Wood Smith Henning & Berman is thrilled to congratulate fifty-eight attorneys recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®, a prestigious accolade that highlights excellence in private practice among attorneys earlier in their careers.
Ones to Watch honors attorneys who have typically been in practice for 5-9 years and demonstrate outstanding professional excellence in their respective fields. Selections are based entirely on peer review, with thousands of lawyers across the country evaluating nominees based on the quality of their legal work, integrity and professionalism.
"We are honored to see our next generation of leaders recognized for their commitment to client service, legal acumen, and integrity," remarked Founding Partner Stephen Henning. "These individuals exemplify the talent, drive, and values that define our firm."
First published in 2021, Ones to Watch has quickly become a benchmark for identifying promising legal talent across more than 70 practice areas. This year's recognition reflects the continued impact WSHB attorneys are making across industries and jurisdictions.
Please join us in congratulating the attorneys honored on this year's list:
Aliso Viejo, CA
- Ahllam Berri - Commercial Litigation; Labor and Employment Law - Management; Litigation-Labor and Employment
- Frank Chatzipantsios - Litigation - Construction
- Rebecca Gabroy - Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Insurance Law; Litigation - Labor and Employment; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Zachary Lynch - Labor and Employment Law - Employee
Atlanta, GA
- Jeffery Rowe - Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Berkeley Heights, NJ
- Spenser Frieri - Litigation - Construction; Product liability Litigation - Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law
- Brendan Johnson - Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law
- Alison McClave - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Boca Raton, FL
- Juan Arrubla - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Transportation Law
- Rochelle Bailey - Commercial Litigation
- Sebastian Larrea - Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Jason Tom - Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Charleston, SC
- George Smythe - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction
Concord, CA
- Ilon Oliveira - Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Real Estate Law
Denver, CO
- Michael Simpson - Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation - Labor and Employment
Glendale, CA
- Danielle Ebel - Construction Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Caroline Feldstein - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction; Transportation Law
- Robert Rhoten - Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Hartford, CT
- Aaron Cruz - Litigation - Labor and Employment; Personal Injury Litigation
- Melissa Modzelewski - Commercial Litigation
Houston, TX
- Grace Cousins - Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; Transportation Law
- Krystina Butchart - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction; Transportation Law
Las Vegas, NV
- Tayler Martinez - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation
- Susana Santana - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Los Angeles, CA
- Ivetta Arquell - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction
- Trent Leaf - Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
- Melissa Saracyan - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
McAllen, TX
- Bryan Ramirez - Litigation - Construction
Miami, FL
- Tanner Stewart - Insurance Law
Mobile, AL
- Joseph Aguirre - Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
New Orleans, LA
- Christopher Seemann - Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Transportation Law
New York, NY
- Ehsan Akbari - Litigation - Construction
- John Capitani - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Charlene Lanez - Litigation - Construction
- Matthew Lavoie - Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Thomas Lehman - Construction Law
- Fationa Mamo - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction
Ontario, CA
- Christina Loni - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction
Orlando, FL
- Alexandria Suarez - Litigation-Construction
Philadelphia, PA
- Sarah Connor - Litigation - Labor and Employment; Professional Malpractice Law
- Kamela Devole - Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law
- Lauren McDowell - Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants
Phoenix, AZ
- Kate Myers - Alternative Dispute Resolution; Appellate Practice; Insurance Law
- Iulia Taranu - Insurance Law; Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Portland, OR
- Ian Baldwin - Commercial Litigation; Construction Law
Raleigh, NC
- Clayton Goris - Insurance Law; Litigation - Labor and Employment; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Suzanne Patinella - Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation - Construction
Riverside, CA
- Courtney Jakofsky - Construction Law
San Diego, CA
- Christine Robles - Litigation - Labor and Employment
Seattle, WA
- Kellan Byrne - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction
Tampa, FL
- Jonathan Hart - Insurance Law; Transportation Law
- Lee Jeansonne - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction
- Daniel Knuth - Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Transportation Law
- Rontavian Mack - Litigation - Real Estate; Real Estate Law
Thousand Oaks, CA
- Joanna Dyriam - Litigation - Construction; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
White Plains, NY
- Meghan Dibbini - Legal Malpractice Law; Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Katherine Garcia - Construction Law; Litigation - Construction
- Jacqueline Murphy - Insurance Law; Litigation - Labor and Employment
Wood Smith Henning & Berman: Your Trusted Partner
Experience the power of a proven industry leader in the law. Wood Smith Henning & Berman (WSHB) is renowned globally for our exceptional trial results and expertise in handling complex litigation. With our nationwide network of over 500 lawyers across 43 office locations, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive litigation and counsel to both public and private companies. From start-ups to Fortune 100 corporations, we deliver unrivaled legal representation that consistently achieves favorable outcomes for our clients.
At WSHB, our strength lies in our diverse and accomplished team of attorneys. We boast thought leaders and defense specialists in over 41 fields of practice, covering an extensive range of specialties. Founded in 1997, we are proud to be among the top ten law firms in the nation for diversity, female partners, female lawyers, and Hispanic lawyers. This rich tapestry of diversity forms the foundation of our success when presenting cases to juries of our peers, ensuring we understand the unique nuances underlying each claim.
Our expansive geographic footprint allows us to provide effective and efficient representation to clients nationwide, regardless of their location, background, or legal expertise. By prioritizing strategic and cost-effective approaches to litigation, our dedicated attorneys work tirelessly to protect the interests of our clients. We have a track record of success, securing numerous victories such as summary judgments and defense verdicts on behalf of our clients. As a trial firm, we have taken over 2,000 cases to verdict, making us well-equipped to handle even the most complex and high-stakes litigation matters across the country.