The Best Lawyers in America® has selected 43 Kutak Rock attorneys as “Ones to Watch,” an award initiative created in 2021. Using the same Purely Peer Review™ methodology as traditional Best Lawyers recognitions, this designation targets attorneys who have been in private practice for fewer than 10 years and are known for their outstanding professional excellence. The sixth edition of “Ones to Watch” recognizes lawyers practicing in the United States in nearly 25 practice areas.
The Firm’s “Ones to Watch” designations for 2026 are:
Arizona
Scottsdale
Sierra M. Belisle (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Verity G. Kang (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Lori N. Rush
Real Estate Law
Arkansas
Little Rock
Jacob B. Hill (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Pierce G. Hunter
Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
Corporate Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Securities/Capital Markets Law
Rogers
William J. Swartzwelder
Corporate Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
California
Los Angeles
David M. Mnatsakanyan (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Colorado
Denver
L. Hunter Maude (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Elizabeth A. Partlow (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Transportation Law
Aren A. Sharifi (first time listed)
Corporate Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Florida
Tallahassee
Bennett Davenport (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Ryan J. Dugan (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Kate V. John (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Kyle M. Magee (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Georgia
Atlanta
Sarah L. Gregg (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Real Estate Law
Charlotte L. Luu (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Jessica L. Nichols (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Illinois
Chicago
Nicholas Carson
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Kansas
Wichita
Jason D. Stitt
Labor and Employment Law – Management
Minnesota
Minneapolis
Madaline J. Simon (first time listed)
Health Care Law
Public Finance Law
Missouri
Kansas City
Grant E. Berning (first time listed)
Banking and Finance Law
Nicholas R. Boyle (first time listed)
Banking and Finance Law
Public Finance Law
Ryan S. Hinderliter
Intellectual Property Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Patent Law
Curtis M.D. Kaine
Banking and Finance Law
Public Finance Law
Evan A. Kallsen (first time listed)
Corporate Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Jason Kotlyarov
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Tax Law
Taylor M. Meeks
Banking and Finance Law
Scott J. Strohm
Commercial Litigation
Intellectual Property Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Patent Law
Anastasia R. Weston
Banking and Finance Law
Real Estate Law
Springfield
Ariel M. Sparrow (first time listed)
Corporate Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Real Estate Law
Nebraska
Omaha
Brett Bruneteau
Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
Corporate Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Maxwell T. Crawford
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Meaghan M. Gandy
Labor and Employment Law – Management
Wesley A. Goranson
Real Estate Law
Caitlin Gustafson
Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
Corporate Law
Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Jed J. Herblan
Public Finance Law
Steven R. Hogan
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Oliver M. Hopkins
Tax Law
M. Tyler Johnson
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Corporate Law
Intellectual Property Law
Real Estate Law
Daniel S. Leddy
Tax Law
Benjamin R. Myer (first time listed)
Public Finance Law
Robert J. Toth II
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Litigation – Labor and Employment
Washington
Spokane
Alexander P. Fern
Education Law
Municipal Law
About Best Lawyers®
For 40 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.