Best Lawyers in America® Rankings 2024

The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 has named 76 Benesch lawyers to its annual rankings list. Additionally, 59 attorneys have been named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ (“Ones to Watch” recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years). Finally, three Benesch lawyers were recognized as Best Lawyers® 2024 “Lawyer(s) of the Year,” a distinction given annually to a single outstanding lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area.

“Lawyer of the Year” 2024

Cleveland

• M. Casey Kucharson – Commercial Transactions / UCC Law

Columbus-OH

• Peter W. Hahn – Litigation – Construction
• Trevor Alexander – Energy Regulatory Law

Best Lawyers® Honorees:

Chicago, IL

• J. Erik Connolly – Commercial Litigation
• Scott Downing – Health Care Law
• Jason Greis – Health Care Law
• Manish K. Mehta – Patent Law
• Margo Wolf O’Donnell – Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management
• Kal K. Shah – Litigation – Intellectual Property; Litigation – Patent

Cleveland

• Jessica Angney – Litigation and Controversy – Tax
• Mark E. Avsec – Trademark Law
• W. Eric Baisden – Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Harry M. Brown – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Health Care Law
• Joseph A. Castrodale – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Banking and Finance; Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions; Litigation – Securities
• Nora Cook – Commercial Litigation
• Thomas O. Crist – Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
• Matthew Delguyd – Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Finance Law
• Leslie A. Drockton – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Gregg A. Eisenberg – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Kathryn Kramer Gaydos – Real Estate Law
• Allan Goldner – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Angela R. Gott – Litigation – Intellectual Property; Trademark Law
• Joseph N. Gross – Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Norman W. Gutmacher – Real Estate Law
• Ira C. Kaplan – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Venture Capital Law
• Lisa Kimmel – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Ross J. Kirchick – Commercial Finance Law
• Peter N. Kirsanow – Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• M. Casey Kucharson – Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
• David Mansbery -Real Estate Law
• Kevin D. Margolis – Environmental Law; Real Estate Law
• Michael F. Marhofer – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Megan L. Mehalko – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law; and Securities Regulation
• Barry J. Miller – Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
• Michael J. Montgomery – Commercial Litigation
• Steven M. Moss – Employment Law – Management; and Labor Law – Management
• W. Clifford Mull – Health Care Law
• Jared E. Oakes – Real Estate Law
• Robert C. Ondak, Jr. – Real Estate Law
• Johanna Fabrizio Parker – Employment Law – Management; and Labor Law – Management
• Sean T. Peppard – Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Gregory J. Phillips – Commercial Litigation; and Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
• Richard A. Plewacki – Transportation Law
• Michael A. Primrose -Corporate Law
• Brian N. Ramm – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• John A. Rego – Litigation – Environmental
• Robert A. Ross – Corporate Law; and International Trade and Finance Law
• H. Alan Rothenbuecher – Commercial Litigation
• Alan E. Schabes – Health Care Law
• William E. Schonberg – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Elliot M. Smith – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Shaylor R. Steele – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Howard A. Steindler – Real Estate Law
• Michael D. Stovsky – Information Technology Law; IT Outsourcing Law; Privacy and Data Security Law; and Technology Law
• Michael K. Swearengen – Real Estate Law
• Richard F. Tracanna -Tax Law
• Dana B. Weiss – Commercial Finance Law; and Real Estate Law
• Jeffrey J. Wild – Real Estate Law
• Eric L. Zalud – Commercial Litigation; and Transportation Law
• Robert A. Zimmerman – Employment Law – Management; Government Relations Practice; and Litigation – Labor and Employment

Columbus, OH

• Trevor Alexander – Commercial Litigation; and Energy Regulatory Law
• Marc S. Blubaugh – Transportation Law
• Andrew M. Bojko – Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Finance Law; Corporate Law; Real Estate Law
• Frank Carsonie – Health Care Law
• Janet K. Feldkamp – Health Care Law
• Peter W. Hahn – Construction Law; and Litigation – Construction
• Eric B. Kjellander -Construction Law
• Steven Lesser -Energy Law
• Vince J. Nardone – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Health Care Law; Litigation and Controversy – Tax; and Tax Law
• Martha J. Sweterlitsch – Health Care Law; and Nonprofit / Charities Law
• Mark D. Tucker – Appellate Practice; Labor Law – Union; and Litigation – Labor and Employment

