Best Lawyers Honors 148 Adams & Reese Attorneys in 2026 Edition

The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 edition features a total of 148 Adams & Reese attorneys ranked by their peers among “Best Lawyers” and “Ones to Watch”.

Attorneys are ranked among The Best Lawyers in America (10 or more years of practice) and Ones to Watch (less than 10 years), both in their practice areas and in their cities. These lawyers represent the top 5% across the U.S.

The 2026 edition features lawyers from more than 200 metropolitan areas spanning over 150 practice areas. This year, over 31 million evaluations were analyzed, including a record-breaking 4.8 million new responses. 

The Best Lawyers in America, launched in 1983, is the oldest peer-review publication in the legal profession. Recognition is regarded by clients and professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by their peers. Lists are compiled through tens of thousands of confidential peer review surveys.

The following are this year’s Adams & Reese honorees:

The Best Lawyers in America® (2026 Edition) – Adams & Reese Honorees: Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

Atlanta

Best Lawyers

• Ron Bingham – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation
• John Thomson – Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Ones to Watch

• David Stewart – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Baton Rouge

Best Lawyers

• Kellen Mathews – Administrative/Regulatory Law; Commercial Litigation; Government Contracts; Labor Law – Management
• Rob Rieger – Communications Law; Government Relations Practice; Health Care Law; Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
• Bill Shea – Insurance Law

Ones to Watch

• Chris Joseph – Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
• Taylor LeDuff – Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law
• Katelin Varnado – Construction Law; Litigation - Construction

Birmingham

Best Lawyers

• Richard Carmody – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Robert Eckinger – Antitrust Law; Litigation – Antitrust Litigation - Banking and Finance
• Mark Gaines – Administrative/Regulatory Law; Government Relations Practice
• Aaron McLeod – Appellate Practice
• Stephen Rowe – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Securities; Personal Injury Litigation

Charlotte

Ones to Watch

• Ashlee Poplin – Construction Law; Litigation – Construction

Columbia

Best Lawyers

• Rob Bethea – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Tax Law
• Drew English – Commercial Transactions / UCC Law; Corporate Law; Real Estate Law
• Burnie Maybank – Administrative/Regulatory Law; Litigation and Controversy – Tax; Tax Law
• Bill McElveen – Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Cliff Moore – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation - Real Estate
• Kirby Shealy – Personal Injury Litigation
• Will Umbach – International Mergers and Acquisitions

Ones to Watch

• Lyndey Bryant – Commercial Litigation
• Anthony Quattrone – Tax Law

Denver

Best Lawyers

• Victoria Edwards – Employment Law – Management

Houston

Best Lawyers

• Lee Butler – Oil and Gas Law; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Alex Cosculluela – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Chris Derden – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Jane Haas – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Construction; Personal Injury Litigation
• Alton Hall – Commercial Litigation
• Leslie Henry – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• David Toney – Construction Law; Litigation – Construction; Real Estate Law
• Bradley Waters – Personal Injury Litigation

Ones to Watch

• Anam Fazli – Litigation – Construction
• Cassie Walsh – Real Estate Law

Jackson

Best Lawyers

• Holmes Adams – Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Paul Carrubba – Banking and Finance Law; Financial Services Regulation Law
• KaShonda Day – Education Law
• John Hooks – Education Law; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Jim Keith – Education Law; Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Elizabeth Maron – Education Law; Employment Law – Management
• Gee Ogletree – Banking and Finance Law; Energy Law; Litigation - Real Estate; Natural Resources Law; Real Estate Law; Timber Law
• Charles Parrott – Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Financial Services Regulation Law; Litigation - Real Estate
• Jeff Trotter – Energy Law; Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental; Oil and Gas Law

Jacksonville

Best Lawyers

• Tim Volpe – Arbitration; Banking and Finance Law; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation – Insurance

Ones to Watch

• Chris Earle – Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Tom White – Commercial Litigation

Memphis

Best Lawyers

• Cannon F. Allen, Sr. – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Donna Boyce – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Ben Fox – Commercial Litigation; Education Law
• James McLaren – Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Economic Development Law; Project Finance Law; Public Finance Law
• Lucian Pera – Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law; First Amendment Law; Health Care Law; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Legal Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs; Litigation - First Amendment; Media Law
• Hank Shelton – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Clarence Wilbon – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance

Ones to Watch

• John Woods – Commercial Litigation; Health Care Law; Insurance Law

Mobile

Best Lawyers

• Michael Berson – Government Contracts; Government Relations Practice
• Britton Bonner – Economic Development Law; Government Relations Practice
• Andy Freeman – Corporate Law; International Mergers and Acquisitions; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Timber Law
• Blake Hardwich – Government Relations Practice
• Scott Hetrick – Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• David Johnson – Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Vic Lott – Corporate Law; International Mergers and Acquisitions; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Securities Regulation; Timber Law
• Rusty Russell – Corporate Law
• April Smith – Corporate Law; Timber Law

