(August 20, 2026) – Today, 99 Lathrop GPM attorneys were named to The Best Lawyers in America©, eight of whom were selected as “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas. An additional 35 attorneys were recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2027.

For the prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” ranking, only one attorney receives the annual award per practice area in each Best Lawyers® market. Following are the Lathrop GPM recipients and the areas in which they are being recognized.

Denver, Colo.

Clayton, Mo.

Kansas City, Mo.

Minneapolis, Minn.

San Jose, Calif.

Following are the Lathrop GPM attorneys named to the overall Best Lawyers list for 2027 and the areas in which they are recognized:

Boston, Mass.

Chicago, Ill.

  • Catherine Goldhaber (Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)

Clayton, Mo.

Denver, Colo.

  • Billy F. Jones (Commercial Litigation; Franchise Law; Litigation – Real Estate; Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
  • Dave J. Katalinas (Franchise Law; Real Estate Law)
  • Craig Knobbe (Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships; Corporate Law; Franchise Law)
  • Tom A. Rodriguez (Litigation – Trusts and Estates)
  • Alison E. Zinn (Elder Law; Trusts and Estates)

Kansas City, Mo.

  • Michael J. Abrams (Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation – Insurance; Litigation – Real Estate; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Trade Secrets Law)
  • Robyn L. Anderson (Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law)
  • William Beck (Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law; Insurance Law; Litigation – Environmental; Litigation – Insurance)
  • James B. Betterman (Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates)
  • Rick N. Bien (Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation – ERISA; Litigation – Real Estate)
  • Mark A. Bluhm (Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law)
  • Jean Paul Bradshaw, II (Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Government Relations Practice; Health Care Law; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
  • Mara Cohara (Commercial Litigation)
  • Peter F. Daniel (Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants)
  • Jay Felton (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
  • Bill F. Ford (Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental; Water Law)
  • Brian C. Fries (Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Banking and Finance)
  • David R. Frye (Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
  • Cameron Garrison (Litigation – Intellectual Property)
  • Gretchen M. Gold (Trusts and Estates)
  • Jennifer S. Griffin (Administrative / Regulatory Law; Commercial Litigation)
  • Brian M. Holland (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy)
  • Tedrick A. Housh III (Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment)
  • Terry Kilroy (Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment)
  • Greg B. Kuhn (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law)
  • Tom J. McMahon (Tax Law)
  • Rosalee McNamara (Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management)
  • Sarah E. Millin (Litigation – Insurance)
  • Steve G. Mitchell (Real Estate Law)
  • James Moloney (Banking and Finance Law)
  • Bernie J. Rhodes (First Amendment Law; Litigation – First Amendment)
  • Jerry D. Riffel (Gaming Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law)
  • Bridget Romero (Litigation – Labor and Employment)
  • Jack D. Rowe (Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment)
  • Ben C. Struby (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Bankruptcy)
  • Michel A. Thompson (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law)
  • Kim Winter (Insurance Law)
  • Issaku Yamaashi (Corporate Law; Real Estate Law; Securities / Capital Markets Law)
  • Beckie S. Yocum (Employment Law – Individuals; Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Litigation – Real Estate)

Los Angeles, Calif.

Minneapolis, Minn.

Overland Park, Kan.

Redwood Shores, Calif.

San Jose, Calif.

St. Cloud, Minn.

Washington, D.C.

The “Ones to Watch” list recognizes attorneys, who are earlier in their careers, for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Following are the 35 Lathrop GPM attorneys being honored for their early career achievements and the practice areas in which they are recognized:

Chicago, Ill.

Clayton, Mo.

Dallas, Texas

Denver, Colo.

  • Blaine Bengtson (Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Securities / Capital Markets Law)
  • Casey C. Breese (Commercial Litigation; Elder Law; Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Real Estate Law)
  • Joey W. Mark (Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Real Estate)

Kansas City, Mo.

Minneapolis, Minn.

Redwood Shores, Calif.

Sacramento, Calif.

San Jose, Calif.

St. Cloud, Minn.

Washington, D.C.

Best Lawyers recognizes legal excellence. First published in 1983, The Best Lawyers in America© list utilizes a national survey of lawyers created to capture the professional abilities from peers and colleagues. Lathrop GPM attorneys are chosen regularly for this highly respected and published ranking.