San Francisco

• Charanjit Brahma – Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Ruby Kazi – Commercial Litigation
• Stephanie Sheridan – Commercial Litigation

Wilmington

• Michael J. Barrie – Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Jennifer R. Hoover – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law;  Commercial Litigation; Financial Services Regulation Law; and Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Gregory W. Werkheiser – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; and Litigation – Bankruptcy

Best Lawyers® “Ones to Watch” Honorees:

Chicago, IL

• Cristina Almendarez – Litigation – Intellectual Property; and Litigation – Patent
• Zaiba Baig – Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Leah Beitner – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; and Tax Law
• Jake A. Cilek – Health Care Law
• Hannah K. Costigan Cowles – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Christopher DeGrande -Health Care Law
• Emily Newhouse Dillingham – Commercial Litigation
• Rebecca Dircks – Commercial Litigation
• Mark S. Eisen – Commercial Litigation
• Max Guggenheim – Real Estate Law
• Carl M. Johnson – Commercial Litigation
• Jacob H. Marshall – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Blerta Mileti – Real Estate Law
• Alexander M. Moss – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Kate Watson Moss – Commercial Litigation
• Lee B. Muench – Commercial Litigation; Health Care Law; and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Nesko Radovic – Health Care Law
• Samuel J. Ruggio – Litigation – Patent
• Helen M. Schweitz – Intellectual Property Law
• Shandice Sluch – Intellectual Property Law; and Litigation – Intellectual Property Law
• Jamie N. Ward – Commercial Litigation
• Michael W. Ward – Real Estate Law

Cleveland, OH

• James Bedell – Appellate Practice; and Commercial Litigation
• Michael R. Beer – Banking and Finance Law
• Allyson Cady – Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; and Construction Law
• Alison K. Evans – Intellectual Property Law; Technology Law
• Gregory T. Frohman – Commercial Litigation
• Mitchell E. Gecht – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law; Corporate Law; and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Barry J. Guttman – Real Estate Law
• Rick Hepp – Litigation – Labor and Employment
• David M. Hopkins – Commercial Litigation; and Construction Law
• Yelena G. Katz -Labor and Employment Law – Management
• Mariam Keramati – Real Estate Law
• Laura E. Kogan – Commercial Litigation
• Christopher M. Matgouranis – Real Estate Law
• Warren T. McClurg -Commercial Litigation
• Brian D. Mielcusny – Corporate Law; Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; and Securities / Capital Markets Law
• Justin L. Monday – Commercial Litigation; and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Alyssa A. Moscarino – Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Kelly D. Noll – Real Estate Law
• Connie A. Porter – Corporate Law; and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Christopher A. Rogers – Construction Law; and Transportation Law
• Reed W. Sirak – Litigation – Environmental
• Deana S. Stein – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Labor and Employment; and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• James E. Von der Heydt – Commercial Litigation
• James J. Walsh, Jr. -Appellate Practice; and Commercial Litigation
• Susan M. White – Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; and Litigation – Construction
• Jaquan Williams – Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Ryan J. Williams – Banking and Finance Law; and Securities Regulation

Columbus, OH

• Joseph R. Blalock – Labor and Employment Law – Management
• Amy L. Craig – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Jonathan N. Fox – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Christopher D. Hopkins – Corporate Law
• Mark T. Keaney – Commercial Litigation
• Abby Riffee – Commercial Litigation; and Construction Law

New York, NY

• Aaron Schwed – Real Estate Law

San Francisco, CA

• Meegan Brooks  – Commercial Litigation

Wilmington, DE

• John C. Gentile – Commercial Litigation; and Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Kate Harmon – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Bankruptcy; and Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Noelle B. Torrice – Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; and Transportation Law