Corp America Legal Elite awards 2016 by AI Global Media

LEGALELITE A Voice for the People

Girardi Keese is a Los Angeles based law firm operating across a wide range of practice areas. We invited Thomas Girardi to provide us with an absorbing overview of the company.

Exceeding Expectations

We invited Kyle Haug, Frommer Lawrence & Haugâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Director of Business Development to tell us more about this dedicated, professional practice.

2016

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CONTENTS

Welcome to the 2016 Corp America Legal Elite Awards. The Legal Elite of 2016 stretches across the US, from East to West, from Alaska to Hawaii, and celebrates the skill and dedication of firms, teams and individuals that help and support the legal process. They highlight the most respected lawyers and attorneys as well as their fields of expertise and the companies they represent, and focus on the incredible results that come of commitment and passion in the industry.

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL & TOXIC LIABILITY LAW FIRM- CALIFORNIA GIRARDI | KEESE

BEST PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM - GEORGIA FINCHER DENMARK & MINNIFIELD LLC

BEST FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PATENT AND REGULATORY LAW - NEW YORK FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG

BEST FOR SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY LAW – NEVADA HALE INJURY LAW

BEST FOR IP LITIGATION & TRANSACTIONS - CALIFORNIA ADLI LAW GROUP

RECOGNIZED LEADERS IN CONSUMER CLASS ACTIONS - SOUTHERN FLORIDA HARKE CLASBY BUSHMAN LLP

BEST IP BOUTIQUE 2016 & MOST REGARDED FOR ELECTRONIC PATENT PROSECUTION - NORTH CAROLINA MYERS BIGEL

BEST PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM - TEXAS ALMASRI MARZWANIAN & SEPULVEDA

MOST TRUSTED ELDER LAW SPECIALIST – FLORIDA HOINES HESS & ROSE

MOST RENOWNED MECHANICAL PATENT ATTORNEY - NORTH CAROLINA MYERS BIGEL

LEGAL ELITE CORPORATE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR AWARD THE AMERICAN INTL GROUP

BEST MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE FIRM & LEGAL ELITE’S ONE-TO-WATCH IN PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE - LOUISIANA JUDICE & ADLEY, APLC

MOST FEARED TELECOM SYSTEMS PATENT LITIGATOR - NORTH CAROLINA MYERS BIGEL

BUSINESS ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR - IDAHO BLASER, OLESON & LLOYD, CHARTERED

BEST DISABILITY LAW FIRM - NEW JERSEY KAZMIERCZAK & KAZMIERCZAK, LLP

BEST IN TRANSPORTATION LITIGATION - WASHINGTON STATE PAINE HAMBLEN LLP

BEST PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY - NEVADA BRADSHAW LAW LLC

BEST COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAWYER - SAN FRANCISCO BAY KIEVE LAW OFFICES

MOST CLIENT FOCUSED PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM - FLORIDA THE PANSLER LAW FIRM, P.A.

BEST BOND & DISCLOSURE COUNSEL FIRM - FLORIDA & RECOGNIZED LEADER IN MUNICIPAL LAW - FLORIDA BRYANT MILLER OLIVE

MOST TENACIOUS IN COMPLEX LITIGATION - POLK COUNTY PETERSON & MYERS PA

ELDER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR 2016 - FLORIDA BURZYNSKI ELDER LAW

BEST IP LAW BOUTIQUE 2016 & RECOGNIZED LEADER IN COMPLEX TECHNOLOGIES IP PROTECTION - CALIFORNIA KPPB

MOST ACCLAIMED BUSINESS LITIGATOR - TEXAS THE LAW OFFICE OF CLARK B. WILL, P.C.

BEST SECURITIES ENFORCEMENT PRACTICE 2016 - WASHINGTON DC CAHILL GORDON & REINDEL LLP

BEST BOUTIQUE CIVIL LITIGATION FIRM - VIRGINIA LAW OFFICE OF ANDREW CABANA PC

MOST INNOVATIVE FULL-SERVICE BUSINESS LAW FIRM - USA & BEST FOR INSURANCE DEFENSE - FLORIDA QUINTAIROS PRIETO WOOD & BOYER P.A

BEST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - WASHINGTON DENNIS D. REYNOLDS LAW OFFICE

BEST FULL-SERVICE HEALTHCARE LAW FIRM - TEXAS LILES PARKER, PLLC

BEST COMMERCIAL DISPUTES RESOLUTION FIRM – FLORIDA THE SOLOMON LAW GROUP, P.A.

BEST FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION & BEST FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT LIABILITY ACTIONS - NY DOUGLAS & LONDON P.C

MOST TENACIOUS CRIMINAL LAW ATTORNEY – GEORGIA THE MAZLOOM LAW FIRM

BEST CONSTRUCTION LAW FIRM - GEORGIA STONE & BELLUS PC

MOST ESTABLISHED LAW FIRM 2016 - USA MESSNER REEVES LLP

BEST COMMERCIAL LITIGATOR 2016 – ILLINOIS & MOST REPUTED FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM - USA TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP

CIVIL LITIGATION FIRM OF THE YEAR – NEVADA & LEGAL ELITE EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR CLIENT SERVICE ERICKSON, THORPE & SWAINSTON

BEST FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM - AUSTIN KNIGHT & PARTNERS

MOST FEARED INSURANCE LITIGATOR - FLORIDA MORRIS & MORRIS, P.A. BEST CIVIL LITIGATOR - WASHINGTON MORRIS – SOCKLE, PLLC

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BEST ENVIRONMENTAL & TOXIC LIABILITY LAW FIRM - CALIFORNIA

GIRARDI | KEESE

Company: Girardi | Keese Name: Thomas V. Girardi Email: TGirardi@Girardikeese.com Web Address: GirardiKeese.com Address: 1126 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Telephone: (213) 977-0211

Girardi Keese is a Los Angeles based law firm operating across a wide range of practice areas. We invited Thomas Girardi to provide us with an absorbing overview of the company. Girardi Keese operates across a wide range of practice areas including corporate law, personal injury law as well as environmental and toxic liability law. Thomas outlines the firm’s approach and explains his own area of expertise. “Girardi Keese is involved in representation of plaintiffs in a very large number of areas. We have a section devoted to product defects, intellectual property, anti-trust, class action, drug liability, pharmaceutical devices, medical malpractice, and personal injury cases. A partner is in charge of each of these areas of the law. “Personally, I am involved primarily in the trial of very complicated and important cases. I have been very much involved in the environmental cases (Erin Brockovich was my “case”) and very much involved in the trial of a very interesting case with a large impact (Bryan Stow v. The L.A. Dodgers) that changed security practices in major league baseball. I started my career a sole practitioner as a personal injury trial lawyer. Some lawyer friends would refer me some cases. For the most part, they were not very big cases. I did have an

extraordinary burst of good luck. As a fourth year lawyer, I obtained the first million-dollar verdict in a medical malpractice case, which was my way into working larger cases.” According to Thomas the secret behind the firm’s success is its focus on communication, which he feels is vital to supporting clients and ensuring that they receive the very highest quality of service. “None of our clients have a voice. Our goal in life is to give them one and hopefully change the bad conduct that harms people. I believe that communication is the key which the clients appreciate the most. “Therefore, I believe that communication from the most experienced lawyers to the younger lawyers is the key. I am very proud of our 5:30 meetings in which countless issues are discussed with our young lawyers. “This communication is not only internal, and lawyers involved in the type of practice we have must be aware of the politics that it is now

involved in the legal system. There is a constant attack to eliminate the jury trial. Arbitration agreements found in small print on the 7th page of consumer agreement do not satisfy, in my opinion, the 7th Amendment and one’s right to a jury trial. “As such to remain at the forefront of emerging developments every one of the 24 lawyers spend a great deal of time and effort with almost every legal group in the country – The Inner Circle of Advocates, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American Board of Trial Advocates, American Business Trial Lawyers, Consumer Attorneys of California, and Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles.” As his final comment Thomas emphasises the firm’s focus on retaining the high quality of service which its clients have come to expect. “Moving forward we will continue to offer the same level of service which we have been for 40 years. We want to keep credibility with the opposing lawyers as well as the lawyers who refer cases and with the men and women in the judiciary.”

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BEST FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PATENT AND REGULATORY LAW - NEW YORK

FROMMER LAWRENCE & HAUG LLP

Company: Frommer Lawrence & Haug Name: Kyle Haug Email: khaug@flhlaw.com Web Address: www.flhlaw.com Address: 745 Fifth Avenue, Floor 10, New York, NY 10151 Telephone: (212) 588-0800

Frommer Lawrence & Haug is a premier law firm that strives to achieve results that exceed expectations. We invited Kyle Haug, the firm’s Director of Business Development to tell us more about this dedicated, professional practice.

Founded in 1997, Frommer Lawrence and Haug LLP (FLH) is a full-service law firm that offers services covering the entire spectrum of intellectual property practice, from acquisition through commercialization and enforcement of clients’ rights. Kyle explains how the firm’s collaborative structure and dedication to client service has helped it achieve the success it enjoys today.

angle, ensuring comprehensive and thorough representation to protect their interests.

“With more than 70 lawyers and scientific advisors in offices in New York and Washington, D.C., as well as partnerships with firms in Germany, China, and Japan, our structure and technical expertise allow us to address legal issues and business challenges through a multidisciplinary approach.

Human resources are vital to the firm’s success, according to Kyle, and as such FLH takes great pride in its professional staff, and aims to support them as much as possible to ensure they continually offer the very highest quality services to their clients.

“Whether we are representing inventors, startups, or global brands such as Sony, Porsche, or Shire Pharmaceuticals, our goal is the same: to maximize the value of our clients’ intellectual property and technology assets while minimizing risk and meeting their unique needs. Our size, structure, and technical capabilities allow us to seamlessly integrate our various specialties, affording our clients a unique mechanism by which to create, expand, and protect their intellectual property. By advising on patent prosecution strategy with an eye toward litigation, FLH collaborates with clients in devising the strongest protection possible for products now and into the future. “Throughout our history, our commitment to excellence, innovation, and integrity in servicing all aspects of our clients’ needs has not wavered. Our personalized guidance has always been our hallmark. Every client is different, so we align product strategies with their timelines, business goals, and resources. And our interdisciplinary approach allows us to consider our clients’ business objectives from every

“Our attorneys specialize in patent prosecution, transactions, antitrust counseling, regulatory law, and litigation, and therefore are able to advise and support our clients throughout the legal process.”

