More Than 200 Ballard Spahr Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers

The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America recognizes 214 Ballard Spahr attorneys in offices across the country, including many recognized in multiple practice areas, for a total of 364 total listings in the annual guide.

The 151 Ballard Spahr attorneys listed in the Best Lawyers category received 271 total recognitions, including eight attorneys named 2025 Lawyers of the Year for their practices and locations. Only one attorney receives the designation in each location for a given practice area.

In addition, 63 Ballard Spahr attorneys are listed in the Ones to Watch category for attorneys in private practice less than 10 years. Together, they garnered 93 total recognitions.

The eight Ballard Spahr attorneys named Lawyers of the Year are:

• Angela M. Christy, Real Estate Law, Minneapolis
• Edward I. Leeds, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Philadelphia
• Michael Berry, First Amendment Law, Philadelphia
• Karen C. McConnell, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Phoenix
• L. Frederick Williams Jr., Municipal Law and Public Finance Law, Phoenix
• P. Andrew Spicknall, Public Finance Law, Washington D.C.
• Robert C. Kim, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Las Vegas
• Teri M. Guarnaccia, Securities/Capital Markets Law, Baltimore

The 151 attorneys named Best Lawyers are:

Administrative/Regulatory Law

• L. Frederick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix
• Beth Moskow-Schnoll—Delaware

Advertising Law

• David J. Bodney—Phoenix

Appellate Practice

• Leita Walker—Minneapolis

Banking and Finance Law

• Valarie J. Allan—Philadelphia
• Scott A. Coleman—Minneapolis
• Mark C. Dietzen—Minneapolis
• Emilie R. Ninan—Delaware
• Richard S. Perelman—Philadelphia
• Ronald K. Vaske—Minneapolis
• Maulin S. Vidwans—Philadelphia

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency

• Chrissey Barba—Philadelphia
• Tobey M. Daluz—Delaware
• Craig Solomon Ganz—Phoenix
• Theodore J. Hartl—Denver
• Timothy F. McCormack—Baltimore
• Kevin P. Ray—Philadelphia
• William A. Slaughter—Philadelphia
• Matthew G. Summers—Baltimore
• Diane E. Vuocolo—Philadelphia
• William P. Wassweiler—Minneapolis

Commercial Litigation

• Jason D. Boren—Salt Lake City
• Daniel R. Fritz—Sioux Falls
• M. Norman Goldberger—Philadelphia
• Robert R. Baron, Jr.—Philadelphia
• Stephen J. Kastenberg—Philadelphia
• John G. Kerkorian—Phoenix
• Laura E. Krabill—Philadelphia
• David J. Margules—Delaware
• Andrew J. Petrie—Denver
• Brian Schulman—Phoenix
• Mark S. Stewart—Philadelphia
• Melanie J. Vartabedian—Salt Lake City
• Karla M. Vehrs—Minneapolis
• Matthew A. White—Philadelphia
• Jay A. Zweig—Phoenix

Commercial Transactions/UCC Law

• Laura C. Giles—Phoenix
• Emilie R. Ninan—Delaware

Copyright Law

• Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia

Corporate Compliance Law

• Henry E. Hockeimer—Philadelphia
• Charles R. Moran—Baltimore
• Peter D. Hardy—Philadelphia

Corporate Governance Law

• Amy L. Arndt—Sioux Falls
• Elizabeth S. Fenton—Delaware
• Robert C. Kim—Las Vegas
• David J. Margules—Delaware
• Charles R. Moran—Baltimore
• Elizabeth A. Sloan—Delaware

Corporate Law

• Amy L. Arndt—Sioux Falls
• Damon O. Barry—Denver
• Richard J. Braemer—Philadelphia
• Douglas M. Fox—Baltimore
• Laura C. Giles—Phoenix
• L. Frederick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix
• Alan S. Kaplinsky—Philadelphia
• Robert C. Kim—Las Vegas
• Justin P. Klein—Philadelphia
• Michael R. Kuhn—Minneapolis
• David J. Margules—Delaware
• Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix
• Charles R. Moran—Baltimore
• Barbara Lano Rummel—Minneapolis
• Elizabeth A. Sloan—Delaware
• Robert E. Tunheim—Minneapolis

