Vorys Attorneys Recognized in the 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year"

Eight Vorys attorneys have been recognized as part of the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” list.  Only one attorney from each city can be named “Lawyer of The Year” for a given practice area.  According to Best Lawyers, the “Lawyer of the Year” list reflects “the outstanding achievements of legal professionals who have demonstrated unparalleled expertise and dedication in their fields.”

Read more about the Vorys attorneys recognized as “Lawyers of The Year” below.

Columbus

• Alycia N. Broz has been named the 2026 Best Lawyers’Columbus Lawyer of the Year in Litigation – Securities.  She has extensive experience in securities, antitrust, commercial, class action, insurance and civil rights litigation.  In addition, Alycia has extensive knowledge of retail payment strategies and has helped retailers navigate their payment relationships.  She has provided strategic advice and counsel for more than two decades to commercial and retail clients across the country.
• Judith L. Marsh has been named the 2026 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year in Commercial Finance Law. Her focus is on finance transactions, commercial, corporate, franchising and distribution.  Judy has more than 20 years of experience representing large, national retailers and consumer brands, serving as a strategic partner to reach their business objectives.  In her finance practice, Judy represents borrowers and lenders in a wide range of financing transactions.
• Joseph R. Miller has been named the 2026 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year in Land Use and Zoning Law. He has decades of experience representing real estate developers, individuals and businesses before local administrative and legislative bodies, and state and federal courts in matters involving land use and zoning disputes.  Joe has successfully represented landowners before the Supreme Court of Ohio on numerous occasions.
• Gretchen Petrucci has been named the 2026 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year in Energy Regulatory Law. She has practiced in the fields of utility regulation and generation siting for more than 20 years.  Gretchen is well-versed in Ohio’s utility public policy and regulations, having been a hearing examiner and section chief at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and an administrative law judge at the Ohio Power Siting Board.
• Michael J. Settineri has been named the 2026 Best Lawyers’ Columbus Lawyer of the Year in Energy Law. He has extensive experience litigating matters before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, the Ohio Power Siting Board and the Ohio Oil and Gas Commission.  In addition to his legal experience, Mike has 11 years of project engineering and operations management experience, including design and construction of large capital projects, which guides his offering practical advice to clients on a wide range of energy matters.

Akron

• Bret Treier has been named the 2026 Best Lawyers’ Akron Lawyer of the Year in Banking and Finance Law. His practice focuses primarily on representing public and significant private companies, with particular experience in representing public financial institutions.  Bret advises these clients on acquisitions, dispositions, corporate and board governance, securities law compliance and reporting, the offering of common shares and other matters.  He is the managing partner of the Vorys Akron office. 
• Mark A. Watkins has been named the 2025 Best Lawyers’ Akron Lawyer of the Year in Intellectual Property – Litigation. He provides IP counsel to many Fortune 1000 companies across the United States and around the world.  Mark has participated in the enforcement and defense of a wide range of intellectual property matters, including patent, trademark and copyright infringements and misappropriation of trade secrets.  Mark has extensive experience in the entertainment industry and has represented numerous celebrity clients. 

Cleveland

• Bryan H. Falk has been named the 2025 Best Lawyers’ Cleveland Lawyer of the Year in Banking and Finance Law. He represents many national and regional banks in connection with a wide range of secured and unsecured transactions, including syndicated and single bank asset-based facilities, commercial loans, subordinated debt financings and all varieties of commercial real estate loans, including tax credit and opportunity zone structures.  Bryan is the managing partner of the Vorys Cleveland office.