Hans G. Poppe

Mike Risley is Co-Chair of the firm’s Appellate Advocacy Group and former Chair of the Louisville office’s Litigation Service Group. A seasoned litigator, Mike frequently appears before both state and federal appellate courts. He also has deep experience in disputes involving insurance bad faith and coverage, ERISA, and commercial and employment-related matters. Mike currently is serving the firm as Louisville Office Executive Member and is a former member of the firm’s Mana...

Mike Herrington is experienced in securities, municipal bonds and corporate related activities. Among his clients is an insurance holding company in its private placement investments of more than $300 million. His recent major representations include insurance companies, public companies, governmental agencies, hedge funds, health care companies, foreign banks, REITs, underwriters, trustees, letter of credit issuers and brokerages. He also has participated in mergers and acquisitions in multi...

David Ratterman is a Senior Member of the firm's Construction Service Group, concentrating his practice on the fabricated structural steel industry in the United States and internationally. His immersion in the construction industry began as a water boy on construction sites at age 10 and evolved through a series of engineering and construction positions with the U.S. Navy, government and private industry. David has been an officer or advisor to 12 industry trade organizations and professiona...

Richard Wehrle is a Member of the firm and is based in the Lexington office. His practice focuses on trusts and estate administration, estate planning and charitable giving, charitable and non-profit organizations, estate and gift taxes, probate, and fiduciary law. He is also a Certified Public Accountant. More Than Stites & Harbison Prior to joining Stites & Harbison, Richard was a partner at Bowles Rice LLP in Lexington, Kentucky, handling trusts and estate planning for eight years....

Brian A. Cromer is the Chair of the firm’s Business & Finance Service Group. He has represented some of the largest companies in the U.S. and the international arena in corporate transactions and legal disputes, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance transactions, venture capital and private equity investments, and corporate governance matters. Brian's broad range of experience includes providing and organizing a variety of legal services for companies at all stages, ...

Zachary VanVactor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Zachary, who practices law in Louisville, Kentucky, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Zachary is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joe Hamilton is a Member of the firm and has been based in the Louisville office since 1986. He is a member of the Business Litigation Service Group, which is home to approximately 60 attorneys and paralegals and is co-chair and co-founder of the firm's 20 member Class Action Defense Practice Group. His practice emphasis is in class action defense and other complex business and business insurance litigation. With regard to his class action defense practice, Mr. Hamilton has been counsel in ov...

Carol Browning is an accomplished trial attorney who has tried more than 35 cases to jury verdict in multiple jurisdictions. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Her practice includes drug and medical device litigation, products liability and medical malpractice defense. She also serves as counsel to physicians and hospitals. Ms. Browning serves as national or state counsel for multiple drug, medical device and product manufacturers and is involved in multi-district litig...

Doug Bates is an experienced trial lawyer who has been with the firm since 1992. He appears in state and federal courts throughout Indiana and Kentucky and has argued both before the Indiana Court of Appeals and the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Bates regularly defends aviation clients, including airlines, major municipal airports, product manufacturers, aircraft mechanics and fixed base operators, and is often asked to speak at national aviation-related seminars. Mr. Bates also represent...

Matthew B. Gay is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Matthew B., who practices law in Louisville, Kentucky, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.