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Eight JAMS Panelists Named Best Lawyers’ “Lawyers of the Year;” 53 JAMS Panelists Recognized as 2018 Best Lawyers in America

JAMS Neutrals selected as "Lawyers of the Year" and Best Lawyers in America for 2018 by Best Lawyers

Panelist News Awards

Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide, is proud to announce that eight of its panelists were selected as Lawyers of the Year and 53 of its panelists were recognized by Best Lawyers as 2018 Best Lawyers in America.

  • Philip L. Bruner, Esq. was named the Best Lawyers’ 2018 Minneapolis Construction Law “Lawyer of the Year;”
  • Richard Chernick, Esq. was named the Best Lawyers’ 2018 Los Angeles Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year;”
  • Terrence Lee Croft, Esq. was named the Best Lawyers’ 2018 Atlanta Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year;”
  • Robert B. Davidson, Esq. was named the Best Lawyers’ 2018 New York Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year;”
  • Bruce A. Edwards, Esq. was named Best Lawyers’ 2018 San Francisco Mediation “Lawyer of the Year;”
  • Lawrence R. Mills, Esq. was named the Best Lawyers’ 2018 Seattle Arbitration “Lawyer of the Year;”
  • Cecilia H. Morgan, Esq. was named Best Lawyers’ 2017 Arbitration Dallas/Fort Worth “Lawyer of the Year;” and
  • Scott J. Silverman (Retired Judge, 11th Circuit) was named the Best Lawyers’ 2018 Miami Mediation “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.  Additional recognitions are also awarded to individual attorneys with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Only one attorney is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location. The 24th edition of The Best Lawyers in America includes more than 50,000 attorneys in nearly 150 practice areas, covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and inclusion in the publication is based on more than 4.3 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.

JAMS is honored that the legal community has recognized so many of our panelists. We are very proud of all the neutrals who made this year’s Best Lawyers list.

-Chris Poole, JAMS President and CEO

The following JAMS neutrals were recognized as 2018 Best Lawyers in America:

  • James M. Amend, Esq.
  • 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.
  • Terrence Lee Croft, 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.
  • Patricia K. Gillette, Esq.
  • Joan C. Grafstein, Esq.
  • Hugh E. Hackney, Esq.
  • John W. Hinchey, Esq.
  • F. Carlton King, Jr., Esq.
  • Eleissa C. Lavelle, Esq.
  • Hon. Richard A. Levie (Ret.)
  • Ralph B. Levy, Esq.
  • Hon. Harlan A. Martin (Ret.)
  • James E. McGuire, Esq.
  • Lawrence R. Mills, Esq.
  • Cecilia H. Morgan, Esq.
  • William H. Needle, Esq.
  • Hon. Stephen E. Neel (Ret.)
  • Hon. Edward A. Panelli (Ret.)
  • Albert M. Pearson III, Esq.
  • Lawrence W. Pollack, Esq.
  • Alexander S. Polsky, Esq.
  • Clarence L. Pozza, Jr., Esq.
  • Ronald B. Ravikoff, Esq.
  • Hon. James Robertson (Ret.)
  • Deborah Crandall Saxe, Esq.
  • Hon. Scott Silverman, (Ret.)
  • Linda R. Singer, Esq.
  • Jerry Spolter, Esq.
  • Hon. Steven J. Stone (Ret.)
  • Hon. Dennis M. Sweeney (Ret.)
  • Hon. Dickran M. Tevrizian (Ret.)
  • Patricia H. Thompson, Esq.
  • 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. James Ware (Ret.)
  • Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.)
  • Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.)
  • Hon. Rebecca Westerfield (Ret.)
  • Michael D. Young, Esq.

