36 McElroy Deutsch Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®

McElroy Deutsch is pleased to announce that 36 of its attorneys have been included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® with 1 of its attorneys receiving a “Lawyer of the Year” recognition. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

"For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions," said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer. "It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel."

Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in more than 75 countries.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America® list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

McElroy Deutsch would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to 2026 The Best Lawyers in America® list:

• Adam J. Adrignolo - Insurance Law
• Kenneth J. Bartschi - Appellate Practice
• Jeffrey Bernstein - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Melissa Miele Bracuti - Trusts and Estates
• Gary D. Bressler - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Michael D. Celentano - Litigation - Insurance
• John T. Coyne - Insurance Law
• Thomas R. Curtin - Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation – Intellectual Property, and Litigation – Patent
• Edward J. DePascale - Insurance Law
• Edward B. Deutsch - Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation  
• Michael B. Devins - Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar
• Karen L. Dowd - Appellate Practice and Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law
• Paul E. Dwyer - Commercial Litigation and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Kathleen N. Fennelly - Commercial Litigation
• Everett E. Gale, III - Insurance Law
• Wesley W. Horton - Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation
• Thomas R. Hurd - Construction Law
• Lucille J. Karp - Real Estate Law
• Barry D. Kleban - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Peter L. Korn - Litigation Insurance and Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
• June Baker Laird - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Joseph P. LaSala - Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation
• Michael J. Marone - Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Laurence M. McHeffey - Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance
• Michael R. Morano - Litigation - Construction
• John W. Morris - Construction Law
• James S. Myers - Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/ Insolvency and Reorganization and Litigation - Bankruptcy
• William F. O'Connor, Jr. - Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants  
• George H. Parsells - Commercial Litigation and Health Care Law
• James E. Patterson - Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• John J. Peirano - Employment Law – Management and Labor Law - Management
• Louis R. Pepe - Arbitration, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, and Mediation
• Albert J. Pucciarelli - Leisure and Hospitality Law
• Ronald J. Riccio - Appellate Practice  
• John A. Ridley - Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Richard J. Williams, Jr. - Litigation – Insurance

Additionally, only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the "Lawyer of the Year," making this a significant and coveted accolade. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments. Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.

McElroy Deutsch would like to congratulate the following attorney named as 2026 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year”:

• Michael J. Marone - Personal Injury Litigation- Defendants (Newark)

Finally, McElroy Deutsch is pleased to announce that 3 of its attorneys have been included in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

"The unparalleled methodology of Best Lawyers ensures the value and esteem of our legal rankings through both our traditional awards and our expanded 'Ones to Watch' accolades," said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer. "Clients trust Best Lawyers as a credible and reliable way to identify the most elite lawyers, and it is with great pride that we continue to provide this valued service in the country."

Lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America are divided by geographic region and practice areas. Candidates can only be considered for one recognition at a time, either "Ones to Watch" or traditional Best Lawyers awards. "Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch" is not a seed list to "The Best Lawyers" and all hopeful candidates must be nominated, vetted by their peers and undergo an authentication process before they are recognized by Best Lawyers. Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular distinction.

McElroy Deutsch would like to congratulate the following lawyers recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America:

• Emily A. Cathcart - Appellate Law and Insurance Law
• Lydia K. Deutsch - Commercial Litigation
• Lisa K. Minichini - Commercial Litigation

A description of the selection methodology for this recognition can be found HERE. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state.