The Best Lawyers in America© has selected eight Kutak Rock partners as “Lawyer of the Year” for 2019. This designation goes above and beyond traditional inclusion and is based upon the individual with the highest overall peer feedback in a specific practice area and metropolitan region. The distinction reflects an extraordinary level of respect that an attorney has earned among his or her peers. This year, recognitions were awarded in 133 practice areas across 183 metropolitan regions.

The firm's "Lawyer of the Year" designations for 2019 are:

Georgia

Atlanta

David Amsden: Public Finance Law

Mr. Amsden is Vice Chair of the firm. He concentrates his practice in public finance with an emphasis on single-family housing, multifamily housing and tax allocation district finance. He currently serves as ongoing bond counsel to six state and two local housing finance authorities, and regularly represents regional and national investment banking firms in transactions for numerous state and local housing finance authorities

Arkansas

Little Rock

H. Watt Gregory III: Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Since 1969 Mr. Gregory’s practice has been concentrated in business development and finance, including handling initial public offerings and issuance of other equity and debt securities in the public markets. He also provides lead counsel services in mergers and acquisitions of public and private companies, and in private equity and venture capital-related financings involved in business formation and development.

Randal B. Frazier: Land Use and Zoning Law

Mr. Frazier has represented banks, lending institutions, real estate developers, wireless communication companies and other clients in a variety of transactional and litigation matters. He has extensive experience in commercial lending, real estate acquisition, real estate finance, land use and zoning and other complex commercial, banking and land use matters and is counsel to numerous financial institutions, real estate developers and corporate clients.

Edward T. Oglesby: Litigation – Insurance

Mr. Oglesby has extensive litigation experience as both a plaintiff and defense counsel in the areas of product liability, insurance coverage disputes, construction, contract and general litigation matters.

Nebraska

Omaha

Jeremy T. Fitzpatrick: Construction Law

Mr. Fitzpatrick focuses his practice on construction law. He represents contractors, owners and design professionals in all aspects of construction disputes. He also assists clients with negotiating contracts and managing the risk elements in construction transactions.

Jeffrey T. Wegner: Litigation – Bankruptcy

Mr. Wegner has 30 years of experience representing banks, institutional lenders, landlords and lessors in Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. He has appeared in business bankruptcy cases in over 40 jurisdictions on behalf of the firm’s clients.

Michael G. Mullin: Mediation

Mr. Mullin has extensive litigation experience and has tried to conclusion more than 50 jury trials and numerous bench trials in cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, toxic tort and insurance coverage disputes. He has successfully handled numerous appeals to the Nebraska Court of Appeals, the Nebraska Supreme Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Mullin has served as a mediator in over 3,000 disputes. He regularly mediates over 300 disputes per year across the United States.

Missouri

Springfield

Randell D. Wallace: Real Estate Law

Mr. Wallace counsels local, regional and national developers, lenders, healthcare and educational institutions in real estate acquisition and divestiture, planning and zoning matters, economic development and redevelopment incentives, lending transactions, foreclosure, bankruptcy and workouts, leasing, and condominium formation and operation. He is a graduate of professional law practice management coaching and a veteran of decades of service to business and non-profit institutions. He brings his wealth of legal and managerial experience to his frequent role as outside general counsel to many clients.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected attorney ranking service in the world. For more than 30 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the attorneys best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers lists are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.