98 Calfee Attorneys Recognized as Best Lawyers® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch Award Recipients

Accolades

Cleveland, August 16, 2024 – Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP is pleased to announce that 68 Calfee lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and 30 Calfee lawyers have been recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. In addition, one lawyer has been recognized as a “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in their respective practice area, and Calfee has been recognized as a top-listed law firm in the state of Ohio and in the city of Cleveland.

Calfee Partner Recognized as 2025 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

• Calfee Partner Robert M. Cipolla is recognized by Best Lawyers as the 2025 "Lawyer of the Year" for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Richmond, Virginia.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year," making this a significant and coveted accolade. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.

68 Calfee Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers

Calfee congratulates the following 68 lawyers named to the 2025 The Best Lawyers in America list:

• Brent D. Ballard – Corporate Law and Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
• Blake C. Beachler – Public Finance Law (Cleveland)
• Fritz E. Berckmueller – Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar (Cleveland)
• Karl S. Beus – Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Finance Law (Cleveland)
• Mitchell G. (Mitch) Blair – Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) (Cleveland)
• Jason J. (Jake) Blake – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Construction (Columbus)
• Chet J. Bonner – Patent Law (Cleveland)
• David T. Bules – Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), and Litigation - Securities (Cincinnati)
• Phillip A. (Phil) Casey – Energy Law  and Energy Regulatory Law (Indianapolis)
• John R. Cernelich – Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management (Cleveland)
• John S. Cipolla – Litigation - Intellectual Property, Patent Law, and Trade Secrets Law (Cleveland)
• Robert M. (Rob) Cipolla – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Richmond)
• Jennifer W. (Jenn) Colvin – Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management, and Litigation - Labor and Employment (Cincinnati)
• Maryellen K. Corbett – Government Relations Practice (Columbus)
• Mara E. Cushwa – Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
• Steven W. (Steve) Day – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law (Cleveland)
• Terrence F. (Terry) Doyle – Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities / Capital Markets Law (Cleveland)
• Gary L. Ellsworth – Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
• Michael K. (Mike) French – Corporate Law (Cleveland)
• Amy K. Friedmann – Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
• Michael K. (Mike) Gall – Tax Law (Cleveland)
• Stephanie M. Glavinos – Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
• Elizabeth (Lisa) Zoller Golish – Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
• Arthur C. (Art) Hall III – Corporate Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation (Cleveland)
• Gregory S. (Greg) Harvey – Corporate Law (Cleveland)
• Patrick D. Hayes – Corporate Compliance Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation (Cincinnati)
• Gwen Gillespie Herman – Corporate Law (Cleveland)
• Maura L. Hughes – Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation - Antitrust (Cleveland)
• Michael B. Hurley – Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cincinnati)
• Christopher (Chris) Jones – Environmental Law (Columbus)
• Steven C. (Steve) Karzmer – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Columbus)
• David J. Kaufman – Employment Law - Management (Cleveland)
• James F. (Jim) Lang – Commercial Litigation, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law, and Litigation - Municipal (Cleveland)
• Albert J. (Al) Lucas – Commercial Litigation (Columbus)
• Mark W. McDougall – Patent Law (Cleveland)
• John J. McGuire – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cleveland)
• Brian A. McMahon – Banking and Finance Law (Cleveland)
• Ronald M. (Ron) McMillan – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Construction (Cleveland)
• Daniel J. (Dan) McMullen – Copyright Law and Information Technology Law (Cleveland)
• Matthew M. (Matt) Mendoza – Construction Law, Litigation - Construction, and Litigation - Insurance (Cleveland)
• Joseph M. (Joe) Mentrek – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
• Thomas I. (Tom) Michals – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (Cleveland)
• Robert A. (Bob) Miller – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Cleveland)
• John A. Mongelluzzo – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cincinnati)
• Cynthia A. (Cindy) Neal – Litigation - Intellectual Property and Patent Law (Cincinnati)
• Douglas A. (Doug) Neary – Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Securities / Capital Markets Law (Cleveland)
• Colleen M. O'Neil – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
• Todd F. Palmer – Employment Law - Management (Cleveland)
• Leah Pappas Porner – Government Relations Practice (Columbus)
• Brent M. Pietrafese – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cleveland)
• Billy C. Raulerson – Patent Law (Columbus)
• Daniel (Dan) Reinhard – Energy Law (Columbus)
• Karla M. Rogers – Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
• Jason A. Rothman – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (Cleveland)
• Joshua R. (Josh) Sanders – Government Relations Practice (Columbus)
• H. Jeffrey Schwartz – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (New York)
• Ann Z. Seger – Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Finance Law (Cleveland)
• Anthony F. (Tony) Stringer – Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law (Cleveland)
• K. James Sullivan – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Litigation - Insurance (Cleveland)
• Raymond M. (Ray) Tarasuck – Workers' Compensation Law - Employers (Cleveland)
• Jerry J. Thomas – Commercial Finance Law and Corporate Law (Cleveland)
• Salvatore J. (Sam) Totino – Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, and Tax Law (Cleveland)
• Michael G. (Mike) VanBuren – Health Care Law (Cleveland)
• Jaclyn M. (Jackie) Vary – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Nonprofit / Charities Law, and Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
• Jennifer L. (Jenn) Vergilii – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cleveland)
• Christopher M. (Chris) Ward – Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental (Columbus)
• Thomas M. (Tom) Welsh – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cleveland)
• Christopher S. (Chris) Williams – Commercial Litigation and Litigation - ERISA (Cleveland)

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing. For more than four decades, 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 are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular distinction.