“At FLH, our greatest strength is our people. Our clients achieve sustained success due to the quality and experience of our 130 dedicated partners, associates, scientific advisors, and staff. With advanced degrees from top universities in complex technical fields ranging from engineering and computer science to molecular genetics and pharmacology, the professionals at FLH stay ahead of the ever-evolving landscape of technological innovation. “We encourage active involvement in leadership and service in our firm as well as in the community. For instance, FLH has an outstanding record of providing pro bono representation for individuals in need. Thanks to our dedicated program encouraging 100% attorney participation, we log thousands of hours every year in community service, handling matters

ranging from veterans’ appeals for unpaid medical bills and disability benefits to federal prisoners alleging human rights violations. “Additionally, our office boasts a brand new, state-of-the-art litigation suite, including a mock courtroom, witness-preparation rooms, and conference space. With these tools, our attorneys can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their cases, study mock juror deliberations, and refine their trial strategy using this feedback from clients or representative judges or juries. The latest in audio and visual capabilities enable our attorneys to conduct and broadcast entire trials to an audience located anywhere in the world. Further, arguments and deliberations can be archived for future viewing and analysis. Finally, the courtroom allows younger attorneys the opportunity to gain practical experience by presenting arguments and trying cases in a realistic setting alongside the firm’s most knowledgeable partners.” As a final comment, Kyle highlights how the firm’s pioneering focus on knowledge and experience is slowly being taken up by the wider legal industry. “Firms are beginning to realize the value of their lawyers’ knowledge as a strategic asset. At FLH, we are focused on ensuring that our entire firm becomes a more effective learning organization through not only traditional professional development but also experiential learning, such as through our mock courtroom.”

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BEST FOR IP LITIGATION & TRANSACTIONS - CALIFORNIA

ADLI LAW GROUP

Company: ADLI Law Group Name: Dariush G. Adli Email: adli@adlilaw.com Web Address: www.adlilaw.com Address: 444 S Flower St. Ste 3100, Los Angeles, CA 90071 Telephone: 213-623-6546

ADLI Law Group is a full-service law firm that specialises in providing legal services in the areas of business and intellectual property. We invited Dariush G. Adli to tell us more about the firm and the services it provides.

Since its inception, ADLI Law’s focus has been to be a “one stop shop” for our business clients’ legal needs. We aim to provide the highest quality of service that bigger law firms offer in a more congenial, value-based and client-focused atmosphere. Giving personal attention to each and every one of our clients’ needs allows ADLI Law to ensure that we’re meeting each client’s’ goals so that they receive the full value of legal expense they incur. Our service offering is primarily focused on representing, advising and counselling Hi Tech and Fortune 500 companies on legal issues relating to their business and intellectual property (patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret).

Fundamentally we believe that our client-oriented approach to litigation begins with understanding our client’s business, goals, objectives and closely working with the client to develop a specific tailored strategy to match their overall goal; is important. We appreciate each and every client who chooses us to receive the most value for their resources; and as such, we perfect a tailored legal strategy to their business resources, risk adverseness and overall goals as a company. Clients that come to ADLI Law Group appreciate the virtue of services they receive at a substantially more affordable and lower hourly rate than larger, national law firm competitors.

Looking ahead, the future of ADLI is both exciting and, in our opinion, new to the world of legal services. Traditionally, corporate and business transactional work has been starkly divided between large law firms and their institutional corporate clients. On the one hand, small shops and solo practitioners who function as loosely attached outside counsel to address the needs of smaller businesses and entrepreneurs. The mission of the corporate and business division of ADLI, which is already being fulfilled for our existing clients, is to use our experience and high end technology to provide an appropriate, efficient and effective service platform for the entire spectrum of business clients and their transactions. The result is a firm that can simultaneously serve small start-ups and individual entrepreneurs, as well as large institutional entities.

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BEST PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM - TEXAS

ALMASRI MARZWANIAN & SEPULVEDA LAW GROUP

Company: Almasri Marzwanian & Sepulveda Law Group Website: http://www.theamslawgroup.com/

Almasri Marzwanian & Sepulveda Law Group offers a dedicated legal team that provides efficient and compassionate legal representation and guidance while being highly effective at achieving case resolution that serves clients’ best interests. We profile the firm and explore the secrets behind its success. Almasri Marzwanian & Sepulveda’s consider themselves far more than just a law firm, but more of an advocates for clients’ rights, and for those who do not have the wealth and resources of large corporations and insurance companies.

Dedicated to supporting its clients, the firm’s compassionate attorneys and staff understand that personal injuries and deaths not only cause physical pain and suffering, but also emotional and financial disaster through loss of a steady pay-check, mounting medical bills, and tremendous stress place upon injured individuals and their families.

Ultimately, the firm are determined to be a catalyst for change. The practice has worked thousands of cases, and therefore have the expertise and dedication to support any client. The firm’s abilities in the courtroom has given it with a strong reputation with judges, other law firms, and insurance companies.

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LEGAL ELITE CORPORATE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR AWARD

THE AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP

Company: AIG Web Address: www.aig.com

AIG is a global insurance provider supporting clients from across the corporate landscape. AIG’s General Counsel, Tom Russo tells us more.

AIG aspires to be our clients’ most valued insurer. To meet this goal, AIG’s over 60,000 employees create customized insurance solutions to protect our 90 million clients across the globe – combining our risk expertise, insights from data science, technology, and world-class service. For nearly 100 years, our organization has faced and managed complex risks and provided risk expertise and financial strength. We serve businesses, non-profits, and global institutions as well as individuals and families.

In order to offer the highest possible quality of service, AIG’s IT, Science, and R&D functions have all been exploring the latest technologies, such as virtual reality, sensors, telematics, natural language processing, computer vision, drones, and advanced analytics. GLCR members are expected to understand the emerging risks arising from these innovative technologies as it helps AIG employees both use these technologies to be more efficient and to serve our clients. Additionally, AIG’s GLCR leadership team encourages its members to keep their skills sharp through training and pro bono opportunities that

Evan El-Amin / Shutterstock.com

expose them to areas of the law that they might not have been exposed to otherwise. We believe that being exposed to other disciplines can help expand one’s view of the law to ultimately provide the best service to our clients. As we transform AIG for the future, our current strategy centers on streamlining our business; we are focused on making targeted investments for our future. These include our recently announced plan to form a joint venture with Hamilton Insurance Group and Two Sigma to develop insurance solutions informed by data and technology for the small to medium-sized enterprise market.

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BUSINESS ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR - IDAHO

BLASER, OLESON & LLOYD, CHARTERED

Company: Blaser, Oleson & Lloyd, Chartered Address: 285 NW Main St, Blackfoot, ID 83221, United States Phone: +1 208-785-4700 Website: http://www.blaserolesonlloyd.com/

Located in the small rural community of Blackfoot, Idaho, Blaser, Oleson & Lloyd has been serving local business and individual clients in southeast Idaho for almost 35 years. We invited Partner Bryce Craig Lloyd to talk us through the firm and the services it offers.

Since firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s establishment in 1982, Blaser, Oleson & Lloyd, Chartered have expanded rapidly and now have a client base beyond the United States. With our presence in lower-overhead markets, our firm prides itself in the quality, affordability and variety of legal services it has to offer in a competitive industry. As a firm we represent a broad spectrum of clients in many areas of law due to the diverse expertise of our three partners. As an original partner in the firm, Stephen J. Blaser has extensive experience in family law, agricultural law, estate planning and

probates. With his background as a prosecuting attorney, partner Justin B. Oleson has an excellent reputation for criminal defense as well as general litigation. Personally I have a history in corporate law, and am involved in corporate litigation and acquisitions throughout Idaho. Alongside our work in the United States we also operate internationally, providing our services as far afield as India, which is unique for firms of our size and allows us to broaden our experience and knowledge of international law.

Ultimately our goal is to provide a comprehensive yet more affordable legal service than other regional or national firms. Our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; satisfaction is of the utmost importance and we work hard to ensure everyone who works with us receives the highest quality service and achieves the best outcome possible. As the major portion of the business we acquire in our small community is by word-of-mouth, we understand the importance of maintaining a good rapport and reputation. We seek to establish lasting relationships with our clients by providing them with superior service regardless of the size or scope of their case, and this will be our focus moving forward.

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BEST PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY - NEVADA

BRADSHAW LAW LLC

Company: Bradshaw Law LLC Name: Denise A. Bradshaw, ESQ. Address: 603 Pine Street, Elko, Nevada 89801 Phone: (775) 738-7444 Fax: (775) 738-7455

Denise Bradshaw is the founder of the personal injury firm, Bradshaw Law LLC, which specialises in personal injury law. We profile Denise and the work she undertakes on behalf of her clients.

Denise Bradshaw represents clients throughout Nevada who have been injured at no fault of their own. She has always focused her legal career on protecting injured people and is highly aggressive in the pursuit of her clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights. More than just a talented attorney and dedicated worker, Denise is a personable advocate for her clients with a rich legal career. For the last 24 years, Denise A. Bradshaw has worked tirelessly to become the premier Nevada attorney she is today. As the founder of the personal injury firm, Bradshaw Law LLC, in Elko, Nevada, Denise has come

a long way since her law career began. While taking undergraduate classes at night, she initially worked as a receptionist, legal secretary and then became a paralegal. Continuing to work as a paralegal while in law school, Denise went on to earn her Law Degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2007. Graduating in the top 10 percent of her class, Denise also received admittance to the prestigious Order of the Coif â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a further tribute to her immaculate academic record. Currently she represents injured clients out of her offices in Elko and travels throughout Nevada, assisting clients

in obtaining compensation for their injuries and helping them get back on their feet. She specializes in various types of injury claims, from automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, harmful products and medical malpractice, providing her clients with vigorous representation and insight. Due to her experience struggling against adversity and rising up through the ranks, Denise understands the challenges of facing obstacles that appear to be insurmountable. She aggressively pursues her clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; best interest by being supremely dedicated to their needs and is a firm believer in the principles of fair play.

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BEST BOND & DISCLOSURE COUNSEL FIRM - FLORIDA & RECOGNIZED LEADER IN MUNICIPAL LAW - FLORIDA

BRYANT MILLER OLIVE

Company: Bryant Miller Olive Website: http://www.bmolaw.com/

Bryant Miller Olive is one of the top bond counsel practices in the southeast United States.

With a distinguished 45-year history of serving its clients’ needs, Bryant Miller Olive (BMO) represents governments, businesses and agencies in legal matters relating to public finance; state and local government law; labor and employment; complex transactions; project finance; and litigation. It is one of the largest and most experienced public finance practice groups in the southeast United States and has been ranked consistently for the past 10 years as the top bond counsel practice in Florida. BMO has offices in Atlanta, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa and Washington, D.C. Leading the team at Bryant Miller Olive is managing shareholder Grace E. Dunlap. With nearly 30 years of experience in public finance law, she has served as bond counsel for numerous Florida governments and non-profit organizations in the utility, transportation, education and healthcare industries. Through this work, she has become an expert in complex bond issues, including governmental pooled financings, conduit transactions, industrial development, education and healthcare issues.

travel and reading. She also serves on Stetson’s College of Law’s Board of Overseers. She began her career as a scuba diving instructor in Key West, Florida and then became a foster care social worker, helping children through the adoption process. She has a passion for helping children and continues to volunteer her time in this area. Bryant Miller Olive encourages all of its attorneys to find areas of interest and serve in the community. The firm’s team approach benefits the attorneys by enabling a work/ life balance which permits community involvement. Bryant Miller Olive is often called upon to provide specialized legal services on complex transactions ranging from major public-private transportation projects to the structuring and financing of higher education and affordable housing facilities. For example, BMO was instrumental in the successful completion of a public private partnership that enabled Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland to build a much-needed residence hall for its 2014 inaugural freshman class.

