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Six Lewis Rice Attorneys Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers®

Best Lawyers in America® has named St. Louis members Thomas C. Erb, John M. Hessel, Frank B. Janoski, Joseph E. Martineau, and Richard B. Walsh, Jr. and Kansas City member Charles F. Miller among their "Lawyers of the Year" for 2016. Best Lawyers compiles lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. Only one attorney in each practice area and designated metropolitan area may receive the honor of "Lawyer of the Year."

Click here to view the list of Lewis Rice Best Lawyers.

Thomas C. Erb, St. Louis Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year

Chairman of Lewis Rice, Tom advises both public and private companies on mergers, asset and stock acquisitions and sales, consolidations, reorganizations, recapitalizations, and similar transactions. He has counseled both buyers and sellers in M&A transactions spanning numerous industries including agriculture, manufacturing, technology, banking, consumer goods, and service industries. Tom has extensive experience assisting companies acquiring assets in distressed situations, and he works closely with our restructuring and workout group in such transactions. Best Lawyers has included him in its annual list since 2007.

John M. Hessel, St. Louis Municipal Lawyer of the Year

John represents business clients across the country. His diverse practice allows him to handle negotiations, litigation, arbitrations, and mediations involving contractual issues, intellectual property, complex litigation matters, and class actions. He is a frequent speaker on municipal law and media law issues. John previously received the "Lawyer of the Year" award for municipal law in 2011, 2013, and 2015 and for First Amendment litigation in 2014. Best Lawyers has included him in its annual list since 2009.

Frank B. Janoski, St. Louis Copyright Lawyer of the Year

Frank represents companies and individuals in areas of technology including software, wires and cables, printing processes, plastics, injection molding, mechanical machines, sporting goods and games, chemical products, business method patents, biotechnology, and many others. As a guest lecturer at St. Louis University and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he regularly speaks and writes on IP topics. Best Lawyers has included Frank in its annual list since 2008.

Joseph E. Martineau, St. Louis Litigation - First Amendment Lawyer of the Year

Joe focuses his practice on media and communications law as well as intellectual property law, health law litigation, and complex commercial litigation. His clients include local and national major media representatives. Joe writes articles and publications in the fields of defamation and invasion of privacy law, the First Amendment, and media law in general. He previously was named the Best Lawyers "St. Louis Litigation - First Amendment Lawyer of the Year" for 2012, and he has been included in Best Lawyers' annual list since 2005.

Charles F. Miller, Kansas City Real Estate Lawyer of the Year

The varied nature of Charlie's real estate practice allows him to work on a wide spectrum of real estate projects and issues. He provides thoughtful counsel to clients on development, redevelopment, and development incentives; governmental approvals; planning and zoning; and tax issues. Charlie serves as the Chairman of the Kansas City office's Real Estate Department. Best Lawyers previously recognized him as "Lawyer of the Year" for Real Estate in 2010 and 2015 and for Land Use and Zoning in 2012 and has been listed in Best Lawyers since 1997.

Richard B. Walsh, Jr., St. Louis Litigation - Antitrust Lawyer of the Year

Rick practices primarily in the area of complex commercial litigation including intellectual property, antitrust, and securities litigation. He counsels transactional clients concerning associated risks in commercial transactions. Rick's background includes litigating antitrust claims in the health care, bicycle component, aluminum products, agricultural products, professional sports, and fitness equipment industries. Best Lawyers has included Rick in its annual list since 2008.