Two-thirds of Smith Hulsey & Busey lawyers are recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers ® , the legal profession’s oldest and most respected peer-review publication.
A listing in Best Lawyers is a substantial honor in the industry and provides an unbiased referral to prospective clients and other professionals.
The 21 Smith Hulsey lawyers listed in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America ® for Jacksonville are:
- Stephen D. Busey
- Antitrust Law
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Charmaine T.M. Chiu
- Corporate Law
- Health Care Law
- Securities Regulation
- Patrick P. Coll
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
- Litigation – Trusts and Estates
- Angela Cottrell
- Corporate Governance Law
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Michael E. Demont
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Banking and Finance
- R. Christopher Dix
- Commercial Litigation
- David S. Dunn
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Earl E. Googe Jr.
- Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Megan R. Heiden
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Health Care
- Jeanne E. Helton
- Health Care Law
- David J. Hull
- Tax Law
- Trust and Estates
- G. Preston Keyes
- Real Estate Law
- William E. Kuntz
- Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
- M. Richard Lewis, Jr.
- Commercial Litigation
- Corporate Law
- Health Care Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Stephen D. Moore
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
- Corporate Law
- Health Care Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Securities Regulation
- James H. Post
- Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Bankruptcy
- Bryan L. Putnal
- Banking and Finance Law
- Real Estate Law
- Lanny Russell
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Banking and Finance
- Litigation – Construction
- Tim E. Sleeth
- Environmental Law
- John R. Thomas
- Banking and Finance Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Bankruptcy
- John W. Wallace
- Administrative / Regulatory Law
- Environmental Law
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Litigation – Environmental
Three attorneys also received “Lawyer of the Year” awards (Jacksonville) for 2026. “Lawyers of the Year” are selected based on exceptional peer feedback in their practice area and geographic region. Only one attorney is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each practice and location:
- John R. Thomas
- Litigation – Bankruptcy
- John W. Wallace
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Stephen D. Moore, Jr.
- Corporate Law
- Securities Regulation
In addition, four attorneys received the publication’s Ones to Watch ® in America recognition in Jacksonville, which is awarded to lawyers on the rise:
- Kevin P. Blodgett
- Commercial Litigation
- Environmental Law
- Litigation – Environmental
- Brandon A. Cook
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation – Bankruptcy
- Maxwell D. Potter
- Litigation – Trusts and Estates
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
- David W. Roberts
- Corporate Law
- Real Estate Law
Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. The methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical and legal practice area.
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