Press Release

Akerman is pleased to announce that a record 344 firm lawyers across the United States have been named to Best Lawyers 2026 list in 80 areas of law – this includes 104 young lawyers named as “Ones to Watch.” Additionally, the publication named nine Akerman partners to the 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” list, an honor awarded to only one attorney with the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic location.

The annual Best Lawyers list is based on peer review surveys in which more than 100,000 leading lawyers provide input on their practice area peers.

Lawyer of the Year Rankings

Individual Lawyer Rankings:

Bankruptcy and Reorganization

Best Lawyers

  • Eyal Berger, Fort Lauderdale: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • John Campo, New York: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Luis Casas Meyer, Miami: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Jules Cohen, Orlando: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Eduardo Espinosa, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law
  • Michael Goldberg, Fort Lauderdale: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Andrea Hartley, Miami: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Brett Marks, Fort Lauderdale: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Esther McKean, Orlando: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Michael Napoli, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
  • David Parham, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • John Thompson: Washington, DC: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Steven Wirth, Tampa: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy

Ones To Watch

  • Laura Taveras, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy

CFS+

Best Lawyers

Ones To Watch

  • Nicholas Belay, Las Vegas: Banking and Finance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Chadwick Devlin, New York: Commercial Litigation 
  • Kurt Gosselin, New York: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Securities
  • Laura Guzmán, Orlando Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Alejandro Pacheco, Los Angeles: Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Katie Shepard, Tampa: Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency, Litigation – Banking and Finance

Corporate

Best Lawyers

  • William Arnhols, Miami: Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law
  • Jonathan Awner, Miami: Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
  • Nathan Balint, Orlando: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • David Birke, Miami: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Gabriela Botifoll, Miami: Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Timothy Bramwell, Jacksonville: Public Finance Law
  • Martin Burkett, Fort Lauderdale: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Geoffrey Cheney, Miami: Corporate Law
  • Patrick Christiansen, Orlando: Banking and Finance Law
  • Dale Cohen, New York: Franchise Law
  • Joshua DeBottis, Charlotte: Energy Law, Project Finance Law
  • Emily Doan, Denver: Copyright Law, Franchise Law
  • David Doney, Tampa: Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation
  • Mario Fallone: New York, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Paul Foley, Winston-Salem: Venture Capital Law
  • Jed Freeland, Orlando: Corporate Law
  • Dean Freitag, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Finance Law
  • Pedro Freyre, Miami: International Mergers and Acquisitions
  • James Goldsmith, Orlando: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Catherine Bentley Harris, Austin: Corporate Law
  • Kevin Hein, Denver: Franchise Law 
  • William Hoy IV, New York: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Daniel Jacobson, Miami, FL: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Teddy Klinghoffer, Miami: Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Amanda Leech, Atlanta: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Warren Lewis, Washington, DC: Franchise Law
  • Andres Mendoza, Miami: Real Estate Law
  • Esther Moreno, Miami: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Paul Quinn, Chicago: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Todd Reed, Austin: Corporate Law
  • Stephen Roddenberry, Miami: Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Carl Roston, Miami: Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Christina Russo, Miami: Corporate Law
  • Philip Schwartz, Fort Lauderdale: Corporate Law
  • Daniel Silva, Miami: Corporate Law
  • Phillip Slinkard, Austin: Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Edward Stone, New York: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Steven Walker, Winston-Salem: Banking and Finance Law
  • Scott Wasserman, Miami: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Ones To Watch

Government Strategies

Best Lawyers

  • Silvia Alderman, Tallahassee: Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
  • Felicia Leborgne Nowels, Tallahassee: Administrative / Regulatory Law, FDA Law, International Trade and Finance Law

Ones To Watch

  • Jamel Greer, Los Angeles: Education Law
  • Odette Ponce, Miami: Government Relations Practice, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Healthcare

Best Lawyers

Ones To Watch

Intellectual Property

Best Lawyers

Ones To Watch

  • Christopher McAndrew, Los Angeles: Intellectual Property Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property

Labor and Employment

Best Lawyers

  • Samantha Abeysekera, New York: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Melissa Cizmorris, Denver: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Christopher Duke, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Cary Farris, Houston: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Erica Fleetwood, Atlanta: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Amy Moor Gaylord, Chicago: Employment Law – Management
  • Eric Gordon, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Phillip Harris, Tampa: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Arlene Kline, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • John Linker, Houston: Employment Law – Management
  • Thomas Mandler, Chicago: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
  • Denise Gavica Perez, Miami: Employment Law – Management
  • Scott Silverman, Tampa: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Matthew Steinberg, New York: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Melissa Zinkil, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation

Ones to Watch

  • Mojan Anari, Los Angeles: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment 
  • Emily Ayvazian, Tampa: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Colby Berman, New York: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Megan Coughlin, West Palm Beach: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Andrew Karter, New York: Labor and Employment Law - Management
  • Christopher Lepore, Chicago: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Paige Newman, West Palm Beach: Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Ten Stallings, Miami: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Adil Yaqoob, New York: Litigation – Labor and Employment 

