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"Lawyer of the Year" Honorees {{Geolocation}}
Ms. McKinlay received her Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio, in 1996. While in law school, Ms. McKinlay was a Member of Order of the Curia and the Capital University Law School Law Review, and finished in the top ten percent of her graduating class. She also served as a judicial extern in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Division of Domestic Relations. Ms. McKinlay was admitted to the practice of law in the State of Ohio in 1996 an...
David DeVillers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Compliance Law and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. David, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bill Nolan serves as managing partner of the firm’s Ohio office, which he opened in 2009. Bill works to bring attentiveness and clarity to bear on employment, contract and other disputes, but is most passionate about helping clients build teams, policies and processes to minimize the frequency, cost and severity of disputes. Bill's litigation and trial work includes covenant not to compete and trade secret cases in many states. He regularly represents employers in discrimination and dis...
Brigid E. Heid regularly advises her clients on matters involving employment and how to cost effectively solve problems that arise. Her practice focuses on the protection of intellectual property and trade secrets from unfair competition, often by utilizing restrictive covenants (including agreements like noncompetition, non-disclosure/confidentiality, non-solicitation and work-for-hire). Resolving employment disputes encompasses matters faced by businesses such as employee discipline, discri...
James E. Arnold is recognized as one of Ohio's top trial lawyers. He was recognized by Best Lawyers as Central Ohio's "Securities Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2012, as the "Bet-The-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2013, 2016, 2021, 2024 and 2026, and as the "Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2014. Since 2001 he has consistently been recognized by Best Lawyers in multiple fields, including bet-the-company, personal injury (plaintiffs and defense), commercial...
Caryn A. Boyer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Health Care Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Caryn A., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Caryn A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mary McWilliams Dengler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Railroad Law. Mary McWilliams, who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mary McWilliams is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic ...
David J. Butler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. David J., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kevin E. Griffith practices primarily in the areas of business competition litigation and employment litigation. He has extensive litigation experience in cases involving corporate raiding and interference with contract claims, and enforcing and defending employment contracts, trade secrets and covenants-not-to-compete. He has defended hundreds of employment discrimination and wrongful termination cases, including several seminal cases before the Ohio Supreme Court. In addition, Kevin counsel...
Greg Foliano has been defending professionals for his entire career. He has represented physicians, nurses, hospitals, lawyers and nursing homes throughout Ohio. Greg's career began in 1990 with a law firm dedicated exclusively to the defense of professional malpractice lawsuits. He tried his first case to verdict within months after receiving his law license and had his first solo case tried to verdict within a year of practice. Since that time, Greg has continued to try lawsuits throughout ...
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Arianna Atkins is an Ohio family law attorney representing clients in Columbus and throughout Central and Northeast Ohio. With more than fifteen years of experience in domestic relations law, she concentrates her practice on high-asset divorce, complex property division, and contested custody matters involving business owners, executives, physicians, and other high-income professionals. Ms. Atkins regularly handles sophisticated financial issues arising in divorce proceedings, including close...
Jeffrey J. Patter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jeffrey J., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jane Higgins Marx joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in August 2000 and practices estate and business planning, probate, probate litigation, business succession planning and elder law. Jane counsels individuals, business owners, executives and caregivers on matters of estate planning, estate and gift taxation, income taxation of trusts and estates, charitable giving, business succession and probate. She provides comprehensive planning for disability, including counseling on special needs...
Laing P. Akers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Laing P., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laing P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Michael has over twenty-five years of experience representing clients in commercial real estate and commercial financing for projects throughout the United States. Michael represents clients in the leasing, disposition and acquisition of industrial, office, multi-family, and hospitality properties throughout the United States. Such representation includes structuring joint venture agreements, public-private partnerships, build-to-suit leasing, and credit tenant leasing. Mr. Bridges also repre...
Eugene B. Lewis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Eugene B., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eugene B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Philip R. Westerman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Philip R., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Philip R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kevin E. Hess is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Kevin E., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mathew may not be one of those table-pounding attorneys, but make no mistake, he is a fierce litigator. His ability to speak calmly and reasonably as well as to ask questions and actually listen to the answers makes him an especially strong negotiator and effective in advocating for his clients’ best interests. Mathew’s employment law practice is multidimensional. He defends employers against a wide range of employment claims ranging from unlawful discrimination, harassment and re...
Anthony joined the Carlile Patchen & Murphy Litigation Department in 2020 as Of Counsel. Anthony is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and Ohio, including Ohio’s Northern and Southern districts. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, probate litigation, securities litigation, receiverships, landlord-tenant and collections.
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