Multiple lawyers from several Lerch, Early & Brewer practices recently were selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026.

Fourteen Lerch Early attorneys have been named to the Ones to Watch list, recognizing attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice. Recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as a definitive guide to legal excellence.

  • Paul E. Alpuche
    • Business Organizations (Including LLCs and Partnerships)
    • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
    • Tax Law

  • Stuart A. Berman
    • Appellate Practice
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Criminal Defense: General Practice
    • Criminal Defense: White-Collar

  • Paula A. Calimafde
    • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
    • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
    • Tax Law
    • Trusts and Estates

  • Lauri E. Cleary 
    • Appellate Practice
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
    • Employment Law – Management
    • Litigation – Insurance
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment

  • Marc R. Engel 
    • Employment Law – Management
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment

  • Erin E. Girard
    • Construction Law
    • Land Use and Zoning Law
    • Municipal Law
    • Real Estate Law

  • Michael J. Goecke
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Real Estate
    • Litigation – Trusts and Estates

  • James R. Hammerschmidt
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Employment Law – Management
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment

  • Erin L. Kopelman
    • Collaborative Law: Family Law
    • Family Law
    • Family Law Mediation

  • Alan S. Mark
    • Commercial Transactions/UCC Law
    • Corporate Law
    • Litigation – Real Estate
    • Real Estate Law

  • Michael J. Neary
    • Employment Law – Management
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment

  • Stanley J. Reed
    • Appellate Practice
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Criminal Defense: General Practice
    • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
    • Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law

  • Trish Weaver
    • Appellate Practice
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Mediation

Ones to Watch

  • Hayes Edwards
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Labor and Employment Law – Management
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment
    • Litigation – Real Estate

  • James Tilley
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 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.

Over 79,000 leading attorneys cast more than 6.2 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”

For more on Best Lawyers in America® 2026 (copyright 2023 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC), visit www.bestlawyers.com.