Litigation

Best Lawyers

  • David Ackerman, West Palm Beach: Arbitration, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Securities
  • Sergio Acosta, Chicago: Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar 
  • Marcy Aldrich, Miami: Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Richard Alvarez, Tampa: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Jacqueline Arango, Miami: Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
  • David Bayne, New York: Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Mark Bernet, Tampa: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Joshua Bernstein, New York: Leisure and Hospitality Law, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Joel Bertocchi, Chicago: Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Andy Cao, Houston: Commercial Litigation
  • Christopher Carver, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Robert Chaskes, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Michael Chavies, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Ginny Childs, Orlando: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Dana Clayton, Miami: Litigation – Real Estate
  • Gerald Cope, Jr., Miami: Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Nancy Copperthwaite, Miami: Appellate Practice, Insurance Law
  • Megan Costa DeLeon, Orlando: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance
  • Diane DeWolf, Tallahassee: Administrative / Regulatory Law
  • John Dicks, Tampa: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Andrew Dominguez, Miami: International Arbitration – Commercial
  • Brenden Dougherty, New York: Insurance Law
  • Andrew Dupre, Wilmington: Commercial Litigation
  • Allison Etkin, Los Angeles: Construction Law
  • Kristen Fiore, Tallahassee: Appellate Practice
  • Irene Bassel Frick, Tampa: Commercial Litigation
  • Christian George, Jacksonville: Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance 
  • Jennifer Glasser, Miami: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Andrew Gold, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Ilana Gorenstein Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Darryl Graham, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Valerie Greenberg, Miami: Commercial Litigation
  • Gary Guzzi, Miami: Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Elan Hersh, Fort Lauderdale: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
  • Paula Howell, Orlando: Commercial Litigation
  • Robin Johnson, Atlanta: Litigation – Insurance
  • David Keller, Fort Lauderdale: Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Scott Kessler, New York: Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law
  • Monica Kovecses, Orlando: Commercial Litigation 
  • Cindy Laquidara, Jacksonville: Appellate Practice, Environmental Law, Government Contracts, Government Relations Practice, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
  • Michael Larson, Tallahassee: Litigation – Environmental
  • Brian Lemon, Wilmington: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Patent
  • Tamara Malvin, Fort Lauderdale: Gaming Law, Insurance Law
  • Joshua Mandell, Los Angeles: Commercial Litigation
  • Jason Margolin, Tampa: Commercial Litigation
  • Scott Marrs, Houston: Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration – Commercial, Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Michael Marsh, Miami: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities
  • James McCann, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Kristen McDanald, Houston: Insurance Law
  • Kristen McMullen, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation
  • Catherine Miller, Chicago: Commercial Litigation
  • Samual Miller, Orlando: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation
  • Joel Mohrman, Houston: Commercial Litigation, Patent Law
  • Antonio Morin, Miami: Insurance Law, Litigation – Insurance
  • Anthony Morris, Atlanta: Litigation – Insurance
  • Edward Murphy, Houston: Arbitration, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Kimberly Narbona, Orlando: Commercial Litigation
  • Jason Oletsky, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Ricky Patel, Miami: Leisure and Hospitality Law
  • Luis A. Perez, Miami: Arbitration, International Arbitration – Commercial
  • Donald Pocock, Winston-Salem: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law
  • Gideon Reitblat, Miami: Litigation - Insurance 
  • Jose Riguera, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation
  • Raymond Robin, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Lawrence Rochefort, West Palm Beach: Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Ryan Roman, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions, Litigation – Securities
  • Scott Rostock, Fort Lauderdale: Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
  • Bryan Scott, Winston-Salem: Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • William Sentell, Houston: Franchise Law
  • Grasford Smith, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation 
  • Elliot Strader, Dallas: Insurance Law
  • George W. Tate, III, Orlando: Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
  • Bryan West, Miami: Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, International Arbitration – Commercial, Litigation – Securities

Ones To Watch

Real Estate

Best Lawyers

Ones To Watch

Tax

Best Lawyers

  • David Blum, Chicago: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
  • Diana Clarkson, New York: Corporate Compliance Law
  • Paul Collins, New York: Trusts and Estates
  • Lorie Fale, Miami: Tax Law 
  • Erin Hines, Atlanta: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
  • Elizabeth Hughes, Miami: Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Farid Khosravi, Atlanta: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
  • Erika Labelle, Denver: Tax Law
  • Peter Larsen, Jacksonville: Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, Tax Law
  • Jennifer Lindy, Atlanta: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
  • Richard Milstein, Miami: Elder Law, Family Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
  • Dale Noll, Miami: Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
  • David Otero, Jacksonville: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Securitization and Structured Finance Law, Tax Law
  • Marci Poliakoff, Miami: Tax Law
  • Stacey Prince-Troutman, Orlando: Trusts and Estates
  • Glen Stankee, Fort Lauderdale: Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
  • Robert Wall, Winston-Salem: Tax Law, Trusts and Estates

Ones To Watch

About Akerman
Founded in 1920, Akerman is recognized as one of the country’s premier law firms, with more than 700 lawyers in 25 offices throughout the United States.

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