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We’re proud to announce that nine Morgan & Morgan lawyers received Best Lawyers® commendations for their work over the past year. The honor, published online and in print in over sixty countries globally, has been bestowed upon only the most deserving lawyers by Best Lawyers since 1983.
Kathryn E. Barnett, who has been listed by Best Lawyers in America© for eight consecutive years, was further honored with a “Lawyer of the Year” award. Only one “Lawyer of the Year” award per geographic area is given out for a practice area based on the highest rated peer evaluations. Kathryn, a Managing Partner of Morgan & Morgan’s Nashville office, received the award for her work in plaintiffs’ product liability litigation for the second time. She was additionally listed in Best Lawyers in America for her work in plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation. Kathryn has been taking on insurance companies and big business for nearly twenty years. As lead trial counsel she has won multiple seven and eight-figure settlements for her clients including two class action lawsuits that ended in $120 million settlements.
With over sixty years of cumulative Best Lawyers listings, the nine Morgan & Morgan lawyers range from first time recipient Brandon R. Scheele to ten-year Best Lawyers veterans Keith R. Mitnik, Paul L. Sangiovanni, Alexander Murphree Clem, and Matthew B. Wheeley. Also listed in this year’s Best Lawyers in America were multiple-year recipients Rebecca K. Halberg, John W. Dill, and James G. Biggart. The nine lawyers listed received honors for six different legal practice areas: insurance litigation, workers’ compensation law, plaintiffs’ product liability litigation, construction litigation and both defendants’ and plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation.
The Best Lawyers in America listings are determined by peer-review and analysis. “The methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.” Lawyers, clients and legal marketing teams all participate in the survey, which asks participants how likely they would be to recommend a nominated lawyer. The process is both thorough and extensive, consisting of more than 6.7 million evaluations this past year alone.
More About the Lawyers
Listed in order of frequency on the Best Lawyers list
[ 13 ] Alexander Murphree Clem, a lawyer for twenty-seven years, is receiving his thirteenth Best Lawyers commendation for his work in Personal Injury Litigation. Alexander has obtained numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts, including verdicts for $19 million and $26 million.
[ 12 ] 2017 marks Matthew B. Wheeley's twelfth year receiving a Best Lawyers commendation. Matthew, an attorney for 25 years and a member of Florida Workers Advocates, received this year’s honor for his work in workers’ compensation law.
[ 11 ] Keith Mitnik is Senior Trial Lawyer for Morgan & Morgan, P.A. He has a storied career that includes high profile celebrity cases as well as seven and eight-figure settlements. This is his eleventh Best Lawyers honor, received for his work in plaintiffs’ personal injury litigation.
[ 10 ] With twenty-five years of experience in complex trial practice, Paul L. Sangiovanni has earned his tenth Best Lawyers honor for his work in construction law litigation. His expertise in commercial and construction matters make him an invaluable asset to Morgan & Morgan.
[ 6 ] John W. Dill has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in the country, winning his clients over $140 million dollars in verdicts and settlements. He was recognized this year for his work in plaintiffs’ injury litigation, making for his sixth Best Lawyers recognition.
[ 5 ] James G. Biggart has extensive experience in lawsuits involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful death. This is his fifth Best Lawyers commendation, received for his work in defendants’ personal injury litigation.
[ 3 ] This will be Rebecca K. Halberg’s third year listed in Best Lawyers in America. Rebecca received this year’s commendation for her work in workers’ compensation law. Rebecca is new to Morgan & Morgan. We could not be more happy to have her and her insight into employers and insurance companies.
[ 1 ] Brandon R. Scheele has tried over 60 jury trials to verdict, including several wrongful death cases, quadriplegic cases and other serious injury cases. One of Mr. Scheele’s recent trials resulted in a $41 million verdict in favor of a quadriplegic who was involved in a very serious car accident. This is his first Best Lawyers commendation. We’re willing to bet it’s not his last.