Best Lawyers in America for Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
State
Mike Vetter is an AV-rated trial lawyer and a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 General Civil Mediator in Spicer Rudstrom’s Nashville office . He is the Chair of the firm’s Products Liability Group, and his practice is also concentrated in property and casualty litigation, construction litigation, insurance coverage, bad faith, auto and uninsured motorist litigation, and premises liability. Mike is licensed to practice in Tennessee, Kentucky, California, and Missouri. A cum laude gr...
Mr. Abraham, a founding Partner of Brown Gren Abraham & McCracken, focuses his practice on representing insurance carriers and employers in workers’ compensation litigation. He prides himself in personally handling each claim in an aggressive manner while not only keeping the client informed of the progress of the case, but in the drivers’ seat throughout the life of the litigation process. This styled approach allows him to be a step ahead of his clients’ opponents and ...
Thomas S. Thornton, III is a shareholder with Carr Allison and a resident in the firm’s Birmingham (AL) office. He is a member of the Birmingham and Alabama State Bar Associations as well as various legal and industry specific organizations. Tommy serves as chair of the firm’s Retail and Hospitality Practice Group. He has focused his litigation practice on the defense of personal injury, premises liability, product liability, transportation, retaliatory discharge, general liabilit...
William E. O'Gara is Managing Principal of Pannone Devereaux & O'Gara LLC, whose practice focuses on employment and labor law and mediating disputes. With over 25 years of experience, Attorney O'Gara has handled a wide range of cases including employment discrimination, wage and hour claims and sexual harassment claims. Attorney O'Gara also assists clients with traditional labor law matters, ranging from contract negotiations to arbitration. As a trusted advisor, Attorney O'Gara works wit...
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...
Joseph H. Driver is a shareholder in Carr Allison’s Birmingham (AL) office. Joe heads up the firm’s Appellate Litigation group. He is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court for the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. In addition to his appellate practice, Joe handles cases involving general liability and workers’ compensation. Joe is a member of the Birmingham and Alabama State Bar Associations ...
Winston L. Page, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Winston L. practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Winston L. Page, Jr. since 1997. 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 Winston L. Page, Jr. is held by other lawyers.
Matthew Pappas is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Matthew practices law in Boise, Idaho Best Lawyers has recognized Matthew Pappas since 2023. 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 Matthew Pappas is held by other lawyers.
Jeff is an experienced workers’ compensation litigator serving the healthcare, hospitality and retail, manufacturing, professional services, and transportation industries among others. Jeff represents employers, third-party administrators and insurers throughout all stages of litigation, including appeals and subrogation lien recovery. Jeff also advises employers on matters involving employment discrimination and harassment, employee discipline and termination, workplace safety and OSHA...
Mr. Eckels devotes his practice to the defense of employers and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation and Longshore claims. He practices throughout Florida and Georgia in the workers’ compensation context, while his longshore and Defense Base Act practice extends nationwide. He handles all facets of workers’ compensation and longshore claims from the initial reporting of an accident and its investigation, including site visits, through the discovery process to trial, a...
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...
Former Commissioner Derrick L. Williams is one of the youngest-ever to be appointed to the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. He was appointed in March 2007, and he served until January 31, 2013, when he decided to return to private practice. He is responsible for spear-heading the effort to make mediation of workers’ compensation available for complex injury by accident cases in South Carolina. Prior to joining the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commissi...
Ms. Treece, a founding Member of Brown Gren Abraham & McCracken, LLC, is a trial lawyer with over 40 years of litigation experience. Ms. Treece is recognized as one of the premier workers’ compensation defense lawyers in the State of Colorado. Ms. Treece began her legal career as a Deputy District Attorney and as a law clerk to the former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Ms. Treece then gleaned experience in the civil defense arena. She s...
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.
