Benesch Named 2026 Highly Recommended Firm by Benchmark Litigation; 10 Attorneys Recognized, Including Three First-Time Honorees

Benesch is excited to announce its recognition in the Benchmark Litigation 2026 guide for the 11th consecutive year. This year also marks a significant milestone, as the firm has been elevated for the first time to Benchmark’s Highly Recommended tier for Litigation. In addition to the firmwide ranking, eight Benesch attorneys have been recognized as Litigation Stars and two attorneys have been named Future Stars, with three first-time honorees across these categories.

J. Erik Connolly

• Jurisdiction: Illinois
• Practice area: Securities, Product Liability, Commercial, Class Action

Nicole Wrigley

• Jurisdiction: Illinois
• Practice area: Securities, Product Liability, Commercial, Class Action

Joseph Castrodale

• Jurisdiction: United States (National), Ohio
• Practice area: Intellectual Property, Commercial

Scott Humphrey

• Jurisdiction: Illinois
• Practice area: Commercial

Gregory Phillips

• Jurisdiction: United States (National), Ohio
• Practice area: Intellectual Property, Securities, Commercial, Energy

David Rammelt

• Jurisdiction: Illinois
• Practice area: Commercial

Nicholas Secco

• Jurisdiction: United States (National), Illinois
• Practice area: Commercial

Eric Zalud

• Jurisdiction: United States (National), Ohio
• Practice area: Commercial

2026 Future Star

Caitlin Kovacs

• Jurisdiction: Illinois
• Practice area: Securities, Product Liability, Commercial

Marisa Darden

• Jurisdiction: Illinois

Benchmark Litigation is the only B2B study on the market to focus exclusively on litigation and dispute resolution in the US. Since its inception in 2008, the Benchmark brand has grown dramatically and garnered industry-wide accolades as the definitive hub for in-depth analysis of the players shaping the dynamic practice of litigation.

Litigation Star honorees consistently receive high praise from their peers and clients for their ability to handle complex, high-stakes cases. These attorneys are widely recommended within the business and legal communities for the quality of their litigation and trial work.

Benchmark Litigation conducts research over a six-month period during which extensive interviews with litigators and clients take place to identify the leading litigators and firms. During these interviews, researchers examine recent casework handled by law firms and ask individual litigators to offer their professional opinions on peers. Visit Benchmark Litigation’s website to learn more about their research methodologies.