St. Louis, MO, United States, August 25, 2025 — Lashly & Baer PC is pleased to announce that 17 lawyers have been included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and one included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.
“For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions,” said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer. “It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel.”
Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in more than seventy-five countries.
Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.
Lashly & Baer PC would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2026 The Best Lawyers in America list:
• John Fox Arnold – Corporate Law
• Jeffrey E. Atkinson – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Michael R. Barth – Health Care Law
• Stephen L. Beimdiek – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Kenneth C. Brostron – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Julie Z. Devine – Employment Law – Management, New for 2026
• Patrick E. Foppe – Litigation – Insurance, New for 2026
• Kevin L. Fritz – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Deborah C.M. Henry – Family Law and Family Law Mediation, New for 2026
• Katherine E. Henry – Family Law, New for 2026
• James C. Hetlage – Commercial Litigation, Employment Law – Management, and Litigation – Labor and Employment
• Richard W. Hill – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Health Care Law, New for 2026
• Mark H. Levison – Commercial Litigation and Copyright Law
• James P. Reinert – Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Lisa O. Stump – Education Law, Employment Law – Management, Government Contracts, Government Relations Practice, and Municipal Law
• Stuart J. Vogelsmeier – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, and Health Care Law
• Richard D. Watters – Health Care Law
• Frederike K. Winslow – Commercial Litigation – “Ones to Watch” New for 2026
To download a PDF copy of the release, click here.
About Lashly & Baer PC
Lashly & Baer is a mid-size Missouri law firm with deep roots in St. Louis and surrounding areas including Belleville, Illinois. As a full-service firm, we have been fortunate to develop a very diversified and extremely loyal base of local, regional, and national clients. Our clients have learned to expect a high level of service and a great degree of satisfaction, regardless of their size.
Whether it is a private business, a government institution, a hospital, or an individual – to each client, there is no more important legal matter than theirs. We know this and work hard to achieve results and help our clients reach their goals.
Given the complexities of today’s business environment, lawyers develop experience in specific practice areas, such as; bankruptcy, corporate, education, estate planning, government, health care, labor and employment, litigation, medical malpractice defense, personal injury, product liability and toxic tort, professional liability, real estate and transportation. Our practice area groups allow these attorneys to team up with trusted partners with a similar passion.
Since 1912 we have added attorneys and developed practices; but our simple philosophy has never changed: at the core of every case is the client. We worry about only two things: the client’s best interest – and the law. The client’s goals become our goals, and the firm works tirelessly to find the most efficient and cost-effective solution to each legal issue.
About Best Lawyers
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.
Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Our awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.