PERSONNEL FILE: 75 Steptoe & Johnson attorneys named 'Best Lawyers'

BRIDGEPORT -– Steptoe & Johnson is pleased to announce that 75 of its attorneys have been included in the 2011 list of The Best Lawyers in America. Eight attorneys received recognition for the first time.

The Best Lawyers in America is regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. The attorneys listed represent all of the firm's offices throughout West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. What's more, the firm is ranked number one in West Virginia for the fourth consecutive year with 71 attorneys –- up from 65 in 2010.

The following Steptoe & Johnson lawyers (listed by specialty, date of inclusion, and office representation) are included in the 17th edition of The Best Lawyers in America:

Administrative Law

* Walter L. Williams (2003), Bridgeport

Alternative Dispute Resolution

* Robert M. Steptoe Jr. (1987), Bridgeport

* James M. Wilson (2005), Bridgeport

Antitrust Law

* Gordon H. Copland (2001), Bridgeport

* Edward A. Matto (2005), Columbus, Ohio

Appellate Law

* Rodney L. Bean (2008), Morgantown

* Ancil G. Ramey (2005), Charleston

* Joanna I. Tabit (2008), Charleston

Banking Law

* Kenneth J. Barton Jr. (2007), Martinsburg

* Evans L. King Jr. (1995), Bridgeport

* Randall C. Light (2007), Bridgeport

* Arthur M. Standish (2009), Charleston

Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law

* Donald J. Epperly (2010), Bridgeport

* Arthur M. Standish (2009), Charleston

Bet-the-Company Litigation

* William E. Galeota (2001), Morgantown

* Robert M. Steptoe Jr. (1987), Bridgeport

* William D. Wilmoth (2003), Wheeling

Commercial Litigation

* Kenneth J. Barton Jr. (2007), Martinsburg

* Gordon H. Copland (2001), Bridgeport

* W. Randolph Fife (2009), Charleston

* William E. Galeota (2001), Morgantown

* Karen E. Kahle (2010), Wheeling

* Michael Kozakewich Jr. (2010), Bridgeport

* W. Henry Lawrence (1999), Bridgeport

* Lucien G. Lewin (2008), Martinsburg

* Ancil G. Ramey (2005), Charleston

* Frank J. Stanek (First listing), Morgantown

* Robert M. Steptoe Jr. (1987), Bridgeport

* William D. Wilmoth (2003), Wheeling

Construction Law

* Eric J. Hulett (First listing), Charleston

* Paul A. Konstanty (First listing), Charleston

* Michael Kozakewich Jr. (2010), Bridgeport

Corporate Governance and Compliance Law

* Patrick D. Kelly (2005), Charleston

* William D. Wilmoth (2003), Wheeling

Corporate Law

* Kenneth J. Barton Jr. (2007), Martinsburg

* Patrick D. Deem (1993), Bridgeport

* Evans L. King Jr. (1995), Bridgeport

* James A. Russell (2005), Morgantown

* L. Frederick Williams Jr. (2005), Charleston

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

* Larry J. Rector (2005), Bridgeport

* William D. Wilmoth (2003), Wheeling

Education Law

* Jan L. Fox (2010), Charleston

* Randall C. Light (2007), Bridgeport

* Richard M. Yurko Jr. (2008), Bridgeport

Elder Law

* Sherri S. Whalen (2007), Bridgeport

Employee Benefits Law

* Sara E. Hauptfuehrer (2010), Bridgeport

* Jamie L. Leary (2009), Wheeling

* Melissa S. Watkins (2010), Morgantown

Energy Law

* Ralph J. Bean Jr. (2001), Bridgeport

* Armando F. Benincasa (2008), Charleston

* Patrick D. Deem (1993), Bridgeport

* Sharon O. Flanery (2007), Charleston

* W. Henry Lawrence (1999), Bridgeport

* E. Dandridge McDonald (1991), Charleston

* Steven P. McGowan (2007), Charleston

* Robert D. Pollitt (2008), Charleston

* Kara Cunningham Williams (2010), Charleston

Environmental Law

* Armando F. Benincasa (2008), Charleston

* W. Henry Lawrence (1999), Bridgeport

* Richard L. Lewis (2006), Charleston

* Katerina M. Milenkovski (2005), Columbus, Ohio

* Robert D. Pollitt (2008), Charleston

Government Relations Law

* George E. Carenbauer (2008), Charleston

* Patrick D. Kelly (2005), Charleston

Health Care Law

* Kenneth J. Barton Jr. (2007), Martinsburg

* Susan S. Brewer (2001), Morgantown

* Gordon H. Copland (2001), Bridgeport

* Patrick D. Kelly (2005), Charleston

* Charles A. Sinsel (2010), Bridgeport

* Walter L. Williams (2003), Bridgeport

Immigration Law

* George E. Carenbauer (2008), Charleston

Insurance Law

* Laurie C. Barbe (2007), Morgantown

* W. Randolph Fife (2009), Charleston

* Lucien G. Lewin (2008), Martinsburg

* Michelle E. Piziak (First listing), Charleston

* Ancil G. Ramey (2005), Charleston

* James M. Wilson (2005), Bridgeport

Labor and Employment Law

* Rodney L. Bean (2008), Morgantown

* Bryan R. Cokeley (2003), Charleston

* David E. Dick (2005), Morgantown

* Jan L. Fox (2010), Charleston

* Thomas S. Kleeh (First listing), Charleston

* John R. Merinar Jr. (2008), Bridgeport

* C. David Morrison (2001), Bridgeport

* Larry J. Rector (2005), Bridgeport

* Christopher L. Slaughter (2009), Huntington

* Robert M. Steptoe Jr. (1987), Bridgeport

* Carolyn A. Wade (2010), Bridgeport

* Richard M. Yurko Jr. (2008), Bridgeport

Legal Malpractice Law

* Susan S. Brewer (2001), Morgantown

