Irvine, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, is pleased to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized four of its neutrals as “Lawyers of the Year” and 60 neutrals as “Best Lawyers in America” for 2025.
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 Best Lawyers® “Lawyers of the Year” for 2025:
- Clarence L. Pozza, Jr., Esq., for litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) in Detroit
- Gary B. Blum, Esq.,* for mediation in Denver
- John W. Thornton for arbitration and mediation in Miami
- Wayne Thorpe, Esq., for mediation in Atlanta.
We are so pleased to see this group of neutrals recognized by Best Lawyers® as both ‘Lawyers of the Year’ and ‘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 2025:
- Karen Bamberger, Esq.
- Steven M. Bauer, Esq., FCIArb
- Jeffrey G. Benz, Esq., FCIArb, FCollArb, CEDS
- Hon. William L. Bettinelli (Ret.)
- Hon. Stanley F. Birch Jr. (Ret.)
- Gary Birnberg, Esq., FCIArb
- Gary B. Blum, Esq.
- Philip L. Bruner, Esq.
- Richard Chernick, Esq.
- Steven C. Choquette, Esq.*
- Zela G. Claiborne, Esq.
- Kathleen E. Craigmile, Esq.*
- Robert B. Davidson, Esq., FCIArb
- Charles H. Dick, Jr.
- Hon. Norman S. Fletcher (Ret.)
- Gary Fowler, Esq.
- Fern L. Frolin, Esq.
- David Geronemus, Esq.
- Kenneth C. Gibbs, Esq.
- Patricia K. Gillette, Esq.
- Joan C. Grafstein, Esq., FCIArb
- Shelby R. Grubbs J.D., FCIArb
- Hugh E. Hackney, Esq.
- David T. Hamilton, Esq.
- Michael A. Jacobs
- Carlton King Jr., Esq.
- Eleissa C. Lavelle, Esq.
- Stephen P. Lucke, Esq.
- 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., FCIArb
- Daniel A. Platt, Esq.
- Clarence L. Pozza Jr., Esq.
- Ronald Ravikoff, Esq.
- Hon. Ronald M. Sabraw (Ret.)
- Deborah Crandall Saxe, Esq.
- Scott J. Silverman
- Abby B. Silverman, Esq.
- Stephen P. Sonnenberg, Esq.
- Jerry Spolter, Esq.
- Hon. Steven J. Stone (Ret.)
- Hon. Dickran M. Tevrizian (Ret.)
- Patricia H. Thompson, Esq., FCIArb, CollArb
- John W. Thornton
- Wayne Thorpe, Esq.
- Eric E. Van Loon, Esq.
- Julia T. Waggener, Esq.*
- Maria C. Walsh, Esq.
- Hon. James Ware (Ret.)
- Conna A. Weiner, Esq., FCIArb
- Hon. Daniel Weinstein (Ret.)
- Hon. Diane M. Welsh (Ret.)
- Hon. Rebecca Westerfield (Ret.)
- Bradley A. Winters, Esq.
- Peter H. Woodin, Esq.
- Michael D. Young, Esq.
Learn more about the 2025 Best Lawyers Awards here.
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 450 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 LinkedIn, Facebook, X and our JAMS ADR blog. To learn about diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at JAMS, visit www.jamsadr.com/diversity/.
* This neutral is a JAMS Denver neutral. JAMS Denver is a licensee office.
