Best Lawyers in America for Workers' Compensation Law - Employers

Ms. Frances McCracken, a founding Partner of Brown Gren Abraham & McCracken, was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1988 after graduating from the University of Colorado School of Law, where she was a Rothgerber Moot Court finalist and Professorial Assistant teaching appellate advocacy. Ms. McCracken clerked for the late Honorable James M. Robb before joining a Colorado insurance defense firm, where she became a shareholder. For the past 30 years, Ms. McCracken’s practice has concentra...

John Burleson is a member of Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell PLC in Jackson, Tennessee. He has been associated with the firm since earning his law degree, with honors, from the University of Tennessee in 1983. His practice includes representing employers and management in Employment Law matters, Labor and Employment Litigation, and Workers’ Compensation Law for employers. Mr. Burleson is a Rule 31 Listed General Civil Mediator, a designation he obtained in 2013. He is one of a limited...

Tara W. Lockett is a shareholder in the firm’s Mobile (AL) office. Her practice areas include the defense of workers’ compensation claims, retaliation cases, employment claims and premises liability (retail practice). She represents several insurance companies and self-insureds in employment matters in Alabama. Tara earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Alabama and her JD from the University of Alabama School of Law. Tara is a speaker on workers’ co...

Bob Robenalt is a partner in the firm's Columbus office. He represents management in a variety of labor and employment issues, including workers' compensation, employment litigation and traditional labor matters. Bob has defended numerous wrongful discharge, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), workers' compensation and employment discrimination actions in state and federal courts, and has argued in defense of employment actions before the 4th and 6th Circuit Federal Courts. He ha...

D. Brian Scieszinski is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. D. Brian, who practices law in Des Moines, Iowa, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which D. Brian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Frazier is a member of the Birmingham and American Bar Associations; Alabama State Bar (Secretary-Treasurer, 1981-1982, Vice Chairman, 1982-1983, Chairman, 1983-1984, Employment Law Section); and Alabama Bar Institute (Member, Continuing Legal Education, Employment Law Committee and Faculty, 1988 to present). He has been listed in all seven editions of Super Lawyers magazine (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014). Martindale Hubbell, a peer review rating system, has given him an &l...

Kim Burnette is a partner with Arnett, Draper & Hagood, where his practice focuses on tort litigation, product liability, workers’ compensation, mediation, and insurance issues. Kim is an East Tennessee native who received his J.D. degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1985, graduating with honors. Upon graduation, he served a one year judicial clerkship with United States Magistrate Judge John Y. Powers in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Thereafter he returned to Knoxvi...

James A Ford (“Jim”) is an experienced and successful litigator at Elam & Burke, specializing in workers’ compensation, insurance defense, and civil litigation. Since joining the firm in 1987, his dedication and remarkable work have resulted in recognition in the Best Lawyers in America, including Lawyer of the Year in Workers’ Compensation in 2022, and membership in the International Association of Defense Counsel, acknowledgments of his expertise and influence. P...

Matthew I. Hetzel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Matthew I., who practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Clifford B. Ammons, named one of The Best Lawyers in America ® in Workers' Compensation Law, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1978. His experience spans from workers' compensation, medical malpractice defense and nursing home defense to education. His cases of note include Fresenius Medical Care and Continental Cas. Co. v. Woolfolk ex rel. Woolfolk , 920 So. 2d 1024 (Miss. App. 2005); Davis v. Pioneer, Inc. , 834 So. 2d 739 (Miss. App. 2003); and Bates v. Countrybrook Living ...

Nick is a litigator focusing his practice in workers’ compensation defense. He has experience representing businesses, insurance companies, captives, third-party administrators and self-insured employers before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Nick serves on the planning committee for the Annual Medical Conference of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, and places a...

Kevin E. Hess is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Kevin E., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rick is a civil litigation attorney. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1987, at which time he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. He worked as a systems acquisition officer at the Ballistic Missile Organization at Norton Air Force Base until 1992 and last served as the Reentry Systems Launch Program Acquisition Logistics Manager. Upon separation from the Air Force as a captain, Rick attended t...

Pierrette McCalla is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Pierrette, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Pierrette is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert J. Rodriguez is a renowned workers' compensation litigator in the state of Florida as well as the managing equity partner of Miller, Kagan, Rodriguez & Silver , PL. As the managing partner, he provides vision and direction to all firm operations ensuring the firm's highest level of quality client service. In addition, he manages the Fraud Division at MKRS, maintains an active caseload, and is licensed to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle and Northern Dist...

Kelly Morrow is an experienced workers’ compensation attorney and certified mediator with more than twenty years of involvement in South Carolina workers’ compensation matters. Based in Columbia, South Carolina, she represents employers in Workers’ Compensation Law, assisting businesses with claim management, dispute resolution, and compliance within the state’s regulatory framework. Kelly is recognized within the workers’ compensation community for her professio...