Seven JAMS Panelists Named “Lawyers of the Year” and 57 Recognized As “Best Lawyers in America” by Best Lawyers®

Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers^® has recognized seven of its neutrals as “Lawyers of the Year” and 57 of its neutrals as “Best Lawyers in America” for 2021.

The Best Lawyers in America^© is a product of the collaborative efforts of Best Lawyers^® and U.S. News & World Report to conduct 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 selected 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 following JAMS neutrals were honored as Best Lawyers^® “Lawyers of the Year” for 2021:

Jeffrey G. Benz, Esq., was named “Lawyer of the Year” for arbitration in Los Angeles.

Hon. William L. Bettinelli (Ret.) was named “Lawyer of the Year” for arbitration in San Francisco.

Gary B. Blum, Esq., was named “Lawyer of the Year” for ethics and professional responsibility law in Denver*.

Clarence L. Pozza, Jr., Esq., was named “Lawyer of the Year” for litigation in Detroit.

Scott J. Silverman (Ret.) was named “Lawyer of the Year” for mediation in Miami.

Hon. Rebecca Westerfield (Ret.) was named “Lawyer of the Year” for mediation in San Francisco.

Michael D. Young, Esq., was named “Lawyer of the Year” for arbitration in New York City.

We are incredibly proud that the legal community continues to acknowledge and appreciate the work our panelists do. Congratulations to all our panelists. They are very deserving of this recognition.

- Chris Poole, JAMS President and CEO

The following JAMS neutrals were recognized as “Best Lawyers in America” for 2021:

Jeffrey G. Benz, Esq.

Hon. William L. Bettinelli (Ret.)

Hon. Stanley F. Birch, Jr. (Ret.)

Gary B. Blum, Esq.*

Philip L. Bruner, Esq.

Richard Chernick, Esq.

Steven C. Choquette, Esq.*

Zela G. Claiborne, Esq.

Terrence Lee Croft, Esq.

Robert B. Davidson, Esq., FCIArb

Charles H. Dick, Jr., Esq.

Bruce A. Edwards, 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.)

L. Joseph Loveland, Jr., Esq.

Hon. Harlan A. Martin (Former)

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.)

Andrew D. Ness, Esq.

Hon. Edward A. Panelli (Ret.)**

Lawrence W. Pollack, Esq.

Clarence L. Pozza, Jr., Esq.

Ronald B. Ravikoff, Esq.

Hon. Ronald M. Sabraw (Ret.)

Deborah Crandall Saxe, Esq.

Scott J. 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 H. Weinstein (Ret.)

Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.)

Hon. Rebecca Westerfield (Ret.)

Michael D. Young, Esq.

About JAMS – Local Solutions. Global Reach.

Founded in 1979, JAMS is the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution services worldwide. JAMS successfully resolves and manages business and legal disputes by providing efficient, cost-effective and impartial ways to overcome barriers at any stage of conflict. JAMS offers customized dispute resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, top-notch facilities and highly trained panelists.

With a roster of over 400 neutrals and 28 locations, JAMS resolves thousands of the world’s important cases every year. JAMS also offers remote dispute resolution through videoconferencing and other platforms. JAMS neutrals are adept at managing the resolution process whether they are conducting in-person or virtual hearings.

More information is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn and our JAMS ADR blog.

* This panelist is with the JAMS Denver office, which is a licensee office.

** This panelist has retired from the JAMS panel.