Two named 'Lawyer of the Year'

Motley Rice is proud to announce the recognition of 51 attorneys in the 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®. According to Best Lawyers, these guides “highlight outstanding legal talent,” and represent 5% of lawyers in the country.

Two of our attorneys were named "Lawyer of the Year" for their achievements:

  • Donald A. Migliori:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs in Charleston, S.C.
  • Louis Bograd:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs in Washington, D.C.

"Lawyer of the Year" honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region based on feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.

We extend our congratulations to the following lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers.

2025 Best Lawyer Selectees:

Hartford, Conn.

  • William H. Narwold: Antitrust Law; Litigation - Banking and Finance / Mergers and Acquisitions / Securities

Washington, D.C.

  • Louis Bograd: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Nathan D. Finch: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Mimi Y. Liu: Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Linda Singer: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Elizabeth Smith:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Cherry Hill, N.J.

New York, N.Y.

  • Michael M. Buchman:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Rebecca M. Katz:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Philadelphia, Pa.

  • Michael Daly:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Providence, RI

  • Fidelma L. Fitzpatrick:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Vincent L. Greene IV:  Consumer Protection Law; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Robert J. McConnell:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Jonathan D. Orent:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

Mount Pleasant, S.C.

  • John A. Baden IV:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Kimberly Barone Baden:  Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Frederick C. Baker:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Kevin R. Dean:  Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Michael E. Elsner:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Jodi Westbrook Flowers:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • John E. Herrick: Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • T. David Hoyle:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Anne McGinness Kearse:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Marlon E. Kimpson: Litigation – Securities; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Securities / Capital Markets Law
  • James W. Ledlie:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Gregg S. Levin:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Donald A. Migliori: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Joseph F. Rice:  Corporate Governance Law; Government Relations Practice; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Mary F. Schiavo:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Carmen S. Scott: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Fred Thompson III:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs

“Ones to Watch” Selectees 

Washington, D.C.

  • Previn Warren:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Providence, R.I.

Mount Pleasant, S.C.

  • Andrew P. Arnold:  Litigation - Securities
  • Grace P. Chandler:  Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Monique A. Christenson:  Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Meredith Kay Clark:  Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Sara O. Couch:  Litigation – Securities; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Olutola “Tola” Familoni:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Jade Haileselassie:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Annie Kouba:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Temitope “Tope” O. Leyimu:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • P. Graham Maiden:  Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • John David O'Neill:  Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Ann E. Rice Ervin:  Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Laura Stemkowski:  Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
  • Meredith B. Weatherby:  Litigation – Securities; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
  • Erin Casey Williams:  Litigation - Securities

Morgantown, W.Va.

About Best Lawyers

For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services identify qualified lawyers. According to Best Lawyers, “Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.” Read more about Best Lawyers methodology. 

"Lawyer of the Year" recognition is given to only one lawyer per practice area in each region who has extremely high overall feedback from their peers.

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch includes lawyers who have been in private practice for less than 10 years in the United States. Like traditional Best Lawyers listings, a Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch listing is based entirely on peer review.

Learn more about Connecticut-specific methodology.