Grace joined Bryant Miller Olive in 1993, opening the firm’s Tampa office and serving as the office managing shareholder. In 2011, she became the managing shareholder for the entire firm. In addition to being named to this year’s Legal Elite, Grace has been named the “Best Lawyer in Tampa” in Finance Law by Tampa Magazine in 2016, and was awarded Florida Trend’s “Legal Elite” designation in 2012 and 2013. When not at work, Grace enjoys playing with her dog Koby, running,

Professionals in the firm are also called upon to represent cities and counties in a variety of matters ranging from charter revisions to intricate labor and employment issues. Members of BMO’s State and Local Government Practice Group have been representing a number of Florida cities and counties for dozens of years, providing a consistency of service that is rare in many of these types of relationships. Bryant Miller Olive’s rich history began back in 1970, when it was founded by four men who were instrumental in shaping Florida’s history: former Florida Governor C. Farris Bryant; former Deputy Attorney General Wilton R. Miller; former Assistant Attorney General W. Robert Olive; and Benjamin H. Dickens, a pioneer in governmental and private bond finance in Florida. Bryant Miller Olive’s growth from a small firm in Tallahassee in 1970 to a company that is recognized for its specialized legal services mirrors not only the growth and development of Florida, but also the vision of the early shareholders: to create a firm that would become known for its competence, service, trust and loyalty.

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ELDER LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR 2016 - FLORIDA

BURZYNSKI ELDER LAW

Company: Burzynski Elder Law Name: Jill Burzynski Email: jjb@burzynskilaw.com Web Address: burzynskilaw.com Address: 1124 Goodlette Road Naples, FL 34102 Telephone: 239 434-8557

Burzynski Elder Law exclusively practice elder law including life care planning, guardianship and probate. We invited Founder Jill Burzynski to tell us more about the firm and the work it does in this area.

Here at Burzynski Elder Law our main focus is life care planning: helping seniors find, access and pay for good care. We strive to ensure that our clients obtain the best care possible. While we do offer estate planning services, our focus is more on what happens while our clients are alive, rather than what happens when our clients die. By offering fixed fees as opposed to hourly rates we are able to better support our clients, ensuring that they feel able to come to us with any issue or query, no matter how small. We want to have a relationship with our clients, rather than just a transaction.

Elder law is a constantly evolving area. Guardianship legislation has been a hotly debated topic in Florida over the past few years, and is therefore a very exciting and dynamic industry in which to work. Working with the elderly is vitally important, as the elderly make up a large percentage of our population: therefore we are always working hard to change the industry for the better. I am a member of the Florida Joint Public Policy Task Force for the Elderly and Disabled, a group of the leaders of the elder law community in Florida who meet weekly to discuss any changes to the sector and how these will affect our clients.

Ultimately, it is our focus to provide the highest possible quality service and support our clients as best we can to ensure that they get the highest level of care available.

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BEST SECURITIES ENFORCEMENT PRACTICE 2016 - WASHINGTON DC

CAHILL GORDON & REINDEL LLP

Company: Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP Name: Bradley J. Bondi Email: BBondi@cahill.com Web Address: www.cahill.com Address: 1990 K Street, N.W. Suite 950 Washington, DC 20006 Telephone: 202-862-8910

Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP was founded in 1919 and quickly built a national reputation for excellence in the financial and corporate areas. Brad Bondi talks us through the firm’s illustrious history and explains how it achieved the enviable success it enjoys today.

Cahill has thrived for nearly a century by focusing on the most significant opportunities and complex challenges facing financial services firms and multinational corporations. Brad Bondi, whose speciality is representing companies and financial institutions during significant crises, outlines how the firm’s professional and dedicated lawyers have driven its success. Cahill’s premier transactional and litigation groups have developed impressive records of accomplishment in headline-grabbing deals and high profile cases. Cahill has been on the front lines of major securities litigation and investigations for nearly a century. Cahill lawyers are highly client-driven. “Clients hire us because of our experience, depth of knowledge, and facility in managing challenging situations,” said partner Brad Bondi, a leader of Cahill’s securities enforcement and regulatory practices. Cahill is known for innovative trial and defense strategies that draw on the strengths of the entire firm and reflect a wider perspective than that typically afforded by the specialized niches and micro practices that make up a large law firm. Cahill’s securities enforcement team represents clients in investigations and proceedings involving the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, United States Attorneys’ Offices, Department of the Treasury, Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Inspector General, and State Attorneys General, as well as the New York Stock Exchange, FINRA, and other prosecutorial and regulatory agencies. Bondi formerly served in senior roles at the Securities and Exchange Commission as enforcement counsel to two commissioners and deputy general counsel of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, and also briefly served as a Special Assistant United

States Attorney. He became the sixth lateral partner to join Cahill in its almost 100-year history and has expanded Cahill’s successful securities enforcement practice in Washington, DC. That “home-grown culture” is what attracted Bondi to the firm. “When most partners start together as associates and develop together into partners, you have a better culture of teamwork,” said Bondi. “I’m honored to have been accepted into this family and to have the trust of my partners.” At Cahill, Bondi serves as a senior adviser to financial institutions and global corporations, boards of directors, audit committees, special committees and officers and directors of publicly held companies in significant corporate and securities matters (civil or criminal), with particular emphasis on SEC and DOJ enforcement challenges, significant litigation, crisis management, internal investigations, accounting and compliance issues, and governance challenges. Recognized by Securities Docket as one of the top 40 securities enforcement defense lawyers in the country, Bondi explains how Cahill’s team is committed to effectively representing every client throughout the legal process. “Our clients face significant legal challenges and expect perfection in the legal services we render. We aim to deliver through hard work, attention to detail, and strategic thinking. Each client should be treated as the highest priority, and our goal is to provide the highest quality service to everyone we represent.” In addition to Bondi, Cahill’s securities enforcement team includes other alumni of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Bart Friedman, a partner with over thirty years of experience, and other experienced defense lawyers including Landis Best,

Charles Gilman, David Januszewski, Brian Markley, Herb Washer, Penny Windle, and David Wishengrad. The team also includes David Kelley, the former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York who oversaw some of the nation’s most significant investigations and prosecutions involving white collar crime and terrorism; former Assistant United States Attorneys, including Anirudh Bansal, Pierre Gentin, and Sean Tonolli; and other lawyers who joined Cahill following distinguished careers in the Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Department of the Treasury, and other government agencies and commissions. Looking ahead, Bondi outlines the firm’s plans for the future as it focuses on providing clients with the highest-quality service possible within the dynamic and ever-evolving legal market. “The legal industry is growing and law firms are becoming more competitive, while clients are becoming more cost conscious. We address this competitiveness as we always have done – by providing the very top quality legal services, working efficiently and effectively, and achieving successes for our clients.”

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BEST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW - WASHINGTON

DENNIS D. REYNOLDS LAW OFFICE

Company: Dennis D. Reynolds Law Office Name: Dennis D. Reynolds Email: dennis@ddrlaw.com Web Address: www.ddrlaw.com Address: 200 Winslow Way West, Suite 380, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110 Telephone: (206) 780-6777

Dennis D. Reynolds Law Office is the sole practice of experienced lawyer Dennis Reynolds. We invited him to provide us with an overview of his firm and the services it offers.

Dennis Reynolds, who has over 30 years’ experience with federal, state and local land development regulations, specializes in supporting clients in the fields of governmental regulatory matters in the context of land use, timber harvest and management, agriculture, shoreline and commercial development and use. Dennis outlines how his experience helps him to provide a quality service to every one of his clients. “My experience as a government attorney provided the knowledge of the regulatory systems, some of which I helped develop by drafting

implementing rules and regulations. This provides me with a unique insight, and allows me to better support my clients.” Dennis’ firm is AV rated. He considers his clients part of the team. The firm relies on client strategy sessions and use of goals and objectives to ensure a successful outcome. Working in such a competitive and evolving industry, Dennis finishes the interview by outlining the challenges he faces and the techniques he employs to overcome these.

The scenic Seattle, Washington skyline as seen from Elliott Bay on a ferryboat crossing to Bainbridge Island

“Fundamentally, periodic state-wide updates of shoreline master programs and other regulatory systems are a challenge to all citizens. These updates are pushing the limits of administrative control of normal uses of the shoreline, critical areas and uplands. In order to ensure that I am up to date with the latest developments, I keep in close contact with members of the industry and regulatory bodies, and use this information to provide my clients with advice and support which is tailored to meet their needs and always fully relevant and correct.”

LE16033

BEST FOR PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION & BEST FOR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT LIABILITY ACTIONS - NEW YORK

DOUGLAS & LONDON P.C

Company: Douglas & London P.C Address: 59 Maiden Lane 6th Floor New York, NY 10038 Phone: (212) 566-7500 Fax: (212) 566-7501 Website: http://www.douglasandlondon.com/

Douglas & London specialise in product liability law, with a focus on the pharmaceutical sector. We spoke to Michael London, one of the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Founding Partners, to find out more.

Douglas & London represents individuals from across the United States who have been injured or suffered a bereavement owing to the faults of others. The firm consists of 13 professional attorneys, as well as an array of dedicated back staff, all of whom work tirelessly to support the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clients through the investigation and litigation of their case. Our overall aim is to provide our clients with the justice they deserve, and we work hard to support them as best as possible throughout the process. We aim to be flexible and communicative, using emails to keep in touch with clients and ensure that any queries or questions they have are dealt with swiftly and efficiently. My primary focus is on the pharmaceutical industries, representing clients to help them achieve and attain compensation for injuries stemming from pharmaceutical drugs or medical devices, as well as against chemical companies that improperly have polluted the environment and drinking water. Currently the firm is in a great position, with a fantastic team all of whom work very hard to support our clients and achieve the best possible outcome for their case. Moving forward we are keen to continue to offer our high level of service and maintain our impressive success record. Ultimately we are here to help people who have, through no fault of their own, been through a traumatic and often life changing experience, and this is a great motivation for us to keep doing what we do to the best of our collective ability.

