Eleven Vorys Attorneys Recognized as 2027 Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year"

The 2027 edition of Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” list includes 11 Vorys attorneys from three offices. Only one attorney from each city can be named “Lawyer of the Year” for a given practice area. According to Best Lawyers, the “Lawyer of the Year” list reflects “a high level of respect among other lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, professionalism and integrity.”

Read more about the Vorys attorneys recognized as “Lawyers of the Year” below.

Columbus

Dave Cook, leader of the firm’s Immigration practice, has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year in Immigration Law. His practice focuses on the representation of businesses and individuals in all areas of immigration and naturalization law. Dave serves as Honorary Consul of Japan in Columbus. He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has served on a number of national and Ohio chapter committees. Dave frequently presents on employment-related visa and immigration matters and immigration compliance.
Perry Doran II has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants. He has represented and defended manufacturers and suppliers in toxic tort, chemical exposure and asbestos litigation throughout Ohio, where he has successfully resolved tens of thousands of cases through trial, dispositive motion practice and/or settlement. Perry also has significant experience defending builders and gas well operators.
Judy Marsh has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year in Franchise Law. As a member of the firm’s nationally recognized retail practice, she represents franchisors in the development and structuring of franchise systems, including preparation of franchise agreements, franchise disclosure documents and in dealings with their franchisees, as well as purchasers of franchise systems and multi-unit franchisees.

William Porter has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year in Bet-the-Company Litigation. He has more than 35 years of experience with complex litigation, leading trial teams, litigating and trying cases on behalf of public and private corporations and their directors and officers, including class actions and injunctions in federal and state courts. Bill has litigated on legal topics including construction, products liability, health care, corporate, banking, fiduciary and commercial matters.

Greg Russell, a leader of the firm’s energy practice, has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year for Energy Law. For more than 30 years, he has been advising producers and pipeline operators in Ohio on business and regulatory matters, ranging from asset transactions to unit operations and development, to leasehold and royalty disputes. Greg's practice frequently involves appearing before state and federal courts and regulatory agencies.

Kristin Watt, the immediate past leader of the environmental group, has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year for Environmental Law. Her practice focuses on environmental compliance and counseling, enforcement defense and order negotiation, environmental audits, permitting issues and Brownfield redevelopment. She has worked extensively in the areas of solid and hazardous waste, petroleum underground storage tanks, NPDES permits, wetlands and environmental investigation/remediation.

Akron

Jacinto Núñez has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Akron Lawyer of the Year for Real Estate Law. He advises clients on many aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including acquiring and selling real estate; ground, retail, industrial and office leasing; development; financing; oil and gas leasing and title; and other real estate matters. In addition to his general real estate practice, Jacinto is actively involved in the firm’s economic development incentives practice.

Elia Woyt has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Akron Lawyer of the Year for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He has significant experience representing creditors and other parties in bankruptcy proceedings, receiverships and commercial litigation matters and Elia also counsels clients on debt restructurings, the sales and purchases of financially distressed businesses and sales and purchases of loans.

Cincinnati

Kent Britt has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Cincinnati Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – ERISA. He has significant experience representing clients in ERISA-based litigation, including successfully defending large health insurers against ERISA claims on numerous occasions. Kent’s practice also includes representing clients in 3PL, complex commercial, banking, insurance, construction, employment, and shareholder derivative and fiduciary duty litigation.
Anthony Osterlund has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Cincinnati Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – Real Estate. He represents governmental, public, and private entities, including county commissioners, Ohio townships, county boards, water and sewer districts, public transit systems, in state and federal courts throughout the country. Tony’s practice includes disputes involving environmental litigation, federal and state citizen suits, federal consent decrees and governmental disputes.

Victor Walton, Jr. has been named the 2027 Best Lawyers’ Cincinnati Lawyer of the Year for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law. His practice focuses on business counseling and commercial litigation. Victor has significant experience defending government contractors and health care entities in proceedings brought under the False Claims Act (FCA) by the government or whistleblowers. He also represents a broad array of clients in civil, criminal and regulatory government investigations as well as conducting corporate internal investigations.

More Than 170 Vorys Attorneys Named to the 2027 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® Lists; read the firm's press release.