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Six JAMS Panelists Named 2023 “Lawyers of the Year” and 63 Recognized as “Best Lawyers in America” by Best Lawyers®

Six JAMS Panelists Named 2023 “Lawyers of the Year” and 63 Recognized as “Best Lawyers in America” by Best Lawyers®

Panelists selected by their peers across practice areas and regions for exceptional legal service

Panelist News Awards

Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized six of its neutrals as “Lawyers of the Year” and 63 neutrals as “Best Lawyers in America” for 2023.

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 neutrals honored with the “Lawyers of the Year” designation are selected for their exceptionally high rankings from their peers based on their abilities, professionalism and integrity. Only one individual in a given geographical region and practice area is selected for this recognition each year.

The following JAMS neutrals were honored as“Lawyers of the Year” for 2023:

Jeffrey G. Benz, Esq., for arbitration in Los Angeles

Shelby R. Grubbs for international commercial arbitration in Atlanta

David T. Hamilton, Esq., for eminent domain and condemnation law in St. Louis

Scott J. Silverman (Retired Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Florida) for mediation in Miami

Hon. Dennis M. Sweeney (Ret.) for mediation in Washington, D.C.

Wayne Thorpe, Esq., for mediation in Atlanta

We are thrilled to see this group of neutrals recognized by Best Lawyers® as both ‘Lawyers of the Year’ as well as ‘Best Lawyers in America.’ We are fortunate to have a panel comprised of some of the most hardworking and diligent ADR professionals in the legal industry, and we congratulate each one of these honorees for this outstanding recognition.

- Chris Poole, JAMS CEO

The following JAMS neutrals were recognized as “Best Lawyers in America” for 2023:

Steven M. Bauer, Esq.

Jeffrey G. Benz, Esq.

Hon. William L. Bettinelli (Ret.)

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

Gary Birnberg, Esq.

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.

Charles H. Dick Jr., Esq.

Bruce A. Edwards, Esq.

Joseph P. Farina (Retired Chief Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Florida)

Hon. Norman S. Fletcher (Ret.)

Gary Fowler, Esq.

Fern L. Frolin, Esq.

David Geronemus, Esq.

Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq.

Steven R. Gilford, Esq.

Patricia K. Gillette, Esq.

Joan C. Grafstein, Esq.

Shelby R. Grubbs

Hugh E. Hackney, Esq.

David T. Hamilton, Esq.

David G. Heiman, Esq.

John W. Hinchey, Esq.

Eleissa C. Lavelle, Esq.

Hon. Richard A. Levie (Ret.)

Hon. Harlan A. Martin (Former)

James E. McGuire, Esq.

Robert A. Meyer, Esq.

Lawrence R. Mills, Esq.

Cecilia H. Morgan, Esq.

Hon. Stephen E. Neel (Ret.)

Andrew D. Ness, Esq.

Lawrence W. Pollack, Esq.

Clarence L. Pozza, Jr., Esq.

Ronald Ravikoff, Esq.

Hon. Ronald M. Sabraw (Ret.)

Deborah Crandall Saxe, Esq.

Scott J. Silverman (Retired Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Florida)

Abby B. Silverman, Esq.

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.

John W. Thornton (Retired Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, Florida)

Wayne Thorpe, Esq.

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.

David M. Zacks, 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 in-person, virtual and hybrid resolution services locally and globally through a combination of industry-specific experience, first-class client service, the latest technology and highly trained mediators and arbitrators.

With a roster of over 400 neutrals and 29 locations, JAMS resolves thousands of the world’s important cases every year. JAMS neutrals are adept at managing the resolution process whether they are conducting in-person, virtual or hybrid hearings.

More information is available at www.jamsadr.com, and you can connect with us on TwitterLinkedInFacebook and our JAMS ADR blog. To learn about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at JAMS, visit www.jamsadr.com/diversity/.

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

Featured People

Steven M. Bauer, Esq., FCIArb
  • Business & Commercial
  • Cybersecurity & Privacy
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
Jeffrey G. Benz, Esq., FCIArb, FCollArb, CEDS
  • Business/Commercial
  • Employment
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Health Care
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Maritime Admiralty
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Real Property
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
  • Telecommunications
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
Gary B. Blum, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
Gary Birnberg, Esq., FCIArb
  • Aviation
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Financial Markets
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Employment
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Life Sciences
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
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
Steven C. Choquette, Esq.
  • Business & Commercial
  • Construction
  • Construction Defect
  • Estates/Probate/Trusts
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
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
Terrence Lee Croft, Esq.
  • Agribusiness
  • Antitrust
  • Appellate
  • 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
  • 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
Joseph P. Farina
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action and Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment
  • Health Care
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Property
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
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
  • Special Master
Gary Fowler, Esq.
  • Business Commercial
  • Civil Rights
  • Employment
  • Federal
  • Health Care
  • Higher Education & Title IX
  • Insurance
  • Professional Liability
  • Training Teaching
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
Shelby R. Grubbs, J.D., FCIArb
  • Business Commercial
  • Class Action and Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Energy & Utilities
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • International & Cross-Border
  • Maritime & Admiralty Law
  • Personal Injury Torts
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
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
David T. Hamilton, Esq.
  • Banking
  • Business/Commercial
  • Construction
  • Construction Defect
  • Employment
  • Estate Probate Trusts
  • Governmental/Public Agency
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Real Estate & 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. 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
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
  • 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
Robert A. Meyer, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Entertainment and Sports
  • Federal Law
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Life Sciences
  • Professional Liability
  • Securities
  • Special Master Discovery Referee
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
  • 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.
  • 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
Deborah Crandall Saxe, Esq.
  • Appellate
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Employment
  • Health Care
  • Special Master/ Discovery Referee
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
John W. Thornton
  • Business & Commercial
  • Class Action & Mass Tort
  • Construction
  • Employment Law
  • Health Care
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury/Torts
  • Professional Liability
  • Special Master/Discovery Referee
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
  • Special Master/Discovery Referee
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
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
David M. Zacks, Esq.
  • Business/Commercial
  • Class Action/Mass Tort
  • Employment
  • Health Care
  • American Indian Tribal Law
  • Insurance
  • Personal Injury/Torts

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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