Melissa Norman Bork

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.

Tom Halbleib is a transactional lawyer with substantial experience representing airport sponsors, governmental agencies and other tax exempt organizations, commercial lenders, and buyers and sellers of assets and businesses. Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications Mr. Halbleib's topics have included Third-Party Legal Opinions in Commercial Transactions (Louisville Bar Association) and Airport Law (Kentucky Aviation Association, Airports Council International, and the American Association...

As a registered professional engineer and attorney, Steven represents owners, contractors, and design professionals in all aspects of the construction and design process. He successfully litigates cases in state and federal courts, and regularly manages the resolution of disputes for clients. Having spent time working as an engineer with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prior to becoming an attorney, Steven continues to maintain in-depth knowledge of the multiple demands placed on owners, ...

Sarah Cronan Spurlock is a member of the firm’s Health Care Service Group and is Co-Chair of the firm’s Privacy & Data Security Group. Sarah regularly advises clients on a wide range of health care and privacy matters, including fraud and abuse laws, physician and hospital contracting, information privacy and security laws, and data breach prevention and response. Her practice includes regulatory and transactional matters and health care litigation. Sarah is a Certified Inform...

Ms. Breetz's practice focuses on both federal and state appellate advocacy, complex commercial litigation, including financial institution, real estate, and trust and estate litigation. She currently serves as co-chair of the firm's Appellate Advocacy group. Recent Assignments Handles a variety of federal and state court litigation and appellate matters for the Kentucky Bar Association and related entities and employees, e.g., Deters v. Herrick, 2020 Ky. Unpub. LEXIS 14 (Ky. 2020); Mischler v...

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....

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...

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...

Ben Sanders is Counsel to the firm where he is a member of the Business & Corporate Services Group. His practice focuses on management buyouts using ESOPs and executive compensation for public and privately held businesses which includes clients in the healthcare and long-term care industry. He has extensive experience in designing and implementing ESOP transactions, executive compensation programs and mergers and acquisitions. Ben spends his time in both the Louisville and Nashville offi...

A senior member of the firm's Torts & Insurance Practice Group, John's national and regional litigation practice focuses on defending complex product liability lawsuits and managing serial litigation. His extensive trial experience includes medical devices, pharmaceuticals, intellectual property, and a variety of personal injury matters. John has tried product liability cases to jury verdicts in eight states. John also maintains an active appellate practice representing appellees, appella...