59 McDonald Hopkins attorneys recognized in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™

Fifty-nine McDonald Hopkins attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. McDonald Hopkins' Shawn M. Riley, founder of our Strategic Advisory and Restructuring Department, was also selected as one of the "Lawyer of the Year" award winners for his work in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law.

Best Lawyers

West Palm Beach, FL

Peter M. Bernhardt (Recognized in Best Lawyers® since 2011)

• Commercial Finance Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law
• Litigation - Banking and Finance
• Litigation - Construction
• Litigation - Real Estate
• Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Alan M. Burger (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2019)

• Commercial Litigation

Alaina Karsten (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)

• Corporate Law

John T. Metzger (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2005)

• Litigation - Real Estate
• Real Estate Law

Chicago, IL
David A. Agay (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Marc J. Carmel (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Richard Kessler (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2022)

• Commercial Litigation

Nicholas M. Miller (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2023)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

James P. Muraff (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016)

• Patent Law

Benjamin D. Panter (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)

• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

David C. Strosnider (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)

• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Bloomfield Hills, MI
Colin M. Battersby (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)

• Privacy and Data Security Law

John E. Benko (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013)

• Commercial Litigation

James J. Boutrous II (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2012)

• Litigation - Labor and Employment

James J. Giszczak (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2022)

• Commercial Litigation
• Trade Secrets Law

Stephen M. Gross (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Patrick A. Karbowski (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011)

• Litigation - Real Estate
• Real Estate Law

Michael G. Latiff (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013)

• Commercial Litigation

Dominic A. Paluzzi (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)

• Privacy and Data Security Law

Antoinette M. Pilzner (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013)

• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Miriam L. Rosen (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013)

• Employment Law - Individuals
• Employment Law - Management

Cleveland, OH
Chad Arfons (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013)

• Banking and Finance Law
• Real Estate Law

Teresa Metcalf Beasley (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2020)

• Economic Development Law
• Project Finance Law

Richard H. Blake (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016)

• Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Jeffrey P. Consolo (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007)

• Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• Trusts and Estates

Christal L. Contini (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)

• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

David B. Cupar (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016)

• Patent Law

David L. Drechsler (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2012)

• Litigation - Real Estate
• Litigation - Trusts and Estates

David H. Gunning II (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2017)

• Commercial Finance Law
• Real Estate Law

Brian J. Jereb (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007)

• Trusts and Estates

Michael Kaczka (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

David M. Kall (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2014)

• Corporate Law
• Tax Law

Franklin C. Malemud (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2019)

• Commercial Litigation
• Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• Trusts and Estates

Sean D. Malloy (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2012)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Michael J. Meaney (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2014)

• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Scott N. Opincar (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2022)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

John A. Polinko (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Matthew I. Pollack (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)

• Banking and Finance Law

Shawn M. Riley (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006, 2026 Lawyer of the Year)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Michael G. Riley (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007)

• Trusts and Estates

Jason M. Smith (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2023)

• Banking and Finance Law

James E. Stief (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2013)

• Banking and Finance Law

Elizabeth Sullivan (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)

• Health Care Law

Katherine E. Wensink (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2021)

• Trusts and Estates

John M. Wirtshafter (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2015)

• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

Ones to Watch

West Palm Beach, FL

Craig Distel (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2025)

• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Law Litigation - Construction

Jeffrey S. Haut (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2021)

• Appellate Practice
• Commercial Litigation
• Privacy and Data Security Law

Chicago, IL

Karen Bridges (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2024)

• Commercial Litigation
• Real Estate Law

Megan F. Juel (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2021)

• Labor and Employment Law - Employee
• Securities / Capital Markets Law

Patrick R. O'Meara (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2023)

• Commercial Litigation
• Insurance Law
• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Margaret C. Redshaw (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2024)

Marriam Shah (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2026)

Samuel J. Tallman (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2023)

Bloomfield Hills, MI

Ashley Jericho (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2023)

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Cleveland, OH

Karina R. Conley (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2022)

• Labor and Employment Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

Julia Ross (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2026)

• Labor and Employment Law - Management
• Litigation - Labor and Employment

Adam C. Smith (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2021)

• Commercial Litigation
• Energy Law
• Litigation - Real Estate

Joseph J. Weinberg (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2022)

• Banking and Finance Law
• Corporate Law

Kirstyn Wildey Fritz (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2022)

• Banking and Finance Law
• Public Finance Law Real Estate Law