Best Lawyers® Honors 55 Frantz Ward Attorneys; Three Firm Attorneys Distinguished as “Lawyers of the Year” in 2027 Publication
Frantz Ward is pleased to announce that 55 firm attorneys were recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
Additionally, Todd A. Broski (Business Organizations), Michael N. Chesney (Employment Law – Management), and Brian J. Kelly (Labor Law – Management) were distinguished as 2027 Cleveland “Lawyers of the Year” in their respective practice areas. The “Lawyer of the Year” designation is reserved for one lawyer in each practice area from each metropolitan area per year, based on the highest aggregate peer feedback.
The full list of the firm’s named attorneys includes:
The Best Lawyers in America®
- Brett K. Bacon – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Insurance
- Todd A. Broski – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law
- Michael N. Chesney – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Gina M. Ciani – Trusts and Estates
- George S. Coakley – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
- William A. Duncan – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
- Gregory R. Farkas – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
- Ian H. Frank – Construction Law and Litigation – Construction
- Michael J. Frantz – Arbitration, Education Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Labor Law – Union
- Michael J. Frantz, Jr. – Construction Law and Litigation – Construction
- Craig T. Haran – Health Care Law and Litigation – Health Care
- Thomas G. Haren – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Cannabis Law, and Commercial Litigation
- Ralph P. Higgins, Jr. – Tax Law and Trusts and Estates
- Daniel P. Hinkel – Real Estate Law
- Kevin M. Hinkel – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law, and Tax Law
- Joel R. Hlavaty – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Beau D. Hollowell – Commercial Litigation*
- Richard C. Humiston** – Trusts and Estates
- Matthew F. Kadish – Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
- Christopher G. Keim – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Brian J. Kelly – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Christopher C. Koehler – Commercial Litigation
- Alexander J. Koenig** – Corporate Law
- John F. Kostelnik – Banking and Finance Law and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Cynthia A. Lammert – Litigation – Real Estate*, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants*, and Real Estate Law
- Hans L. Larsen – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Corporate Law
- Meghan C. Lewallen** – Commercial Litigation
- Angela D. Lydon** – Commercial Litigation
- Karl E. May – Financial Services Regulation Law, Litigation – Securities, and Securities Regulation
- Margaret M. Metzinger – Family Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates
- Colleen C. Murnane – Commercial Litigation
- James B. Niehaus – Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, and Trade Secrets Law
- Jenifer E. Novak – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Michael P. O’Donnell – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Real Estate*
- Jennifer Fewell Phillips** – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Bradley D. Reed – Administrative / Regulatory Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)*, and Health Care Law
- Mark L. Rodio – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law
- Dean M. Rooney – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Trusts and Estates
- Marc A. Sanchez – Construction Law and Litigation – Construction
- Michael E. Smith – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Insurance
- Ryan T. Smith – Employment Law – Management and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Mark J. Stockman – Construction Law and Real Estate Law
- David B. Waxman – Corporate Law and Real Estate Law
- David G. Weibel – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
- Elena C. Barone** – Health Care Law
- Megan E. Bennett – Labor and Employment Law – Management and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Josh A. Friedman – Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
- Mia L. Garcia – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Litigation, and Corporate Law*
- Andrew M. Hanna – Construction Law and Litigation – Construction
- Katherine E. McLaughlin – Labor and Employment Law – Management and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Bradley N. Ouambo – Construction Law
- Stacey M. Sanderson** – Labor and Employment Law – Management
- Jonathan M. Scandling – Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labor and Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Naomi G. Tellez – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Corporate Law
- Patrick A. Walsh – Commercial Litigation
The single asterisks (*) above indicate this is the first year the attorney has been named in that particular practice area, while the double asterisks (**) indicate attorneys who were named to the respective lists for the first time in their careers.
About Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers® is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers® has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties.
Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by those currently recognized on the prestigious lists and are working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback received from the lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process, and once confirmed, are recognized by Best Lawyers®.
To learn more, visit Best Lawyers®.
