Press Release

A record 345 Akerman lawyers across 82 areas of law were recognized in the Best Lawyers 2027 Guide, including 104 named "Ones To Watch." The publication also named 10 Akerman partners to its 2027 "Lawyer of the Year" list.

The annual Best Lawyers list is based on a rigorous peer review process, drawing on evaluations from more than 100,000 leading lawyers across practice areas nationwide. The "Lawyer of the Year" honor is the most selective of these recognitions, awarded to only one attorney per practice area and geographic location based on the highest overall peer feedback.

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
  • Luis R. 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 S. Espinosa, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law
  • Michael I. Goldberg, Fort Lauderdale: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Andrea S. Hartley, Miami: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • D. 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
  • Lucian Murley, Wilmington: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Michael D. Napoli, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
  • David W. Parham, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • John H. Thompson, Washington, D.C.: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Steven R. Wirth, Tampa: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy

Ones To Watch

  • Ian Roberts, Miami: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law  
  • Leah Saiontz, Miami: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law  
  • Laura Taveras, Dallas: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy

CFS+

Best Lawyers 

Ones To Watch 

Corporate

Best Lawyers

  • William C. Arnhols, Miami: Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law
  • Jonathan L. 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 N. Balint, Orlando: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Jonathan A. Beckham, Atlanta: Technology Law
  • David F. Birke, Miami: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Gabriela C. Botifoll, Miami: Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Timothy J. Bramwell, Jacksonville: Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law, Public Finance Law
  • Martin G. Burkett, Fort Lauderdale: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Geoffrey C. Cheney, Miami: Corporate Law
  • Patrick T. Christiansen, Orlando: Banking and Finance Law
  • Dale Alexandra Cohen, New York: Franchise Law
  • Joshua DeBottis, Charlotte: Energy Law, Project Finance Law
  • Emily N. Doan, Denver: Copyright Law, Franchise Law
  • David M. 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
  • Jeffrey A. Fickes, New York: Corporate Law
  • Jed Freeland, Orlando: Corporate Law
  • Dean M. Freitag, Fort Lauderdale: Commercial Finance Law
  • Pedro A. Freyre, Miami: International Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Eleanor Vaida Gerhards, Philadelphia: Franchise Law
  • James F. Goldsmith, Orlando: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Kevin Hein, Denver: Franchise Law
  • William A. 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
  • Teddy D. 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 K. Leech, Atlanta: Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Warren Lee Lewis, Washington, D.C.: Franchise Law
  • Andres G. Mendoza, Miami: Real Estate Law
  • Esther L. Moreno, Miami: Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
  • Stephen K. 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 D. Roston, Miami: Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Venture Capital Law
  • Christina C. Russo, Miami: Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • Philip Schwartz, Fort Lauderdale: Corporate Law
  • Daniel Andres Silva, Miami: Corporate Law
  • Edward M. Stone, New York: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
  • Steven W. Walker, Charlotte: 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 M. Alderman, Tallahassee: Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
  • Felicia Leborgne Nowels, Tallahassee: Administrative / Regulatory Law, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, FDA Law, International Trade and Finance Law

Ones To Watch

  • Odette Ponce, Miami: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Healthcare

Best Lawyers 

Ones To Watch 

Intellectual Property 

Best Lawyers 

Ones To Watch

Labor and Employment

Best Lawyers

  • Samantha Abeysekera, New York: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Melissa L. Cizmorris, Denver: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Mel M.C. Cole, Los Angeles: Employment Law – Management
  • Christopher S. Duke, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Cary Farris, Houston: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Erica V. Fleetwood, Atlanta: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Amy Moor Gaylord, Chicago: Employment Law – Management
  • Eric A. Gordon, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Phillip J. Harris, Tampa: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Arlene K. Kline, West Palm Beach: Employment Law – Individuals, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • John Linker, Houston: Employment Law – Management
  • Thomas Y. Mandler, Chicago: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
  • Denise Gavica Perez, Miami: Employment Law – Management
  • Scott T. Silverman, Tampa: Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Matthew A. Steinberg, New York: Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Melissa S. Zinkil, West Palm Beach: Commercial Litigation

Ones To Watch 

  • Thea S. Alli, Los Angeles: Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Colby H. Berman, New York: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Michael N. Castiglione, New York: Immigration Law
  • Hannah M. Compton, Tampa: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Felipe A. Gomez, Los Angeles: Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Reeya Khurana, New York: Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Diana M. Martinez, Los Angeles: Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Devon S. Mills, Los Angeles: Labor and Employment Law – Employee, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Paige S. Newman, West Palm Beach: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Lanie N. Bennett Read, Dallas: Labor and Employment Law – Management
  • Ten Stallings, Miami: Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • M. Adil Yaqoob, New York: Litigation – Labor and Employment

Litigation 

Best Lawyers

Ones To Watch 

Real Estate 

Best Lawyers

Ones To Watch 

Tax

Best Lawyers

Ones To Watch 

About Akerman
Founded in 1920, Akerman is an Am Law 100 firm recognized by Vault among the nation’s most prestigious law firms. The firm has more than 700 lawyers and business professionals throughout the United States.

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