Released on: October 31, 2007, 9:42 am

Press Release Author: Mike Gauss / Helms Mulliss & WIcker PLLC

Industry: Law

Press Release Summary: Law Firm Received Highly Recommended Rating in New Benchmark
Publication

Press Release Body: CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 29, 2007)-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 Attorneys and 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 23 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.



About Benchmark:
Benchmark: Litigation is a product of Euromoney Institutional Investor's Legal Media
Group, international publisher of Managing Intellectual Property, International Tax
Review, International Financial Law Review (IFLR), and 23 practice area guides to
the world's leading lawyers, which developed Benchmark: Litigation. The Benchmark:
Litigation guide will provide general counsel with a detailed analysis of the Best
Commercial and Financial Litigators in the United States. Benchmark: Litigation will
be a one-stop shop for in-house counsel, whether they are seeking an individual
expert in a particular field, a national powerhouse with exceptional bench strength,
or a local leader in an unfamiliar jurisdiction. For more information, visit
www.benchmarklitigation.com

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Web Site: http://www.hmw.com

Contact Details: Media Contact:
Mike Gauss
Mike@Articulon.com
919.232.5008