*Hon. Howard S. Chasanow (Ret.) – 1937-2017

Featured People

Philip L. Bruner, Esq.
  • Arbitration
  • Construction
  • Energy Utility
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Governmental Public Agency
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Professional Liability
  • Surety
Richard Chernick, Esq.
  • Arbitration
  • Business Commercial
  • Construction
  • Construction Defect
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Federal Law
  • Governmental Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Terrence Lee Croft, Esq.
  • Agribusiness
  • Antitrust
  • Appellate
  • Arbitration
  • Aviation
  • Banking
  • Business Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Environmental
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Franchise
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
  • Telecommunications
  • Training Teaching
Robert B. Davidson, Esq., FCIArb
  • Arbitration
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Securities
  • Surety
Bruce A. Edwards, Esq.
  • Arbitration
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment Law
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Environmental
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
Lawrence R. Mills, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Employment
  • Environmental
  • Financial Markets
  • Governmental Public Agency
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
Cecilia H. Morgan, Esq.
  • Antitrust
  • Banking
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Energy/Utility
  • Estates/Probate/Trusts
  • Financial Markets
  • Franchise
  • Governmental Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Pharmaceuticals Mass Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Scott J. Silverman
  • Business/Commercial
  • Employment
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Family Law
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross Border
  • Maritime/Admiralty
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Special Magistrate/Disc'y Referee
Hon. Stanley F. Birch, Jr. (Ret.)
  • Appellate
  • Business Commercial
  • Employment
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Environmental
  • Federal Judge
  • Financial Markets
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Securities
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
Zela ''Zee'' G. Claiborne, Esq.
  • Arbitration
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Energy/Utility
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Surety
Hon. Norman S. Fletcher (Ret.)
  • Appellate
  • Arbitration
  • Banking
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action and Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Family Law
  • Governmental Public Agency
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Special Master
David Geronemus, Esq.
  • Arbitration
  • Accounting Finance
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action and Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Environmental
  • Financial Markets
  • Franchise
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
  • Surety
  • Training Teaching
Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Construction
  • Energy & Utility
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Surety
  • Real Property
Joan C. Grafstein, Esq., FCIArb
  • Business Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action and Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Education Schools
  • Employment
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Training Teaching
Hugh E. Hackney, Esq.
  • Antritrust
  • Class Action and Mass Tort
  • Employment
  • Energy Utility
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Family Law
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Pharmaceuticals Mass Torts
F. Carlton King, Jr., Esq.
  • Banking
  • Business/Commercial
  • Employment
  • Estates/Probate/Trusts
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
Eleissa C. Lavelle, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Construction Defect
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Estates/Probate/Trusts
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Surety
Hon. Harlan A. Martin (Former)
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Environmental
  • Federal Law
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
  • Surety
James E. McGuire, Esq.
  • Banking
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
Hon. Stephen E. Neel (Ret.)
  • Administrative Law
  • Arbitration
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Environmental
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Special Master/ Discovery Referee
Lawrence W. Pollack, Esq.
  • Antitrust
  • Business/Commercial
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Maritime/Admiralty
  • Professional Liability
Clarence L. Pozza, Jr., Esq.
  • Arbitration
  • Accounting/Finance
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Education/Schools
  • Employment
  • Energy/Utility
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
Ronald Ravikoff, Esq.
  • Antitrust
  • 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
  • Environmental
  • Federal Law
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Training/Teaching
Jerry Spolter, Esq.
  • Agribusiness
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Insurance
  • Maritime/Admiralty
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
Hon. Steven J. Stone (Ret.)
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Pharmaceuticals/Mass Tort
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
Hon. Dickran M. Tevrizian (Ret.)
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Environmental
  • Federal Judge
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Product Liability
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Patricia H. Thompson, Esq., FCIArb
  • Banking
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Surety
R. Wayne Thorpe, Esq.
  • Accounting/Finance
  • Bankruptcy
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Employment
  • Entertainment and 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
  • Arbitration
  • Banking
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Energy/Utility
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Environmental
  • Federal Law
  • Franchise
  • Governmental/Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Indian Law
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • Surety
Hon. Curtis E. von Kann (Ret.)
  • Arbitration
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Environmental
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Governmental/Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Surety
Maria C. Walsh, Esq.
  • Appellate
  • Arbitration
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Governmental/Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury/Torts
Hon. James Ware, (Ret.)
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Employment
  • Environmental
  • Federal Judge
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Personal Injury
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
  • Special Master/Discovery Referee
Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.)
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Environmental
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Maritime/Admiralty
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Pharmaceuticals/Mass Tort
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.)
  • Antitrust
  • Arbitration
  • Aviation
  • Business/Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Education/Schools
  • Employment
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Environmental
  • Federal Judge
  • Financial Markets
  • 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
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Environmental
  • Estates/Probate/Trusts
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Franchise
  • Governmental/Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
Michael D. Young, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Federal Law
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Securities
  • Surety

Media Contact

For further information, please contact:

Kristine Snyder

JAMS Senior Public Relations & Content Manager

+1 949-224-4614 (Direct Dial)

Ksnyder@jamsadr.com

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