Best Lawyers Recognizes 48 Frantz Ward Attorneys, Names Five Firm Attorneys “Lawyer of the Year” in 2026 Publication

Frantz Ward is proud to announce a total of 48 firm lawyers have been named in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch publications, with five of the attorneys also being honored as Cleveland’s “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas.

Ian H. Frank (Construction Law), Craig T. Haran (Litigation – Health Care), Matthew F. Kadish (Trusts and Estates), Brian J. Kelly (Employment Law – Management), and Jenifer E. Novak (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants) were recognized as 2026 Cleveland “Lawyers of the Year” in their respective categories. “Lawyers of the Year” is a prestigious distinction that is presented annually to a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area for excellence in their field.

The full list of named firm attorneys includes:

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
• Andrew J. Cleves – Litigation – Labor and Employment
• 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
• Matthew F. Kadish – Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
• Stephen L. Kadish – Litigation and Controversy – Tax and Tax Law
• 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
• John F. Kostelnik – Banking and Finance Law and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Cynthia A. Lammert** – Real Estate Law
• Hans L. Larsen – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Corporate Law
• 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
• Bradley D. Reed – Administrative / Regulatory Law* 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 G. Weibel – Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Corporate Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, and Trust and Estates

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America

• 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)* and Commercial Litigation*
• 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
• 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, Corporate Law, and Employee Benefits (ERISA) 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 currently recognized Best Lawyers 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.