.

Assistant Director, Workers' Compensation Department

Shareholder

Portrait of Kacey C. Wiedt

106 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2027 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America

August 20, 2026

Marshall Dennehey is proud to highlight the firm’s 106 attorneys who have been recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Less than 6% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for this recognition.

Additionally, four of the firm’s attorneys received the Best Lawyers® 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” awards in their respective practice areas and demographic regions.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. For more information, please visit https://www.bestlawyers.com/.


OUR 2027 LAWYERS OF THE YEAR

Harrisburg, PA

Christopher Reeser, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Kacey Wiedt, Workers Compensation Law - Employers

Roseland, NJ

Justin F. Johnson, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Leonard Leicht, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
 

OUR 2026 BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA

Philadelphia, PA
Nicholas D. Bowers, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Josh J. T. Byrne, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
Jefferey J. Chomko, Insurance Law
James H. Cole, Insurance Law
John J. Delany III, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Laurianne Falcone, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
John P. Gonzales, Employment Law - Management
John Hare, Appellate Practice
Daniel D. Krebbs, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Michele Punturi, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Bradley D. Remick, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Andrea Cicero Rock, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Robin M. Romano, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Daniel J. Ryan, Jr., Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Gary M. Samms, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
Christopher N. Santoro, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation -Defendants
Josh D. Scheets, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Robert P. Schenk, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Robert E. Smith, Insurance Law
Robin Snyder, Litigation - Health Care
Michael L. Turner, Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Claire Breaux Ventola, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Pittsburgh, PA
Melissa Devich Cochran, Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants 
John F. Deasy, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Daniel W. Deitrick, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Douglas C. LaSota, Litigation - Construction; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Joseph V. Lesinski, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants  
Christian D. Marquis, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Patricia A. Monahan, Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance
Patrick T. Reilly, Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Brett C. Shear, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Teresa O. Sirianni, Education Law; Employment Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
Stuart Sostmann, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Danielle M. Vugrinovich, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Scranton, PA
Sarah E. Argo, Litigation - Insurance
Michael J. Connolly, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
Matthew Keris, Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
John T. McGrath, Jr., Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
William J. McPartland, Insurance Law
John R. Nealon, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Victoria Scanlon, Health Care Law; Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Michael A. Sebastian, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Thomas A. Specht, Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance
Suzanne Tighe, Litigation Insurance

Harrisburg , PA
Casey Alan Coyle, Administrative/Regulatory Law; Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation
Brittany E. Bakshi, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Shannon P. Fellin, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Allison Krupp, Insurance Law
John R. Ninosky, Litigation – Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Christopher Reeser, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Kacey Wiedt, Workers' Compensation Law – Employers

King of Prussia, PA 
Michael L. Detweiler, Construction Law
Joseph L. Hoynoski III, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Gregory J. Kelley, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction
Anthony Natale III, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Francis X. Wickersham, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
A. Judd Woytek, Workers' Compensation Law – Employers

Erie, PA
Patrick M. Carey, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Joel M. Snavely, Health Care Law; Insurance Law

New Haven, CT
Michael Wrona, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy 

Mount Laurel, NJ
David D. Blake, Litigation - Insurance
Barbara Davis, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Lynne Nahmani, Litigation - Health Care
John H. Osorio, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
John L. Slimm, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants

Roseland, NJ
Robert T. Evers, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Justin F. Johnson, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Julia Klubenspies, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
Leonard C. Leicht, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Patricia M. McDonagh, Appellate Practice
Sunny Sparano, Litigation - Construction
Randall S. Watts, Health Care Law

New York, NY
Tonya M. Lindsey, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants

Tampa, FL
Michael Archibald, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Lindsay G. McCormick, Litigation – Construction

Orlando, FL
Thomas F. Brown, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Dante C. Rohr, Commercial Litigation

Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kimberly Kanoff Berman, Appellate Practice
Patrick M. Delong, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Jacksonville, FL 
Heather Byrer Carbone, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Linda Wagner Farrell, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Elizabeth B. Ferguson, Litigation - Construction
James P. Hanratty, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Wilmington, DE
Sarah B. Cole, Litigation - Insurance
Benjamin K. Durstein, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Maria R. Granaudo, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants 
Keri L. Morris-Johnston, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers

Cincinnati, OH
Timothy B. Schenkel, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
David E. Williamson, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Cleveland, OH
Vincent E. Cononico, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Jillian L. Dinehart, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
David J. Fagnilli, Insurance Law
Jason P. Ferrante, Health Care Law, Litigation - Health Care
Andrew H. Isakoff, Transportation Law
Leslie M. Jenny, Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendant

OUR 2026 BEST LAWYERS: ONES TO WATCH

Jacksonville, FL
Sean J. Reeves, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Orlando, FL
Carolin A. Pacheco, Insurance Law

Mount Laurel
Stacey Gorin, Insurance Law

Melville, NY
Kimberly Gitlin, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Matthew A. Gray, Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

