The Best Lawyers List: Why COJ Attorneys Regularly Earn This Special Designation

Attorneys from the Law Firm of Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry, S.C. have once again earned designation on the exclusive Best Lawyers annual list, which recognizes legal excellence both nationally and internationally in dozens of practice areas.

What is the Best Lawyers list?

Best Lawyers is a firm that provides trusted, peer-reviewed recognition of top legal professionals. It publishes both The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America lists, which helps clients find credible, experienced attorneys within the practice areas they are seeking counsel.

The lists recognize only a select group of attorneys nationwide. The 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America, for example, recognizes only the top 5% of U.S. attorneys for 2026. The 6th edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America recognizes just 2% of early-career lawyers.

Why is the list special?

While anyone can nominate an attorney for the Best Lawyers list, designation comes only after peer review. That means other attorneys who work in the same practice area and region are confidentially evaluating the work of nominated attorneys. The evaluation involves a survey designed to gather meaningful information about the quality of legal services each nominee provides.

Once attorneys have offered feedback on the nominees’ work, top candidates are evaluated for eligibility—meaning they must be in good standing with their local bar associations. The aim is to recognize legal professionals who demonstrate a high level of expertise and dedication in their fields.

Best Lawyers says, “Our process is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues.”

Which COJ attorneys are on the Best Lawyers list?

Six attorneys from COJ made the exclusive list for 2026, meaning other attorneys in our region and practice areas have recognized the caliber of the work we provide to our clients each day.

Here’s who made the list from COJ for 2026 and the areas in which they earned recognition:

• Laura Beck — Family Law.

• George Burnett — Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs. George also made the list from 2011 to 2020, and 2022 and 2023.

• Robert Gagan — Municipal Law. Robert also made the list from 2018 to 2024.

• Tori Kluess — Trusts and Estates.

• Jodi Labs — Environmental Law. Jodi also made the list from 2020 to 2024.

• Fred Schmidt — Trusts and Estates. Fred also made the list from 2012 to 2020.

Learn more about the list at bestlawyers.com.

Written By:
Law Firm of Conway, Olejniczak & Jerry, S.C.