Taft is pleased to announce that 165 attorneys were recognized in the sixth edition of Best Lawyers^® “Ones to Watch” 2027. This recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice. Best Lawyers^® “Ones to Watch” honorees typically have been in practice for five to nine years.

Following are the Taft honorees:

Atlanta, Georgia

• Meredith McClure Barrett, Labor and Employment Law – Employee
• Kierre Elvington*, Corporate Law
• John Green, Real Estate Law
• Nathan Miles, Commercial Litigation
• Brian Patterson, Real Estate Law
• Marcus Sandifer, Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Mark D. Stern, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Justin C. Vine, Real Estate Law
• Daniel H. Weigel, Commercial Litigation
• Samuel Wesley, Insurance Law

Chicago, Illinois

• Keanen Armour, Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law
• Liz L. Butler, Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Carly A. Chocron, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Paul J. Coogan, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation
• Stephen M. Cramarosso, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Adam W. Decker, Commercial Litigation
• John Kenny, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Tax Law
• Nicollette L.K. Roggeveen, Commercial Litigation, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Samyoul Kim, Banking and Finance Law
• John C. McDonnell, Real Estate Law
• Benjamin S. Morrell, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Andrew S. Murphy, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Jessica N. Quintero, Trusts and Estates
• Jaimin H. Shah, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law
• Akshita Singh, Administrative / Regulatory Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Caroline E. Thee, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Thibault Vieilledent, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Abe K. Wehbi, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
• Elizabeth Winkowski, Commercial Litigation
• Annie Xie, Real Estate Law

Cincinnati, Ohio

• Spencer S. Cowan, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation
• Michael T. Lasonczyk, Immigration Law
• Trevor M. Nichols, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Mira Aftim, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Nathan R. Altstadt*, Corporate Law
• Ina Avalon, Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Environmental Law
• Joshua Bass, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
• Michael D. De Matteis, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
• Nathan Fulmer, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
• David Haba, Real Estate Law
• Kelsey Hughes-Blaum, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Litigation
• Javier Lopez, Banking and Finance Law
• Jack Maib, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities
• Lauren A. Kemp, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
• Abigail Thederahn, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Anthony Tomusko, Patent Law
• Amanda Wager, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• David Washbush, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law

Cleveland, Ohio

• Mira Aftim, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Ina Avalon, Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Environmental Law
• Joshua Bass*, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
• Michael D. De Matteis, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
• David J. Haba, Real Estate Law
• Kelsey Hughes-Blaum, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Litigation
• Javier Lopez*, Banking and Finance Law
• Jack Maib, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities

Colorado Springs, Colorado

• Taylor Huse*, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law
• John Melcon, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Nonprofit / Charities Law
• Elaine Nolen, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Columbus, Ohio

• Benjamin Adkins, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law
• Joseph P. Guenther, Construction Law
• Lauren A. Kemp, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
• Rachel A. Smoot, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent
• Lauren A. Stenger*, Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law
• Abigail M. Thederahn, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Anthony Tomusko*, Patent Law
• Amanda Wager, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• David Washbush*, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law

Covington, Kentucky

• Kenneth A. Foisy, Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Kevin Imhof,Insurance Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates

Dayton, Ohio

• Zachary Eddy, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
• Kristin H. Hardy, Intellectual Property Law
• Matthew Hauer, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• JP Jarecki, Commercial Litigation
• Jordan Jennings, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Privacy and Data Security Law
• Christopher M. Wolcott, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Litigation

Denver, Colorado

• Alejandro Armelles Bello*, Public Finance Law
• Harshwinder Badhesha, Administrative / Regulatory Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Government Relations Practice, Litigation – Construction
• Allison R. Burke, Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Kathryn DeVries, Family Law, Family Law: Arbitration and Mediation
• Tad Elliott*, Trusts and Estates
• Eliz Espinoza, Family Law
• Ashlyn Fiscus, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
• Erick Franz Hughes, Corporate Law
• Chandler Harr*, Trusts and Estates
• Christopher M. Haws, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates
• Garrett Merville, Public Finance Law
• Bob Neel, Commercial Litigation
• Leah Nelson, Trusts and Estates
• Theodore O’Brien*, Commercial Litigation
• Chelsea Reinhard, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
• Lillian Rigby, Commercial Litigation
• Madeleine Rosengrants*, Family Law
• Morgan Ryan, Trusts and Estates
• Jarissa Sabal*, Trusts and Estates
• Hannah Schuppner, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Ryan T. Shaffer, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Commercial Litigation, Communications Law
• Morgan Steele, Commercial Litigation
• Annie Sturges*, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Allison Takacs, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
• Natalie Whitacre, Family Law

