Spotlight
Attorneys
- Gene R. Abercrombie
- Brian P. Barger
- Nicholas W. Bartlett
- Graham A. Bluhm
- Elizabeth L. Bolduc
- Stephen E. Chappelear
- Kevin D. Devaney
- Thomas A. Dixon
- Joseph R. Durham
- Melissa A. Ebel
- Thomas J. Gibney
- Stuart J. Goldberg
- Taylor L. Hanenkrath
- Matthew D. Harper
- Brigid E. Heid
- Reginald S. Jackson, Jr.
- Frank D. Jacobs
- David C. Krock
- David L. Kuhl
- Jared J. Lefevre
- Fadi V. Nahhas
- Adam S. Nightingale
- Rudolph A. Peckinpaugh, Jr.
- Patrick A. Sadowski
- Karl H. Schneider
- Mark A. Shaw
- D. Casey Talbott
- Kyle D. Tucker
- Lane D. Williamson
- James B. Yates
31 Eastman & Smith Lawyers Included in 2025 Best Lawyers® Lists
Eastman & Smith is pleased to announce that 31 of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 Best Lawyers® lists, including 26 attorneys recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and five attorneys recognized in the 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list.
Additionally, two attorneys received Best Lawyers® 2025 Lawyer of the Year awards. Only one attorney per metropolitan region for each of the Best Lawyers® categories can receive a Lawyer of the Year award. These attorneys were the recipients of the largest total peer feedback for the practice area and geographic region in which they received this honor.
- Frank D. Jacobs was named the Best Lawyers® 2025 Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year” in Toledo.
- Adam S. Nightingale was named the Best Lawyers® 2025 Criminal Defense: White-Collar “Lawyer of the Year” in Toledo.
To qualify for Best Lawyers in America®, an attorney must be nominated, then reviewed by other attorneys and finally has to be in good standing with their respective state bar association ethics committee. Less than 5% of attorneys in the U.S. are listed in Best Lawyers®. Below are the names of Eastman & Smith attorneys on this year's list as well as the categories in which they appear.
Business Law
- Gene R. Abercrombie
- Real Estate Law
- Graham A. Bluhm
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Kevin D. Devaney
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- David C. Krock
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
- David L. Kuhl
- Corporate Law
- Health Care Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Fadi V. Nahhas
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Patrick A. Sadowski
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Lane D. Williamson
- Land Use and Zoning Law
Environmental Law
- Brian P. Barger
- Natural Resources Law
- Joseph R. Durham
- Environmental Law
- Litigation – Environmental
Estate Planning Law
- David W. Carter
- Trusts & Estates
- Frank D. Jacobs
- Trusts and Estates
- David C. Krock
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
Labor and Employment Law
- Thomas A. Dixon
- Employment Law – Individuals
- Employment Law – Management
- Labor Law – Management
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Workers' Compensation Law – Employers
- Thomas J. Gibney
- Arbitration
- Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
- Brigid E. Heid
- Employment Law – Management
- Labor Law – Management
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Mark A. Shaw
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Workers' Compensation Law – Employers
- James B. Yates
- Employment Law – Management
Litigation
- Stephen E. Chappelear
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Litigation – Trusts and Estates
- Stuart J. Goldberg
- Commercial Litigation
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Matthew D. Harper
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Construction
- Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
- Brigid E. Heid
- Employment Law – Management
- Labor Law – Management
- Litigation – Intellectual Property
- Reginald S. Jackson, Jr.
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Jared J. Lefevre
- Commercial Litigation
- Adam S. Nightingale
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Rudolph A. Peckinpaugh, Jr.
- Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Karl H. Schneider
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- D. Casey Talbott
- Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
- Railroad Law
The Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch in America encompasses attorneys who show “outstanding professional excellence” and have been practicing law for five to nine years. The attorneys included in the 2025 list are:
- Nicholas W. Bartlett
- Commercial Litigation
- Elizabeth L. Bolduc
- Labor and Employment Law – Management
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Melissa A. Ebel
- Labor and Employment Law – Management
- Taylor L. Hanenkrath
- Trusts and Estates
- Kyle D. Tucker
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Real Estate Law
The Firm congratulates these attorneys for their recognition.
The full methodology for The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch in America is available here.