The Best Lawyers in America© has selected 11 Kutak Rock partners as “Lawyer of the Year” for 2022. This designation goes above and beyond traditional inclusion and is based upon the highest overall peer feedback in a specific practice area and metropolitan region. The “Lawyer of the Year” distinction reflects an extraordinary level of respect that an attorney has earned among his or her peers.
The firm’s “Lawyer of the Year” designations for 2022 are:
Arizona
Scottsdale
Dean M. Dinner: Litigation – Bankruptcy
For more than 30 years, Mr. Dinner has focused his practice on bankruptcy law, creditor-debtor rights, workouts, commercial transactions and commercial litigation. He has represented secured creditors, surety companies, unsecured creditors, creditor committees, lessors, trustees and debtors in Chapter 7, 11, 12 and 13 proceedings.
Arkansas
Little Rock
David A. Smith: Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Mr. Smith concentrates his practice in federal income tax matters, particularly as they relate to complex business and financing transactions. He regularly counsels public and private companies, partnerships, corporate entities, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), pension funds and healthcare organizations.
Gordon M. Wilbourn: Public Finance Law
As a public finance attorney with more than 30 years of experience, Mr. Wilbourn represents a variety of issuers, borrowers, underwriters and trustees in tax-exempt and taxable public finance transactions.
Rogers
L. Kyle Heffley: Litigation – Real Estate
Mr. Heffley focuses his practice on trial work with a special emphasis on healthcare litigation representing numerous healthcare providers in malpractice-related litigation and before licensing boards. He provides extensive experience in real estate litigation, business disputes and employment law matters.
Missouri
Springfield
Dan R. Nelson: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Mr. Nelson practices in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, business and commercial litigation, banking and financial institutions. He has represented secured and unsecured creditors and trustees under Chapters 7, 11, 12 and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.
Randell D. Wallace: Real Estate Law
Mr. Wallace concentrates his practice on counseling 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.
Nebraska
Omaha
Bartholomew L. McLeay: Appellate Practice
For over three decades, Mr. McLeay’s practice has consisted of major commercial litigation, including breach of contract, class action, business torts and intellectual property matters and specialty experience in many different industries, including energy, financial services, construction and agribusiness.
Bryan G. Handlos: Banking and Finance Law
Mr. Handlos focuses his practice on bank regulatory and consumer financial services matters representing banks, nonbank financial services providers and commercial customers acquiring financial services products.
James M. Sulentic: Trademark Law
Jim’s current commercial litigation practice centers around nationwide class-action, multi-defendant, multi-district antitrust cases. As a complement to his commercial litigation practice, Jim has meaningful experience in all aspects of trademark clearance, registration, maintenance and protection, both domestically and abroad.
Jeffrey T. Wegner: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
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. Mr. Wegner is a recognized expert in bankruptcy law.
Virginia
Richmond
Peter J. Barrett: Litigation – Banking and Finance
Mr. Barrett represents unsecured and secured creditors, trustees, lessors, equity holders and corporate debtors in insolvency matters, including Chapter 11 reorganizations, business liquidations and loan workouts. He also represents clients in connection with acquisition of distressed assets and insolvency-related litigation.
About Best Lawyers
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.