Ones to Watch

• Blake Richardson – Insurance Law; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Transportation Law

Nashville

Best Lawyers

• Dale Allen – Government Relations Practice
• Cindy Barnett – Public Finance Law
• Mitch Boult – Copyright Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Trademark Law
• Larry Brock – Commercial Litigation; Health Care Law; Litigation - Health Care; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Martin Brown – Corporate Law; Litigation – Securities; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Will Cheek – Food and Beverage Law; Nonprofit / Charities Law
• Aubrey Harwell – Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense – White Collar
• Russell Harwell – Real Estate Law
• Trey Harwell – Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense – White Collar
• Phil Kirkpatrick – Commercial Litigation; Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television; Entertainment Law – Music; Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Brad Lampley – Government Relations Practice
• Haverly MacArthur – Litigation - Intellectual Property; Trademark Law
• Lynn Morrow – Copyright Law; Entertainment Law – Music; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Media Law
• Rob Pinson – Food and Beverage Law
• Edward Playfair – Copyright Law; Trademark Law
• Gif Thornton – Education Law; Government Relations Practice; Health Care Law; Insurance Law
• Maia Woodhouse – Copyright Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Trademark Law

New Orleans

Best Lawyers

• Richard Aguilar – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Banking and Finance; Litigation – Bankruptcy; Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions; Litigation - Real Estate; Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• Gregg Barrios – Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Mark Beebe – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Antitrust; Litigation – Securities
• Phil Bergeron – Health Care Law
• Charlie Cerise – Admiralty and Maritime Law; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Environmental; Oil and Gas Law; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Robin Cheatham – Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Financial Services Regulation Law
• Chris D'Amour – Insurance Law
• Johnny Domiano – Admiralty and Maritime Law; Commercial Litigation
• John Duck – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; International Mergers and Acquisitions
• Brooke Duncan – Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Richard Eason – Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Workers' Compensation Law – Claimants; Workers' Compensation Law – Employers
• Phil Franco – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate
• Kirk Gasperecz – Insurance Law
• Charlie Gay – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Matt Guy – Admiralty and Maritime Law; Construction Law; Litigation – Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation
• Lisa Hedrick – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Chris Kane – Administrative / Regulatory Law; Economic Development Law
• Ed Laizer – Admiralty and Maritime Law; Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Leslie Lanusse – Employment Law – Management; Insurance Law; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Frank Liantonio – Admiralty and Maritime Law; Energy Law; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Oil and Gas Law
• Don McKinney – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Bob Nolan – Oil and Gas Law; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Lee Reid – Economic Development Law; Education Law
• Jeff Richardson – Appellate Practice; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation
• Jim Rogers – Admiralty and Maritime Law; Litigation – Construction; Litigation – Insurance
• Debbie Rouen – Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Liz Roussel – Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management
• Leigh Ann Schell – Appellate Practice; Energy Law
• Paige Sensenbrenner – Government Relations Practice; Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Phil Sherman – Corporate Law; Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law; Real Estate Law
• Tyson Shofstahl – Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Ron Sholes – Arbitration; Environmental Law; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation
• Mark Spansel – Admiralty and Maritime Law; Litigation – Environmental
• Martin Stern – Appellate Practice; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Mark Surprenant – Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Lauren Tafaro – Commercial Litigation; Employment Law – Management
• Roland Vandenweghe – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation
• David Wolf – Public Finance Law
• Laurie Young – Admiralty and Maritime Law; Commercial Litigation

Ones to Watch

• Taylor Brett – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Environmental; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation
• Mark Chaney – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation
• Alex Lamb – Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Harper Street – Personal Injury Litigation
• Billy Wright – Commercial Litigation; Education Law; Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation

Sarasota

Best Lawyers

• David Boyette – Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Real Estate; Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• Tom Dart – Litigation – Construction; Litigation – Real Estate
• Ryan Owen – Commercial Litigation; Construction Law

Ones to Watch

• Drew Chesanek – Construction Law; Real Estate Law

Tampa

Best Lawyers

• Ric Asfar – Litigation – Construction
• Ben Bard – Litigation – Labor and Employment
• David Bernstein – Real Estate Law
• Bob Boos – Commercial Litigation
• Trent Cotney – Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
• Jim Dickson – Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
• Roscoe Green – Litigation – Construction
• Brian Lambert – Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Insurance Law; Litigation – Construction
• Don Mihokovich – Commercial Litigation
• Brian Oblow – Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
• Deb Oliver – Commercial Litigation
• Eric Partlow – Commercial Litigation
• Louis Ursini – Litigation – Banking and Finance

Ones to Watch

• Christie Coston – Construction Law
• Jacqueline Feliciano – Construction Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Thomas Fuhrman – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Construction; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Alex Sarsfield – Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
• Lee Tomlinson – Construction Law; Litigation - Construction