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

• David L. Axelrod—Philadelphia
• Peter D. Hardy—Philadelphia
• Henry E. Hockeimer—Philadelphia
• John F. Hundley—Washington, D.C.
• James A. Mitchell—New York
• Beth Moskow-Schnoll—Delaware
• Marjorie J. Peerce—New York

Economic Development Law

• L. Fredrick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix
• William C. Rhodes—Philadelphia

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

• Robert J. Hartman—Minneapolis
• Edward I. Leeds—Philadelphia
• Joshua T. Natzel—Minneapolis
• Brian M. Pinheiro—Philadelphia
• D. Finn Pressly—Washington, D.C.
• Edward J. Wegerson—Minneapolis

Employment Law—Individuals

• Mary M. O’Brien—Minneapolis

Employment Law—Management

• Shannon D. Farmer—Philadelphia
• Kenneth M. Jarin—Philadelphia
• Denise M. Keyser—New Jersey
• Mary M. O’Brien—Minneapolis
• Brian D. Pedrow—Philadelphia
• Jay A. Zweig—Phoenix

Entertainment Law—Motion Pictures and Television

• Robert S. Gutierrez—Los Angeles
• Louis P. Petrich—Los Angeles

Environmental Law

• David J. Armstrong—Phoenix
• Brendan K. Collins—Philadelphia
• Lea A. Phillips—Phoenix
• Harry R. Weiss—Philadelphia

Equipment Finance Law

• Richard S. Perelman—Philadelphia

Financial Services Regulation Law

• Scott A. Coleman—Minneapolis
• Alan S. Kaplinsky—Philadelphia

FinTech Practice

• Ronald K. Vaske—Minneapolis

First Amendment Law

• Seth D. Berlin—Washington, D.C.
• Michael Berry—Philadelphia
• David J. Bodney—Phoenix
• Jay Ward Brown—Washington, D.C.
• Kaitlin M. Gurney—Philadelphia
• Ashley I. Kissinger—Denver
• Paul J. Safier—Philadelphia
• David A. Schulz—New York
• Charles D. Tobin—Washington, D.C.

Gaming Law

• Michael D. Fabius—Philadelphia
• Adrian R. King, Jr.—Philadelphia

Government Relations Practice

• Marcel S. Pratt—Philadelphia

Health Care Law

• Beth Moskow-Schnoll—Delaware

Insurance Law

• Daniel R. Fritz—Sioux Falls
• Brian Schulman—Phoenix

International Mergers and Acquisitions

• Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix

Labor Law—Management

• Kenneth M. Jarin—Philadelphia
• Denise M. Keyser—New Jersey
• Brian D. Pedrow—Philadelphia

Land Use and Zoning Law

• Jon M. Laria—Baltimore
• Matthew N. McClure—Philadelphia

Litigation—Banking and Finance

• Karla M. Vehrs—Minneapolis
• Alan S. Kaplinsky—Philadelphia

Litigation—Bankruptcy

• Tobey M. Daluz—Delaware
• Craig Solomon Ganz—Phoenix
• Theodore J. Hartl—Denver
• William A. Slaughter—Philadelphia
• Matthew G. Summers—Baltimore

Litigation—Construction

• Jonathan M. Bye—Minneapolis
• Brian Schulman—Phoenix
• Jason D. Boren—Salt Lake City
• Mark R. Gaylord—Salt Lake City

Litigation—Environmental

• Brendan K. Collins—Philadelphia

Litigation—First Amendment

• Seth D. Berlin—Washington, D.C.
• Michael Berry—Philadelphia
• David J. Bodney—Phoenix
• Jay Ward Brown—Washington, D.C.
• Ashley I. Kissinger—Denver
• Burt M. Rublin—Philadelphia
• Paul J. Safier—Philadelphia
• Elizabeth Seidlin-Bernstein—Philadelphia
• Charles D. Tobin—Washington, D.C.

