Best Lawyers® - Purely Peer Review™
by Their Peers
"Lawyer of the Year" Honorees {{Geolocation}}
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...
Eric Stoller is an attorney with Kayne Law Group LPA in Columbus, Ohio, focusing his practice on Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law . He represents lenders and borrowers in commercial lending and finance matters, including loan transactions, restructurings and workouts, as well as the acquisition, sale and financing of commercial real estate assets. Eric advises clients on a broad range of real estate matters, including leasing, development, acquisitions, dispositions and real estate...
David J. Butler is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. David J. practices law in Columbus, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized David J. Butler since 2014. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David J. Butler is held by other lawyers.
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...
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 lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Compliance Law and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. David practices law in Columbus, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized David DeVillers since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David DeVillers is held by other lawyers.
Mary McWilliams Dengler is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and Railroad Law. Mary McWilliams practices law in Columbus, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Mary McWilliams Dengler since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition refle...
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...
Jennifer McDaniel represents employers in workers’ compensation matters. Jennifer has extensive experience handling every aspect of a workers’ compensation claim. She advises clients on how to improve their safety and risk management programs to help avoid workers’ compensation claims. When litigation is unavoidable, Jennifer works closely with clients and their Third Party Administrators to develop the right defense strategy that is best for the client and helps to reduce t...
Lawyers {{Geolocation}}
Elisabeth Gentile is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Elisabeth practices law in Columbus, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Elisabeth Gentile since 2019. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Elisabeth Gentile is hel...
Jim Abrams represents clients in civil litigation matters with a focus on commercial litigation and appellate practice. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Jim works with businesses and individuals involved in complex disputes in state and federal courts. He draws on decades of business and financial leadership experience to help clients address litigation challenges with practical, business-minded counsel. Before entering the legal profession, Jim held executive leadership positions at both publicly tr...
Angela Kirk joined Kaman & Cusimano LLC in 2025 as Director of Assessment Recovery. She brings substantial experience in foreclosure litigation, having represented financial institutions in Columbus, Ohio and throughout the state in both litigated and non-litigated foreclosure matters. Her work has involved all stages of the foreclosure process, with a focus on compliance, risk management, and efficient resolution of mortgage-related disputes. Angela’s recognized practice areas incl...
Sara Jodka, CIPP-US, CIPP-E, and CIPM / member at Dickinson Wright, is an experienced legal advisor and litigator. She provides clients with practical advice on a wide range of labor and employment issues, including discrimination, retaliation, harassment, leave, FMLA, COVID-19 response, reductions in force, background checks, drug testing, breach of contract, non-compete/restraint of trade/non-solicitation, employment agreements, executive compensation, wage/hour class/collective actions and...
Eric Stoller is an attorney with Kayne Law Group LPA in Columbus, Ohio, focusing his practice on Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law . He represents lenders and borrowers in commercial lending and finance matters, including loan transactions, restructurings and workouts, as well as the acquisition, sale and financing of commercial real estate assets. Eric advises clients on a broad range of real estate matters, including leasing, development, acquisitions, dispositions and real estate...
Michael T. Short represents management clients in a wide range of labor and employment matters. He also actively represents employers in workers’ compensation cases before the Industrial Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, and all levels of Ohio courts. He has extensive experience representing public sector clients in collective bargaining negotiations, arbitrations, and before the Ohio State Employment Relations Board. He regularly counsels employers on: Labor...
Drew Piersall is a member of the firm's Employment and Labor Groups and practices out of the firm's Columbus office. His practice focuses on equal employment opportunity, employment discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, and all other employment-related torts. Prior to joining Zashin & Rich, Drew worked for the Employment Law Section of the Ohio Attorney General's Office for eight years. Drew rose through the ranks at the Attorney General's Office, attaining the position o...
Pursuant to a merger with the firm in which he was a principal since 1985, Alan has been a Partner at Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP since 2015. He primarily works with closely held and family businesses of all types and the individuals and families who own those businesses. Alan’s practice areas cover a broad range of business and personal matters, including – tax-exempt nonprofits; real estate; estate planning and estate & trust administration; planning, structuring, and f...
Latest Insights
Google Is Losing Major Antitrust Cases. Is This the End of Big Tech’s Winning Streak?
by Justin Smulison
Legal experts say the remedies and appeals, not the liability findings, will determine if Google's losses reshape the tech industry.
$79 Billion and Counting: Inside the Record-Breaking Year That's Rewriting Corporate Litigation Risk
by Bryan Driscoll
Here's why the numbers keep climbing and how legal departments should respond.
Who’s Really Paying for That Lawsuit?
by Justin Smulison
The secret money behind America’s biggest cases.
The $50 Billion Question
by Bryan Driscoll
How AI is quietly upending corporate discovery and privilege.
What Does Peer-Reviewed Mean When Choosing a Lawyer?
by Bryan Driscoll
Where peer-reviewed recognition comes from, what it can tell you about a lawyer and what you still have to check for yourself.
