Sari Laaksonen

Mary Katherine Stukes is head of the firm’s Environmental practice. She advises clients on environmental issues involved in all types of business transactions, as well as regulatory compliance issues and environmental litigation. Ranked in Chambers Partners USA since 2017, clients describe her as a “zealous but practical advocate.” Mary Katherine helps manufacturers, real estate developers, lenders, local governments, and other clients find creative solutions in real estate,...

Sunshine R. Fellows is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Sunshine R., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sunshine R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jonathan D. Stewart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Jonathan D., who practices law in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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

Seth focuses his practice on intellectual property protection, licensing, strategy and disputes, particularly in life sciences and health care. He also handles a range of technology and clinical research transactions, and advises technology transfer programs at academic and health care institutions. Seth served as managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office from 2013–2017, and is co-chair of the firm’s Life Sciences practice. What do you focus on? My practice encompass...

Jonathan E. Kaplan has devoted his entire career to representing management clients exclusively in all areas of labor relations, employment law, and human resources management. His practice spans litigation, training, and consulting, in which he has handled matters in more than 40 states and Canada. Jonathan practices extensively before the NLRB across the country, and also has been admitted specially to practice before the state courts in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mic...

Beattie B. Ashmore is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Beattie B., who practices law in Greenville, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Beattie B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice ...

Ron concentrates his practice in the areas of debtors’ and creditors’ rights, emphasizing both business and consumer insolvency/bankruptcy law, receiverships and out-of-court workouts. Listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 2008, his practice includes the representation of debtors and creditors in all facets of insolvency matters. Businesses and individuals rely upon his counsel in numerous other commercial situations, including transactions and dispute resolution matters, co...

Melissa Hewey is an accomplished litigator with substantial experience across a broad range of practice areas, including insurance defense, school law, higher education law, employment matters, and complex commercial litigation. Melissa has represented a diverse set of clients, such as insurance companies, schools, colleges and universities, municipalities, law firms, hospitals, individuals, and businesses in a variety of industries. Melissa has tried a wide range of cases and argued signific...

Robert R. Hempstead is Chair of the Sills Cummis & Gross Real Estate Finance Practice Group. Mr. Hempstead focuses on the area of commercial real estate finance, including loan workouts and distressed loan purchases, with a strong background in the origination of commercial mortgage loans which are to be securitized in the capital markets. His practice covers a broad spectrum of deal structures and features, such as multi-asset portfolios, multiple classes of debt, mezzanine and other sub...