Best Lawyers recognizes outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement in their fields. For 2026, nine Mickes O’Toole attorneys have earned this distinction of Best Lawyer; Joshua E. Douglass, Natalie A. Hoernschemeyer, Anne R. Kerns, Mara J. Lahnar, Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr., Penney R. Rector, Vincent D. Reese, James G. Thomeczek and Grant D. Wiens. This year marks the first recognition for both Joshua Douglass and Penney Rector, and we are especially pleased to celebrate James Thomeczek, who has been named a Lawyer of the Year.
- Joshua E. Douglass | Education Law & Administrative / Regulatory Law | First Year Recognized
- Natalie A. Hoernschemeyer | Labor & Employment Law – Litigation & Management
- Anne R. Kerns | Commercial Litigation
- Mara J. Lahnar | Banking and Finance Law
- Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr. | Real Estate Law
- Penney R. Rector | Education Law | First Year Recognized
- Vincent D. Reese | Commercial Litigation, Labor & Employment Law – Management & Litigation
- James G. Thomeczek | Education Law | Recognized as a Lawyer of the Year
- Grant D. Wiens | Labor & Employment Law – Litigation
Additionally, one Mickes O’Toole attorney, Abbey S. Widick, has been recognized as The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch. These awards are recognition given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
- Abbey S. Widick | Labor and Employment Law – Management
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Their belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
