Press Release

More Than 200 Ballard Spahr Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers 2024

August 17, 2023

The recently released 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America recognizes 219 Ballard Spahr attorneys in offices across the country, including many recognized in multiple practice areas, for a total of 351 total listings in the annual guide.

The 150 Ballard Spahr attorneys listed in the “Best Lawyers” category received 249 total recognitions, including 11 attorneys named 2024 "Lawyers of the Year" for their practices and locations. Only one attorney receives the designation in each location for a given practice area.

In addition, 69 Ballard Spahr attorneys are listed in the “Ones to Watch” category for attorneys in private practice less than 10 years. Together, they garnered 102 total recognitions.

The Best Lawyers methodology uses annual surveys asking lawyers across the nation to evaluate their peers based on legal skill, professionalism, and integrity. From the results of those extensive surveys, the publication chooses the top attorneys in the most high-profile practices. Lawyers of the Year received the highest overall peer feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.

LAWYERS OF THE YEAR

Amy L. Arndt—Mergers and Acquisitions Law—Minneapolis

Michael Berry—Media Law—Philadelphia

Kevin R. Cunningham—Public Finance Law—Philadelphia

Theodore J. Hartl—Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy—Denver

Alan S. Kaplinsky—Litigation – Banking and Finance—Philadelphia

Justin P. Klein—Securities/Capital Markets Law—Philadelphia

Ann T. Loftus—Nonprofit/Charities Law—Philadelphia

Karen C. McConnell—Corporate Law; Securities/Capital Markets Law—Phoenix

Richard S. Perelman—Equipment Finance Law—Philadelphia

Brian M. Pinheiro—Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law—Philadelphia

Charles D. Tobin—First Amendment Law—Washington, D.C.

BEST LAWYERS

Administrative/Regulatory Law

Peter D. Hardy—Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.

Beth Moskow-Schnoll—Delaware

Advertising Law

David J. Bodney—Phoenix

Banking and Finance Law

Valarie J. Allen—Philadelphia

Scott A. Coleman—Minneapolis

Kevin R. Cunningham—Philadelphia

Mark C. Dietzen—Minneapolis

Emilie Ninan—Delaware

Richard S. Perelman—Philadelphia

Laura L. Seidel—Atlanta

Ronald K. Vaske—Minneapolis

Maulin Vidwans—Philadelphia

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Katherine Anderson—Phoenix

Tobey M. Daluz—Delaware

Theodore J. Hartl—Denver

Timothy F. McCormack—Baltimore

William A. Slaughter—Philadelphia

Matthew G. Summers—Delaware

William P. Wassweiler—Minneapolis

Bet-the-Company Litigation

David H. Pittinsky—Philadelphia

Commercial Litigation

Robert R. Baron, Jr.—Philadelphia

Jason D. Boren, Salt Lake City

Daniel R. Fritz—Sioux Falls

M. Norman Goldberger—Philadelphia

Aliza R. Karetnick—Philadelphia

Stephen J. Kastenberg—Philadelphia

John G. Kerkorian—Phoenix

Laura E. Krabill—Philadelphia

David J. Margules—Delaware

James V. Masella III, New York

Andrew J. Petrie—Denver

David H. Pittinsky—Philadelphia

Brian Schulman—Phoenix

Mark S. Stewart—Philadelphia

Melanie Vartabedian, Salt Lake City

Karla M. Vehrs—Minneapolis

Matthew A. White—Philadelphia

Jay A. Zweig—Phoenix

Commercial Transactions / UCC Law

Emilie R. Ninan—Delaware

Copyright Law

Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia

Corporate Compliance Law

Peter D. Hardy—Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.

Henry E. Hockeimer, Jr.—Philadelphia

Charles R. Moran—Baltimore

Corporate Governance Law

Elizabeth S. Fenton—Delaware

Robert C. Kim—Las Vegas

Charles R. Moran—Baltimore

Corporate Law

Richard J. Braemer—Philadelphia

Jeffrey A. Fickes—New York

Douglas M. Fox—Baltimore

Laura C. Giles—Phoenix

Alan S. Kaplinsky—Philadelphia

Robert C. Kim—Las Vegas

Justin P. Klein—Philadelphia

Michael R. Kuhn—Minneapolis

David J. Margules—Delaware

Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix

Charles R. Moran—Baltimore

Barbara Lano Rummel—Minneapolis

Elizabeth A. Sloan—Delaware

Robert E. Tunheim—Minneapolis

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

David L. Axelrod—Philadelphia

Peter D. Hardy—Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.

Henry E. Hockeimer, Jr.—Philadelphia

John F. Hundley—Washington, D.C.

James A. Mitchell—New York

Beth Moskow-Schnoll—Delaware

Marjorie J. Peerce—New York

Economic Development Law

William C. Rhodes—Philadelphia

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Robert J. Hartman—Minneapolis

Edward I. Leeds—Philadelphia

Joshua T. Natzel—Minneapolis

Brian M. Pinheiro—Philadelphia

D. Finn Pressly—Washington, D.C.

Edward J. Wegerson—Minneapolis

Employment Law – Management

Shannon D. Farmer—Philadelphia

David S. Fryman—Philadelphia

Kenneth M. Jarin—Philadelphia

Denise M. Keyser—New Jersey

Mary M. O’Brien—Minneapolis

Brian D. Pedrow—Philadelphia

Jay A. Zweig—Phoenix

Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television

Robert S. Gutierrez—Los Angeles

Environmental Law

David J. Armstrong—Phoenix

Brendan K. Collins—Philadelphia

Harry Weiss—Philadelphia

Equipment Finance Law

Richard S. Perelman—Philadelphia

Financial Services Regulation Law

Scott A. Coleman—Minneapolis

Alan S. Kaplinsky—Philadelphia

Fintech Practice

Ronald K. Vaske—Minneapolis

First Amendment Law

Seth D. Berlin—Washington, D.C.

Michael Berry—Philadelphia

Jay Ward Brown—Washington, D.C.

Kaitlin M. Gurney—Philadelphia

Ashley I. Kissinger—Denver

Paul J. Safier—Philadelphia

David A. Schulz—New York

Charles D. Tobin—Washington, D.C.

Gaming Law

Michael D. Fabius—Philadelphia

Government Relations Practice

Marcel S. Pratt—Philadelphia

Health Care Law

Beth Moskow-Schnoll—Delaware

Insurance Law

Daniel R. Fritz—Sioux Falls

Brian Schulman—Phoenix

International Mergers and Acquisitions

Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix

Labor Law – Management

David S. Fryman—Philadelphia

Kenneth M. Jarin—Philadelphia

Denise M. Keyser—New Jersey

Brian D. Pedrow—Philadelphia

Land Use and Zoning Law

Jon M. Laria—Baltimore

Matthew N. McClure—Philadelphia

Litigation – Banking and Finance

Alan S. Kaplinsky—Philadelphia

Litigation – Bankruptcy

Tobey M. Daluz—Philadelphia

Theodore J. Hartl—Denver

William A. Slaughter—Philadelphia

Matthew G. Summers—Baltimore

Litigation – Construction

Jason D. Boren—Salt Lake City

Jonathan M. Bye—Minneapolis

Mark R. Gaylord—Salt Lake City

Brian Schulman—Phoenix

Litigation – Environmental

Brendan K. Collins—Philadelphia

Litigation – First Amendment

Seth D. Berlin—Washington, D.C.

Michael Berry—Philadelphia

David J. Bodney—Phoenix

Jay Ward Brown—Washington, D.C.

Ashley I. Kissinger—Denver

Burt M. Rublin—Philadelphia

Paul J. Safier—Philadelphia

Elizabeth Seidlin-Bernstein—Philadelphia

Charles D. Tobin—Washington, D.C.

Litigation – Intellectual Property

Laura E. Krabill—Philadelphia

Brian W. LaCorte—Phoenix

Richard W. Miller—Atlanta

Louis P. Petrich—Los Angeles

Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia

Chittam U. Thakore—Atlanta

Litigation – Labor and Employment

Jason D. Boren—Salt Lake City

David S. Fryman—Philadelphia

Mary M. O’Brien—Minneapolis

Jay A. Zweig—Phoenix

Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions

M. Norman Goldberger—Philadelphia

David J. Margules—Delaware

Litigation – Patent

Caryn Borg-Breen—Philadelphia

Laura E. Krabill—Philadelphia

Brian W. LaCorte—Phoenix

Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia

Litigation – Real Estate

Jason D. Boren—Salt Lake City

Jonathan M. Bye—Minneapolis

Mark R. Gaylord—Salt Lake City

Brian Schulman—Phoenix

Michael Sklaroff—Philadelphia

Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)

M. Norman Goldberger—Philadelphia

Litigation – Securities

M. Norman Goldberger—Philadelphia

Stephen J. Kastenberg—Philadelphia

Andrew J. Petrie—Denver

Litigation – Trusts and Estates

Regina O’Brien Thomas—Philadelphia

Media Law

Seth D. Berlin—Washington, D.C.

Michael Berry—Philadelphia

David J. Bodney—Phoenix

Chad R. Bowman—Washington, D.C.

Jay Ward Brown—Washington, D.C.

Ashley I. Kissinger—Denver

Charles D. Tobin—Washington, D.C.

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Amy L. Arndt—Sioux Falls

Richard J. Braemer—Philadelphia

Laura C. Giles—Phoenix

Robert C. Kim—Las Vegas

Justin P. Klein—Philadelphia

Michael R. Kuhn—Minneapolis

Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix

Barbara Lano Rummel—Minneapolis

Maggie M. Tatton— Minneapolis

Robert E. Tunheim—Minneapolis

John D. Wambold—Minneapolis

Nonprofit/Charities Law

Ann T. Loftus—Philadelphia

Christopher A. Jones—Philadelphia

Kendis Key Muscheid—Phoenix

Patent Law

Mitchell A. Katz—Atlanta

Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia

Chittam U. Thakore—Atlanta

Project Finance Law

Mark C. Dietzen—Minneapolis

William C. Rhodes—Philadelphia

Public Finance Law

Valarie J. Allen—Philadelphia

Michele L. Bax—Phoenix

Kevin R. Cunningham—Philadelphia

Teri M. Guarnaccia—Baltimore

Charles S. Henck—Washington, D.C.

Anastasia G. Khokhryakova—Denver

Emilie R. Ninan—Delaware, Washington, D.C.

Marybeth Orsini—Baltimore, New York

Steve T. Park—Philadelphia

Hester M. Parrot—Denver

Kimberly C. Reed—Denver

William C. Rhodes—Philadelphia

P. Andrew Spicknall—Washington, D.C.

Qui Tam Law

Jonathan M. Bye—Minneapolis

Real Estate Law

Angela M. Christy—Minneapolis

Alicia B. Clark—Denver

Desmond D. Connall, Jr.—Washington, D.C.

Mark S. DePillis—Philadelphia

Dominic J. De Simone—Philadelphia

Craig Solomon Ganz—Phoenix

Mary Jo George—Washington, D.C.

Thomas A. Hauser—Baltimore

Bruce F. Johnson—Las Vegas

Benjamin A. Kelley—Baltimore

Jon M. Laria—Baltimore

Anna A. Mahaney—Baltimore

Tina R. Makoulian—Philadelphia

Amy M. McClain—Baltimore

Bart I. Mellits—Philadelphia

Michael J. Ostermeyer—Phoenix

Karen DaCosta Perzan—Phoenix

Mark Pollak—Baltimore

Alan S. Ritterband—Philadelphia

Jennifer Santangelo—Philadelphia

Brian Schulman—Phoenix

Laura L. Seidel—Atlanta

Michael Sklaroff—Philadelphia

Derek L. Sorenson—Phoenix

Raymond G. Truitt—Baltimore

Maulin Vidwans—Philadelphia

James R. Walston—Minneapolis

Roger D. Winston—Washington, D.C.

Kelly M. Wrenn—Washington, D.C.

Securities/Capital Markets Law

Gerald J. Guarcini—Philadelphia

Teri M. Guarnaccia—Baltimore

April Hamlin—Minneapolis

Robert C. Kim—Las Vegas

Justin P. Klein—Philadelphia

Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix

Securities Regulation

Gerald J. Guarcini—Philadelphia

Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix

Securitization and Structured Finance Law

Mark C. Dietzen—Minneapolis

Thomas A. Hauser—Baltimore

Tax Law

Justin H. Brown—Philadelphia

Richard L. Catalano—New York

Jonathan Flora—Philadelphia

Peter D. Hardy—Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.

Wendi L. Kotzen—Philadelphia

Kendis Key Muscheid—Phoenix

Trademark Law

Brian W. LaCorte—Phoenix

Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia

Trusts and Estates

Mark S. Blaskey—Philadelphia

Justin H. Brown—Philadelphia

Justin C. Esposito—Philadelphia

Ann T. Loftus—Philadelphia

Marilyn C. Sanborne—Philadelphia

Heike K. Sullivan—Philadelphia

Regina O’Brien Thomas—Philadelphia

Thomas J. Woessner—Minneapolis

ONES TO WATCH

Appellate Practice

Justin E. Kerner—New Jersey

J. Matt Thornton—Minneapolis

Banking and Finance Law

Rachel S. Bates—Minneapolis

Brianne Boyle—Baltimore

Tyler M. Cobb—Phoenix

Catherine M. LaGrange—Minneapolis

Daniel J. Nunez—Washington, D.C.

Nicole Necklas Soraruf—Baltimore

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Michael S. Myers—Los Angeles

Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)

Peter A. Hvidston—Minneapolis

Commercial Litigation

Matthew Cate—Washington, D.C.

Thomas J. Gallagher IV—Philadelphia

Chad P. Jimenez—Denver

Justin E. Kerner—New Jersey

Elanor A. Mulhern—Philadelphia

Jonathon A. Talcott— Phoenix

J. Matt Thornton—Minneapolis

Jessica Case Watt—Delaware

Kahlil C. Williams—Philadelphia

Communications Law

Jacquelyn N. Schell— New York

Construction Law

Peter A. Hvidston—Minneapolis

Corporate Law

Christian R. Barnes— Minneapolis

Adam J. Chelminiak—Philadelphia

Kimberly W. Klayman—Philadelphia

Neal K. Rasmussen—Minneapolis

Wesley R. Robinson—Phoenix

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Brad Gershel—New York

Brittany M. Giusini-Tsoflias—Delaware

Christopher Hatfield—Washington, D.C.

Matthew G. Kussmaul—Philadelphia

Emilia McKee Vassallo—Philadelphia

Jessica Case Watt—Delaware

Kahlil C. Williams—Philadelphia

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Jessica DuBois—Minneapolis

Entertainment and Sports Law

Maxwell S. Mishkin—Washington, D.C.

Emmy Parsons—Washington, D.C.

Environmental Law

Spencer I. Eldred—Los Angeles

Lea A. Phillips—Phoenix

Government Relations Practice

Charles E. Nelson—Minneapolis

Insurance Law

Brittany M. Wilson—Philadelphia

Intellectual Property Law

Jonas Jarvholm—Atlanta

Matthew E. Kelley—Washington, D.C.

Matthew J. Littlefield—Atlanta

Benjamin N. Simler—Philadelphia

Madhundra Sivakumar—Philadelphia

Alan White—Atlanta

Land Use and Zoning Law

Jacob Dachs—Baltimore

Spencer I. Eldred—Los Angeles

Jennifer L. Feden—Philadelphia

Lindsey Parker—Salt Lake City

Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law

Catherine M. LaGrange—Minneapolis

Neal K. Rasmussen—Minneapolis

Litigation – Bankruptcy

Laurel D. Roglen—Delaware

Litigation – Construction

Michael S. Myers—Los Angeles

Kathryn E. Wendt—Minneapolis

Litigation – Intellectual Property

Madhundra Sivakumar—Philadelphia

Benjamin N. Simler—Philadelphia

Jonathon A. Talcott— Phoenix

Litigation  Labor and Employment

Elliot I. Griffin—Philadelphia

Litigation – Patent

Alan White—Atlanta

Litigation – Real Estate

Michael S. Myers—Los Angeles

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Christian R. Barnes—Minneapolis

Christopher J. DePizzo—New York

Ryan D. Heck—Minneapolis

Kimberly W. Klayman—Philadelphia

Neal K. Rasmussen—Minneapolis

Wesley R. Robinson—Phoenix

Patent Law

Matthew J. Littlefield—Atlanta

Alan White—Atlanta

Project Finance Law

Katie Leesman—Washington, D.C.

Megan McCarthy—Minneapolis

John C. Wheatley—Washington, D.C.

Public Finance Law

Ethan A. Anderson—Denver

Michael A. Charlebois—Los Angeles

Tyler M. Cobb—Phoenix

Megan McCarthy—Minneapolis

Skye Nickalls—Philadelphia

Daniel J. Nunez—Washington, D.C.

Real Estate Law

Andrew I. Almand—Washington, D.C.

Dimitrios Angelakos—Philadelphia

Jennifer Auger-Young—Baltimore

Rachel S. Bates—Minneapolis

Brianne Boyle—Baltimore

Matthew W. Buckley—Minneapolis

Jacob Dachs—Baltimore

Ashley E. DeLuca—Philadelphia

Kyle A. DeThomas—Washington, D.C.

Spencer I. Eldred—Los Angeles

Jennifer L. Feden—Philadelphia

Colin M. Gaynor—Baltimore

Courtney E. Hunter—Washington, D.C.

Peter A. Hvidston—Minneapolis

Steven P. Mehr—Los Angeles

Lindsey Parker—Salt Lake City

Timothy R. Polmateer—Los Angeles

Joseph W. Weill—New Jersey

Kathryn E. Wendt—Minneapolis

John C. Wheatley—Washington, D.C.

Tax Law

John C. Wheatley—Washington, D.C.

Technology Law

Alan White—Atlanta

Trusts and Estates

Alicia H. Berenson—Philadelphia

Joshua R. Brown—Sioux Falls

Rankings are not approved or endorsed by any judicial body.

For media inquiries, please contact Bill Shralow at 215.864.8195.

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