Akron, OH – August 20, 2026 – Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLC is proud to announce that 42 of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, including four distinguished “Lawyer of the Year” recipients and six 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.
2027 “Lawyer of the Year” Honorees
- Steven A. Dimengo – Tax Law in Akron, Ohio
- Jon R. Stefanik II – Business Organizations (including LLC and Partnerships) in Akron, Ohio
- Jude B. Streb – Litigation – Insurance in Akron, Ohio
- Dustin J. Vrabel – Mergers and Acquisitions Law in Akron, Ohio
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.
2027 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
Recognizing attorneys for outstanding professional excellence early in their careers:
Akron, OH
- Joseph Zahn – Litigation – Trusts and Estates
Cleveland, OH
- Jacob Kelly – Business Organizations (including LLs and Partnerships), Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Matthew D. Smith – Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
- Oliver Thomas – Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Tax 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.
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
- 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
- Alex Quay – Litigation – Construction, Litigation – Real Estate
- Susan C. Rodgers – Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Edward F. Smith – Corporate Law
- 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
- Justin Greenfelder – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Health Care
- Jeffrey A. Halm – Trusts and Estates
- Joshua E. O’Farrell – Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Oil and Gas Law
- John J. Rambacher – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Real Estate Law, Trusts and Estates
- Robert E. Roland – Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law
- 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. – Health Care Law, 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
- Patrick J. Egan – Tax Law
- Michael A. Ellis – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions 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
- Elizabeth Klucher Reynolds – Trusts and Estates
- 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, Litigation – Real Estate
- Ronald F. Wayne – Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates
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.