ALTON, Ill. – Simmons Hanly Conroy, one of the nation’s largest mass torts firms and a national leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families, is pleased to announce that 31 firm attorneys are included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Among the honorees, Partners Jennifer L. Alesio and Ellyn Hurd each received a “Lawyer of the Year” award for their respective practice areas.
In addition, 12 Simmons Hanly Conroy attorneys were named to the 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list, which recognizes professional excellence among attorneys in practice for five to nine years.
“We are very proud of our entire team at Simmons Hanley Conroy for their outstanding achievements and dedication to our clients,” said Simmons Hanly Conroy Managing Partner Laurence V. Nassif. “Our attorneys’ recognition in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch is a testament to their exceptional talent, hard work, and unwavering commitment to positive outcomes for our plaintiff clients. I am truly honored to work alongside such dedicated professionals and look forward to their continued success together.”
In each metropolitan area, Best Lawyers designates no more than one attorney in any single legal practice area as the “Lawyer of the Year.” Alesio was named the Best Lawyers 2026 Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in San Francisco, and Hurd was named the Best Lawyers 2026 Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs “Lawyer of the Year” in New York City.
The firm’s 2026 Best Lawyers honorees also include Nassif, firm Chairman John Simmons, and Named Partner Jayne Conroy, who all are listed for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs. In addition, Simmons and Conroy are recognized for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Conroy and Nassif are listed for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.
One of the most highly regarded attorney referral publications in the country, Best Lawyers selects attorneys for The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America lists through extensive surveys of leading lawyers who assess the legal abilities of their peers. Lawyers are not permitted to pay a fee to participate or be recognized.
The following are all the Simmons Hanly Conroy attorneys listed in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, along with their recognized practice areas (organized by firm office/location).
Alton
- Michael J. Angelides, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Nicholas J. Angelides, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- John A. Barnerd, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Perry J. Browder, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Brian J. Cooke, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Kenneth P. Danzinger, partner: Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs; Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants
- Paul Dix, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Taylor Kerns, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- J. Conard Metcalf, of counsel: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Todd Neilson, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Jo Anna Pollock, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Melissa Crowe Schopfer, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Drew Sealey, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
- John Simmons, named partner and chairman: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Luther W. Simmons, Jr., partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- G. Michael Stewart, partner: Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Andrew S. Williams, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
New York City
- Daniel P. Blouin, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
- Donald P. Blydenburgh, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Lisa Nathanson Busch, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Jayne Conroy, named partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Mildred Conroy, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Gary DiMuzio, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Laura S. Fitzpatrick, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
- Ellyn Hurd, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
- Jim Kramer, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Laurence V. Nassif, managing partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Sanford Smokler, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- An Truong, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
San Francisco, California
- Jennifer L. Alesio, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
- Deborah Rosenthal, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
The following are the Simmons Hanly Conroy attorneys listed in the 2026 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, along with their recognized practice areas (organized by firm office/location).
Alton
- Lindsey Balaco, attorney: Health Care Law
- Payal A. Gurnani, attorney: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Jared Hausmann, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- David Kargel, attorney: Health Care Law
- Jenny Paulson, attorney: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
- Luke Pfeifer, attorney: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Elisa J. Pleasant, attorney: Health Care Law
- Philip E. Proud, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
New York City
- Brett F. Fuller, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Olivia P. Kelly, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Arthur G. Prystowsky, partner: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
- John B. Wetmore, partner: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
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