Nelson Mullins has been recognized nationally as a “Top Tier Firm” in The Legal 500, a prominent legal research organization, along with a number of practice areas and attorneys in its 2026 United States Edition.

Below is a full list of the 14 practice areas in this year’s U.S. edition:

• Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Automotive/Transport (Tier 1)
• Dispute Resolution – E-Discovery (Tier 2)
• Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices (Tier 2)
• Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Toxic Tort (Tier 2)
• Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Consumer Products (Including Tobacco) (Tier 3)
• Finance – Capital Markets: Equity Offerings – Advice to Issuers (Tier 3)
• Media, Technology and Telecoms – Telecoms and Broadcast: Regulatory (Tier 3)
• Real Estate – Real Estate: Mid-Market ($0–500m) (Tier 3)
• Transport – Rail and Road: Litigation and Regulation (Tier 3)
• Labor and Employment – Immigration (Tier 4)
• M&A/Corporate and Commercial – Venture Capital and Emerging Companies (Tier 4)
• Media, Technology and Telecoms – Outsourcing (Tier 4)
• Dispute Resolution – Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals (Tier 5)
• Healthcare – Service Providers (Tier 5)

In addition to the firm’s practice area rankings, The Legal 500 recognized 12 Nelson Mullins attorneys for their outstanding work and client service.

Hall of Fame

• John Heitmann – Media, Technology and Telecoms – Telecoms and Broadcast: Regulatory

Leading Partners 

• Michael Brown – Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Toxic Tort
• Sandra Ezell – Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Automotive/Transport
• Michael Hollingsworth – M&A/Corporate and Commercial: Middle-Market ($250-$500m)
• Kurt Kern – Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Automotive/Transport
• John Martin – Dispute Resolution – E-Discovery
• Steve McKelvey – Transport – Rail and Road: Litigation and Regulation
• Mark Phillips – Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Toxic Tort
• Terri Reiskin – Dispute Resolution – Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action – Defense: Automotive/Transport
• Juan Vasquez – Tax – U.S. Taxes: Contentious

Next Generation Partners 

• George Akers – M&A/Corporate and Commercial – Venture Capital and Emerging Companies
• Travis Bustamante – Dispute Resolution – E-Discovery

The Legal 500 is a data-driven, AI-optimized research platform which benchmarks, informs, and connects providers and users of legal services in more than 100 countries worldwide. Learn about its methodology.