Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
State
Robert B. Ireland, III, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2002 and is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in Mississippi and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Robert has handled and assisted with all aspects of litigated matters, through trial and appeal, in both state and federal courts and also in arbitration proceedings. He has also appeared before municipal and county authorities on numerous zoning related matters. Robert has extensive lit...
William W. Merrill, III is a shareholder at Icard Merrill. His nationally recognized practice in land use, planning, transportation and environmental law includes representation of both developers and public sector clients. He has received the "AV" rating, the highest rating available, from Martindale-Hubbell, which is recognized as the most respected source of authoritative and dependable information about members of the legal community and reflects confidential ratings by other lawyers and ...
John Farringer is a trial lawyer focusing on complex business and commercial litigation. He practices in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate level and before administrative agencies. John is also experienced with all forms of alternative dispute resolution, regularly advises clients regarding litigation avoidance and assessment, and is listed as a Rule 31 General Civil Mediator. With over two decades of experience, John has litigated many high-stakes and high-profile matt...
A. Bernard “Bernie” Bays is a Director of the firm. Mr. Bays has over 50 years of experience and has successfully represented clients in numerous landmark Hawaii litigation cases and over 150 trials or arbitrations. Mr. Bays focuses his practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation, business litigation, real estate litigation, trusts and estates litigation, legal malpractice law-defendant litigation, real estate law and land use and zoning law. Mr. Bays is Board Certified...
Kenneth B. Bley is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning and Real Estate Law. Kenneth B. practices law in Los Angeles, California Best Lawyers has recognized Kenneth B. Bley since 1995. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Kenneth B. Bley is held by other lawyers.
R. Clark Morrison is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Natural Resources Law and Real Estate Law. R. Clark practices law in San Francisco, California Best Lawyers has recognized R. Clark Morrison since 2007. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which R. Clark Morrison...
Lisa Gilbreath is a partner in the Environmental, Land Use, and Energy Infrastructure Development, Acquisition & Financing practice groups. Lisa works on a wide variety of environmental and energy matters, offering clients strategic advice in regulatory, legislative, and judicial proceedings. In her environmental practice, Lisa assists clients with numerous issues including energy project development permitting, energy and environmental litigation, air quality legislative and regulatory a...
John L. Arnold is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Finance Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning and Real Estate Law. John L. practices law in Concord, New Hampshire Best Lawyers has recognized John L. Arnold since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the profe...
Robert Volpe is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation - Land Use and Zoning and Real Estate Law. Robert practices law in Tallahassee, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Robert Volpe since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Robert Volpe is held by other lawyers.
Mr. Hardy’s areas of practice include: civil litigation, insurance defense, business litigation, formation & licensing; real estate; administrative & regulatory law; campaign & election law; First Amendment & defamation; legislative affairs; intellectual property; constitutional law and eminent domain. Mr. Hardy returned to Marquis Aurbach after serving as vice president and general house counsel for a prominent firearms group. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Hardy served...
Edward L. Bleynat, Jr. began his legal career by clerking for James G. Exum, Jr., then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. Cutting hsi trial teeth at a major Greensboro business litigation firm. In 1995, Ed relocated to Asheville, to continue his law practice and to raise his family in Western North Carolina where he grew up. Ed and Joe Ferikes merged their practices into Ferikes & Bleynat, PLLC in 2001. Ed is actively involved in a variety of church, civic, and comm...
Joshua E. Kimerling is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Land Use and Zoning. Joshua E. practices law in White Plains, New York Best Lawyers has recognized Joshua E. Kimerling since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Joshua E. Kimerling is held by other lawyers.
William K. Fahey is a Michigan lawyer serving public utilities and municipalities for more than 32 years. He represents electric and natural gas utilities in administrative, regulatory, commercial and appellate matters, and has been involved in nearly every major matter affecting Michigan public utilities over the last three decades. Mr. Fahey has represented more than 100 Michigan municipalities throughout Michigan, both as municipal attorney and as special counsel, principally handling muni...
Richard Richter is a Member of the Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein & Hilbert law firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. His practice primarily includes real estate law, construction and development, zoning and regulatory matters, governmental relations, commercial finance and business transactions. Mr. Richter has an educational background in engineering and in law. He attended Tulane University and received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Degree (BSCE) in 1968. He pursued graduate E...
Ms. Hagerman’s practice focuses on employment litigation and complex commercial litigation, with a particular emphasis on matters pending in federal court. She has represented clients in cases involving employment discrimination, wage and hour class actions, civil rights, products liability, insurance coverage and numerous areas of commercial law. Ms. Hagerman also advises clients on a variety of employment matters including non-solicitation and non-competition agreements, employee hand...
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.