Litigation—Insurance

• Jonathan M. Bye—Minneapolis

Litigation—Intellectual Property

• Robert R. Baron, Jr.—Philadelphia
• Laura E. Krabill—Philadelphia
• Brian W. LaCorte—Phoenix
• Richard W. Miller—Atlanta
• Jeffrey C. Morgan—Atlanta
• Louis P. Petrich—Los Angeles
• Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia
• Jonathon A. Talcott—Phoenix

Litigation—Labor and Employment

• Jason D. Boren—Salt Lake City
• Mary M. O’Brien—Minneapolis
• Jay A. Zweig—Phoenix

Litigation—Mergers and Acquisitions

• M. Norman Goldberger—Philadelphia
• David J. Margules—Delaware

Litigation—Patent

• Caryn C. Borg-Breen, Ph.D.—Philadelphia
• Laura E. Krabill—Philadelphia
• Brian W. LaCorte—Phoenix
• Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia

Litigation—Real Estate

• Jason D. Boren—Salt Lake City
• Jonathan M. Bye—Minneapolis
• Mark R. Gaylord—Salt Lake City
• Michael Sklaroff—Philadelphia
• Brian Schulman—Phoenix

Litigation—Regulatory Enforcement (SEC—Telecom—Energy)

• M. Norman Goldberger—Philadelphia

Litigation—Securities

• M. Norman Goldberger—Philadelphia
• Andrew J. Petrie—Denver
• Melanie J. Vartabedian—Salt Lake City

Litigation—Trusts and Estates

• Regina O’Brien Thomas—Philadelphia

Media Law

• Seth D. Berlin—Washington, D.C.
• Michael Berry—Philadelphia
• David J. Bodney—Phoenix
• Chad R. Bowman—Washington, D.C.
• Jay Ward Brown—Washington, D.C.
• Ashley I. Kissinger—Denver
• Elizabeth Seidlin-Bernstein—Philadelphia
• Charles D. Tobin—Washington, D.C.

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

• Amy L. Arndt—Sioux Falls
• Damon O. Barry—Denver
• Richard J. Braemer—Philadelphia
• Laura C. Giles—Phoenix
• Justin P. Klein—Philadelphia
• Robert C. Kim—Las Vegas
• Michael R. Kuhn—Minneapolis
• Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix
• Barbara Lano Rummel—Minneapolis
• Maggie M. Tatton—Minneapolis
• Robert E. Tunheim—Minneapolis
• John D. Wambold—Minneapolis
• L. Frederick Williams—Jr.—Phoenix

Municipal Law

• L. Frederick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix

Nonprofit/Charities Law

• Christopher A. Jones—Philadelphia
• Ann T. Loftus—Philadelphia

Patent Law

• Mitchell A. Katz—Atlanta
• Lynn E. Rzonca—Philadelphia

Project Finance Law

• Mark C. Dietzen—Minneapolis
• L. Frederick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix

Public Finance Law

• Valarie J. Allen—Philadelphia
• Michele L. Bax—Phoenix
• Charles S. Henck—Washington, D.C.
• Anastasia G. Khokhryakova—Denver
• L. Frederick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix
• Kimberly D. Magrini—New York
• Emilie R. Ninan—Delaware
• Steve T. Park—Philadelphia
• Hester M. Parrot—Denver
• Kimberly A. Casey—Denver
• William C. Rhodes. Philadelphia
• P. Andrew Spicknall—Washington, D.C.