Detroit, Michigan

• Aaron S. Boey, Family Law
• Andrew Creal, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Real Estate
• Ian Evans, Banking and Finance Law
• Benjamin M. Low, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction
• Nicole H. MacWilliams, Trusts and Estates
• Michael L. Pomeranz, Commercial Litigation
• Christopher Richards, Environmental Law
• Vincent C. Sallan, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Maxwell G. Shuart, Corporate Law
• Jacob J. Simon, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Bridget V. Tignanelli, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Venture Capital Law
• Josh Unice, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Indianapolis, Indiana

• Henry D. Alderfer, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Thomas Bemenderfer, Commercial Litigation
• Kelsie Breit, Banking and Finance Law
• Jacqueline Caserio, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Kyle Chambers, Real Estate Law
• Devin P. Claerbout, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Kira A. Crowley, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Mike Etienne, Intellectual Property Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law
• Kristine Gordon, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Environmental
• Vivek R. Hadley, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Environmental Law
• Lauren E. Hicks, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Tax Law
• John Huldin, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
• Adam Mills, Commercial Litigation
• Lorenzo Murillo, Real Estate Law
• Abaigeal F. Musser, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Real Estate
• Jeffrey W. Parker, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Neil Peluchette, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Law
• Jessamine Pilcher, Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law
• Mark Riffle, Real Estate Law
• Cecelia Satterthwaite, Commercial Litigation, Entertainment and Sports Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Transportation Law
• Hayley Sears, Commercial Litigation, Municipal Law
• Tommy B. Sokolowski, Environmental Law
• William Sweet, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental
• Mitch Tanner, Commercial Litigation
• Amelia Trefz, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Megan A. Van Pelt, Corporate Law, Insurance Law, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
• Brittni C. Wassmer, Commercial Litigation
• Brett Wilson, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Benjamin A. Wolowski, Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental

Minneapolis, Minnesota 

• Daniel Andersen, Public Finance Law, Tax Law
• Schaan P. Barth, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Chelsey C. Buck, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Thomas M. Caturia, Land Use and Zoning Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law
• Adam Chandler, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Real Estate
• Alexander J. Christians, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Andrew S. Dosdall, Commercial Litigation, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law
• Jamie L. Erickson, Banking and Finance Law, Project Finance Law, Real Estate Law
• Dion Farganis, Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law – Management
• Blair A. Harrington, Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Andrew T. Howard, Trusts and Estates
• Benjamin Kajer, Banking and Finance Law
• Leah Leyendecker, Corporate Law, Intellectual Property Law
• Leanna Longley, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Hannah Lutz, Intellectual Property Law
• Maren Magill, Public Finance Law
• Tyler Philippi, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
• Yuka Shiotani, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Real Estate
• Brayanna Smith, Commercial Litigation
• Bethany J. Venegoni, Labor and Employment Law – Management
• Blake T. Vettel, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Jordan L. Weber, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Real Estate, Litigation – Securities
• Thomas S. Welty, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Matthew Wolf, Energy Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law
• Alina M. Combs, Corporate Governance and Compliance Law, Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law

Phoenix, Arizona

• Brandon L. Arents, Project Finance Law
• James Camoriano*, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Ashley Cheff*, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Timothy Lauxman*, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Carli Simkin, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Trusts and Estates
• Taylor Huse*, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law
• John Melcon, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Nonprofit / Charities Law
• Elaine Nolen, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Stuart, Florida

• Matthew L. Worsham, Litigation – Trusts and Estates

Washington, District of Columbia

• Matt Carlucci, Corporate Law
• Rebecca Connolly, Commercial Litigation
• Nick C. Duffey, Government Relations Practice
• Jordan L. Fleischer, Government Relations Practice
• Shanellah Verna Harris, Real Estate Law
• Boseul Jeong, Commercial Litigation
• Edward Thomas, Government Relations Practice

Stuart, Florida

• Filiz Akkaya, Commercial Litigation
• Zachary Auspitz, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction

(*) Lawyers who are listed for the first time in Best Lawyers^®: “Ones to Watch.”

About Best Lawyers^®

Best Lawyers^® is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. The Best Lawyers^® lists of attorneys are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. If the votes for an attorney are positive enough for inclusion in Best Lawyers^®, that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain on the list for each edition. Lawyers are not permitted to pay any fee to participate in or be included on the lists.