Akron, OH – August 22, 2025 – Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC is proud to announce that 42 of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America®, including two distinguished “Lawyer of the Year” recipients and seven attorneys named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™.
This prestigious recognition reflects the firm’s continued commitment to excellence, leadership, and client service across a wide range of legal practices.
2026 Lawyer of the Year Honorees
- Richard B. Fry – Tax Law
- Susan C. Rodgers – Litigation – Labor and Employment
The “Lawyer of the Year” award is presented to individual attorneys with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.
2026 Ones to Watch in America Honorees
Recognizing attorneys for outstanding professional excellence early in their careers:
Akron, OH
- Nathan Fulmer – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
- Joseph Zahn – Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Cleveland, OH
- Jacob Kelly – Business Organizations, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Matthew D. Smith – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
- Sydney Stroia – Business Organizations, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Torrin K. Treu – Health Care Law, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Christina Williams – Commercial Litigation, Communications Law, Privacy and Data Security Law
Firmwide Recognition
Buckingham attorneys were recognized across a broad spectrum of practice areas including Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, Tax Law, Health Care Law, Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates, and more. This year’s honorees represent the firm’s offices in Akron, Canton, and Cleveland, Ohio.
“We are honored to see so many of our attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers,” said Steve Dimengo, Managing Partner of Buckingham. “These accolades reflect the dedication, talent, and integrity our team brings to every client and case.”
The full list of recognized attorneys is below.
Akron, OH
- William L. Caplan – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Commercial Litigation, Environmental Law, Real Estate Law
- Steven A. Dimengo – Commercial Litigation, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
- Richard B. Fry – Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax Law
- Nicholas T. George – Real Estate Law*
- Stephen M. Hammersmith – Banking and Finance Law
- Patrick J. Keating – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy
- James D. Kraus – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law
- Robert W. Malone – Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Mergers and Acquisitions Law Tax Law
- Christopher Niekamp – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law
- Patricia A. Pacenta – Trusts and Estates
- Susan C. Rodgers – Employment Law – Management Labor Law – Management Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Jon R. Stefanik – II Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) Corporate Law Mergers and Acquisitions Law Tax Law
- Michael L. Wear – Trusts and Estates
- Patrick J. Weschler – Trusts and Estates
Canton, OH
- Joseph J. Feltes – Health Care Law
- Justin Greenfelder – Commercial Litigation
- Jeffrey A. Halm – Trusts and Estates
- Joshua E. O’Farrell – Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Oil and Gas Law
- Robert E. Roland – Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Mark J. Skakun III – Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent Product Liability, Litigation – Defendants
- Jude B. Streb – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Insurance, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
- Dustin J. Vrabel – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
Cleveland, OH
- John F. Bodie, Jr. – Litigation – Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- Alan P. Di Girolamo – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Carl J. Dyczek – Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law
- Michael A. Ellis – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law
- William H. Falin – Commercial Litigation
- Victor T. Geraci – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management
- Stephen H. Jett – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Real Estate
- David J. Lindner – Real Estate Law
- Dirk E. Riemenschneider – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Timothy A. Spirko – Health Care Law, Litigation – Health Care, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- John Swansinger – Litigation – Construction
- Kris H. Treu – Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Ronald F. Wayne – Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
*We would like to take a moment to honor the memory of Nick George, who was posthumously recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America®. His inclusion in this year’s list is a reflection of the extraordinary legal career he built and the lasting impact he made on our firm, our clients, and the legal community.
About Buckingham
Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC is a full-service business law firm with offices in Akron, Canton, and Cleveland, Ohio. For over a century, Buckingham has provided trusted legal counsel to businesses, institutions, and individuals throughout the region.