Skip to main content
Four JAMS Panelists Named <EM>Best Lawyers</EM> “Lawyers of the Year;” 42 JAMS Panelists Recognized as 2015 <EM>Best Lawyers in America</EM>

Four JAMS Panelists Named Best Lawyers “Lawyers of the Year;” 42 JAMS Panelists Recognized as 2015 Best Lawyers in America

Awards Panelist News

Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide, is proud to announce that four of its panelists were selected as Lawyers of the Year and 42 of its panelists were recognized by Best Lawyers as 2015 Best Lawyers in America.

R. Wayne Thorpe, Esq. was named the Best Lawyers’ 2015 Atlanta Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year;” Eric E. Van Loon was named the Best Lawyers’ 2015 Boston Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year;” Richard Chernick was named the Best Lawyers’ 2015 Los Angeles Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year;” and Hon. John K. Trotter, Jr. (Ret.) was named the Best Lawyers’ 2015 Orange County Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year.”

Best Lawyers compiles its lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive, peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers.  The lawyers honored with “Lawyers of the Year” were selected because they received particularly high ratings from most of their peers. The lawyers have earned a high level of respect among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism, and their integrity. The 21th edition of The Best Lawyers in America includes 50,178 attorneys in 128 practice areas, covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and inclusion in this year’s publication is based on more than 4.3 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.

We are so proud of the talented neutrals who made this list. JAMS is honored that the legal community has selected so many of our panelists for this prestigious list.

- Chris Poole, JAMS President and CEO

The following JAMS neutrals were recognized as 2015 Best Lawyers in America:

  • Hon. William L. Bettinelli (Ret.)
  • Hon. Stanley F. Birch, Jr. (Ret.)
  • Philip L. Bruner, Esq.
  • Hon. Howard S. Chasanow (Ret.)
  • Richard Chernick, Esq.
  • Zela G. Claiborne, Esq.
  • Robert B. Davidson, Esq., FCIArb
  • Bruce A. Edwards, Esq.
  • Sheldon H. Elsen, Esq.
  • Hon. Norman S. Fletcher (Ret.)
  • David Geronemus, Esq.
  • Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq.
  • Joan C. Grafstein, Esq.
  • John W. Hinchey, Esq.
  • F. Carlton King, Jr., Esq.
  • Eleissa C. Lavelle
  • Hon. Richard A. Levie (Ret.)
  • James E. McGuire, Esq.
  • Lawrence R. Mills, Esq.
  • Cecilia H. Morgan, Esq.
  • Hon. Richard C. Neal (Ret.)
  • Hon. Edward A. Panelli (Ret.)
  • Albert M. Pearson III, Esq.
  • Lawrence W. Pollack, Esq.
  • Alexander S. Polsky, Esq.
  • Ronald B. Ravikoff, Esq.
  • Hon. James Robertson (Ret.)
  • Linda R. Singer, Esq.
  • Hon. Scott Silverman (Retired Judge 11th Judicial Circuit)
  • Jerry Spolter, Esq.
  • Hon. Steven J. Stone (Ret.)
  • Hon. Dickran M. Tevrizian (Ret.)
  • R. Wayne Thorpe, Esq.
  • Hon. John K. Trotter, Jr. (Ret.)
  • Eric E. Van Loon, Esq.
  • Hon. Curtis E. von Kann (Ret.)
  • Maria C. Walsh, Esq.
  • Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.)
  • Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.)
  • Hon. Rebecca Westerfield (Ret.)
  • Michael D. Young, Esq.

About JAMS
Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide. With Resolution Centers nationwide and abroad, JAMS and its nearly 300 exclusive neutrals are responsible for resolving thousands of the world’s important cases. JAMS may be reached at 800-352-5267 or www.jamsadr.com.

Featured People

Hon. Stanley F. Birch, Jr. (Ret.)
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Commercial
  • Employment Law
  • Global Engineering & Construction
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury
Philip L. Bruner, Esq.
  • Construction
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Surety
Richard Chernick, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Construction
  • Construction Defect
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Employment Law
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Federal Law
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Personal Injury
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Zela ''Zee'' G. Claiborne, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Environmental Law
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Surety
Robert B. Davidson, Esq., FCIArb
  • Accounting Finance
  • Aviation
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Maritime Admiralty
  • Pharmaceuticals & Mass Torts
  • Product Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Hon. Norman S. Fletcher (Ret.)
  • Appellate
  • Banking
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Family Law
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
David Geronemus, Esq.
  • Accounting Finance
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Financial Markets
  • Franchise Distribution Law
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
  • Surety
  • Training & Teaching
Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Construction
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Surety
  • Real Property
Joan C. Grafstein, Esq., FCIArb
  • Appellate
  • Business Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Education Law
  • Employment Law
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Training & Teaching
F. Carlton King, Jr., Esq.
  • Appellate
  • Banking
  • Business Commercial
  • Employment Law
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
Eleissa C. Lavelle, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Construction
  • Construction Defect
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Surety
Hon. Richard A. Levie (Ret.)
  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Appellate
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Employment Law
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Environmental Law
  • Family Law
  • Federal Law
  • Health Care
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
James E. McGuire, Esq.
  • Banking
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment Law
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
Lawrence R. Mills, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
Cecilia H. Morgan, Esq.
  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Banking
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment Law
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Financial Markets
  • Franchise Distribution Law
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury
  • Pharmaceuticals & Mass Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Lawrence W. Pollack, Esq.
  • Mediation
  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Business Commercial
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Maritime Admiralty
  • Professional Liability
Ronald Ravikoff, Esq.
  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Business Commercial
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Securities
Linda R. Singer, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Employment Law
  • Environmental
  • Federal Law
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Training/Teaching
Scott J. Silverman
  • Business Commercial
  • Employment Law
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Family Law
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Maritime Admiralty
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
Jerry Spolter, Esq.
  • Agribusiness
  • Aviation
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment Law
  • Insurance
  • Maritime/Admiralty
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
Hon. Steven J. Stone (Ret.)
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment Law
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Pharmaceuticals/Mass Tort
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
Hon. Dickran M. Tevrizian (Ret.)
  • Aviation
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment Law
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Environmental
  • Federal Judge
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
R. Wayne Thorpe, Esq.
  • Accounting/Finance
  • Banking
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Employment Law
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Environmental
  • Financial Markets
  • Franchise
  • Governmental/Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
Eric E. Van Loon, Esq.
  • Accounting/Finance
  • Banking
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Energy/Utility
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Environmental
  • Federal Law
  • Franchise
  • Governmental/Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • American Indian Tribal Law
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Hon. Curtis E. von Kann (Ret.)
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Environmental Law
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Personal Injury
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
  • Telecommunications
Maria C. Walsh, Esq.
  • Appellate
  • Business Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment Law
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury
Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.)
  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment Law
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Environmental Law
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Maritime Admiralty
  • Personal Injury
  • Pharmaceuticals & Mass Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.)
  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Aviation
  • Business Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Education Law
  • Employment Law
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Environmental Law
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Federal Law
  • Health Care
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Maritime Admiralty
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Hon. Rebecca Westerfield (Ret.)
  • Accounting Finance
  • Banking
  • Business Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Employment Law
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Environmental Law
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Franchise Distribution Law
  • Governmental & Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
Michael D. Young, Esq.
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Engineering & Construction
  • Entertainment & Sports
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Securities
  • Surety

Media Contact

For further information, please contact:

Kristine Snyder

JAMS Director, Public Relations & Content 

+1 949-224-4614 (Direct Dial)

Ksnyder@jamsadr.com

Scroll to top