Smith Sovik’s peers have recognized sixteen Smith Sovik lawyers as Super Lawyers in 2023:
- Kevin Hulslander has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation – Defense. He has also been selected to the Top 50 list this year. Kevin has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2007. He has continuously appeared on the Top 50 list since 2008. Since 2007, he has appeared on the Top 10 list seven times.
- Alan Bedenko has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury – Defense. Alan has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2021.
- Kristen Benson has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in General Litigation. Kristen has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2013.
- Ken Boyd has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation – Defense. Ken has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2021.
- Anthony Brighton has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation – Defense. Anthony has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2021.
- Jim Cunningham has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury – Defense. Jim has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2009. In that time, he has been selected to the Top 50 list three times.
- Karen Felter has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Civil Litigation – Defense. Karen has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2017.
- Eric Johnson has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Medical Malpractice – Defense. Eric has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2010. In that time, he has been selected to the Top 50 list three times.
- Brandon King has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury – Brandon has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2011. In that time, he has been selected to the Top 50 list three times.
- Jim Lantier has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Medical Malpractice – Defense. Jim has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2007. In that time, he has been selected to the Top 50 list three times.
- Kristin Norfleet has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury – Defense. Kristin has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2015.
- Victor Prial has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury Products Liability – Defense. Victor has been nominated to Super Lawyers four times since 2017.
- Daniel Ryan has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury – Defense. Dan has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2014.
- Ted Smith has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury – Defense. Ted has been nominated as a Super Lawyer nine times since 2011.
- Jackie Wanemaker has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Personal Injury – Defense. Jackie has been recognized since 2023.
- Steven Williams has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in General Litigation. Steven has been recognized continuously as a Super Lawyer since 2007. In that time, he has been selected to the Top 50 list five times.
No more than 5 percent of lawyers in a state can be named to Super Lawyers. The selection process for Super Lawyers involves four steps. First, an attorney must be nominated for consideration as a Super Lawyer. Second, Super Lawyers conducts independent research into various aspects of the practice of law. Third, the top attorneys in an area evaluate candidates in a “blue ribbon review.” Finally, Super Lawyers performs final selection research before publishing its local lists.
Smith Sovik’s peers have also recognized eight Smith Sovik lawyers as Rising Stars:
- John Coghlan has been recognized as a Rising Star in Medical Malpractice – Defense. John has been recognized continuously as a Rising Star since 2017.
- Thomas DeBernardis has been recognized as a Rising Star in Personal Injury – Defense. Thomas has been recognized continuously as a Rising Star since 2021.
- Christopher DeFrancesco has been recognized as a Rising Star in Personal Injury – Defense. Christopher has been recognized continuously as a Rising Star since 2016.
- Joseph Gaetano has been recognized as a Rising Star in Civil Litigation – Plaintiffs. Joseph has been recognized since 2023.
- Matthew Germain has been recognized as a Rising Star in Personal Injury – Defense. Matthew has been recognized continuously as a Rising Star since 2018.
- John D. Goldman has been recognized as a Rising Star in Personal Injury – Defense. John has been recognized continuously as a Rising Star since 2014.
- David Katz has been recognized as a Rising Star in Civil Litigation – Defense. David has been recognized continuously as a Rising Star since 2020.
- Gardar Olaffson has been recognized as a Rising Star in Civil Litigation – Defense. Gardar has been recognized since 2023.
The selection process for the Rising Stars list is the same as the Super Lawyers selection process, with one exception: to be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. All attorneys first go through the Super Lawyers selection process. Those who are not selected to the Super Lawyers list, but who meet either one of the Rising Stars eligibility requirements, go through the Rising Stars selection process. While up to five percent of the lawyers in the state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.
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Smith Sovik is a boutique civil litigation firm based in Syracuse with offices in Buffalo, White Plains, and Uniondale. For more than 75 years, Smith Sovik attorneys have focused on delivering client-driven results with a winning attitude. Our peers have routinely chosen Smith Sovik attorneys as Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers in recognition of our tradition of excellence in the courtroom.
