Best Lawyers® 2025 recognized four of the firm’s attorneys for exceptional work in seven practice areas. 

The Best Lawyers in America© is the longest-running peer-review publication in the legal profession. Each year, Best Lawyers conducts comprehensive surveys of tens of thousands of lawyers who confidentially evaluate their professional peers. Based on the results of these surveys, the publication designates the year’s leading lawyers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Guidant attorneys recognized in the 2025 edition are: 

2025 Best Lawyers  

  • D. Lamar Hawkins: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2016 – present)  
  • Sam Saks: Appellate Practice (2018 – present); Commercial Litigation (2023 – present); Litigation – Real Estate (2023 – present); Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (2023 – present)  
  • Gary Smith: Commercial Litigation (2023 – present); Construction Law (2025); Litigation – Construction (2023 – present)  
  • JoAnn Falgout: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (2024, 2025) 

“Being recognized by Best Lawyers shows how committed we are to providing top-notch legal services and creative solutions for our clients,” said Gary Smith, managing partner at Guidant. “We’re thankful for the high ratings from our peers and look forward to continuing to exceed their expectations for legal excellence in the coming year.” 

Learn more about Guidant’s attorneys and practice areas