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Chambliss Attorneys Recognized in 2026 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. is pleased to congratulate 29 attorneys recognized in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Among those acknowledged, three were named “Lawyer of the Year” for their respective practice areas in Chattanooga. In addition, four Chambliss attorneys were included in the sixth edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
The three Chambliss attorneys recognized as a 2026 Chattanooga “Lawyer of the Year” include Stephen D. “Steve” Barham, James L. “Jim” Catanzaro, Jr., and Mark A. Cunningham.
| Attorney Name | 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” Awards, Chattanooga, Practice Area |
| Stephen D. “Steve” Barham | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law |
| James L. “Jim” Catanzaro, Jr. | Nonprofit / Charities Law |
| Mark A. Cunningham | Mergers and Acquisitions |
Each lawyer recognized represents clients in various industries across the nation on a wide range of matters. Barham focuses his practice on bankruptcy and creditor debtor rights and insolvency and reorganization law, Catanzaro specializes in nonprofit and charities law, and Cunningham concentrates on mergers and acquisitions.
The”Lawyer of the Year” recognition is given to one individual in each practice area and geographic region per edition. These individuals are selected based on peer feedback. Receiving this designation reflects a high level of respect among other leading lawyers in the same communities and practice areas for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.
Best Lawyers® recognized 29 Chambliss attorneys in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026:
| Attorney Name | Practice Area |
| Stephen D. Adams | Patent Law |
| William P. Aiken | Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law |
| Stephen D. “Steve” Barham | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Health Care, Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) |
| James L. “Jim” Catanzaro, Jr. | Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Nonprofit / Charities Law |
| Shelton Swafford Chambers | Nonprofit / Charities Law |
| Mark A. Cunningham | Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law |
| Cathy S. Dorvil | Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Health Care |
| Justin L. Furrow | Litigation – Labor and Employment Law, Transportation Law |
| Timothy M. “Tim” Gibbons | Construction Law, Litigation – Construction |
| Jeffrey G. “Jeff” Granillo | Commercial Litigation, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants |
| Douglas S. “Doug” Griswold | Health Care Law |
| Frederick L. “Rick” Hitchcock | Energy Law |
| J. Nelson Irvine | Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Nonprofit / Charities Law |
| Richard T. “Rick” Hudson | Real Estate Law |
| Anthony A. “Bud” Jackson | First Amendment Law, Litigation – First Amendment, Media Law, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants |
| John G. Jackson | Advertising Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent |
| Jeffrey W. Maddux | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Bankruptcy |
| Laura McKinney | Corporate Law |
| Rebecca H. Miller | Trusts and Estates |
| Jason R. Mirmelstein | Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) |
| Harold L. “Hal” North, Jr. | Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law |
| Dana B. Perry | Elder Law, Trusts and Estates |
| William H. Pickering | Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, Litigation – ERISA, Litigation – Labor and Employment |
| Jed Roebuck | Corporate Law |
| Michael N. St. Charles | Corporate Law, Real Estate Law |
| Michael J. Stewart | Banking and Finance Law |
| Mark Turner | Banking and Finance Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law, Securitization and Structured Finance Law |
| Gregory D. “Greg” Willett | Trusts and Estates |
| Kirby Waddell Yost | Land Use and Zoning Law, Real Estate Law |
“Our commitment to client service is the driving factor for what we do at the firm,” said President and Managing Shareholder Steve Barham. “Being recognized by our peers and clients reinforces the responsiveness, skill, and professionalism that we strive to deliver.”
Individuals recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America are noteworthy attorneys identified for their talent early in their careers. Those acknowledged typically have been in practice for five to nine years and have displayed outstanding professional excellence. This recognition is also based on peer review.
Best Lawyers®selected four Chambliss attorneys for the sixth edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America:
| Attorney Name | Practice Area |
| Courtney J. Keehan | Corporate Law, Health Care Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law |
| Nicholas E. “Nick” Nester | Tax Law, Trusts and Estates |
| Kathleen M. Siciliano | Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment |
| Logan C. Threadgill | Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Construction |
About Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For over 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.
Lawyers nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. The awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback received from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to ensure they are currently in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers. For the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 3 million confidential evaluations, which resulted in more than 80,000 leading lawyers being honored in the milestone 32nd edition. For more information on the methodology, please visit the Best Lawyers website.
