Forty-Two Choate Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® 2026

The Best Lawyers in America® has recognized 42 Choate attorneys in its 2026 edition. Recognition in Best Lawyers® is based entirely on peer review and is widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor.

Four partners – Cameron Casey for Nonprofit/Charity Law, Douglas Gooding for Bankruptcy Litigation, Rob Kole for Insurance, and John Ventola for Banking and Finance – are named “Lawyer of the Year” in Boston for their respective practice areas. This recognition is awarded to individual attorneys with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.

Additionally, eight attorneys – Melissa Adams for Patent Law, Daniel Brutti for Patent and IP Litigation, John Calhoun for Commercial and IP Litigation, Kolbie Deamon for Tax Law, Margo Monroe for Patent Law, Kyle Munns for Trusts and Estates, Natalia Smychkovich for Commercial Litigation, and Dana Spigelman for Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity – are listed as “Ones to Watch” in Boston. These awards are given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

More than 20 Choate attorneys have been recognized for over 10 years and many are listed in multiple categories, including:

Antitrust Law – Robert M. Buchanan, Jr.

Antitrust Litigation – Robert M. Buchanan, Jr.

Banking and Finance Law – Dallas Cruz, Scott J. Moore, and John F. Ventola

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law – Douglas R. Gooding, Kevin J. Simard, and John F. Ventola

Bet-the-Company Litigation – Douglas R. Gooding

Biotechnology & Life Sciences – Michael H. Bunis, Brenda Herschbach Jarrell, PhD, Charles E. Lyon, DPhil, Eric J. Marandett, and Paul D. Popeo

Commercial Litigation – Michael H. Bunis, Robert S. Frank, Jr., and Michael T. Gass

Corporate Law – Brian P. Lenihan

Corporate Compliance Law – Michael T. Gass

Corporate Governance Law – Michael T. Gass

Criminal Defense: White Collar – Adam J. Bookbinder and Melissa Bayer Tearney

Employment Law: Management – Alison F. Reif

Health Care Law – Lee S. Feldman and Christine G. Savage

Insurance Law – David A. Attisani and Robert A. Kole

Litigation: Antitrust – Robert M. Buchanan, Jr.

Litigation: Bankruptcy – Douglas R. Gooding and John F. Ventola

Litigation: Intellectual Property – Michael H. Bunis, Robert S. Frank, Jr., Eric J. Marandett, and Paul D. Popeo

Litigation: Patent – Robert S. Frank, Jr. and Eric J. Marandett

Non-Profit/Charity Law – Cameron Casey and Charles A. Cheever

Patent Law – Brenda Herschbach Jarrell, PhD, Charles E. Lyon, DPhil, and Rolando Medina, PhD

Privacy and Data Security Law – Adam J. Bookbinder

Real Estate Law – Gregg B. Cosimi, Brian J. King, and Paul C. Laudano

Securities Regulation – John R. Pitfield

Trade Secrets – Paul D. Popeo

Trusts & Estates – Kristin T. Abati, Marc J. Bloostein, Cameron Casey, Charles A. Cheever, Kimberly E. Cohen, Jennifer S. Ewing, Geoffrey Mason, and Brian W. Monnich

Venture Capital Law – Brian P. Lenihan