Qui Tam Law

• Jonathan M. Bye—Minneapolis

Real Estate Law

• Angela M. Christy—Minneapolis
• Alicia B. Clark—Denver
• Dominic J. De Simone—Philadelphia
• Mark S. DePillis—Philadelphia
• Craig Solomon Ganz—Phoenix
• Mary Jo George—Washington, D.C.
• Thomas A. Hauser—Baltimore
• Bruce F. Johnson—Las Vegas
• Desmond D. Connall, Jr.—Washington, D.C.
• Benjamin A. Kelley—Baltimore
• Jon M. Laria—Baltimore
• Anna A. Mahaney—Baltimore
• Tina R. Makoulian—Philadelphia
• Amy M. McClain—Baltimore
• Bart I. Mellits—Philadelphia
• Michael J. Ostermeyer—Phoenix
• Mark Pollak—Baltimore
• Alan S. Ritterband—Philadelphia
• Jennifer Santangelo—Philadelphia
• Brian Schulman—Phoenix
• Lisa Ashley Seeman—Minneapolis
• Laura L. Seidel—Atlanta
• Jacey Skinner—Salt Lake City
• Michael Sklaroff—Philadelphia
• Raymond G. Truitt—Baltimore
• Maulin S. Vidwans—Philadelphia
• James R. Walston—Minneapolis
• Roger D. Winston—Washington, D.C.
• Kelly M. Wrenn—Washington, D.C.

Securities/Capital Markets Law

• Teri M. Guarnaccia—Baltimore
• April Hamlin—Minneapolis
• Robert C. Kim—Las Vegas
• Justin P. Klein—Philadelphia
• Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix

Securities Regulation

• Karen C. McConnell—Phoenix

Securitization and Structured Finance Law

• Mark C. Dietzen—Minneapolis
• Thomas A. Hauser—Baltimore
• L. Frederick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix

Tax Law

• Justin H. Brown—Philadelphia
• Richard L. Catalano—New York
• Jonathan R. Flora—Philadelphia
• Peter D. Hardy—Philadelphia
• Christopher A. Jones—Philadelphia
• L. Frederick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix
• Wendi L. Kotzen—Philadelphia

Trademark Law

• Brian W. LaCorte—Phoenix

Trusts and Estates

• Thomas J. Woessner—Minneapolis
• Mark S. Blaskey—Philadelphia
• Justin H. Brown—Philadelphia
• Justin C. Esposito—Philadelphia
• Ann T. Loftus—Philadelphia
• Marilyn C. Sanborne—Philadelphia
• Heike K. Sullivan—Philadelphia
• Regina O'Brien Thomas—Philadelphia
• L. Frederick Williams, Jr.—Phoenix

The 63 attorneys recognized as Ones to Watch are:

Appellate Practice

• J. Matt Thornton—Minneapolis

Banking and Finance Law

• Brianne Boyle—Baltimore
• Tyler M. Cobb—Phoenix
• Catherine M. LaGrange—Minneapolis
• Daniel J. Nunez—Washington, D.C.
• Nicole Necklas Soraruf—Baltimore

Business Organizations

• Peter A. Hvidston—Minneapolis

Commercial Litigation

• Matthew Cate—Washington, D.C.
• John Hegarty—Denver
• Thomas J. Gallagher IV—Philadelphia
• Chad P. Jimenez—Denver
• Elanor A. Mulhern—Philadelphia
• John W. Scott—Philadelphia
• J. Matt Thornton—Minneapolis
• Jessica C. Watt—Delaware
• Kathryn E. Wendt—Minneapolis

Construction Litigation

• Peter A. Hvidston—Minneapolis

Corporate Law

• Christian R. Barnes—Minneapolis
• Adam J. Chelminiak—Philadelphia
• Kimberly W. Klayman—Philadelphia
• Neal K. Rasmussen—Minneapolis

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

• Brad Gershel—New York
• Brittany M. Giusini-Tsoflias—Delaware
• Mike Kilgarriff—Denver
• Matthew G. Kussmaul—Philadelphia
• Emilia McKee Vassallo—Philadelphia
• Christopher A. Hatfield—Washington, D.C.
• Jessica C. Watt—Delaware

Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law

• Jessica DuBois—Minneapolis

Entertainment and Sports Law

• Maxwell S. Mishkin—Washington, D.C.
• Emmy Parsons—Washington, D.C.

