Best Lawyers has recognized 28 Smith Haughey attorneys as The Best Lawyers in America® in 2023, which is 43% of the firm’s attorneys. In addition, E. Thomas McCarthy, Jr. and Mary R. Pigorsh earned the added distinction of being named Lawyer of the Year in the Grand Rapids area.
Five attorneys were placed on the Best Lawyers Ones to Watch in America™ list, recognizing those who have been in private practice for five to nine years.
The 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America® recognizes the top 5.3.% of lawyers in the U.S. across 150 practice areas, with a total of 71,437 lawyers earning this recognition.
Methodology
Best Lawyers follows the same five-step selection process for its Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch recipients, which is as follows:
- Lawyer nominations are submitted to Best Lawyers®.
- Leading lawyers peer review the nominees on the caliber of their work.
- Best Lawyers® reviews the feedback.
- Best Lawyers® confirms that the nominees are in good standing with their bar associations.
- Results are released; however, not all honorees are listed on the Best Lawyers website without purchase of a featured profile.
Lawyer of the Year recipients
Lawyer of the Year in Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants in Grand Rapids
Lawyer of the Year in Family Law Mediation in Grand Rapids
The Best Lawyers in America® 2023
- Charles F. Behler – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Litigation – Construction
- Carol D. Carlson – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Cheryl L. Chandler – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Patrick F. Geary – Commercial Litigation
- Christopher R. Genther – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Health Care Law
- Mark A. Gilchrist – Commercial Litigation and Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Philip A. Grashoff, Jr. – Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental
- William W. Jack, Jr. – Arbitration, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Mediation, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- Krista A. Jackson – Litigation – Environmental
- Brian J. Kilbane – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- John M. Kruis – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- E. Thomas McCarthy, Jr. – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Mediation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Jaron J. Nyhof – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Real Estate Law, and Securities / Capital Markets Law
- John C. O’Loughlin – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Paul M. Oleniczak – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- John R. Oostema – Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Litigation – Insurance, and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Mary R. Pigorsh – Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, and Family Law Mediation
- Nicholas A. Reister – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, and Trusts and Estates
- Jason R. Sebolt – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- A. Tony Taweel – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Thomas J. Vitale – Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Real Estate
- Michael D. Wiese – Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law
- Matthew L. Wikander – Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ 2023
- Patricia H. Jander – Trusts and Estates
- Laura A. Johnson – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Jonathan B. Koch – Appellate Practice
- Ashley C. Quackenbush – Health Care Law
- Matthew J. Wiebe – Nonprofit / Charities Law
Please join us in congratulating our attorneys for their recognition!