Philadelphia, PA
Holli K. Archer, Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law
Emily Pritchyk, Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

Pittsburgh, PA
Taylor E. Kosko, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
Alana Staniszewski, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
Michael D. Winsko, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Transportation Law

King of Prussia, PA
Richard Lechette, Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

Firm Highlights

Thought Leadership

What’s Hot in Workers’ Comp - News and Results*

RESULTS ​Perry Merlo (Harrisburg) obtained a favorable ruling involving a claimant who sustained a recognized lower back injury while employed by the defendant and continued to seek workers’ compensation benefits. Following an independent medical examination, Perry filed a termination petition alleging that the claimant had fully recovered from her work injury as of September 10, 2025. The claimant opposed the petition and presented testimony from her own medical expert. The judge granted the termination petition, finding the testimony of the defense medical expert more credible than the testimony of the claimant and her expert; and finding that the claimant had fully recovered from her work-related injury as of September 10, 2025. Kacey C. Wiedt (Harrisburg) secured a complete victory involving a alleged hand laceration resulting additional shoulder and upper extremity injuries. The defense successfully demonstrated that the claimant did not sustain the additional injuries alleged, had fully recovered from the accepted injury, and was terminated for performance-related reasons unrelated to his work injury. Relying in part on text messages and photographs that contradicted the claimant’s alleged limitations, the defense secured a decision denying the claim petition in its entirety and granting the termination petition effective June 10, 2025. The claimant recovered no additional benefits despite previously making a $230,000 settlement demand. Anthony Natale III (King of Prussia) secured a complete defense victory involving an alleged ongoing disability following a work-related cervical spine injury sustained in a truck accident. The defense successfully demonstrated that the claimant had been released to return to full-duty work, was subsequently discharged for cause after failing a mandatory drug test, and had fully recovered from his work injury. Following litigation of both the suspension and termination Petitions, the court found that the claimant was capable of returning to unrestricted employment and had fully recovered from his cervical spine injury. Anthony Natale III (King of Prussia) secured a complete defense victory involving an allegation of ongoing orthopedic and neurological injuries, including post-concussion syndrome, resulting from a motor vehicle accident while volunteering for the township. The defense successfully demonstrated that the claimant had fully recovered from her work-related injuries and was exaggerating her symptoms. Finding the defense medical expert more credible, the court granted the termination petition and concluded that the claimant had fully recovered. The court also dismissed all four of the claimant’s review petitions challenging prior utilization review determinations that found her medical treatment to be unreasonable and unnecessary. Anthony Natale III (King of Prussia) secured a complete defense victory involving a low back injury. The defense successfully demonstrated through medical evidence that the claimant had fully recovered from her work injury. Following litigation of the termination petition, the court found the defense expert credible and concluded that the claimant was fully recovered. The court granted the termination petition despite the claimant proceeding without counsel and arguing that personal circumstances prevented her from adequately defending the matter. As a result, the claimant’s entitlement to ongoing workers’ compensation benefits was terminated. . *Prior Results Do Not Guarantee a Similar Outcome NEWS Congratulations to Kacey Wiedt on being named Best Lawyers in America® 2027 "Lawyer of the Year" for Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. We are also proud to celebrate our firm’s 14 workers’ compensation attorneys who have been recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. This distinction is especially meaningful, as fewer than 6% of practicing attorneys in the United States earn recognition from their peers through the Best Lawyers selection process. The Best Lawyers in America® Heather Byrer Carbone Daniel W. Deitrick Benjamin K. Durstein Linda Wagner Farrell Keri L. Morris-Johnston Anthony Natale III Michele R. Punturi Andrea C. Rock Robin M. Romano Robert P. Schenk Michael A. Sebastian Francis X. Wickersham A. Judd Woytek Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America Alana Staniszewski Angela DeMary (Mount Laurel) is presenting at the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA) Annual Conference on September 24. In a panel workshop session, "Old Instincts, New Tools: How AI is Actually Transforming Claims Handling," Angela will discuss existing and emerging AI techniques relevant to claims and legal defense, and explore how AI works alongside traditional methods to improve efficiency and outcomes. For more information, click here. Judd Woytek (King of Prussia) is speaking at the National Comp conference in Las Vegas in September. He joins a group of panelists to present “Older, Wiser, But Costlier to Heal: What an Aging Workforce Means for Employers and for the Industry,” a discussion focused on the challenges employers face in balancing safety, compliance, and productivity as the workforce continues to age. Judd and his co-presenters will address proactive strategies to reduce workplace risk, support older employees, navigate age-discrimination and workers’ compensation issues, and build a safer, more resilient workforce. For more information, visit National Comp. Conference and Trade Show.