LE16087

CIVIL LITIGATION FIRM OF THE YEAR â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NEVADA & LEGAL ELITE EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR CLIENT SERVICE

ERICKSON, THORPE & SWAINSTON

Company: Erickson, Thorpe & Swainston Phone: 775.786.3930 Fax: 775.786.4160 Email: etsreno@etsreno.com Website: http://www.etsreno.com/

Erickson, Thorpe & Swainston offers committed support in all phases of commercial and civil litigation, including labor and employment law and associated preventative employment services. We profile the firm and explore the wide range of services it offers and how its dedication to client service has led it to its current success. Established in 1969, Erickson, Thorpe & Swainston has efficiently and successfully represented its clients in state and federal courts in Nevada and Northern California for over 45 years. During this time the firm’s staff have gained strong experience as trial and appellate attorneys, and as such the firm vigorously advocates its clients’ interests while remaining committed to the principles of the highest legal ethics. The firm offer a wide range of legal service, which includes litigation, alternative dispute resolution and mediation. The practice provides the experience necessary to meet its

clients’ expectations for an effective, efficient and timely resolution of their conflicts and issues. Specific areas of focus include: commercial litigation; products liability; professional liability (agents & brokers, architects & engineers, chiropractic, medical-dental, legal, pharmacy, etc.); construction litigation; personal injury; labor and employment practices; transportation; aviation; premises liability; toxic torts/environmental damage; civil rights; and insurance defense. Alongside this prestigious accolade, The firm’s exercise of high legal standards and ethics has earned its

listing in the Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. In addition, the practice was awarded the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory AV rating and is identified in A.M. Best’s Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys, a unique and reputable study of the premier insurance defense trial law firms Ultimately, Erickson, Thorpe & Swainston’s continuing success in this highly competitive profession demonstrates its widely recognized ability to deliver satisfaction and positive outcomes to their clients, whose trust the firm values above all else.

LE16004

BEST PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM - GEORGIA

FINCHER DENMARK & MINNIFIELD LLC

Company: Fincher Denmark & Minnifield LLC Address: 8024 Fairoaks Court, Jonesboro, GA 30236 Phone: (770) 478-9950 Website: http://www.georgialawexperts.com/

Fincher Denmark & Minnifield LLC is an AV Rated law firm specializing in personal injury, local government and criminal law. We invited the firm’s business manager to talk us through the firm and explore how it strives for excellence in everything it does.

For a client, one of the most important attributes a lawyer can deliver is an intimate understanding of her clients’ business. In Georgia, few firms deliver more detailed knowledge, based on experience handling the legal affairs of government entities and multimillion dollar cases, than Fincher Denmark & Minnifield LLC (FDM).

Georgia, we have a special focus on the communities in which we live and work. Community and family are the firm’s key principals. Therefore, FDM treats both clients and staff like their own, supporting them and communicating regularly with them to ensure they receive the best possible outcome.

At FDM, we have over 35 years of experience we put to work for you. We are proud of our successful past, and excited about the future – the future of serving clients across metro Atlanta with expert legal services. While we work with clients throughout

A powerful lawyer can be a very effective asset for any client, and this, combined with the firm’s wide expertise, dedicated and professional staff, and vast experience, makes FDM the ideal legal partner.

At FDM, we promise to pursue your case with the urgency it deserves. We also pledge to treat you like a valued friend. You are not a case number. Relationships are the foundation to our success. To get started, call or e-mail us today and speak with one of our attorneys.

LE16080

BEST FOR SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY LAW â&#x20AC;&#x201C; NEVADA

HALE INJURY LAW

Company: Hale Injury Law Name: Leila Hale Email: lhale@haleinjurylaw.com Web Address: www.haleinjurylaw.com Address: 3333 East Serene Avenue, Suite 200, Henderson, NV 89074 Telephone: 702-736-5800

Hale Injury Law is an aggressive personal injury law firm devoted to representing victims injured in automobile accidents and work-related incidents. We invited Leila Hale to talk us through the company about its service offering.

Superior customer care is paramount to every successful business, and Hale Injury Law, as Leila explains, is the epitome of this. My business model is to give our clients the absolute best legal representation possible; as opposed to other Billboard and Television attorneys who treat their clients like a number. As a person who appreciates a high level of customer service when I am on the receiving end of a business dealing I expect my firm to give our clients that same personal attention in their dealings with HALE INJURY LAW. This is a labor intensive task when handling Personal Injury cases, but nonetheless, we strive to help the client through a very difficult time in their life. Imagine losing your only mode of transportation, being so injured you are unable to work, or care for your children, or support your family which is all too often the underlying scenario in virtually every Personal Injury case. To cater to our client’s pressing needs, I employ a dynamic group of people who are not only caring and compassionate but very knowledgeable in both the legal and medical aspects of Personal Injury. Historically, the number one complaint of any legal client is that their attorney fails to return their calls. At HALE INJURY LAW I have implemented many policies, one of which is that every client is called at least once a week for the first four weeks then once a month thereafter, or as needed as issues arise. For example, our Medical Coordinator’s job is to call each client and conduct a comprehensive Treatment Status Call. We want to ensure we are aware of the level of our client’s injuries and understand how the client is responding to treatment through every phase of their treatment until settlement.

The staff of HALE INJURY LAW is trained to understand the client’s specific injuries, the appropriate treatment for such injuries, and what to do if the client is not responding to treatment. They are instructed on how to deal with high pain levels and when to bring such matters to the medical provider’s attention. The medical management of a Personal Injury case is vital to the its success. When an attorney manages a Personal Injury case properly they effectively maximize the client’s recovery at the time of settlement. Our firm is a family and our clients become an extension of that family when they hire us to handle their Personal Injury case. We treat one another with respect and extend that same courtesy to our clients. We provide our clients with our cellular phone numbers, we friend them on social media and we take an interest in them and their families well beyond just their Personal Injury case. I want my employees to feel they are appreciated and respected. It has been proven that giving employees some leeway and autonomy creates a sense of ownership and pride in their own work. I encourage them to present new ideas and I play to their strengths because when an employee

takes pride in their work, they bring value to the firm. An integral part of every successful firm, or any business, is its core of successful employees. Every employee at HALE INJURY LAW has exponential potential to grow and develop their position in the firm, one that is solid and limitless. Ironically, the underlying philosophy that keeps our firm innovative is something as simple as never forgetting we are here to serve our clients. Another important component of the Hale Team is our employment of a team of innovative SEO professionals that insure our firm remains in the forefront of the everevolving, instantly-changing, electronic world in which we live. Through our state-of-the art website, haleinjurylaw. com, we are able to provide immediate responses and easy access to every client and every prospective client. At HALE INJURY LAW we are constantly striving to improve client relations and searching for methods to refine and improve our services. Looking to the future, as owner of HALE INJURY LAW, I will maintain the integrity of my business model, even in the midst of substantial growth, by maintaining the high standards of service which have led to our current success. The first will continue as long as the second is always our priority.

LE16035

RECOGNIZED LEADERS IN CONSUMER CLASS ACTIONS - SOUTHERN FLORIDA

HARKE CLASBY BUSHMAN LLP

Company: Harke Clasby Bushman LLP Website: http://www.harkeclasby.com/

Harke Clasby Bushman LLP is a Florida based commercial and business litigation and class action law firm. We profile the practice and its dedication to supporting its clients.

From offices in Miami, the attorneys of Harke Clasby & Bushman LLP provide experienced business and commercial litigation assistance to clients throughout South Florida. With years of experience at larger commercial litigation firms, the firm’s elite team of lawyers is effectively prepared to protect any business. Harke Clasby & Bushman is familiar with the aggressive and complex world of business and commercial litigation. The firm’s skilled attorneys take pride in offering clients throughout the Greater Miami area the wealth of litigation experience they have gained from working on tough cases at larger law firms.

This large firm experience and expertise combined with the firm’s personal service ensures that clients are always satisfied with the representation they receive from Harke Clasby & Bushman. The practice provides clients with the knowledgeable business litigation services they would expect from a larger firm, but at a practical cost. This is achieved by applying the same discipline and focus in controlling overhead as is used to aggressively represent clients’ interests. This allows the firm to provide its smaller clients with the same quality legal representation its larger clients enjoy.

In addition, the firm’s lawyers are admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in the State of Florida. Therefore, clients save money on the cost of adding local counsel, whilst resting assured that their case stays in the capable hands of one professional lawyer from beginning to end. Ultimately Harke Clasby Bushman LLP are passionate in their commitment to family, community, and each other. That passion extends to their clients. The Firm believes in providing all clients, regardless of the size of their case, with experienced business and commercial litigation assistance.

LE16048

MOST TRUSTED ELDER LAW SPECIALIST â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FLORIDA

HOINES HESS & ROSE

Company: Hoines Hess & Rose Email: david@hoineslaw.com Phone: 001 954 772 2444 Website: http://www.hoineslaw.com/

David Hoines has over 40 years’ experience supporting clients in multiple jurisdictions and a wide variety of cases. We spoke with him to learn more.

David Hoines has the experience, education and dedication to support clients in a wide variety of cases. His specific practice areas include taxation, wills, probate, personal injury and business law. David outline his goals the steps he takes to achieve them. “My goal is always to provide clients with the highest possible quality service. This is achieved through dedication, judgment and hard work.”

David is licenced to practice law in Florida, California and New York, which offers both a unique opportunity to support clients and a number challenges, according to David. “Legislative changes affect my work on all levels; federal, state and local. As such I work hard to ensure that I am always up to date with the latest developments by subscribing to a number of industry databases and organisations which provide daily updates on the latest changes.”

Looking ahead, David is keen to continue offering the same high quality service to clients in a range of industries. “In the future I am keen to continue offering the same high quality service to all of my clients.”

LE16078

BEST MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE FIRM & LEGAL ELITEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ONE-TO-WATCH IN PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE - LOUISIANA

JUDICE & ADLEY, APLC

Company: Judice & Adley, APLC Name: J. Ryan Pierret Email: jrp@judice-adley.com Web: judice-adley.com Address: 926 Coolidge Boulevard Lafayette, LA 70503 Phone: (337) 235-2405

Judice & Adley is a professional law practice based in Louisiana. We spoke to Attorney J. Ryan Pierret to learn more.

Judice & Adley, APLC, was founded in 1985, and originally consisted of five attorneys. Over the last thirty years, Judice & Adley, APLC, has expanded and now consists of eight attorneys who work to provide excellent legal representation and aggressive defense to all of its clients. Mr Pierret explains the firm’s practice areas and how it strives to achieve the best possible outcome for all its clients. “Our firm offers a broad spectrum of attorney services and representation. With over two decades of litigation experience, we provide services in a range of areas including medical malpractice defense; general liability/insurance defense; errors and omissions complaints; employment law and insurance coverage issues.”

Mr Pierret’s own area of expertise is medical malpractice. He explains how both he and the firm overall strive to support clients through every aspect of their case. “Both myself and my firm strive to achieve excellence in the representation of our clients, with individual attention tailored to the needs of each individual healthcare provider, insurer, corporation, and/ or entity. This insures all clients receive competent and confident legal representation and aggressive defense. Our focus is on obtaining the timely and successful resolution of cases, so that we are putting the best interests of our clients at the forefront of the litigation. We value the collaborative input process with our clients in not only making substantial

decisions regarding particular cases, but to craft and present the most effective defense in every unique case.” Looking to the future, Mr Pierret was optimistic about the firm’s success and continued prosperity. “In the future the firm is keen to continue to provide the most excellent legal representation and aggressive defense to our clients. We intend to continue providing the most satisfying results of our services to our clients. In addition, we also intend to continue leading in our practice areas within our legal community. “Personally my future involves continuing to advance in positions of leadership within my firm, and within my local community as a whole.”

LE16090

BEST DISABILITY LAW FIRM - NEW JERSEY

KAZMIERCZAK & KAZMIERCZAK, LLP

Company: Kazmierczak & Kazmierczak, LLP. Name: Karl Kazmierczak, Esq. Email: karl@ultimatedisabilityguide.com Web Address: www.Kazmierczaklaw.com www.veteransdisabilitylawyersite.com www.ultimatedisabilityguide.com Address: 593 Ramapo Valley Road Oakland, NJ 07436 Telephone: 201-337-7704

Kazmierczak & Kazmierczak, LLP is a legal firm specialising in supporting those applying for social security or veteran’s disability benefits. We invited Karl Kazmierczak to tell us more.

Established in 1974, Kazmierczak & Kazmierczak, LLP is dedicated to helping disabled people to cope with the process and secure Social Security SSI Benefit. The firm also assists veterans with applying for disability support. Karl was a key proponent of this new service, and outlines why he personally feels it is of vital importance. “I have been a Social Security Disability lawyer since I left of law school. Whilst our firm specialises in supported those applying for social security, we have since branched out in order to support veterans.

“This was preceded by the new law that was passed in 2007, allowing lawyers to get paid to represent veterans in their veterans’ disability cases. I always wanted to help veterans and it was a nice fit for my firm’s knowledge of disability matters.” To stay current with the trends in disability law the firm’s lawyers got to veteran’s disability and Social Security Disability conference each year, as it is vital that they remain at the forefront of the latest developments. Technology plays a part in this too, as Karl outlines. “Our attorneys often have to travel across the United States for clients, therefore we utilise a cloud based

system so that they can access our records and are up to date with the latest on the case at all times.” Ultimately, Karl emphasises that people are vital to supporting clients. As such the firm operates a rigorous hiring process. “To work in our firm you must be smart enough to handle the complex legal work and yet compassionate. We handle only disability claims and these cases require our employees to be listeners and often hand holders as well. This can be a tough role, but it is a vital one, and as such we only hire those who are truly dedicated to supporting our clients.”

LE16042

BEST COMMERCIAL LITIGATION LAWYER - SAN FRANCISCO BAY

KIEVE LAW OFFICES

Firm: Kieve Law Offices Name: Loren Kieve Email: lk@kievelaw.com Web Address: www.kievelaw.com Address: 5A Funston Avenue, The Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94129 Telephone: 414 364 0060

Loren Kieve is a nationally recognized commercial and business trial lawyer with offices in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The principal of Kieve Law Offices, Loren Kieve, has a record of success in resolving challenging disputes. He has represented and advised major U.S. and foreign companies and individuals in a broad variety of trials, appeals and settlements, including securities, insurance coverage, construction, environmental, derivative, financial services, commodities trading, antitrust, contract, RICO, insurance sales practices, products liability, defamation, personal injury, employment, discrimination, real estate, mine disaster, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other commercial cases.

His cases have involved complex foreign parties and issues, major government contract matters, including civil and criminal false claims act cases, and formal and informal administrative proceedings and other inquiries. Loren has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in nationwide class actions, and arbitrated both international and domestic cases. He provides hands-on attention to the issues that matter, with a focus on providing efficient, client service and aligning the firm’s interests with those of the client.

He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of commercial litigation and his firm has been selected as one of the Best Law Firms in America. For the fifteenth year in a row, San Francisco Magazine and Law & Politics Magazine have named him as one of the top “Super Lawyers” in commercial litigation in the Bay Area. He is rated a “10” (the highest available rating) by Avvo. When he practiced in Washington, The Washingtonian magazine listed him among the city’s leading lawyers.

LE16014

BEST FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM - AUSTIN

KNIGHT & PARTNERS

Company: Knight & Partners Address: 223 W. Anderson Lane, Suite A105, Austin, Texas 78752 Phone: 512-323-5778 Email: attorneys@cityattorneytexas.com Website: www.cityattorneytexas.com

Knight & Partners is a full service law firm representing local governments and related entities, as well as selected corporate clients. We invited Barney Knight to tell us more.

Knight & Partners provides clients with the legal services needed to enable them to accomplish their goals efficiently and with limited risk. We accomplish this by continuing education, maintaining ethical standards and a consultative practice, providing every client with access to all of our attorneys and their individual areas of experience, and providing all clients with our individual cell phone numbers and access to us 24/7. Our practice areas include all of the areas of law that are applicable to cities, local governments and their agencies, including representation in administrative hearings and litigation. Local government clients served as general counsel include cities, a municipal retirement system, a groundwater conservation district, WCIDs, WSCs, EDCs, UDCs, TIRZs and non-profit corporations. A variety of other local governments and private sector businesses are represented on a transactional basis, including litigation and administrative proceedings. Two of our attorneys have experience as the on-staff general counsel of for profit corporations, and, as a group, our five attorneys have more than 100 years of experience in the representation of local governments, including service in the positions of staff attorney for state agencies, assistant city attorney, city attorney, assistant city manager, and city manager, of mid to large sized Texas cities.

complicated (via court decisions, administrative regulations and legislation) particularly in the areas of health, land development, personnel and environmental law, impacts all communities and their local officials, and our firm is uniquely qualified to assist with those challenges and issues. Looking ahead, the firm is slowly expanding its service offering and client list. Over the last ten years,

This extensive experience has helped us to be successful in ever changing areas of the law. The economic and population growth of Texas is extending into many rural areas and small towns, resulting in cities, counties and special districts often having to change rapidly. This coupled with the ever changing law becoming both more voluminous and

excluding pro bono work, the firm has limited our clients to local governments and their agencies. This has since changed, and although we will not represent anyone that does business with or is located within any of our existing public sector clients, we are now accepting carefully selected private sector clients, particularly those that provide environmental and/or resource assets that benefit local governments and public services.

LE16055

BEST IP LAW BOUTIQUE 2016 & RECOGNIZED LEADER IN COMPLEX TECHNOLOGIES IP PROTECTION - CALIFORNIA

KPPB

Company: KPPB LLP Name: David J. Bailey Email: david.bailey@kppb.com Web Address: www.kppb.com Address: 600 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 201, Los Angeles, CA 90017 and 2400 E. Katella Ave, Suite 1050, Anaheim, CA 92806 Telephone: 949-852-0000

KPPB is a boutique intellectual property law firm based in California. Partner David Bailey talks us through the company and its work in the intellectual property sector.

Established in 2007, KPPB specializes in the development of intellectual property strategies with respect to exceedingly complex technologies on behalf of venture backed start-up companies and universities, including Caltech, Stanford, and UCLA. The firm is widely recognized for its expertise with respect to the intellectual property protection of space structures, exotic materials, robotics, machine vision, information theory, bioinformatics, distributed data base design, and cloud based security and advanced threat detection. KPPB also has a unique understanding of the challenges of developing IP strategies for companies looking to license intellectual property into the consumer electronics supply chain.

interdisciplinary areas of technical innovation.” Looking to the future, David outlines the invigorating developments that his team has coming up over the next year which will provide a range of opportunities to further the firm’s collective knowledge and experience, as well as allowing the business to grow and flourish. “Our firm is currently experiencing huge interest in our expertise with respect to start-ups, and we are currently exploring opportunities with respect to space, robotics, personalized medicine, and building information modeling (BIM).

David highlights how the firm marks itself out as a unique option for clients by taking a new approach to intellectual property law. “At KPPB, we do not consider ourselves patent prosecutors, but portfolio developers, developing a portfolio of IP protection that meets the needs of clients as they move their businesses forward. And we do this by delivering quality, accountability and value that enables clients to develop IP portfolios in a thoughtful way with a mind toward both short-term business needs and long-term success. “As such the firm differentiates itself by focusing on working with companies that are commercializing technologies that are typically too technically specialized for attorneys with generalist technical backgrounds. Instead of attempting to service clients across broad swaths of technology, KPPB has invested in developing a team that has an unparalleled depth of technical understanding in some of today’s most exciting, complex, and

“In order to meet the needs of these new clients we are aggressively hiring talented professionals with robotics, aerospace, bioinformatics, and 3D computer graphics backgrounds to help us meet the challenges of this new crop of companies.”

LE16022

BEST BOUTIQUE CIVIL LITIGATION FIRM - VIRGINIA

LAW OFFICE OF ANDREW CABANA PC

Joe Ravi / Shutterstock.com

Company: Law Office of Andrew Cabana, PC Name: Andrew S. Cabana Email: andrew@acabanalaw.com Web Address: acabanalaw.com Address: 2121 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 200 Alexandria, Virginia 22309 Telephone: 703-518-7930

Law Office of Andrew Cabana, PC is a boutique firm specializing in civil litigation, employment law and employment litigation. We spoke to Founder Andrew Cabana to find out more about the services his firm provides.

At the Law Office of Andrew Cabana we routinely represent businesses, executives, plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts. We represent parties in civil litigation and employment-related litigation and before the U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration. I personally counsel and advise management regarding employment issues including preparation of personnel policies and handbooks. I advise executives regarding unfair competition issues, restrictive covenants, compliance with Title VII, age discrimination, wage and hour compliance, disability, medical leave and harassment prevention.

Prior to establishing my firm, I was an attorney for several years with an AmLaw 100 firm engaged primarily in employment litigation defense. This provided me with exposure to a range of industries each with its own unique problems which required creative solutions. Throughout my career, I have represented both employees and employers in litigation involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation, the Employment Retirement Income Security Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the False Claims Act, defamation, invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy and wrongful termination.

As a solo practitioner, I am able to provide personal hands-on service to my clients. This ensures that they always feel supported, and my dedication sets me apart from my larger competitors. Looking ahead, I am striving to expand my client base. To achieve this, I always aim to provide excellent service and value to all my clients in Northern Virginia and throughout the Washington Metropolitan Region. My corporate clients like that I am admitted to practice in both state and federal courts in all three area jurisdictions, as this offers them the security of knowing I can represent them no matter where the proceedings take place.

LE16060

BEST FULL-SERVICE HEALTHCARE LAW FIRM - TEXAS

LILES PARKER, PLLC

Company: Name: Email: Web: Address: Telephone:

Liles Parker, PLLC Ismail (Ish) Laher, LLM, MBA (Georgetown, Harvard) ilaher@lilesparker.com www.LilesParker.com Houston, TX.; San Antonio, TX.; McAllen, TX.; (by appointment only); Baton Rouge, LA.; Washington, D.C. (202) 298-8750

Liles Parker PLLC is a full-service healthcare law firm with three offices in Texas, as well as offices in Louisiana and Washington, DC. We spoke to Ismail (Ish) Laher, LLM, MBA, the Firm’s Administrative Partner to find out more about the firm and its work in this sector.

Liles Parker is comprised of experienced healthcare lawyers, a number of whom previously worked at the U.S. Department of Justice or as agency counsel for the Department of Health and Human Services. “Liles Parker attorneys represent a wide variety of healthcare providers and suppliers in connection with Medicare, Medicaid and private payor audits, compliance reviews and licensure / peer review actions. We also assist health care providers that have been placed on prepayment review, been subjected to a postpayment audit or had their Medicare number suspended or revoked.” “Recent matters handled have involved physician practices, home health agencies, hospices, multi-specialty clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and durable medical equipment companies.”

“We are particularly proud of the fact that one of our attorneys served as the first National Health Care Fraud Coordinator for DOJ’s Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys. In this capacity, he advised Assistant United States Attorneys around the country on civil and criminal health fraud statutes, schemes, investigative tools, privacy concerns, and compliance issues. Additionally, Martindale-Hubbell has rated our firm as “AV.” This honor is “limited to only the most distinguished law practices; those that have achieved the AV rating. The ‘A’ signifies the highest level of legal ability, while the ‘V’ denotes ‘very high’ adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, and diligence.’” Several of the firm’s attorneys are nationally-recognized speakers and educators on health care law and related regulatory issues. As a final

Houston, Texas

comment Ish expressed his pride in the quality of the service Liles Parker attorneys provide the health care providers “Fundamentally, we understand that extraordinary legal representation begins with talented and committed attorneys. Our attorneys apply decades of focused experience and expertise in their representation of health care providers and suppliers around the country. In doing so, our attorneys have established national reputations in the areas of health care law, regulatory compliance, audit defense and health care transactions and are often called upon by other firms to work as co-counsel. Our attorneys strive to provide quality, innovative representation in as costeffective a manner as possible.” Please call us at 202-298-8750 to schedule your complimentary Initial consultation

LE16006

MOST TENACIOUS CRIMINAL LAW ATTORNEY â&#x20AC;&#x201C; GEORGIA

THE MAZLOOM LAW FIRM

Company: The Mazloom Law Firm Phone: 770.590.9837 Website: http://mazilaw.com/

The Mazloom Law Firm was founded in 2004 to assist and defend people accused and/ or charged within the Criminal Justice System. We profile this dedicated and innovative firm and explore its Founder and service offering.

Based in Marietta, Ga., the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Founder, Mazi Mazloom uses his experience and expertise as a former Prosecutor to provide outstanding legal representation to clients throughout the metro-Atlanta area. In 2008, he was sworn in as an Associate Judge to the Municipal Court of Marietta. That year, Mr. Mazloom also became a parttime instructor at Kennesaw State University, Paralegal Program. To award deserving candidates at Kennesaw State University, he has established the Mazloom Paralegal Endowed Scholarships, which provides the financial assistance required to complete the Paralegal Certificate Program. Mr. Mazloom received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University and a Juris Doctorate from John Marshall Law School in Atlanta. He has successfully completed Trial Advocacy at the National Advocacy Center in Columbia, South Carolina. He was admitted to the State Bar of Georgia in 1998. He began his practice in the areas of Consumer Bankruptcy (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13), Plaintiffs Personal Injury, Immigration and Criminal Defense. Currently he and his firm offer award winning legal services across a wide range of sectors.

LE16024

MOST ESTABLISHED LAW FIRM 2016 - USA

MESSNER REEVES LLP

Company: Messner Reeves LLP Name: Torben M. Welch, Esq. (Equity Partner) Email: twelch@messner.com Web Address: www.messner.com Address: 1430 Wynkoop Street, Suite 300, Denver, Colorado 80202 Telephone: (303) 623-1800

Messner Reeves LLP is an innovative law firm offering a diverse range of services. Equity Partner Torben Welch talks us through this vast array of solutions and the clients it provides them to.

With offices in Denver, Los Angeles and New York, Messner Reeves counsels a diverse group of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to individual entrepreneurs, and has earned a distinguished reputation for offering effective legal counsel, quick response, and the highest level of professional integrity. Messner Reeves offers its clients the talent and experience of exceptional attorneys practicing law in a wide range of practice areas. They are the nation’s most prestigious, engaged, and community-oriented lawyers. At Messner Reeves, our core values drive our business. We understand business. We are energetic, available, and accountable. We work to earn the trust of our clients. We do things differently by providing unique, creative solutions to clients – regardless of size and resources.

It is our aim to see our customers grow. We started with Chipotle Mexican Grill as a one-off location more than 20 years ago, and represent them today as they have expanded into a Fortune 500 company. We understand the strains that this cause and can help companies traverse this growth. My role within the company is Head of the firm’s Corporate Practice group overseeing attorneys in our Denver, Los Angeles and New York offices. Primarily, I serve as outside general counsel, real estate, banking and corporate transactional counsel and sports agent/intermediary (both player and team representation). These duties include contract negotiation, outside general counsel services, general corporate contracting, intellectual property

issues, legal opinion letters, asset acquisitions, complex real estate development issues, document review and analysis, development and growth strategies, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, workout and recovery strategies, etc. Since 2008 the firm has been growing rapidly, and we are keen to continue this expansion moving forward. While other firms in Denver were contracting during the recession era, we expanded, from 27 attorneys in 2008 to nearly 70 today. This expansion was not haphazard – but rather do to the growth and development of our client base. Clients came to us during this period because of the services we offer making us one of the few firms to expand. We will continue on this trajectory in the future, organically growing to better serve our clients nationwide.

LE16045

MOST FEARED INSURANCE LITIGATOR - FLORIDA

MORRIS & MORRIS, P.A.

Company: Morris & Morris, P.A. Name: Mary Morris Email: momorris@morris-morris.com Web Address: www.morris-morris.com Address: 777 S. Flagler Drive, Suite 800- West, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 USA Telephone: 561.838.9811 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mmorrislaw1

Morris & Morris is a boutique law firm specialising in the representation of property/casualty carriers in complex multi-state litigation matters and appeals, and international intellectual property transactional counseling and litigation. Co-Founder Mary Morris talks us through the firm and the services it provides. Here at Morris & Morris we represent property/casualty carriers throughout the United States in complex commercial disputes with their insuredsa niche practice, the law and procedure of which I learned at a preceding firm and which I have been refining for about 20 years. I am also a consultant to businesses that need expert counsel with respect to their workers’ compensation programs and issues. The intellectual property side of our business has been developed by my partner, who has an advanced degree in this area from the University of Edinburgh, where he is finalizing his PhD work in ancillary service provider exposure and related issues. As a small practice consisting of myself, my partner of many years and a long serving paralegal we are able to communicate quickly and clearly as well as provide our clients with a personalised service tailored to meet their needs. Our vast experience in individual practice areas makes our firm the ideal specialist, as opposed to larger firms which specialise in a variety of areas but do not have the minute specialist knowledge we can offer.

of commercial general liability, workers’ compensation, D&O or E&O coverages. The steps taken to achieve these aims are to continually monitor developments in my areas of concentration and attend conferences whose content I feel would be helpful in assessing trends, possible legislation, and court changes to the substantive laws applicable to my concentration: in other words, continual education and contact with professionals who understand the insurance market and applicable laws. Another key fact on which we feel industry would benefit is that crossborder knowledge and experience are critical these days; business has to know the advantages and pitfalls the local environments present. We find most attorneys are very concentrated in local clientele and experience; we know of none in practice with an advanced legal degree from an overseas law school and experience in European

Another key factor which sets our firm apart is our technological capability, which is far better than many legal practices. We have a state-of-the-art security system, multiple back-ups and an in-house technical expert in the form of my partner. This ensures that we are able to keep clients’ confidential information safe and secure as well as save client time and legal fees by using the most current software. My overall aims are to educate industry players- insurers and employers alike- on the rules and obligations of their coverage and to litigate disputes that arise in my area, be they in the context

intellectual property issues (some attorneys will affiliate with local counsel or establish overseas offices staffed with local attorneys but local knowledge of an overseas area is scarce to nonexistent unless one is speaking of Cuba, opening up to US interests). Looking ahead, the future presents further regulatory and court action on rates and regulatory rules and challenges. It is unknown how many (if any) states will opt out of the workers’ compensation system and if any do, the effects that will have on claimants and employers or how cyber liability coverage will protect insureds and those policies interpreted and applied. All this uncertainty is daunting, but in order to adapt to it we plan to continually educate clients on changing law and plan to pursue more arbitration appointments as intellectual property arbitrators, of which there is a drastic shortage.

LE16071

BEST CIVIL LITIGATOR - WASHINGTON

MORRIS – SOCKLE, PLLC

Company: Morris – Sockle, PLLC Names: Frank E. Morris and L. Jeanne Sockle, Attorneys and partners Email: info@Morris-Sockle.com Web Address: www.Morris-Sockle.com Address: 3025 Limited Lane NW, Suite 200, Olympia, WA 98502 Telephone: 360-866-7100

Morris – Sockle is a well-respected Thurston County law firm, established by Senior Partner, Frank Morris in 1986. We invited Frank to talk us through the firm and the range of services it provides.

Morris – Sockle is renowned for its integrity, skilled legal representation, strength in litigation, dispute resolution, and tenacious client advocacy. Frank explains the firm’s specialism and how the experience of his team has helped to define this. “Currently we focus on divorce and family law, including complex litigation and asset protection. Our decades of experience in business and many areas of civil litigation provide a solid foundation for achieving successful outcomes for our clients whether through negotiation, mediation, arbitration or trial.”

Having a dedicated, skilled team is vital for a firm whose aim is to provide the quality of legal representation necessary to assist clients in attaining their goals and transitioning their lives, both through and after divorce. Frank shares his pride in his team and outlines how they aim to support clients through every step of the legal process. “Here at Morris – Sockle we maintain very high standards in everything we do. We have a highly educated and skilled legal team, who routinely collaborate and ensure the quality of each other’s work. We attend educational programs on a routine basis to solidify skills and to stay

abreast of changes in the law, and we also employ an administrative team with keen skills to support both the clients and attorneys.” As his final comment Frank shares his plans for the future of Morris – Sockle. “Looking to the future, as a law firm we intend to continue to provide premier legal services and a quality client experience. It is our goal to advise and serve our clients by protecting their assets and restructuring their family in a way that allows them to envision the promise the future holds for them after divorce.”

LE16028

BEST IP BOUTIQUE 2016 & MOST REGARDED FOR ELECTRONIC PATENT PROSECUTION - NORTH CAROLINA

MYERS BIGEL

Company: Myers Bigel & Sibley, P.A. Name: Rohan G. Saba Email: rsaba@myersbigel.com Web Address: www.myersbigel.com Address: 4140 Parklake Ave, Raleigh, NC, 27612 Telephone: (919) 854-1400

Myers Bigel & Sibley is a patent boutique law firm located in Raleigh, North Carolina. We invited Rohan G. Saba to tell us more.

Myers Bigel is dedicated to providing patent preparation, prosecution, licensing, and litigation services for corporate and university clients, both domestic and international. Our practice concentrates on protecting patent rights in chemical, pharmaceutical, biological, mechanical, electronics, and computer technologies. Not only does each of our attorneys have a technical undergraduate degree in one or more of these fields, but many (myself included) have prior industry experience as engineers, scientists, and/or corporate counsel. This experience allows us to better relate to the particular pressures faced by our clients, and is invaluable in providing client-centric focus and counselling.

In addition, every attorney at Myers Bigel is a working patent lawyer, and performs substantive application drafting and prosecution (rather than simply handing-off work to inexperienced attorneys). The same experienced, dedicated attorney who begins working with a client at Myers Bigel continues to apply their experience into the day-to-day of patent development, filing, and approval. This allows us to provide continuity of service to the client from the standpoints of technology and business, as well as law.

Ultimately our firm culture has always mandated patent quality above all else (for which the firm has been nationally recognized), and I have written and prosecuted hundreds of patent applications in the electronics, computer software, and semiconductor technology areas with this emphasis. While this has been challenging from a business perspective, our non-leveraged structure has allowed us to maintain our success without deviating from our client focus.

LE16089

MOST RENOWNED MECHANICAL PATENT ATTORNEY - NORTH CAROLINA

MYERS BIGEL

Company: Myers Bigel & Sibley, PA Name: Julie H. Richardson, Esq. Web Address: www.myersbigel.com

Myers Bigel & Sibley, P.A. (“Myers Bigel”) is a patent boutique law firm located in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina. We invited award winning Julie H. Richardson to talk us through her role in the company.

Myers Bigel serves clients in the full range of chemical, pharmaceutical, biological, mechanical, electronics, and computer technologies. The firm represents corporate and university clients across the United States, Europe and Asia. Julie talks us through her own personal work in this area. “Personally, I have written and prosecuted hundreds of patent applications in the mechanical, electro-mechanical and biomedical technology areas. My prior industry work experiences as an engineer at GE Medical Systems (where I worked in production of the original 1.5T MRI SIGNA Scanner system), GE Aircraft Engines and college summer jobs with General Motors and Alcoa have also been helpful.

“My overall aim is to provide a high standard of service to my clients and work with diverse clients and technology areas. I work with small and large clients in different technology fields.” A law firm’s internal structure can have a profound effect on the firm’s clients and attorneys. A conventional law firm is typically organized as a leveraged structure. In a conventional firm, a small number of senior partners are responsible for bringing in work and delegating this work to a larger number of junior partners and a much larger number of associates to do the work. Julie explains why her law firm’s structure was unique. Every attorney at Myers Bigel is a substantive working patent lawyer, something unheard of at traditional leveraged law firms. We have a unique

structure at Myers Bigel, which is organized as an inverted pyramid without dedicated “rain makers” passing-off new work to inexperienced attorneys. The same experienced, dedicated attorney who begins working with a client at Myers Bigel continues to apply their experience into the nuts and bolts of the patent development, filing and approval process. Work can be performed for clients at a high level of expertise, but at a low level of cost, because the overhead of the “unproductive partner” is not present. Going forward, Julie outlines the firm’s excitement for the future and the milestone anniversary that is coming up. “Looking ahead, we are looking forward to celebrating our 20th anniversary in 2017 and the additional opportunities that the future will offer.”

LE16088

MOST FEARED TELECOM SYSTEMS PATENT LITIGATOR - NORTH CAROLINA

MYERS BIGEL

Company: Myers Bigel & Sibley, P.A. Name: Lynne A. Borchers Email: lborchers@myersbigel.com Web Address: www.myersbigel.com Address: 4140 Parklake Avenue, Suite 600, Raleigh, NC 27612 Telephone: 919-854-1400

Lynne Borchers from intellectual property specialist Myers Bigel & Sibley, is a dedicated and highly professional Patent Litigation Specialist. She talks us through her work in this area.

Myers Bigel & Sibley are a knowledgeable team of attorneys with degrees in engineering or science successfully acquires, protects, enforces and litigates patent assets and intellectual property in a variety of fields including electrical, computing, biotechnology, chemistry, mechanical, and trademarks. Lynne explains her work and how she fits into this experience team. “With regards to my own personal career, I have been a litigator since 1991, and my practice area is intellectual property litigation with an emphasis on patent litigation. I have been involved with patent litigation involving technology such

as light emitting diodes, nonwoven fabrics, telecommunications systems and components, pharmaceutical compounds, computer systems, consumer products, electrical devices, orthopaedic devices, medical devices, packaging methods, and poultry egg technology. “In addition, I have also made numerous appearances before federal district courts during pre-trial proceedings and at trials in addition to patent appeals before the Federal Circuit.” To round off Lynne emphasises the firm’s stringent quality control procedures, which ensure that every

attorney, including herself, is working up to the very highest of standards. “Since its inception, our firm has had a mandatory quality control procedure that applies to all attorneys, regardless of experience level. The quality control procedure applies to all Patent Office filings, opinion letters and litigation filings. The quality control procedure requires thorough substantive review by a partner in the relevant practice group. Heightened review is provided for opinion letters. This quality control process ensures consistent, top-quality work, and can provide cost efficient reuse of technical knowledge and practices.”

LE16083

BEST IN TRANSPORTATION LITIGATION - WASHINGTON STATE

PAINE HAMBLEN LLP

Company: Paine Hamblen LLP Name(s): William J. Schroeder, John C. Riseborough, Scott C. Cifrese, William C. Schroeder, Anne K. Schroeder Email: William.schroeder@painehamblen.com Web: http://www.painehamblen.com Address: 717 W Sprague Ave., Ste. 1200 Spokane, WA 99201 Phone: 509 455 6000

Paine Hamblen is a well-known, independent regional firm out of Spokane, Washington. We invited William Schroeder to tell us more.

Paine Hamblen has been achieving client goals for over a century. William outlines the company’s areas of expertise and how it strives to always support clients to the best of its abilities. “Our firm has depth and experience in a wide number of practice areas, including commercial transactions, real estate, estate planning, complex and commercial litigation, family law, Indian law, public and private utilities, fire loss, and transportation and insurance defence litigation, including our work with railroads. In fact, Paine Hamblen and its legacy firms have represented railroads since the late 19th Century. “It is our goal to provide clients with the best in legal advice and the most efficient representation that we can. Our firm’s internal culture is such that we cultivate client relationships that emphasize communication from

both sides at regular intervals so that clients are informed of all of their options and can make informed decisions about their matters.” Working in such a fast paced industry, staying ahead of the latest developments is crucial, as William explains. “In order to stay ahead of the latest industry developments, we encourage our partners and associates to be active participants locally and nationally in trade organizations and groups relevant to their practice areas, as well as encourage all of our attorneys to keep abreast of the latest developments and case law, so as to be better prepared to inform and advise clients. “Additionally, we take particular interest in integrating technology into our work, including by retaining attorneys as Legal Technologists,

who are tasked specifically with keeping our firm on top of the latest developments in technology as it can affect any of our clients. However, we do not see technology as an end in itself, but rather as a tool insofar as it helps us more efficiently and effectively represent our clients.” As a final comment William explained how despite the increasing dependence of technology in the industry, his firm is determined to put quality first. “While automation is adding certain efficiencies to the legal field, the judgment and expertise of attorneys in litigation remains a tool which cannot be replicated by technology, and continues to be the most important part – the keystone – in representing a company with complex issues. There is no substitute for good judgment, which our clients know Paine Hamblen is able to provide.”

LE16037

MOST CLIENT FOCUSED PERSONAL INJURY LAW FIRM - FLORIDA

THE PANSLER LAW FIRM, P.A.

Company: Pansler Law Firm, PA Name: Karl F. Pansler Email: karl@pansler.com Web Address: www.pansler.com Address: 223 North Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801 Telephone: (863) 683-7500

Pansler Law Firm is a Florida based legal practice specialising in personal injury law. We invited Founder Karl F. Pansler to talk us through his firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and how this has shaped the business into the success it is today. The Pansler Law Firm was established in 1991 for the primary purpose of helping individuals and families who have had a tragic event occur in their lives. I had always aspired to be a trial lawyer, and always felt that advocacy for the injured is more than just a vocation, it is a calling. Prior to setting up Pansler Law Firm, I worked at a medical malpractice firm in Tulsa. I have always been dedicated to supporting individuals who are in need of legal assistance through no fault of their own.

Our firm is on a mission right here in our city of Lakeland to be the premier â&#x20AC;&#x153;go toâ&#x20AC;? firm when personal service is desired. To achieve this everyone here at Pansler Law Firm offers personalized service and strive to achieve the highest standard of service for every client. Within the legal industry, the rights of people who have been subjected to medical malpractice are slowly being legislated out by state governments. Our fight is for the rights of people, not

special interests, and we are dedicated to that cause. Looking to the future, we are a firm on the move. We have established ourselves in our local community by being involved and approachable on a personal level, and are dedicated to offer the same level of service to clients further afield.

LE16049

MOST TENACIOUS IN COMPLEX LITIGATION - POLK COUNTY

PETERSON & MYERS PA

Company: Peterson & Myers PA Website: https://www.petersonmyers.com/

Peterson & Myers’ attorneys are dedicated to quality and providing our clients with a personal, individualized approach to legal representation.

Established in 1948, Peterson & Myers takes pride in offering a handson approach to clients’ business matters. By working closely with clients, the firm’s attorneys develop longstanding relationships – avoiding the impersonal atmosphere that often exists in larger firms. The attorneys at Peterson & Myers are deeply committed to the communities in which they live and work. Many of the firm’s attorneys were born

or raised in Central Florida, and as such are active participants in various programs and organizations. Therefore, members of the firm have risen to leadership positions and have personal relationships with many other community leaders. While the firm focuses on corporate & business law, it also offers a wide range of personal law services including healthcare, litigation/trial practice, land use/environmental, real estate and

personal injury. Despite offering such a wide range of practice areas, the firm remains committed to providing quality services which are above and beyond those of other legal firms. Fundamentally, Peterson & Myers offers the resources and capabilities of a larger firm, with the accessibility and personal touch of a smaller firm – giving clients “the best of both worlds” to meet their needs in today’s highly competitive business environment.

LE16096

MOST ACCLAIMED BUSINESS LITIGATOR - TEXAS

THE LAW OFFICE OF CLARK B. WILL, P.C.

Company: The Law Office of Clark B. Will, P.C., a shareholder in Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett & Moser, P.C. Name: Clark B. Will Email: cwill@qslwm.com Address: 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 1800, Dallas, TX 75201 Telephone: (214) 871-2100

Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett and Moser, P.C. is a successful litigation and bankruptcy law firm. We invited Clark Will to talk us through his own career and how this has helped him to drive the firm towards its current success.

Quilling, Selander, Lownds, Winslett and Moser is a commercial litigation and bankruptcy boutique which prides itself on offering quality services for less. Clark, who has been with the firm for 18 years, provides an absorbing overview of his own career and how this led to him working at the firm. “My career began in 1989 when I worked for Payne & Vendig, a firm which worked predominantly in oil and gas litigation, transaction and financial institution work. At one time I had over 250 pending oil & gas cases. “In 1996 I joined this firm as a partner. Michael Quilling had put the partners of the company that owned the Plaintiff that sued Texaco (see above) into an involuntary bankruptcy in 1991. After pounding on each other for eight months we finally got

it settled. He then recruited me to this firm, to assist him with SEC Receivership actions, which we did together for almost 15 years (19982013). “In addition, I became an asset to the firm’s rather vast distressed asset and family practices. Additionally, there has recently been a resurgence in oil & gas litigation, as most of the “so called oil & gas lawyers” in Texas are only 5-10 year lawyers and I have probably forgotten more oil & gas expertise than they have learned. Currently, I am doing some condemnation litigation, in addition to representing Future Payment Technologies, another credit card processing client, and am currently prosecuting a rather large frac sand case as a trade secrets violation here in Dallas County.”

Ultimately, what sets Clark apart is his dedication to securing the best possible outcome for his clients, as he explains. “What makes me unique is that I take a personal interest in my cases. When a client asks what I do to earn $425/hour, I say, “I rent out space in my head to your case.” I literally agonize and lose sleep over individual cases, often awakening in the dead of the night trying to resolve an issue. Because I take an interest, I also insure that subordinates are properly trained and supervised. Overall I pride myself in that no call goes unreturned on the same day.”

LE16026

MOST INNOVATIVE FULL-SERVICE BUSINESS LAW FIRM - USA & BEST FOR INSURANCE DEFENSE - FLORIDA

QUINTAIROS PRIETO WOOD & BOYER P.A

Company: Quintairos Prieto Wood & Boyer P.A Website: http://www.qpwblaw.com/

Mary Ann Stiles is a partner in the Tampa office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. We profile her and explore how she come to win these prestigious accolades.

Ms. Stiles has extensive experience in the areas of workers’ compensation, insurance defense, administrative, legislative, regulatory, and governmental relations and advocacy. Her practice involves participation in the legislative process; and serves as legislative counsel during legislative session clients of the Florida Legislature and regularly before the Executive Branch. Her focus recently has been insurance and specifically, workers’ compensation. She received her Juris Doctor from Antioch School of Law in Washington, D.C. in 1978; A.A. from Hillsborough Community College and B.S. from Florida State University. During law school, she served an internship in the U.S. Senate on the Subcommittee of Federal Procurement Practices and Government in the Sunshine chaired by then Florida Senator Lawton Chiles (Deceased). While attending FSU, she was a legislative analyst to the Florida House of Representatives working on workers’ compensation and labor legislative issues.

Ms. Stiles writes extensively and speaks nationally on matters involving workers’ compensation law. She is the author of several books on the subject of Florida Workers’ Compensation Law and was dubbed the “Queen of Comp.” by a Florida newspaper, The Tampa Tribune. Additionally, during her representation of employers and the insurance industry, she drafted many of the legislative changes to the workers’ compensation provisions during major rewrites to the Florida Workers’ Compensation Laws. She served as co-chair to the Business and Insurance Industry Coalition on Workers’ Compensation specifically formed by her as General Counsel to AIF to enact the 2003 amendments to workers’ compensation into law (2003-2006). Over the years, Ms. Stiles has served on various corporate and community boards.

Upon graduation from law school, she joined the top business lobby group, Associated Industries of Florida, as Vice President and General Counsel representing various business interests before the legislative and executive branches of government. She also served as General Counsel to Associated Industries Insurance Company, Inc.; Associated Industries Insurance Services, Inc.; Associated Industries Political Action Committee, and Florida Business United. Over the years she has also served on numerous committees and Task Forces by appointment of Governors Graham, Chiles and Bush including Florida’s Workers Compensation Three Member Panel and as the Chair of Board of Hillsborough Community College.

She has received numerous awards and recognition for her work as an attorney, lobbyist, and for community service. She has been elected into the Halls of Fame for WCI-Fla. Workers’ Compensation Hall of Fame, FSU’s Hall of Fame “Circle of Gold”, and King High School Hall of Fame. She has been recognized as a distinguished graduate of Community Colleges and was elected by Business and Professional Women of Tampa as “Woman of the Year”.

LE16076

BEST COMMERCIAL DISPUTES RESOLUTION FIRM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FLORIDA

THE SOLOMON LAW GROUP, P.A.

Company: The Solomon Law Group, P.A. Website: www.solomonlaw.com Phone: 813.225.1818 Email: legalhelp@solomonlaw.com Address: 1881 West Kennedy Boulevard, Suite D, Tampa, Florida 33606-1611

Formed in 1990, The Solomon Law Group, P.A. takes pride in both the depth and breadth of its wide-ranging commercial litigation experience as well as the stringent ethical and moral compass which guides the manner in which its professionals manage disputes of every ilk and nature. The founder of the firm, Stanford “Sandy” Solomon, with over 30 years of experience in commercial dispute resolution in state and federal courts throughout the country, discusses the firm’s unique approach to approaching each new case. The firm’s reputation for fiercely intellectual aggressive advocacy is well known but the sustainability of a resolution is also of paramount importance to Sandy and the firm. “We create as many positive options and variables as possible in any negotiation or dispute with which we are entrusted. Throughout the course of our representation, we strive to strategically identify more than one solution to the issues before us so as to provide our clients with as many potential “conclusions” as are feasible recognizing that the resolution must fit the individualized needs and goals of our client. It doesn’t make sense to resolve a matter that is just going to erupt again before it comes to its overall conclusion. Our goal is to create sustainable resolutions that make sense and our purposeful pursuit of commercially aware results is what

allows us to implement solutions that actually are going to provide meaningful conclusion to the matter.” This focus is what Sandy believes separates The Solomon Law Group, P.A. from its competitors. He expanded upon the importance of the principle by detailing how the Solomon Law approach enhances client service, value and ultimate results. “Once you are in litigation, hindsight allows you to stand back and see the sequence of events that took place in a particular transaction and it will look completely different to the way that you understood these events as you were living through them. Solomon Law seeks to take this “20/20 hindsight” perspective to help our clients identify negotiation patterns, differing motivations and potential

consequences for future planning and transactional needs. In so doing, we intend that our professional services prove beneficial to our clients in the resolution of not only this dispute, but future ones as well.” Sandy also discussed the future aspirations of the firm with the highest optimism, expressing faith in this unique approach to client service. “Our methodology appears to have found favor with a growing and very diverse clientele. Every case is different, every client is different, but there are still a lot of common threats that emerge. That will continue to allow us to come up with new approaches, new procedures and new tactics for our clients, and that’s what we hope to continue to do.”

LE16015

BEST CONSTRUCTION LAW FIRM - GEORGIA

STONE & BELLUS PC

Company: Stone & Bellus, P.C. Name: John E. Bellus, Jr. Email: john@stonebellus.com Web Address: www.stonebellus.com Address: 6849 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Building B-3, Suite 100, Atlanta, Georgia 30328 Telephone: 770-390-9950

Stone & Bellus, P.C. is an Atlanta based boutique firm with over 50 years’ combined experience, focused on construction and business matters for both small and large clients. John E. Bellus, Jr. talks us through the firm’s aims and how they have helped provide it with the success it enjoys today. Established in 2001, Stone & Bellus specialises in business and construction law, and has consistently and successfully represented our clients in both local and national matters against the more expensive large firms. As a result of the construction industry boom, we have been involved in a lot more contract negotiations in recent years. This has helped our clients avoid unnecessary disputes and assisted in completion of projects in a more efficient manner. Our overall aim is to serve as a “counsel” for our clients. While we are very familiar with the courtroom and litigate often, we would prefer to address issues on the front end to allow our clients make the best decisions for their business prior to

expending substantial legal fees. We do this by getting to know our clients personally so we can ascertain their present status, future goals and the level of risk with which they feel comfortable. We also provide counsel for contract drafting and negotiation in attempt to avoid future conflict. What sets our firm apart and draws our clients to us is that we provide very personal attention, which allows a genuine business relationship, with our clients often becoming good friends. Clients should be looking for legal counsel; someone who is going to provide the full details of both the pros and cons of a situation, not just the aggressive and often more costly approach. We strive to be very frank about the costs and benefits of

going forward, whether in litigation or negotiation. We have focused on being more of a counsellor versus a litigator to our clients. Although litigation may be necessary, we try to assist at the early steps of contract negotiation so that the parties have a much better understanding of their relationship. We are also exceptional at resolving cases early, particularly through mediation. Ultimately we require everyone at our firm to treat our clients as we would like to be treated – as friends, not billable hours. This ensures that clients enjoy the best possible service every time they work with us, and trust that we will aim for the best possible outcome for their case.

LE16059

BEST COMMERCIAL LITIGATOR 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ILLINOIS & MOST REPUTED FULL-SERVICE LAW FIRM - USA

TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP

Company: Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP Name: Kim R. Walberg Email: kwalberg@taftlaw.com Web Address: www.taftlaw.com Address: 111 East Wacker Drive, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois 60601 Telephone: 312-836-4164

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP is a full service law firm founded in 1885. We spoke to Litigation Partner Kim Walberg to learn more about this professional and highly skilled firm.

Since inception Taft has grown to include more than 400 attorneys practicing in nine offices across the mid-western United States. The firm fosters a vibrant legal environment, encouraging creativity and collaboration to solve clients’ problems. Personally I concentrate in business litigation, including breach of contract, business torts, shareholder disputes, gaming litigation, class action defense, collection disputes under the FDCPA, FCRA and TCPA, trust litigation and enforcement of employer-employee restrictive covenants. Most notably, I defended the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department in multiple class actions alleging due process violations based on the purported deprivation of money and other personal property. I achieved successful resolutions of these cases at the district court level, involving issues which were appealed and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court.

I also represented the Chicago Park District against opponents of the relocation of a private museum to a public park. I successfully defended the Park District’s position at both the circuit court and appellate court levels, taking on legal precedent from the 1800’s concerning Chicago’s Lakefront. Since the passage of the Illinois Video Gaming Act in 2009 which launched an entirely new industry in Illinois, I have secured numerous injunctions on behalf of terminal operators to preserve their firstin-time exclusive contracts against predatory competitors and set the industry precedent in the area of the enforceability of pre-licensure contracts between video terminal operators and establishments. I also represent Chicago’s premier financial institutions in various litigation matters relating to bank practices and owned real estate.

Client service is a vital part of the work we do, and one key to client service which is too often overlooked is the ability to listen. Lawyers have a tendency to steamroll over their clients, thinking paternalistically that they know what is best. However, the client will always know its own business better than the lawyer. I really listen to my clients to fully understand their business practices and address their needs and concerns. Looking to the future, it is my plan to continue to expand my platform of services and expertise to include intellectual property and data security, as well as cultivate relationships with new and existing clients and colleagues.