SAN DIEGO (August 20, 2020): Twenty-three Higgs Fletcher & Mack (HFM) attorneys have been named to the 2021 list of “Best Lawyers in America^©” and seven attorneys were named to the publication’s “Ones to Watch” list. In addition, HFM Partners James Harrigan and William Low earned the “Lawyer of the Year” distinction.

Best Lawyers in America are designated through a peer-review process. Attorneys are divided by geographic region and practice areas and then reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise. For the first time, Best Lawyers® has also created a “Ones to Watch” list, recognizing lawyers who have been in private practice between five and ten years.  According to the publication, the list highlights the most promising younger lawyers in the United States.

The following HFM Attorneys were named to the 2021 Best Lawyers in America list:

• Roland H. Achtel (Litigation – Trusts and Estates)
• Susan E. Basinger (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• Douglas M. Butz (Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
• Steven J. Cologne (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants)
• Christine De Santis (Family Law)
• Peter S. Doody (Insurance Law, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• Mitchell B. Dubick (Tax Law)
• Martin A. Eliopulos (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• Alexis S. Gutierrez (Commercial Litigation)
• Susan M. Hack (Insurance Law)
• James G. Harrigan (Corporate Law, Health Care Law)
• Daniel C. Herbert (Family Law)
• Kenneth C. Jones (Real Estate Law)
• Paul J. Leeds (Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law)
• William M. Low (Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• Susan A. Mercure (Trusts and Estates)
• John M. Morris (Appellate Practice)
• Timothy S. Noon (Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants)
• Bruce M. O’Brien (Tax Law, Trusts and Estates)
• James M. Peterson (Litigation – Labor and Employment)
• Paul J. Pfingst (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• John J. Rice (Criminal Defense – White Collar)
• Donald K. Sheppard (Immigration Law)
• Brian P. Tsu (Tax Law, Trusts and Estates)

The following HFM Attorneys were named to the 2021 Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” list:

• Nicholas D. Brauns (Commercial Litigation)
• Zane A. Bryant (Immigration Law), )
• Joseph J. Kagan (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants)
• Joshua P. Katz (Tax Law)
• Jamie M. Ritterbeck (Commercial Litigation)
• Jacob T. Spaid (Commercial Litigation)
• Justine K. Wong (Intellectual Property Law)

Partner James G. Harrigan was named as a “Lawyer of the Year” in Health Care Law, and Partner William M. Low was named as a “Lawyer of the Year” in the category of Product Liability Litigation – Defendants.

Lawyer of the Year recognition is also based on peer review and is awarded to individual attorneys with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area in a geographic region. Only one attorney is recognized for each specialty and location.

“It is a true honor for so many HFM attorneys to be recognized as Best Lawyers for 2021, particularly as this recognition is based on a peer-to-peer review system,” said Steve Cologne, HFM’s Managing Partner, who was named to the Best Lawyers in America list. “I congratulate all of the fine attorneys named to the 2021 Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch lists.”

Best Lawyers was founded in 1981 with a purpose of “highlighting the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession,” and the Best Lawyers in America list has been published for over three decades.

About Higgs Fletcher Mack

Higgs Fletcher & Mack is a multi-practice law firm that serves diverse individuals and industries. For 80 years, the firm has worked tirelessly with companies and people that need legal counsel and representation in and out of the courtroom. Higgs Fletcher & Mack’s more than 75 attorneys have experience in multiple fields of law, and its internal network of legal professionals frequently coordinate in practice area groups that have multi-disciplinary dimensions, helping clients make a more informed decision. The firm is actively recruiting partner-level talent in complimentary practice areas to provide legal expertise in the San Diego region and beyond.