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Additional recognitions include “Lawyer of the Year,” “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America” and "Top-Listed Ones to Watch" Awards

Buffalo, N.Y. – Phillips Lytle LLP is pleased to announce that 54 of the firm’s attorneys have been ranked in The Best Lawyers in America 2025, six of whom have earned “Lawyer of the Year” recognition. Additionally, 24 attorneys have been named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list, and two practices received “Top-Listed Ones to Watch” Awards.

The following Phillips Lytle attorneys are cited as 2025 “Lawyer of the Year”:

• Angela Zwirecki Miller, Buffalo, NY (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• Danielle M. Rizzo, Buffalo, NY (Immigration Law)
• David J. Murray, Buffalo, NY (Health Care Law)
• Kenneth A. Manning, Buffalo, NY (Litigation - Municipal)
• Kevin M. Hogan, Buffalo, NY (Environmental Law; Litigation - Environmental)
• Sharon L. Wick, Buffalo, NY (Litigation - Trusts and Estates)

Two Phillips Lytle practices received “Top-Listed Ones to Watch” Award designations. This honor is given to the firm with the most recognized lawyers in a particular location and practice area.

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America - Banking and Finance Law in Rochester: Five attorneys
• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America - Commercial Litigation in Buffalo: Seven attorneys

Attorneys ranked as The Best Lawyers in America for 2025 include:

Buffalo

• Holly A. Beecher (Trusts and Estates)
• Lucy Berkman (Trusts and Estates)
• Kristen M. Birmingham (Corporate Law)
• Joel A. Blanchet (Product Liability Litigation - Defendants)
• Edward S. Bloomberg (Commercial Litigation)
• Glenn J. Bobeck (Corporate Law)
• Alan J. Bozer (Appellate Practice; Criminal Defense: White Collar)
• William J. Brown (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• Craig R. Bucki (Litigation – Municipal)
• William D. Christ (Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product
• Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• James J. Contino (Real Estate Law)
• Douglas W. Dimitroff (Real Estate Law)
• Deborah A. Doxey (Banking and Finance Law)
• Kevin J. English (Commercial Litigation)
• David P. Flynn (Environmental Law)
• James R. Grasso (Employment Law – Management; Labor Law – Management)
• Kevin M. Hogan (Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental)
• William P. Keefer (Health Care Law)
• David H. Kernan (Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law)
• Ryan A. Lema (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
• Amanda L. Lowe (Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Labor and Employment; Personal Injury Litigation -
  Defendants)
• Kenneth A. Manning (Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Litigation – Municipal; Litigation and Controversy – Tax; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants; Mediation; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
• Lisa McDougall (Health Care Law)
• David J. McNamara (Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Banking and Finance)
• Sean C. McPhee (Commercial Litigation)
• Angela Zwirecki Miller (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• David J. Murray (Corporate Law; Health Care Law)
• Kimberly R. Nason (Land Use and Zoning Law)*
• John A. Pappano (Real Estate Law)
• Michael B. Powers (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
• Zabrina V. Reich (Immigration Law)*
• Danielle M. Rizzo (Immigration Law)
• John G. Schmidt Jr. (Commercial Litigation)
• Ronald S. Shubert (Litigation – Real Estate; Real Estate Law)
• Lisa L. Smith (Mass Tort Litigation /Class Actions - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• James W. Smyton (Corporate Law)
• Adam S. Walters (Environmental Law; Land Use and Zoning Law; Real Estate Law)
• Sharon L. Wick (Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates)
• Preston L. Zarlock (Commercial Litigation)

Rochester

• Richard M. Beers, Jr. (Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law)
• David L. Cook (Commercial Litigation; Environmental Law; Litigation – Environmental; Litigation – Real Estate)
• Victoria L. Grady (Banking and Finance Law)
• Anthony Iacchetta (Real Estate Law)*
• Ryan A. Lown (Real Estate Law)
• Kevin J. Mulvehill (Employment Law - Management)*
• Linda T. Prestegaard (Employment Law – Individuals; Employment Law – Management)
• Nicholas C. Roberts (Commercial Litigation)
• Raymond L. Ruff (Banking and Finance Law)

New York City

• Kenneth R. Crystal (Real Estate Law)
• Eric M. Kraus (Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants)

Jamestown

• Gregory L. Peterson (Real Estate Law)

Albany

• Marc H. Goldberg (Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants)
• Richard E. Honen (Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law; Venture Capital Law)
• Todd A. Ritschdorff (Commercial Litigation)*

The following attorneys were named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America list:

• Jeremy M. Amar-Dolan, Buffalo, NY (Commercial Litigation)
• Samuel Borbor-Sawyer, Buffalo, NY (Commercial Litigation)
• Anthony M. Carello, Rochester, NY (Real Estate Law)
• Catherine N. (Eisenhut) Cervone, Buffalo, NY (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• Rosario Chetta, Buffalo, NY (Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants)
• Erin E. Connare, Buffalo, NY (Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• Benjamin Cranston, Buffalo, NY (Trusts and Estates)
• Andrew P. Devine, Buffalo, NY (Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Banking and Finance; Litigation – Real Estate)
• Jillian M. Dunbar, Rochester, NY (Banking and Finance Law)
• Matthew J. Fitzgerald, Buffalo, NY (Environmental Law; Land Use and Zoning Law)
• Joshua Glasgow, Buffalo, NY (Commercial Litigation)
• F. Kenneth Graham, Buffalo, NY (Corporate Governance and Compliance Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law)*
• Lindsey E. Haubenreich, Buffalo, NY (Environmental Law)
• Julia J. Henrichs, Rochester, NY (Real Estate Law)*
• Timothy P. Kucinski, Buffalo, NY (Corporate Law)
• Robert J. MacClaren, Rochester, NY (Banking and Finance Law)
• Allen Major, New York, NY (Real Estate Law)*
• Natalia Marte, Buffalo, NY (Commercial Litigation)*
• Matthew McClellan, Rochester, NY (Banking and Finance Law)*
• Alson James McKenna, Rochester, NY (Banking and Finance Law)
• Timothy P. Moriarty, Buffalo, NY (Real Estate Law)
• Erinn Prestidge, Rochester, NY (Banking and Finance Law)*
• David L. Principe, Buffalo, NY (Patent Law)
• Jacob S. Sonner, Buffalo, NY (Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)

Both clients and legal professionals widely regard recognition by Best Lawyers® as a significant honor conferred on a lawyer by their peers. For more than 40 years, the publications have earned the respect of the profession, media and public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals anywhere. These recognitions are based entirely on peer review, capturing the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical and legal practice areas. In 2025, Best Lawyers analyzed over 23 million evaluations, resulting in nearly 80,000 recognized lawyers in 150 practice areas. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America highlights over 26,000 of the next generation of legal leaders in 79 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.

*Denotes newly listed attorneys for 2025.

Phillips Lytle LLP is a preeminent law firm that is recognized nationally for its legal excellence. With offices across New York State and in Chicago, IL; Washington, D.C.; and Canada, our attorneys serve a multinational client base, including Fortune 1000 companies, global and regional financial institutions, not-for-profit organizations, middle-market companies, startups, entrepreneurs and individuals on important matters affecting their businesses and personal wealth. For more information, visit phillipslytle.com.