carolina at Asheville, BA, graduated 1993

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Reviews

Justin Jackson

2 weeks ago

A Lifeline for Our Business During a Complex Creditor Dispute

Our small manufacturing company faced a significant financial threat when a major client filed for Chapter 11, leaving a substantial receivable in jeopardy. We turned to Paul Fanning at Ward and Smith, and it was the best decision we could have made. His 27 years of experience, particularly his leadership of the Creditors' Rights Practice Group, was immediately evident. Paul's deep, board-certified knowledge in bankruptcy and insolvency law provided a clear strategy where we saw only confusion. He expertly navigated the complexities of the reorganization, advocating fiercely to protect our interests. The recognition he's received, like the 2021 Lawyer of the Year award, is clearly well-earned. Thanks to Paul's meticulous preparation and relentless professionalism, we recovered a far greater portion of the debt than we ever anticipated. He is not just a brilliant attorney; he is a trusted advisor who genuinely cares about his clients' outcomes.