Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Municipal
State
John G. Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Labor and Employment, Litigation - Municipal and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. John G. practices law in Montgomery, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized John G. Smith since 2017. 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 John G. Smith is held by other lawyers.
John DiLorenzo has authored and been a primary advocate for major legislation in the areas of state and local taxation, with special emphasis on property tax, tort reform, natural resources and economic development. John also assists clients in campaign finance, government ethics, initiatives and referendums, insurance recovery actions, environmental claim responses, appellate cases and a variety of government-related litigation matters.
Gerry Fagan has been practicing as a civil litigator at one of the top Montana law firms since 1998. Gerry is a Montana native who graduated with Honors from the University of Montana School of Law. He has tried over ten jury trial cases throughout Montana, including in Billings, Missoula, and in Great Falls, Montana. He primarily handles the defense of claims for personal injury, product liability, malpractice, employment, and municipal liability. He also handles a wide range of commercial l...
Dennis represents clients in complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on construction matters and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). In addition, his practice is focused in the area of condominium and community association law. Throughout his career, Dennis has served as counsel to numerous national real estate developers, contractors, corporations, and public and private sector entities. He has represented a number of New Jersey municipalities and municipal entities, including one ...
Richard J. Buturla is a senior partner and chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of municipal law, litigation, civil rights defense, transactions involving state and federal agencies, and defending government officials in a variety of contexts. Mr. Buturla’s wide-ranging municipal and governmental law practice encompasses the full range of issues presented to a public institution. He has particular experience dealing with the freedom o...
Thomas M. Hale is an experienced, skilled and effective trial and transactional lawyer who brings a wealth of knowledge to his clients in his practice areas of: Corporate and Transactional Employment and Labor Estate Planning, Administration and Trusts Local Government and Public Utilities Real Estate Professional Liability Litigation Commercial Corporate Municipal Land Use/Zoning He is a solution seeker and problem solver and works hard as an advocate for his clients in an honest, straight-f...
Area of Emphasis Kip Power is a shareholder in the Energy and Natural Resources and Litigation groups of Babst Calland. Mr. Power helps clients comply with environmental laws and defend related litigation while keeping their businesses running profitably. He regularly represents companies when permitting and enforcement disputes arise and prosecutes civil actions and appeals challenging unlawful agency actions. Over the course of his career, he has successfully negotiated favorable resolution...
Attorney Matt Fleming is a shareholder at Murphy Desmond representing both public and private sector clients in municipal law and related areas including land use regulation, property tax assessment, eminent domain disputes, economic development, tax incremental financing, alcohol and other licensing and permitting issues, open meetings and public records law, ordinance drafting, real estate, special assessments and general litigation. Matt is an established presenter on municipal law issues....
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...
JAMES B. HADDOW was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on June 25, 1959. He is admitted to practice in Maine, the United States District Court for the District of Maine, the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is the author of The Evolution of the Maine Law of Attachment on Ordinary and Trustee Process, 7 Me. Bar Journal 2 (1992), and Legal Is...
Jim Swanson was among Fishman Haygood’s founding partners in 1996. He served as the firm’s Managing Partner for 16 years, and he is the current Chair of its board of directors. As a commercial trial lawyer, Jim has particular experience in securities litigation, domestic and international arbitration, environmental litigation, and general commercial matters. Jim has handled numerous cases in which clients have received multimillion-dollar recoveries. Noteworthy matters include a j...
Chad Arnette is a partner in the firm's Litigation section. His practice is focused on complex business disputes and litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout Texas and across a variety of industries. Chad represents corporate and individual clients in matters involving commercial litigation, labor and employment disputes, antitrust litigation, municipal litigation, real estate disputes, healthcare matters, oil and gas litigation, and tax-related controversies. He works with c...
Jimmie Percy is a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and serves on the firm’s board of directors. Jimmie has a broad-based litigation practice that encompasses complex litigation involving business and commercial transactions, environmental and toxic torts, catastrophic injuries, police liability, municipal liability, state and local tax issues, as well as all aspects of insurance coverage disputes. He has extensive experience in oil and gas and pipeline-related litigation, includ...
Mr. Sher is a business lawyer whose practice is concentrated in commercial real estate and business and finance law. He also practices in the areas of: commercial litigation, creditors' rights, workouts and foreclosures, commercial bankruptcy, disaster recovery, arbitration and mediation, secured finance and asset based lending. Along with his practice, Mr. Sher is actively involved with many professional and trade organizations, including the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, where he...
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.
