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Two JAMS Panelists Named Best Lawyers’ “Lawyers of the Year;” 57 JAMS Panelists Recognized as 2019 Best Lawyers in America

Two JAMS Neutrals and 57 Panelists recognized in Best Lawyers

Awards Panelist News

Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide, is proud to announce that Best Lawyers has recognized two of its panelists as “Lawyers of the Year” and 57 of its panelists as 2019 “Best Lawyers in America.”

The 25th 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.

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.

  • Hon. Edward Panelli (Ret). was named the Best Lawyers’ 2019 San Francisco Mediation “Lawyer of the Year;”
  • Michael D. Young, Esq. was named the Best Lawyers’ 2019 New York Mediation “Lawyer of the Year.”

We’re very fortunate to have this exceptional group of neutrals on our team. JAMS is honored that the legal community has once again chosen so many of our impressive panelists for this prestigious list.

-Chris Poole, JAMS President and CEO

The following JAMS neutrals were recognized as 2019 Best Lawyers in America:

  • James M. Amend, Esq.
  • Hon. William L. Bettinelli (Ret.)
  • Hon. Stanley F. Birch, Jr. (Ret.)
  • Gary B. Blum, Esq.
  • Philip L. Bruner, Esq.
  • Richard Chernick, Esq.
  • Zela G. Claiborne, Esq.
  • Robert B. Davidson, Esq., FCIArb
  • Charles H. Dick, Esq.
  • Bruce A. Edwards, Esq.
  • Sheldon H. Elsen, Esq.
  • Hon. Norman S. Fletcher (Ret.)
  • David Geronemus, Esq.
  • Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq.
  • Steven R. Gilford, Esq.
  • Patricia K. Gillette, Esq.
  • Joan C. Grafstein, Esq.
  • Hugh E. Hackney, Esq.
  • David G. Heiman, Esq.
  • John W. Hinchey, Esq.
  • Eleissa C. Lavelle, Esq.
  • Hon. Richard A. Levie (Ret.)
  • Ralph B. Levy, Esq.
  • L. Joseph Loveland, Jr., Esq.
  • Hon. Harlan A. Martin (Ret.)
  • James E. McGuire, Esq.
  • Robert A. Meyer, 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 Ravikoff, Esq.
  • Hon. James Robertson (Ret.)
  • Hon. Ronald M. Sabraw (Ret.)
  • Deborah Crandall Saxe, Esq.
  • Hon. Scott Silverman, (Ret.)
  • Linda R. Singer, Esq.
  • Stephen P. Sonnenberg, 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.)
  • Julia T. Waggener, Esq.
  • 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.

Featured People

Michael D. Young, Esq.
  • Bankruptcy
  • 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
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
Gary B. Blum, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
Philip L. Bruner, Esq.
  • Construction
  • Energy Utility
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Governmental Public Agency
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Professional Liability
  • Surety
Richard Chernick, Esq.
  • 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
Zela ''Zee'' G. Claiborne, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Energy/Utility
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Surety
Robert B. Davidson, Esq., FCIArb
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Securities
  • Surety
Charles H. Dick Jr., Esq.
  • Arbitration
  • Antitrust/Competition
  • Business/Commercial
  • Employment Law
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Estate & Real Property
  • Securities
Hon. Norman S. Fletcher (Ret.)
  • Appellate
  • 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
David Geronemus, Esq.
  • 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
  • Appellate
  • 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
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action and Mass Tort
  • Employment
  • Energy Utility
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Family Law
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Pharmaceuticals Mass Torts
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. Richard A. Levie (Ret.)
  • Antitrust
  • Appellate
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Employment
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Environmental
  • Family Law
  • Federal Law
  • Health Care
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Special Master/Discovery Referee
L. Joseph Loveland, Jr., Esq.
  • Antitrust & Competition
  • Banking
  • Business & Commercial
  • Governmental/Public Agency
  • Health Care
  • Intellectual Property
  • Securities
Hon. Harlan A. Martin (Former)
  • Banking
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Environmental
  • Federal Law
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
  • 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
Robert A. Meyer, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Federal Law
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
Lawrence R. Mills, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • 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
Hon. Stephen E. Neel (Ret.)
  • Administrative Law
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Environmental
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Securities
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.
  • 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
Hon. Ronald M. Sabraw (Ret.)
  • Antitrust
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Real Property
  • Securities
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
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
  • Aviation
  • 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.)
  • Aviation
  • 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
  • Appellate
  • Banking
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Engineering and Construction
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Surety
R. Wayne Thorpe, Esq.
  • Accounting/Finance
  • Banking
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.)
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Employment
  • 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
  • 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

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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