Essex Richards, P.A. is pleased to announce that The Best Lawyers© in America has named 14 of its attorneys to the 2025 list in the publication’s newly released 31st edition – Norris Adams, Rob Blair, Jon Buchan, Woody Connette, Heather Culp, John Daniel, Bree Laughrun, Lauren Lewis, John Maheras, Steve Morris, Natalie Potter, Caitlin Walton, Jon Windham, and John Woodman.
Additionally, Woody Connette was named “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.
Best Lawyers© is based on a peer-review survey of over 50,000 attorneys in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and more than 13 million detailed evaluations of lawyers’ legal abilities by other lawyers in their practice areas. Attorneys are not permitted to pay any fee to participate or be included on the lists.
The complete list of the 2025 Essex Richards Best Lawyers© is as follows:
- Norris A. Adams II (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018)
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Employment Law – Individuals
- Litigation – ERISA
- Robert S. Blair, Jr. (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2011)
- Collaborative Law: Family Law
- Family Law
- Family Law Mediation
- Jonathan Edward Buchan (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1991)
- Commercial Litigation
- First Amendment Law
- Litigation – First Amendment
- Media Law
- Trusts and Estates
- Edward G. Connette III (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007)
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Employment Law – Individuals
- Litigation – ERISA
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Heather W. Culp (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2017)
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Bankruptcy
- John T. Daniel (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010)
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Law
- Insurance Law
- Litigation – Construction
- L. Bree Laughrun (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2024)
- Family Law
- Lauren V. Lewis (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2019)
- Collaborative Law: Family Law
- Family Law
- John T. Maheras (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)
- Real Estate Law
- Stephen H. Morris (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2016)
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- Litigation and Controversy – Tax
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
- Natalie Potter (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2020)
- Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Law
- Litigation – Insurance
- Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Caitlin Walton (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2025)
- Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
- Jonathan C. Windham (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2025)
- Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
- John Woodman (Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2023)
- Corporate Law