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Accolades
The Best Lawyers in America, 2024 edition

Cleveland, August 17, 2023 – Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP is pleased to announce that six Calfee partners have been recognized as “Lawyers of the Year” by Best Lawyers in their respective practice areas. In addition, 65 Calfee lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and 28 Calfee lawyers have been recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Calfee has been recognized as a top-listed law firm in the state of Ohio and in the city of Cleveland.

6 Calfee Partners Recognized as 2024 Best Lawyers “Lawyers of the Year” in the Cleveland Area

  • Calfee partner Blake C. Beachler is recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Public Finance Law.
  • Calfee partner Karl S. Beus is recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Commercial Finance Law.
  • Calfee partner and firm vice chair John S. Cipolla is recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Patent Law.
  • Calfee partner James F. Lang is recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Energy Law.
  • Calfee partner Joseph M. Mentrek is recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law.
  • Calfee partner Christopher S. Williams is recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2024 "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - ERISA.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year," making this a significant and coveted accolade. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.

65 Calfee Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers

Calfee congratulates the following 65 lawyers named to the 2024 The Best Lawyers in America list:

  • Brent D. Ballard – Corporate Law and Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
  • John Paul Batt – Venture Capital Law (Cleveland)
  • Blake C. Beachler – Public Finance Law (Cleveland)
  • Fritz E. Berckmueller – Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar (Cleveland)
  • Karl S. Beus – Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Finance Law (Cleveland)
  • Mitchell G. Blair – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (Cleveland)
  • David T. Bules – Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, and Litigation - Securities (Cincinnati)
  • Phillip A. Casey – Energy Law (Indianapolis)
  • John R. Cernelich – Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management (Cleveland)
  • John S. Cipolla – Litigation - Intellectual Property and Patent Law (Cleveland)
  • Jennifer W. Colvin – Labor Law - Management (Cincinnati)
  • Maryellen K. Corbett – Government Relations Practice (Columbus)
  • Mara E. Cushwa – Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
  • Steven W. Day – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law (Cleveland)
  • Terrence F. (Terry) Doyle – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities / Capital Markets Law (Cleveland)
  • Gary L. Ellsworth – Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
  • John F. Fisher – Litigation - Real Estate (Columbus)
  • Amy K. Friedmann – Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
  • Michael K. Gall – Tax Law (Cleveland)
  • Stephanie M. Glavinos – Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
  • Elizabeth Zoller Golish – Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
  • Arthur C. Hall III – Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation (Cleveland)
  • Gregory S. Harvey – Corporate Law (Cleveland)
  • Patrick D. Hayes – Corporate Compliance Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation (Cincinnati)
  • Gwen Gillespie Herman – Corporate Law (Cleveland)
  • Maura L. Hughes – Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation - Antitrust (Cleveland)
  • Michael B. Hurley – Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cincinnati)
  • Christopher Jones – Environmental Law (Columbus)
  • Gus Kallergis – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation - Bankruptcy (Cleveland)
  • Steven C. Karzmer – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Columbus)
  • James F. Lang – Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, and Litigation - Municipal (Cleveland)
  • Albert J. Lucas – Commercial Litigation (Columbus)
  • John J. McGuire – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cleveland)
  • Brian A. McMahon – Banking and Finance Law (Cleveland)
  • Ronald M. McMillan – Commercial Litigation (Cleveland)
  • Daniel J. McMullen – Copyright Law and Information Technology Law (Cleveland)
  • Matthew M. Mendoza – Construction Law and Litigation - Insurance (Cleveland)
  • Joseph M. Mentrek – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
  • Thomas I. Michals – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (Cleveland)
  • Robert A. Miller – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Cleveland)
  • John A. Mongelluzzo – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cincinnati)
  • Kimberly Moses – Commercial Litigation (Cleveland)
  • Cynthia A. Neal – Patent Law (Cincinnati)
  • Douglas A. Neary – Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities / Capital Markets Law (Cleveland)
  • Colleen M. O'Neil – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
  • Todd F. Palmer – Employment Law - Management (Cleveland)
  • Leah Pappas Porner – Government Relations Practice (Columbus)
  • Brent M. Pietrafese – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cleveland)
  • Billy C. Raulerson – Patent Law (Columbus)
  • Daniel Reinhard – Energy Law (Columbus)
  • Karla M. Rogers – Corporate Law and Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
  • Jason A. Rothman – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Cleveland)
  • Joshua R. Sanders – Government Relations Practice (Columbus)
  • H. Jeffrey Schwartz – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (New York)
  • Ann Z. Seger – Banking and Finance Law (Cleveland)
  • Anthony F. (Tony) Stringer – Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law (Cleveland)
  • K. James Sullivan – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Litigation - Insurance (Cleveland)
  • Raymond M. Tarasuck – Workers' Compensation Law - Employers (Cleveland)
  • Salvatore J. (Sam) Totino – Corporate Law and Tax Law (Cleveland)
  • Michael G. VanBuren – Health Care Law (Cleveland)
  • Jaclyn M. Vary – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Nonprofit / Charities Law, and Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
  • Jennifer L. Vergilii – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cleveland)
  • Christopher M. Ward – Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental (Columbus)
  • Thomas M. Welsh – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cleveland)
  • Christopher S. Williams – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - ERISA (Cleveland)

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. For more than four decades, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular distinction.

