8.21.2025 | Firm News

Koley Jessen is proud to announce that Best Lawyers® has recognized 49 attorneys in its 2026 rankings. This includes 40 attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America®, nine recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America, and six who earned the additional distinction of being named a “Lawyer of the Year.”

Lawyer of the Year

"Lawyer of the Year" honors are awarded annually to just one lawyer per practice area in each region based on the highest peer feedback. Fewer than 0.4% of lawyers nationwide receive this recognition each year, reflecting the strength of the distinction. The following Koley Jessen attorneys were named 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” in Omaha in their respective areas:

• Brandon Hamm – Trusts and Estates
• Brian Koenig – Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Daniel Fischer – Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Michael Linder – Environmental Law
• Minja Herian – Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Shaun McGaughey – Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Best Lawyers in America

The following 40 Koley Jessen attorneys are listed in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America:

• Thomas Ackley – Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Teresa Beaufait – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Max Burbach – Banking and Finance Law; Real Estate Law
• Adam Charlsen – Real Estate Law
• Roberta Christensen – Copyright Law; Trademark Law
• Michael Cox – Advertising Law; Litigation – First Amendment
• Taylor Dieckman – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Daniel Fischer – Advertising Law; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Intellectual Property
• Brandon Hamm – Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Brian Harr – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Minja Herian – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Margaret Hershiser – Employment Law – Individuals; Employment Law – Management
• Michael Hupp – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Brian Koenig – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Bankruptcy
• Nicole Konen – Corporate Law
• Kristin Krueger – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law
• Peter Langdon – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Corporate Law
• Lisa Lehan – Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Michael Linder – Environmental Law
• John Lingelbach – Litigation – Environmental; Litigation – Insurance; Litigation – Trusts and Estates
• Marlon Lofgren – Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law
• Matthew Maser – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• John Matson – Commercial Litigation
• Shaun McGaughey – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Troy Meyerson – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Real Estate Law
• *Joshua Norton – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Eric Oxley – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Gregory Scaglione – Advertising Law; Litigation – Intellectual Property
• *Jeffery Schaffart – Tax Law
• *Ryan Sevcik – Employment Law – Management; Immigration Law
• Matthew Speiker – Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law
• Donald Swanson – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy
• James Tews – Litigation – Trusts and Estates; Trusts and Estates
• Kurt Tjaden – Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Andrew Tugan – Commercial Litigation
• *Richard Vroman – Health Care Law
• Adam Wachal – Commercial Litigation
• Daniel Weidner – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Construction
• Alexander Wolf – Nonprofit/Charities Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates
• Clark Youngman – Tax Law

^{(*) listed for the first time in Best Lawyers}

Ones to Watch

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch category recognizes attorneys who have been in private practice for less than 10 years and have demonstrated exceptional professional excellence. The following nine attorneys were recognized:

• *Nicholas Bjornson – Tax Law
• *Taylor Cammack – Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• John Dunn – Labor and Employment Law – Management
• Michael Keblesh – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• *Gabrielle Kott-McCarty – Banking and Finance Law
• Zachary Rupiper – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• *Erin Schroeder – Labor and Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Comran Sharif – Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Justina Struck – Venture Capital Law

^{(*) listed for the first time in Best Lawyers}

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is an independent peer-review publication that recognizes attorneys based on confidential evaluations from other top lawyers in their field. The process is highly selective, only a small percentage of lawyers in the United States and globally earn this distinction, making it a trusted resource for clients seeking reputable legal counsel.