Best Lawyers in America for Municipal Law

Mark Piontek is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law. Mark, who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lee Birchall’s practice focuses on public finance in Alabama, where he serves as bond counsel to cities, counties, utilities, school boards, and various other types of governmental entities that issue tax-exempt and taxable securities. He also represents cities and counties in negotiations with private developers for economic development transactions. In addition to representing public bodies, Lee has experience serving as counsel to underwriters, trustee banks and commercial banks in t...

James R. Brown concentrates his law practice in municipal law and real property law. He represents many townships, villages, cities and other municipal bodies throughout West Michigan and elsewhere in the state. His law practice has a particular emphasis in the representation of townships, and he serves as general counsel for a large number of townships in Kent County and in surrounding counties. Jim is also an experienced township official, having served for 25 years as chairperson of the Gr...

Michael P. Clarke is dedicated to representing townships, water and sewer authorities, school districts, and other governmental entities across Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Lycoming Counties in Pennsylvania. At Clarke Gallagher Barbiero Amuso & Glassman Law, located in Trevose, he focuses on municipal law, leveraging a broad range of experience gathered over years of practice. Before joining the firm, Michael gained significant experience at a litigation firm in Philadelphia, where he...

Area of Emphasis Mr. Lucas has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America ® for Land Use and Zoning and Municipal Law since 2007; Litigation – Land Use and Zoning since 2011; and Energy Law since 2015. He was also named the Best Lawyers ® 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Litigation – Land Use and Zoning “Lawyer of the Year,” 2013, 2015 and 2024 Municipal Law “Lawyer of the Year,” 2014 and 2018 Land Use and Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Ye...

James K. White has specialized in municipal finance since his graduation from Northwestern University Law School in 1976. He has served as bond counsel for numerous Michigan townships, villages, cities, counties and public authorities. Born in Jackson, Michigan, and raised in Grand Rapids, he is a magna cum laude graduate of Albion College. Jim has assisted clients with all aspects of financing public capital improvement and infrastructure projects including public buildings, roads, sanitary ...

Virginia Wong is co-head of the firm’s Infrastructure Finance team and a member of the firm’s Public Finance and Project Finance practice groups. Mrs. Wong represents both issuers and underwriters in a full range of transactions including public offerings and private placements and, in particular, project bond transactions and tax-exempt revenue bond financings. What do you focus on? My practice focuses on capital markets transactions involving infrastructure and transportation as...

Area of Emphasis Harley Stone is of counsel in Babst Calland’s Public Sector and Energy and Natural Resources groups. He provides a wide range of services to municipal governments, authorities, and private developers, with an emphasis on municipal permitting, planning, land use, and zoning. A seasoned trial lawyer, Mr. Stone has many years of experience as a litigator in the areas of municipal law, employment law, eminent domain, and tax assessment appeals. Mr. Stone has represented pub...

Trey Byars has successfully tried cases to verdict ranging from simple automobile accidents to complex products liability and insurance disputes. In recognition of his trial skills, Trey has achieved membership by invitation to such prestigious organizations as the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. In addition to his litigation practice, Trey is actively involved in several legal organizations that focus on competence and professionalism in the ...

Chris Smith is a Shareholder and co-Chair of the Real Estate Section at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. He focuses his practice on real estate development, eminent domain and property tax. He has significant experience in all phases of real estate development with a particular emphasis on drafting and negotiating development agreements, Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and public-private partnerships. He represents both public and private entities on eminent domain matters and property tax assessm...

Stephen D. Rees, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law, Municipal Law and Real Estate Law. Stephen D., who practices law in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Daniel Krisch is a leading appellate advocate and skilled trial practitioner who represents a wide variety of corporate, institutional and individual clients during all stages of litigation. Prior to joining the firm in 2012, Daniel was a partner at a boutique appellate firm in Hartford. He began his career in 1999 as law clerk to former Chief Justice Ellen Peters on the Connecticut Supreme Court. Daniel has argued over forty appeals before the Connecticut Supreme and Appellate Courts, and ha...

Natalie practices municipal, environmental, land use and administrative law and represents both public and private clients. Before joining the firm, she served as Associate Corporation Counsel for the City of Portland for 10 years. Natalie graduated from Bowdoin College, with departmental honors in Romance Languages. She received her law degree from the University of Maine School of Law. She has made presentations on municipal and land use issues at seminars sponsored by the Maine State Bar A...

Robert A. Buchanan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law. Robert A., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William P. Prowell is an Attorney and Senior Vice President at S&I whose work focuses on real estate, business transactions, historic tax credit, zoning and banking. Bill is listed in the Best Lawyers in America for Land Use & Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Bill is listed and ranked for real estate in The Chambers USA Guide. Bill serves on the Board for St. Luke’s Hospital and the Iowa Health System Board as Chair of the Investment Committee. Bill formerly served on the Advisor...

Ronald J. Brown is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law. Ronald J., who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ronald J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.