Best Lawyers Names Calfee “Top-Listed” in Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law

Calfee is named the “Top-Listed” firm in Cleveland in Corporate Law, with 11 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers, and in Mergers & Acquisitions Law with 6 lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers.

The "Top-Listed" designation is given to the firm that has the most recognized lawyers in a particular location and practice area. This award is based exclusively on the number of recognized lawyers and is in no way related to the "Best Law Firms" rankings.

28 Calfee Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Calfee congratulates the following 28 lawyers recognized in the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America:

  • Andrew Alexander – Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
  • Matthew B. Barbara – Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation (Cleveland)
  • Joshua G. Berggrun – Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
  • Sara S. Blair – Intellectual Property Law and Patent Law (Cleveland)
  • Nicholas A. Bonaminio – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Litigation - Antitrust (Cleveland)
  • Michael W. Bowen – Government Relations Practice (Cleveland)
  • Abbey Kinson Brown – Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (Cleveland)
  • Brandon E. Brown – Commercial Litigation (Cleveland)
  • Matthew A. Chiricosta – Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law (Cleveland)
  • Anthony J. (Tony) Cox – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law (Cleveland)
  • Nicolette T.E. Cregan – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law (Cleveland)
  • Joshua A. Friedman – Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
  • Andrew S. Griesser – Banking and Finance Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cincinnati)
  • Aaren R. Host – Appellate Practice and Insurance Law (Cleveland)
  • Terrence J. (TJ) Killeen, Jr. – Corporate Law and Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law (Cleveland)
  • Dustin D. Likens – Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
  • Brad Liu – Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
  • Maureen T. Pavicic – Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
  • Adam Pretty – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Columbus)
  • Bradley S. Pulfer – Intellectual Property Law and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
  • John L. Reulbach III – Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent, and Patent Law (Cleveland)
  • Madeline H. Shanahan – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Litigation - Labor and Employment (Cincinnati)
  • Robert F. Sohm – Commercial Litigation (Cleveland)
  • Zachary J. Stackhouse – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
  • Veronica Lambillotte Vasu – Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent, and Patent Law (Cleveland)
  • Robert J. Ward – Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Columbus)
  • John A. Wilaj – Litigation - Intellectual Property and Patent Law (Cleveland)
  • Tianyue Zhang – Intellectual Property Law and Patent Law (Cleveland)

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America are divided by geographic region and practice areas. Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular distinction.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch Names Calfee “Top-Listed” in Ohio and Cleveland

Calfee is named the “Top-Listed” firm in Ohio in Insurance Law (with 11 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch), Intellectual Property (6 lawyers recognized), and Patent Law (7 lawyers recognized).

Calfee is named the “Top-Listed” firm in Cleveland in Intellectual Property (6 lawyers recognized), Litigation – Intellectual Property (7 lawyers recognized), Litigation – Patent (7 lawyers recognized), and Patent Law (5 lawyers recognized).


About Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP is a full-service corporate law firm with 160 attorneys and professionals and six offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, New York, and Washington, D.C. Calfee serves clients in the Midwest, nationally, and globally in the areas of Business Restructuring and Insolvency, Corporate and Finance, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Energy and Utilities, Estate and Succession Planning and Administration, Government Relations and Legislation, Intellectual Property, Investment Management Law, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Real Estate Law. Calfee has been recognized as a leading law firm by the Chambers USA 2023 Legal Guide in Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Corporate/M&A, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Government Relations, Insurance: Policyholder, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, and Real Estate Law and by Chambers 2023 High Net Worth Guide in Private Wealth Law. The firm earned Mansfield Rule 6.0 Certification in 2023 for its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in the legal industry. A founding member of Lex Mundi, Calfee offers international representation through a network of independent law firms with access to 22,000 attorneys located in more than 125 countries. Additional information is available at Calfee.com.

About Best Lawyers

For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.

Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Our awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice; only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.

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Media Contact

Susan M. Kurz
Chief Marketing & Client Development Officer
skurz@calfee.com
216.622.8346 (office)
513.502.8950 (mobile)

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