Best Lawyers Recognizes 44 Frantz Ward Attorneys, Names Brian Kelly and Jim Niehaus “Lawyer of the Year” (2024)

Frantz Ward is proud to announce that 39 of its lawyers have been named in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and 5 have been included in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch 2025 edition.

Brian J. Kelly and James B. Niehaus were recognized by Best Lawyers as 2025 “Lawyers of the Year.” Brian was honored in the Labor Law – Management category and Jim was honored in the Litigation – Antitrust category. This is an honor that is presented annually to a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area for excellence in their field.

Best Lawyers has become widely renowned as the definitive guide to legal prowess since its first publication in 1983. The attorneys on The Best Lawyers in America lists are divided by practice area and region. They are then reviewed by their already selected peers based on their professional expertise before undergoing a rigorous vetting process.

Frantz Ward LLP would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America 2025 list:

• Brett K. Bacon – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Insurance
• Todd A. Broski – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law
• Michael N. Chesney – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Gina M. Ciani – Trusts and Estates
• Andrew J. Cleves – Litigation – Labor and Employment
• George S. Coakley – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• William A. Duncan – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
• Gregory R. Farkas – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Ian H. Frank – Construction Law and Litigation – Construction
• Michael J. Frantz – Arbitration, Education Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
• Michael J. Frantz, Jr. – Construction Law and Litigation – Construction
• Craig T. Haran – Health Care Law and Litigation – Health Care
• Thomas G. Haren – Cannabis Law and Commercial Litigation
• Ralph P. Higgins, Jr. – Trusts and Estates
• Daniel P. Hinkel – Real Estate Law
• Kevin M. Hinkel – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law, and Tax Law
• Joel R. Hlavaty – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Melissa A. Jones – Commercial Litigation and Construction Law
• Matthew F. Kadish – Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
• Stephen L. Kadish – Litigation and Controversy – Tax and Tax Law
• Christopher G. Keim – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Brian J. Kelly – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Christopher C. Koehler – Commercial Litigation
• John F. Kostelnik – Banking and Finance Law and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Hans L. Larsen – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Corporate Law
• Karl E. May – Financial Services Regulation Law
• Margaret M. Metzinger – Family Law and Trusts and Estates
• Colleen Murnane – Commercial Litigation
• James B. Niehaus – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, and Trade Secrets Law
• Christina E. Niro – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Jenifer E. Novak – Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Bradley D. Reed – Health Care Law
• Allison Taller Reich – Commercial Litigation
• Mark L. Rodio – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate, and Real Estate Law
• Dean M. Rooney – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Marc A. Sanchez – Construction Law and Litigation – Construction
• Michael E. Smith – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Insurance
• Mark J. Stockman – Construction Law and Real Estate Law
• David G. Weibel – Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Corporate Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Tax Law, and Trust and Estates

We would also like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America:

• Megan E. Bennett – Labor and Employment Law – Management and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Andrew Hanna – Construction Law
• Katherine E. McLaughlin – Labor and Employment Law – Management
• Bradley N. Ouambo – Construction Law
• Jonathan M. Scandling – Labor and Employment Law – Management and Litigation – Labor and Employment

About Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe.

Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.