Environmental Law

• Spencer I. Eldred—Los Angeles

Government Relations Practice

• Charles E. Nelson—Minneapolis

Insurance Law

• Brittany M. Wilson—Philadelphia

Intellectual Property Law

• Courtney Adams Thornton—Atlanta
• Brianna Howard—Los Angeles
• Jonas Jarvholm, Ph.D.—Atlanta
• Matthew J. Littlefield—Atlanta
• Benjamin N. Simler—Philadelphia
• Madhundra Sivakumar—Philadelphia
• Alan White, Ph.D.—Atlanta

Land Use and Zoning Law

• Jacob Dachs—Baltimore
• Spencer I. Eldred—Los Angeles
• Jennifer L. Feden—Philadelphia
• Lindsey Parker—Salt Lake City

Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law

• Catherine M. LaGrange—Minneapolis
• Neal K. Rasmussen—Minneapolis

Litigation and Construction Law

• Kathryn E. Wendt—Minneapolis

Litigation—Intellectual Property

• Benjamin N. Simler—Philadelphia
• Madhundra Sivakumar—Philadelphia

Litigation—Labor and Employment

• Elliot I. Griffin—Philadelphia

Litigation—Patent

• Alan White, Ph.D.—Atlanta

Litigation—Real Estate

• Alex Sellke—Minneapolis

Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions—Defendants

• Brianna Howard—Los Angeles

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

• Christian R. Barnes—Minneapolis
• Kimberly W. Klayman—Philadelphia
• Neal K. Rasmussen—Minneapolis

Patent Law

• Matthew J. Littlefield—Atlanta
• Alan White, Ph.D.—Atlanta

Product Liability Litigation—Defendants

• Claudia C. Ionescu—Phoenix

Project Finance Law

• Megan McCarthy—Minneapolis
• John C. Wheatley—Washington, D.C.

Public Finance Law

• Ethan A. Anderson—Denver
• Michael A. Charlebois—Los Angeles
• Tyler M. Cobb—Phoenix
• Megan McCarthy—Minneapolis
• Daniel J. Nunez—Washington, D.C.
• Skye Nickalls—Philadelphia

Real Estate Law

• Dimitrios Angelakos—Philadelphia
• Azer Akhtar—Washington, D.C.
• Brianne Boyle—Baltimore
• Matthew W. Buckley—Minneapolis
• Jacob Dachs—Baltimore
• Ashley E. DeLuca—Philadelphia
• Kyle A. DeThomas—Washington, D.C.
• Spencer I. Eldred—Los Angeles
• Jennifer L. Feden—Philadelphia
• Colin M. Gaynor—Baltimore
• Garland W. Gantt—III—Washington, D.C.
• Courtney E. Hunter—Washington, D.C.
• Peter A. Hvidston—Minneapolis
• Steven P. Mehr—Los Angeles
• Lindsey Parker—Salt Lake City
• Timothy R. Polmateer—Los Angeles
• Alex Sellke—Minneapolis
• Joshua S. Stanley—Salt Lake City
• Kathryn E. Wendt—Minneapolis
• John C. Wheatley—Washington, D.C.
• Jennifer Auger Young—Baltimore

Tax Law

• John C. Wheatley—Washington, D.C.

Technology Law

• Alan White, Ph.D.—Atlanta

The Best Lawyers program is based on peer review. To learn more, please visit the Best Lawyers methodology page, where a full list of 2025 honorees can also be found.

For media inquiries, please contact Will Ashenmacher at 612.371.5792.