* Bridget M. Cohee (2008), Martinsburg

* William D. Wilmoth (2003), Wheeling

Mass Tort Litigation

* Kelly Little Guice (2010), Bridgeport

Medical Malpractice Law

* Susan S. Brewer (2001), Morgantown

* William E. Galeota (2001), Morgantown

* Charles F. Johns (2007), Bridgeport

* Joanna I. Tabit (2008), Charleston

Mergers & Acquisitions Law

* Evans L. King Jr. (1995), Bridgeport

* James A. Russell (2005), Morgantown

* L. Frederick Williams, Jr. (2005), Charleston

Mining Law

* Sharon O. Flanery (2007), Charleston

* Steven P. McGowan (2007), Charleston

* C. David Morrison (2001), Bridgeport

* Robert D. Pollitt (2008), Charleston

* James A. Russell (2005), Morgantown

Municipal Law

* Vincent A. Collins (2003), Morgantown

* Ronald H. Hanlan (First listing), Bridgeport

* John C. Stump (2007), Charleston

* L. Frederick Williams Jr. (2005), Charleston

Natural Resources Law

* Patrick D. Deem (1993), Bridgeport

* Sharon O. Flanery (2007), Charleston

* W. Henry Lawrence (1999), Bridgeport

* E. Dandridge McDonald (1991), Charleston

* Katerina M. Milenkovski (2005), Columbus, Ohio

* James A. Russell (2005), Morgantown

Non-Profit/Charities Law

* Thomas A. Vorbach (2007), Morgantown

* Melissa S. Watkins (2010), Morgantown

Oil & Gas Law

* Patrick D. Deem (1993), Bridgeport

* Sharon O. Flanery (2007), Charleston

* Patricia Proctor (2008), Huntington

* James A. Russell (2005), Morgantown

Personal Injury Litigation

* Susan S. Brewer (2001), Morgantown

* William E. Galeota (2001), Morgantown

* Lucien G. Lewin (2008), Martinsburg

* Jeffrey K. Phillips (2008), Lexington, Ky.

* Joanna I. Tabit (2008), Charleston

* James M. Wilson (2005), Bridgeport

Product Liability Litigation

* David E. Goddard (First listing), Bridgeport

* J. Greg Goodykoontz (First listing), Bridgeport

* Karen E. Kahle (2010), Wheeling

* James J. A. Mulhall (2010), Bridgeport

* Joanna I. Tabit (2008), Charleston

Professional Malpractice Law

* Susan S. Brewer (2001), Morgantown

* William E. Galeota (2001), Morgantown

* Charles F. Johns (2007), Bridgeport

Project Finance Law

* Vincent A. Collins (2003), Morgantown

* John C. Stump (2007), Charleston

* L. Frederick Williams Jr. (2005), Charleston

Public Finance Law

* Vincent A. Collins (2003), Morgantown

* John C. Stump (2007), Charleston

* L. Frederick Williams Jr. (2005), Charleston

Real Estate Law

* Kenneth J. Barton Jr. (2007), Martinsburg

* Patrick D. Deem (1993), Bridgeport

* Louis E. Enderle Jr. (2008), Bridgeport

* Brian D. Gallagher (2007), Morgantown

* Randall C. Light (2007), Bridgeport

* James A. Russell (2005), Morgantown

* Arthur M. Standish (2009), Charleston

Structured Finance Law

* Vincent A. Collins (2003), Morgantown

* John C. Stump (2007), Charleston

* L. Frederick Williams Jr. (2005), Charleston

Tax Law

* Michael W. Barill (2007), Morgantown

* Ronald H. Hanlan (First listing), Bridgeport

* Thomas A. Vorbach (2007), Morgantown

* Melissa S. Watkins (2010), Morgantown

* Sherri S. Whalen (2007), Bridgeport

* L. Frederick Williams Jr. (2005), Charleston

Technology Law

* Thomas A. Vorbach (2007), Morgantown

Trusts and Estates

* Michael W. Barill (2007), Morgantown

* David H. Lunsford (2010), Huntington

* Thomas A. Vorbach (2007), Morgantown

* L. Frederick Williams Jr. (2005), Charleston

Venture Capital Law

* Brian D. Gallagher (2007), Morgantown

Water Law

* Armando F. Benincasa (2008), Charleston

* Richard L. Lewis (2006), Charleston

* Timothy P. Stranko (2010), Morgantown

Workers' Compensation Law

* Henry C. Bowen (2005), Charleston

* Gary W. Nickerson (2001), Bridgeport

* Harmon Toney Stroud (2008), Columbus, Ohio

Also, 30 of the firm's practice areas ranked at the top of their respective categories -– up from 26 in 2010 -- including:

* Appellate Law

* Banking Law

* Bet-the-Company Litigation

* Commercial Litigation

* Construction Law

* Education Law

* Employee Benefits Law

* Energy Law

* Health Care Law

* Insurance Law

* Labor and Employment Law

* Legal Malpractice Law

* Medical Malpractice Law

* Municipal Law

* Oil & Gas Law

* Product Liability Litigation

* Professional Malpractice Law

* Project Finance Law

* Public Finance Law

* Real Estate Law

* Structured Finance Law

* Water Law

The Best Lawyers in America compiles directories of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. In the U.S., an annual referral guide is published which includes 39,766 attorneys in 80 practice areas, covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The current, 17th edition is based on more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.

Steptoe & Johnson is a regional business-focused firm with particular strengths in energy, labor, employment and litigation. It comprises over 180 lawyers resident in eight locations throughout West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. For more information, visit the firm's Web site at www.steptoe-johnson.com.