46 Becker Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 Edition
August 20, 2026 – FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.– Becker is proud to announce 46 attorneys have been recognized in the 2027 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, one of the legal profession’s most respected peer-reviewed honors.
The 2027 edition recognizes Becker attorneys across a broad range of practice areas, including Community Association Law, Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Real Estate Law, Government Relations Practice, Land Use and Zoning Law, Banking and Finance Law, and Corporate Law.
Among this year’s honorees, Kathleen “Katie” O. Berkey of Becker’s Fort Myers office has been recognized as a 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” in Land Use and Zoning Law. The “Lawyer of the Year” designation is awarded to a single attorney in each practice area and geographic region, making it a particularly distinguished recognition.
Becker attorneys recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027 Edition include:
- Joseph E. Adams — Naples, FL — Community Association Law
- Perry M. Adair — Coral Gables, FL — Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- Jose Baloyra — Coral Gables, FL — Real Estate Law
- Donna DiMaggio Berger — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Community Association Law
- Jennifer L. Biletnikoff — Naples, FL — Community Association Law
- Kathleen “Katie” O. Berkey — Fort Myers, FL — Community Association Law; Land Use and Zoning Law
- Ryan F. Carpenter — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Construction Law
- Thomas J. Code — Fort Myers, FL — Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- Jude C. Cooper — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Commercial Litigation
- Jane L. Cornett — Stuart, FL — Community Association Law
- Kenneth S. Direktor — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Community Association Law
- Jennifer Bales Drake — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Real Estate Law
- Bernard J. Friedman — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Government Relations Practice
- Mark D. Friedman — West Palm Beach, FL — Community Association Law
- Mary Hawk — Bradenton, FL — Community Association Law
- Allison L. Hertz — West Palm Beach, FL — Community Association Law
- Patrick C. Howell — Orlando, FL — Commercial Litigation; Community Association Law; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- Yolanda Cash Jackson — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Government Relations Practice
- Scott Kiernan — Orlando, FL — Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- Sanjay Kurian — Naples, FL — Community Association Law; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- Conrad J. Lazo — Tampa, FL — Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- Steven B. Lesser — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- Allen M. Levine — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Real Estate
- Kevin Markow — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Commercial Litigation
- Steven H. Mezer — Tampa, FL — Commercial Litigation; Community Association Law; Litigation – Real Estate; Real Estate Law
- J. Kevin Miller — Fort Myers, FL — Commercial Litigation; Community Association Law
- David G. Muller — Naples, FL — Community Association Law
- Howard J. Perl — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Community Association Law
- Jon Polenberg — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Commercial Litigation
- Aaron J. Pruss — Fort Myers, FL — Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- David Rogel — Coral Gables, FL — Community Association Law
- Gary C. Rosen — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Commercial Litigation
- Gary M. Schaaf — Tampa, FL — Commercial Litigation
- Paul H. Shur — New York, NY — Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Litigation – Banking and Finance; Real Estate Law
- Mark J. Stempler — West Palm Beach, FL — Construction Law
- William H. Strop — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Construction Law; Litigation – Construction
- Bryony Swift — Bradenton, FL — Community Association Law
- Lee A. Weintraub — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Construction Law; Litigation – Construction; Litigation –Real Estate
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
Becker also congratulates its attorneys recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® 2027, which recognizes lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding professional excellence earlier in their careers.
The Becker attorneys recognized in the 2027 edition include:
- Valeria Angelucci — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Corporate Law
- Sean P. Bevil — Tampa, FL — Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: General Practice
- Aaron K. Crews — Orlando, FL — Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Construction; Real Estate Law
- Jake Herrel — Orlando, FL — Construction Law
- Jonathan D. Silver — Fort Lauderdale, FL —Construction Law
- Kaitlyn Silverberg — West Palm Beach, FL — Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Catelyn Stark— Morristown, NJ — Litigation – Labor and Employment
- Alyssa Weiss — Fort Lauderdale, FL — Commercial Litigation
“These recognitions reflect the depth of talent and commitment our attorneys bring to their clients every day,” said Gary C. Rosen, Managing Shareholder and CEO of Becker. “We are particularly proud to see so many Becker attorneys recognized across our diverse practice areas and geographic markets.”
The Best Lawyers in America® is based on an extensive peer-review process in which lawyers in the same geographic region and practice area evaluate the professional abilities of their colleagues. The “Lawyer of the Year” distinction is awarded to attorneys receiving the highest overall peer-feedback within a specific practice area and geographic region.
About Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers® provides trusted, peer-reviewed recognition of top legal professionals and helps clients find credible, experienced counsel with confidence.
For more than 40 years, our Purely Peer Review® process has set the standard for merit-based legal distinction. It is respected by lawyers and firms worldwide, with more than 13 million confidential evaluations submitted annually. The process is highly selective, with only 5% of U.S. lawyers and 3% globally earning this honor. Rigorous bias-filtering ensures integrity and fairness.
About Becker
Becker, with headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists, and other professionals at offices throughout the East Coast and Italy. More information is available at www.beckerlawyers.com.
