Best Lawyers in America for Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants
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Joseph H. Varner III is a partner in Holland & Knight's Tampa office and serves on the firm's Directors Committee. Mr. Varner is experienced in complex commercial litigation, business torts, securities litigation, professional negligence, and personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Mr. Varner has litigated complex liability and medical issues ranging from corporate shareholder disputes to wrongful death arising from medical malpractice. He has obtained significant jury verdicts and...
Keith has substantial experience litigating complex commercial matters in a variety of contexts, including business torts, injunctive proceedings, legal malpractice defense, and claims against directors and officers. He has served as lead counsel in the defense of class actions. Additionally, Keith represents broker-dealers and investment professionals in the litigation, arbitration, and regulatory arenas. He has been involved in evidentiary injunctive matters on a broad range of issues, incl...
PRACTICE EMPHASIS & DESCRIPTION Janet Schroer is a partner at Portland, Oregon-based Hart Wagner LLP. Her practice emphasizes civil litigation, including tort, contract, medical and professional malpractice, business and constitutional law, in both the trial and appellate courts, as well as professional licensing matters. Janet frequently serves the firm’s clients in the Oregon Court of Appeals, Oregon Supreme Court, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She also represents her client...
Susan Silva is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Legal Malpractice Law. Susan, who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Caitlyn Shea Malcynsky is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Legal Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Caitlyn Shea, who practices law in West Hartford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Caitlyn Shea is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kristyn K. St. George is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Legal Malpractice Law. Kristyn K., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kristyn K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kellsey Hansen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Health Care Law, Legal Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law. Kellsey, who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kellsey is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic...
Michael J. Bauman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Legal Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law. Michael J., 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 Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Scott J. Kater is a partner at Clifford Law Offices , bringing nearly a decade of litigation and trial experience to the firm’s nationally and internationally recognized catastrophic injury practice. His work strengthens the firm’s ability to advocate for individuals and families seeking accountability from medical providers, institutions, and corporations. Mr. Kater plays a key role in advancing the firm’s mission to hold negligent parties accountable and pursue justice for...
Jonathan B. Koch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Legal Malpractice Law. Jonathan B., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Ellen Geske joined Davis Kelin LLC in January 2023 as an Albuquerque personal injury lawyer and became a Partner in 2026. Her practice focuses on representing plaintiffs in complex civil litigation, including medical malpractice, legal malpractice, catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and insurance bad faith claims. Ellen also handles matters involving appellate practice and insurance law, working with clients across New Mexico who have been harmed by negligence or professional misconduct. Ba...
Patrick M. Bollman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Commercial Litigation and Legal Malpractice Law. Patrick M., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Paige C. Goldberg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Legal Malpractice Law and Professional Malpractice Law. Paige C., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paige C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jenna is an attorney at Mazanec, Raskin & Ryder Co., L.P.A. (MRR Law) with a dynamic practice focused on defense in areas including auto and commercial trucking, personal injury, commercial law, construction litigation, general liability, insurance coverage and bad faith, and professional liability. Prior to joining MRR Law, she spent several years at a litigation firm honing her civil litigation skills, where she defended professionals, including lawyers, in liability matters throughout ...
Sarah Frierson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law and Professional Malpractice Law. Sarah, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sarah is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jesse Basel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law and Professional Malpractice Law. Jesse, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jesse 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.