Best Lawyers® - Purely Peer Review™
by Their Peers
Celebrating the 2027 Best Lawyers Honorees Across Australia, Japan & Singapore
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"Lawyer of the Year" Honorees {{Geolocation}}
Troy Terakedis counsels clients on federal income tax matters and in the structuring and formation of venture capital, leveraged buyout and other private equity funds, as well as other business entities. He also advises on partnership, limited liability company and general corporate law. In addition, Troy works with closely-held businesses, their owners, and other high-net worth individuals and executives, advising them on federal income tax, corporate succession, estate and gift tax and asse...
Scott Friedman is an OSBA Board Certified Specialist in Family Relations Law. Mr. Friedman is also licensed to practice law in the State of Florida. Mr. Friedman was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and attended The Columbus Academy. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Miami University and his Juris Doctorate from Capital University Law School, where he was honored with the Order of the Curia. Scott served as President Chair of the American Bar Association Family Law Section for 2013-2014 ...
David P. Meyer is the founder and managing principal of the Meyer Wilson Werning law firm. David is a financial fraud attorney with more than twenty-five years’ of experience in federal and state trial courts and arbitration cases, representing clients from all over the world. David has the honor of winning a record-breaking $261 million class action jury verdict against Prudential Securities on behalf of 200 retirees. David filed the class action lawsuit back in 1999 when he was 29 yea...
Joseph R. Durham is a member of Eastman & Smith and has represented cities, counties, local health districts, solid waste management districts, townships and villages in environmental law and litigation and public health law. Mr. Durham has represented clients before the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Review Appeals Commission, Ohio Department of Commerce, Ohio Board of Pharmacy, Ohio Real Estate Commission, county boards of revision (real e...
Courtney Hanna is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Litigation - Real Estate. Courtney, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Courtney is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Matthew R. Wilson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Matthew R., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
James E. Arnold is recognized as one of Ohio's top trial lawyers. He was recognized by Best Lawyers as Central Ohio's "Securities Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2012, as the "Bet-The-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2013, 2016, 2021, 2024 and 2026, and as the "Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2014. Since 2001 he has consistently been recognized by Best Lawyers in multiple fields, including bet-the-company, personal injury (plaintiffs and defense), commercial...
Peter W. Hahn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Peter W., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Peter W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jane Higgins Marx joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in August 2000 and practices estate and business planning, probate, probate litigation, business succession planning and elder law. Jane counsels individuals, business owners, executives and caregivers on matters of estate planning, estate and gift taxation, income taxation of trusts and estates, charitable giving, business succession and probate. She provides comprehensive planning for disability, including counseling on special needs...
Marc J. Kessler is an experienced trial lawyer who is widely regarded as one of the nation’s preeminent business litigators. He has extensive experience with large scale, “bet-the-company” matters and is widely recognized for his ability to handle the most complex and critical litigation issues . Marc’s expertise includes complex commercial transactions, procurement, healthcare, trade secrets and non-competition, product liability, business torts, real estate, intellec...
Lawyers {{Geolocation}}
Matthew S. Bailey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Matthew S., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Christopher Trolinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Christopher, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Paul-Michael La Fayette is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law. Paul-Michael, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paul-Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Part of the White Collar Crime and Investigations Practice Group, Mr. Long has represented businesses, business professionals, public officials, medical professionals and educators in matters involving fraud, embezzlement, tax controversies, public corruption, regulatory enforcement matters and business litigation. He manages matters in both federal and state courts as well as before government regulatory entities. His experience includes dealing with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Fed...
Tom Metzger is a nationally recognized employment law advisor, litigator, and trainer. With a career spanning over 20 years, he has developed expertise representing employers and executives in connection with covenants-not-to-compete, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulatory and litigation matters, discrimination and retaliation claims, contract disputes, and related workplace matters. Tom represents employers and executi...
Brigid E. Heid regularly advises her clients on matters involving employment and how to cost effectively solve problems that arise. Her practice focuses on the protection of intellectual property and trade secrets from unfair competition, often by utilizing restrictive covenants (including agreements like noncompetition, non-disclosure/confidentiality, non-solicitation and work-for-hire). Resolving employment disputes encompasses matters faced by businesses such as employee discipline, discri...
Janica Pierce Tucker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Education Law, Employment Law - Individuals, Employment Law - Management, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Janica Pierce, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Janica Pierce is held by other top lawyers...
Chris L. Connelly is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice and Public Finance Law. Chris L., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chris L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Geoffrey Kunkler joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in 2014 and has been a Partner since 2018. His practice is centered around estate planning for individuals and business owners, as well as asset protection planning for retirees. He focuses primarily on the areas of estate planning, elder protection, estate administration, charitable and philanthropic planning and special needs planning. He also has extensive experience in conducting educational seminars on legal topics related to his e...
David B. Barnhart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. David B., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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