Best Lawyers in America for Administrative / Regulatory Law
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Bob Duplantis has dedicated his entire career to the oil and gas industry. Prior to joining the firm in 1982 and establishing its Lafayette office, Bob spent more than a decade serving in-house oil company legal departments, including six years as a lobbyist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Bob’s law practice focuses on Louisiana oil and gas regulation and “meat-and-potato” legal issues. He routinely argues contract disputes affecting the oil and gas industry, including lease inte...
Caren Beth Nichol is a member of Evans Petree’s Property Tax Group where she litigates commercial property tax appeals before state boards of equalization and state courts. From 2017-2018 she served as President of Evans Petree PC, a full-service law firm founded in 1907 that has grown to include 49 attorneys. Prior to being elected President, Caren served as the firm’s Secretary, as a Director for over 15 years, and as Chair of the Marketing Committee and Litigation Practice Grou...
J.W. previously served as Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation under Governor Ned McWherter. He is a member of Butler Snow’s Regulatory and Government group and his practice includes representation in environmental, public utility, and other regulatory matters.
Valerie T. Herring 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. Valerie T., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Valerie T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
James S. Walsh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Government Contracts and Government Relations Practice. James S., who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Joanne Grimes is a Partner in the firm’s Honolulu Office and is licensed to practice law in Hawaii and Guam. She has over two decades of experience in representing institutional businesses, nonprofit organizations, and private and charitable trusts in matters involving governance, employment & employee benefits, procurement, contracts, proprietary rights protection, fiduciary duties and trust administration. Ms. Grimes is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional and is acti...
Stephen Zubiago represents a variety of middle market clients with a focus on the health care and insurance industries. He advises clients on a range of corporate and regulatory matters. Within the firm, Stephen serves as head of the Business and Finance Department and sits on the firm’s Management Committee. What do you focus on? I represent health care providers on corporate transactions ranging from hospital deals to physician deals. I also advise these providers on regulatory matter...
Robert M. Kallam is a seasoned litigation attorney with more than thirty years of experience representing clients in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels. Based in Lafayette, Louisiana, he is a shareholder at Kean Miller and focuses his practice on Administrative / Regulatory Law and Admiralty and Maritime Law, along with complex civil litigation arising from marine , energy, transportation, and insurance-related matters. He regularly represents companies involved in hig...
Arsima A. Muller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Admiralty and Maritime Law, Corporate Law, Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Arsima A., 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 Arsima A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Clifford B. Ammons, named one of The Best Lawyers in America ® in Workers' Compensation Law, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1978. His experience spans from workers' compensation, medical malpractice defense and nursing home defense to education. His cases of note include Fresenius Medical Care and Continental Cas. Co. v. Woolfolk ex rel. Woolfolk , 920 So. 2d 1024 (Miss. App. 2005); Davis v. Pioneer, Inc. , 834 So. 2d 739 (Miss. App. 2003); and Bates v. Countrybrook Living ...
Vic’s legal and executive management experience centers on governmental innovation, real estate development, environmental stewardship, and construction. He provides clients with legal advice informed by results-oriented leadership in the public sector and private industry, and by a strong scientific and technical background.
Puananionaona P. Thoene is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Environmental Law and Land Use and Zoning Law. Puananionaona P., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Puananionaona P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Matt is a member of the Environmental and Energy Practice Groups. A significant portion of Matt’s practice involves representation of municipalities and private developers in regard to water law matters, including: the permitting, operation and expansion of water supply/treatment/distribution systems and wastewater collection and treatment systems; sewer use ordinance drafting and enforcement including industrial pretreatment programs; stormwater management including ordinance drafting,...
Mr. Kurzban holds J.D. and M.A. Degrees from the University of California, Berkeley and a B.A. with honors from Syracuse University where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He is also an honorary fellow of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law where he was honored for his exemplified signal service to every aspect of the legal profession. He is also the recipient of the Wasserstein Fellowship at Harvard University Law School and was named the 2020 Recipient of the Leonard J. Theberge Award f...
Dean T. Yamamoto is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Energy Regulatory Law and Real Estate Law. Dean T., who practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dean T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.