Robert Smits

Evan Gourvitz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Evan, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Evan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Benedict Phillips—known as Ben Phillips for all his life—received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Davis, and his Juris Doctor degree from Chapman University School of Law. Mr. Phillips is a Certified Family Law Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization, and rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale Hubbell—the highest rating attainable for legal ability and professional ethics. Mr. Phillips practices exclusively fam...

M. Trevor Lyons, a partner in the firm, has devoted his entire career to representing employers, including privately owned businesses, international corporations, non-profit organizations and institutions of higher education. He has extensive experience in defending employers in litigation and providing pro-active and preventative strategic counseling to his clients on a wide array of personnel and benefit issues. He is a featured speaker nationally and regionally on numerous traditional and ...

Leads the firm's innovation in organizing and prosecuting individual class cases across many states involving the same defendants and similar factual and legal issues, an approach that continues to be a key factor in the firm's success. CURRENT ROLE Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP Practice focuses on multi-state and nationwide class actions and complex commercial litigation encompassing securities and finance, consumer, antitrust, insurance and products Diverse experience in most of the firm&...

J. René Toadvine maintains a nationwide practice that focuses on representing management in all facets of employee benefits matters, including: Employee benefits tax issues The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and benefits planning Executive compensation Employee benefits in mergers and acquisitions Bank finance and ERISA issues in securitizations René designs and drafts all types of employee benefits and executive compensation plans with adherence to compliance r...

Philip A. Tortoreti is a shareholder in the Mass Tort/Class Action group at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. For over 40 years, Mr. Tortoreti has represented hundreds of mesothelioma victims. In addition, he has helped thousands of asbestos disease victims and advocated for their rights in New Jersey, making him one of the state’s pioneers in the area of asbestos litigation. Fighting for mesothelioma and other asbestos disease victims remains Mr. Tortoreti’s professional missi...

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...

Andrew J. Velcoff focuses his practice on entertainment, intellectual property and media law. His practice includes a wide range of institutional and individual entertainment and media clients, including broadcast and cable networks, film and television production companies, marketing companies, on screen talent, writers, and other clients involved in the development, production, acquisition, financing, marketing and distribution of content for motion pictures, television, video, the Internet...

Nathan L. Buller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Nathan L., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nathan L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Susan Holden is a partner and shareholder in the law firm of SiebenCarey where she has spent her career representing clients in a variety of complex personal injury and wrongful death claims. She focuses her practice in cases involving trucking and automobile accidents, product defects, construction accidents, medical malpractice, and class action matters involving privacy and data breaches. Susan's practice also includes serving as an ADR neutral, either arbitrator or mediator, hired by othe...