News

106 Marshall Dennehey Attorneys Recognized in the 2027 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America

Marshall Dennehey is proud to highlight the firm’s 106 attorneys who have been recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Less than 6% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for this recognition. Additionally, four of the firm’s attorneys received the Best Lawyers® 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” awards in their respective practice areas and demographic regions. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. For more information, please visit https://www.bestlawyers.com/. OUR 2027 LAWYERS OF THE YEAR Harrisburg, PA Christopher Reeser, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Kacey Wiedt, Workers Compensation Law - Employers Roseland, NJ Justin F. Johnson, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Leonard Leicht, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants   OUR 2026 BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA Philadelphia, PA Nicholas D. Bowers, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Josh J. T. Byrne, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants Jefferey J. Chomko, Insurance Law James H. Cole, Insurance Law John J. Delany III, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Laurianne Falcone, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants John P. Gonzales, Employment Law - Management John Hare, Appellate Practice Daniel D. Krebbs, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Michele Punturi, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Bradley D. Remick, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Andrea Cicero Rock, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Robin M. Romano, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Daniel J. Ryan, Jr., Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Gary M. Samms, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants Christopher N. Santoro, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation -Defendants Josh D. Scheets, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Robert P. Schenk, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Robert E. Smith, Insurance Law Robin Snyder, Litigation - Health Care Michael L. Turner, Commercial Litigation; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Claire Breaux Ventola, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Pittsburgh, PA Melissa Devich Cochran, Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants  John F. Deasy, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Daniel W. Deitrick, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Douglas C. LaSota, Litigation - Construction; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Joseph V. Lesinski, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants   Christian D. Marquis, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Patricia A. Monahan, Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance Patrick T. Reilly, Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Brett C. Shear, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Teresa O. Sirianni, Education Law; Employment Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment Stuart Sostmann, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Danielle M. Vugrinovich, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Scranton, PA Sarah E. Argo, Litigation - Insurance Michael J. Connolly, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants Matthew Keris, Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants John T. McGrath, Jr., Insurance Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants William J. McPartland, Insurance Law John R. Nealon, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Victoria Scanlon, Health Care Law; Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Michael A. Sebastian, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Thomas A. Specht, Insurance Law; Litigation - Insurance Suzanne Tighe, Litigation Insurance Harrisburg , PA Casey Alan Coyle, Administrative/Regulatory Law; Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation Brittany E. Bakshi, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Shannon P. Fellin, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Allison Krupp, Insurance Law John R. Ninosky, Litigation – Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Christopher Reeser, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Kacey Wiedt, Workers' Compensation Law – Employers King of Prussia, PA  Michael L. Detweiler, Construction Law Joseph L. Hoynoski III, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Gregory J. Kelley, Construction Law, Litigation - Construction Anthony Natale III, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Francis X. Wickersham, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers A. Judd Woytek, Workers' Compensation Law – Employers Erie, PA Patrick M. Carey, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Joel M. Snavely, Health Care Law; Insurance Law New Haven, CT Michael Wrona, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Bankruptcy  Mount Laurel, NJ David D. Blake, Litigation - Insurance Barbara Davis, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lynne Nahmani, Litigation - Health Care John H. Osorio, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants John L. Slimm, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants Roseland, NJ Robert T. Evers, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Justin F. Johnson, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Julia Klubenspies, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Leonard C. Leicht, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Patricia M. McDonagh, Appellate Practice Sunny Sparano, Litigation - Construction Randall S. Watts, Health Care Law New York, NY Tonya M. Lindsey, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants Tampa, FL Michael Archibald, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Lindsay G. McCormick, Litigation – Construction Orlando, FL Thomas F. Brown, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Dante C. Rohr, Commercial Litigation Fort Lauderdale, FL Kimberly Kanoff Berman, Appellate Practice Patrick M. Delong, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Jacksonville, FL  Heather Byrer Carbone, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Linda Wagner Farrell, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Elizabeth B. Ferguson, Litigation - Construction James P. Hanratty, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Wilmington, DE Sarah B. Cole, Litigation - Insurance Benjamin K. Durstein, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Maria R. Granaudo, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants  Keri L. Morris-Johnston, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Cincinnati, OH Timothy B. Schenkel, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants David E. Williamson, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Cleveland, OH Vincent E. Cononico, Litigation – Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Jillian L. Dinehart, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants David J. Fagnilli, Insurance Law Jason P. Ferrante, Health Care Law, Litigation - Health Care Andrew H. Isakoff, Transportation Law Leslie M. Jenny, Litigation - Health Care; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendant OUR 2026 BEST LAWYERS: ONES TO WATCH Jacksonville, FL Sean J. Reeves, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Orlando, FL Carolin A. Pacheco, Insurance Law Mount Laurel Stacey Gorin, Insurance Law Melville, NY Kimberly Gitlin, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Matthew A. Gray, Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Philadelphia, PA Holli K. Archer, Health Care Law; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law Emily Pritchyk, Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants Pittsburgh, PA Taylor E. Kosko, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Alana Staniszewski, Workers' Compensation Law - Employers Michael D. Winsko, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Transportation Law King of Prussia, PA Richard Lechette, Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants