Firm News

Twenty-six attorneys at Capes Sokol, representing every practice of the firm, have earned inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 edition.

Lisa M. Adams, Ajla Alunovic, R. Thomas Avery, David V. Capes, Jeffrey A. Cohen, Danielle M. Durban, Amy L. Fehr, L. Ross Gaddis, Mark E. Goodman, Michael A. Kahn, Kara L. Lambert, Laura E. Krebs Al-Shathir, David H. Luce, Sarah J. Luem, John S. Meyer, Jr., Francis X. Miller, Zachary R. McMichael, Harvard W. Muhm, Teresa Pupillo, William B. Remis, Gary R. Sarachan, Peter W. Salsich III, Michael L. Schechter, Andrew B. Shanfeld, Stacy Engles Wipfler, and Robert T. West received recognition in over twenty Best Lawyer practice areas.

Best Lawyers recognized Ajla Alunovic, Danielle M. Durban, L. Ross Gaddis, Kara L. Lambert, and Zachary R. McMichael as “Ones to Watch.” Introduced in 2020, the “Ones to Watch” list acknowledges attorneys in the early stages of their careers for their exceptional professional achievements in private practice within the United States.

In addition, Best Lawyers named Michael A. Kahn as the 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in the St. Louis area for Media Law. This prestigious title is reserved for a single lawyer in each practice area.

Capes Sokol Best Lawyers 2025

Below are the Capes Sokol attorneys, their practice areas, and the inaugural year of their inclusion in Best Lawyers:

• Lisa M. Adams (2019 – 2025) – Trusts and Estates
• Ajla Alunovic (2020 – 2025) – Family Law
• R. Thomas Avery (2023 – 2025) – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Construction
• David V. Capes (2001 – 2025) – Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Litigation and Controversy – Tax; Tax Law
• Jeffrey A. Cohen (2016 – 2025) – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
• Danielle M. Durban (2025) – “Ones to Watch” – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Amy L. Fehr (2018 – 2025) – Commercial Litigation
• L. Ross Gaddis (2025) – “Ones to Watch” Trusts & Estates
• Mark E. Goodman (2014 – 2025) – Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs; Mediation
• Michael A. Kahn (2001 – 2025) – Copyright Law; Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television; Entertainment Law – Music; First Amendment Law; Litigation – First Amendment; Litigation – Intellectual Property; Media Law (“Lawyer of the Year”)
• Kara L. Lambert (2025) – “Ones to Watch” Entertainment & Sports Law
• Laura E. Krebs Al-Shathir (2021 – 2025) – Tax Law; Litigation and Controversy – Tax
• David H. Luce (2018 – 2025) – Employment Law – Management
• Sarah J. Luem (2025) – Real Estate Law
• John S. Meyer, Jr. (2016 – 2025) – Corporate Law; Real Estate Law; Banking and Finance Law
• Francis X. Miller (2025) – Real Estate Law
• Zachary R. McMichael (2024 – 2025) – Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch – Commercial Litigation
• Harvard W. Muhm (2011 – 2025) – Trusts and Estates
• Teresa Pupillo (2021 – 2025) – Litigation – Labor and Employment; Litigation – Real Estate
• William B. Remis (2024 – 2025) – Real Estate Law
• Gary R. Sarachan (2012 – 2025) – Commercial Litigation
• Peter W. Salsich III (2011 – 2025) – Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures and Television; Entertainment Law – Music; Copyright Law
• Michael L. Schechter (2012 – 2025) – Family Law
• Andrew B. Shanfeld (2025) – Real Estate Law
• Stacy Engles Wipfler (2021 – 2025) – Real Estate Law
• Robert T. West (2015 – 2025) – Real Estate Law

Best Lawyers is the oldest, most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Best Lawyers inclusion reflects the consensus opinions of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues in the same geographic and legal practice areas. Best Lawyers employ a transparent survey process to elicit meaningful evaluations.