Best Lawyers Names Calfee “Top-Listed” in Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Mergers & Acquisitions Law

Calfee is named the “Top-Listed” firm in Cleveland in Commercial Finance Law with 4 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers, Corporate Law with 13 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers, and Mergers & Acquisitions Law with 7 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers.

The "Top-Listed" designation is given to the firm that has the most recognized lawyers in a particular location and practice area. This award is based exclusively on the number of recognized lawyers and is in no way related to the "Best Law Firms" rankings.

30 Calfee Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Calfee congratulates the following 30 lawyers recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America:

• Andrew (Andy) Alexander – Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
• Matthew B. (Matt) Barbara – Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation (Cleveland)
• Joshua G. (Josh) Berggrun – Real Estate Law (Cleveland)
• Nicholas A. (Nick) Bonaminio – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Litigation - Antitrust (Cleveland)
• Michael W. (Mike) Bowen – Government Relations Practice (Cleveland)
• Abbey Kinson Brown – Labor and Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (Cleveland)
• Matthew A. (Matt) Chiricosta – Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law (Cleveland)
• Meredith K. Collier – Commercial Litigation (Cleveland) 
• Anthony J. (Tony) Cox – Corporate Governance and Compliance Law (Cleveland)
• Nicolette T.E. Cregan – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law and Tax Law (Cleveland)
• Ryland A. Doerr – Commercial Litigation (Columbus)
• Joshua A. (Josh) Friedman – Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
• Andrew S. (Drew) Griesser – Banking and Finance Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Cincinnati)
• Nicholas M. (Nick) Hudnell – Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law (Cleveland)
• Terrence J. (TJ) Killeen, Jr. – Corporate Law and Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law (Cleveland)
• Brittany L. Kulwicki – Intellectual Property Law (Cleveland)
• Dustin D. Likens – Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
• Brad Liu – Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
• Maureen T. Pavicic – Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
• Hunter D. Poindexter – Corporate Law (Cincinnati)
• Adam Pretty – Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Columbus)
• Bradley S. (Brad) Pulfer – Intellectual Property Law and Litigation - Patent (Cleveland)
• John L. Reulbach III – Intellectual Property Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent, and Patent Law (Cleveland)
• Madeline H. (Maddie) Shanahan – Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Litigation - Labor and Employment (Cincinnati)
• Zachary J. (Zach) Stackhouse – Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (Cleveland)
• Veronica Lambillotte Vasu – Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent, and Patent Law (Cleveland)
• Robert J. (Rob) Ward – Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Columbus)
• Sage Wen – Commercial Litigation (Cleveland)
• Gretchen L. Whaling – Commercial Litigation (Columbus)
• Tianyue Zhang – Intellectual Property Law and Patent Law (Cleveland)

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America are divided by geographic region and practice areas. Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular distinction.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch Names Calfee “Top-Listed” in Ohio and Cleveland

Calfee is named the “Top-Listed” firm in Ohio in Insurance Law (with 5 attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch), Intellectual Property Law (6 attorneys recognized), Litigation - Intellectual Property (6 attorneys recognized), and Patent Law (7 attorneys recognized).

Calfee is named the “Top-Listed” firm in Cleveland in Insurance Law (4 attorneys recognized), Intellectual Property Law (6 attorneys recognized), Litigation – Intellectual Property (6 attorneys recognized), and Litigation – Patent (7 attorneys recognized).

About Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP is a full-service corporate law firm with 160 attorneys and professionals and five offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Washington, D.C. Calfee serves clients in the Midwest, nationally and globally in the areas of Corporate and Finance, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Energy and Utilities, Estate and Succession Planning and Administration, Government Relations and Legislation, Intellectual Property, Investment Management Law, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Real Estate Law. Calfee has been recognized as a leading law firm by the Chambers USA 2024 Legal Guide in Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate/M&A, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Government Relations: State & Local, Insurance: Policyholder, Intellectual Property, Investment Funds: Regulatory & Compliance, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, and Real Estate Law and by Chambers High Net Worth 2024 Guide in Private Wealth Law. A founding member of Lex Mundi, Calfee offers international representation through a network of independent law firms with access to 22,000 attorneys located in more than 125 countries. Additional information is available at Calfee.com.

About Best Lawyers

For 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. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.

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. Our awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice; only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.