Niels de Ru

Victor Afanador is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: General Practice. Victor, who practices law in Newark, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Victor is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Contis is a shareholder in the firm’s Business Practice Group, and Real Estate Practice Group. Mr. Contis concentrates his practice in the areas of, real estate acquisition and development, construction, mortgage and end-loan lending, participation loans, commercial and industrial leasing for landlords and tenants (including master leases, ground leases and subleases) and business planning. Mr. Contis regularly works with lenders, owners and court appointed receivers in the sale of ...

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....

John Beisner is the leader of Skadden’s Mass Torts, Insurance and Consumer Litigation Group. He focuses on the defense of purported class actions, mass tort matters and other complex civil litigation in both federal and state courts. He also regularly handles appellate litigations and has appeared in matters before the U.S. Supreme Court. Over the past 25 years, he has defended major U.S. and international corporations in more than 600 purported class actions filed in federal courts and...

James D. Kallstrom is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. James D., who practices law in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kerrin Slattery is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Chicago office. Kerrin is the partner-in-charge of the Health Industry Advisory practice in Chicago. Kerrin maintains a general health industry practice, focusing on the representation of hospitals and health systems and other health industry providers and investors. She has significant experience in all aspects of health law transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, affiliatio...

Wil Yamamoto is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law and Utilities Law. Wil, who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Wil is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Katherine D. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Katherine D., who practices law in Reston, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen B. Crain is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities. Stephen B., who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bob Wellen, a partner of the firm, has practiced tax law for nearly 35 years. His practice involves planning, structuring and negotiating business transactions and representing taxpayers seeking private letter rulings from IRS and tax policy determinations from IRS and the Treasury Department and in controversies with IRS. He also serves as an arbitrator and as an expert witness in commercial disputes involving tax issues. Bob grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. He graduated from Yale College...