Best Lawyers in America for Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law

Attorney Erin Joyce has extensive experience in State Bar investigations and disciplinary proceedings, plus over thirty years of civil litigation practice. Erin was admitted in 1990 and practiced for nearly eight years in an intellectual property boutique before joining the Office of Chief Trial Counsel as a prosecutor for the State Bar, from 1997 through 2016. Erin has over twenty-five years of experience handling all aspects of discipline cases against attorneys in State Bar Court, from the...

Wallace is an experienced trial and appellate attorney, with over 60 jury trials in state and federal courts throughout the Southeast, and approximately 100 bench trials, jury trials, and arbitration trials, as well as numerous appeals in the South Carolina appellate courts and the United States Courts of Appeals for the First, Fourth, Sixth, and Eleventh Circuits. His practice involves complex securities, corporate, and intellectual property cases, as well as news media and First Amendment d...

With over 20 years of experience in several areas of commercial litigation, Ronald Israel has focused on representing clients in complex matters. He has represented the State of New Jersey in numerous matters, represented three governors, and litigated serious constitutional issues in both Federal and State courts. In the end, though, Ron knows that his job is to zealously advocate for his clients in the most cost-effective manner possible looking for business solutions, not just litigation. ...

Robert K. Sall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law and Legal Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs. Robert K., who practices law in Laguna Beach, California, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Richard M. Maltz is counsel to the Legal Ethics & Professional Responsibility Group at Frankfurt Kurnit. He has more than 25 years of experience in the professional responsibility field, representing lawyers in disciplinary matters and lawyers and law firms in partnership disputes. He also handles litigation involving professional responsibility issues, fee disputes, law firm disputes, disqualification, sanctions, and problems in the admission process for law graduates. Mr. Maltz served 1...

Willard C. Shih is a shareholder on the Business and Commercial Litigation team at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A., concentrating on professional liability and responsibility litigation and other commercial disputes. In his litigation practice, Mr. Shih represents businesses and individuals in complex commercial disputes, including cases involving corporate and partnership disputes, unfair competition and consumer claims, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and a variety of other matte...

Michael Wiswall is a native Oregonian. He began his legal career at Hart Wagner LLP in 1994, and became a partner of the firm in 1999. For nearly 20 years, Mike’s practice has primarily focused on defending medical malpractice lawsuits throughout the Northwest. Mike also assists hospitals and clinics with pre-litigation evaluations, as well as with their early disclosure and resolution programs. Mike frequently represents physicians, dentists, pharmacists and nurses before state licensi...

Lori Heim is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Litigation - Real Estate and Real Estate Law. Lori, who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lori is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Justin Flint is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law. Justin, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael T. McConnell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Litigation - Health Care, Litigation - Insurance, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Michael T., who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive pee...

Stanley Reed is an attorney who heads Lerch, Early & Brewer's Litigation group in Bethesda, Maryland. His diverse law practice includes the representation of individuals and corporations in complex civil and employment litigation, white-collar criminal defense work, and the representation of lawyers and health care providers in professional responsibility matters. Stan also is noted for his adept handling of politically sensitive cases, grand jury investigations and parallel proceedings. ...

John G. Simon is the founder of The Simon Law Firm, P.C. He received both his undergraduate (1983) and law degree (1986) from Saint Louis University. John handles many types of cases including product liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and commercial litigation. During his career John has obtained more than 150 verdicts and settlements over $1 million, including 15 over $10 million and one over $100 million. On two occasions, John had the highest verdict in the state of Missouri....

Mr. Hille focuses his practice in litigation, with a particular emphasis on trial advocacy. His areas of concentration include insurance, healthcare law, professional liability and ethics, and white-collar criminal matters, including those related to professional ethics. Mr. Hille has extensive trial expertise that encompasses insurance defense and coverage cases, healthcare disputes, professional liability defense, fraud and abuse, and regulatory issues. Mr. Hille’s white-collar experi...

Since the beginning of his career, Geoff has built his reputation as a lawyer’s lawyer. He serves as Osborn Maledon’s General Counsel and represents fellow attorneys in all aspects of the practice of law. For the last 30 years, his practice has split between both litigation and preventative counsel, advising on a regular basis to clients about risk management, professional liability issues, legal malpractice, bar discipline, ethics, and law practice management issues. Geoff has be...

Ellen L. Maxwell-Hoffman is a partner in the Charleston office of Bowles Rice. She concentrates her practice in the areas of general corporate and commercial law, including acquisitions and finance, corporate governance, compliance programs and training, business ethics and economic development. She frequently provides legal counsel regarding the West Virginia Governmental Ethics Act, federal and state election law, in particular as to the administration and operation of political action comm...

Thomas P. Owen, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Litigation, Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, Litigation - Real Estate and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Thomas P., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in...