August 21, 2025 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that 68 lawyers have been recognized in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, five of which were newly included, and one newly named on the “Ones to Watch” list. In addition, 11 GableGotwals attorneys were named 2026 “Lawyer of the Year.”

Best Lawyers has published their list for more than three decades. Its first international list was published in 2006, and since then has grown to provide lists in more than 75 countries. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas and are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise.

GableGotwals would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to 2026 The Best Lawyers in America list:

The Best Lawyers in America
Houston
	John D. Sullivan Commercial Litigation
Oklahoma City
	Ellen A. Adams Energy Law Employment Law – Management
	Jeffrey A. Curran Insurance Law Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants	Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
	E. Talitha Ebrite Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation	Energy Law Oil and Gas Law
	Jake M. Krattiger Commercial Litigation Oil and Gas Law
	Lance E. Leffel Commercial Litigation Construction Law	Insurance Law Litigation – Insurance
	Robert G. McCampbell Administrative / Regulatory Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation	Criminal Defense: White-Collar Government Contracts Government Relations Practice Health Care Law Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
	Nick V. Merkley Commercial Litigation Energy Law	Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions Oil and Gas Law
	J. Blake Patton Commercial Litigation
	Leo J. Portman Corporate Law Energy Law	Litigation – Trusts and Estates
	Brooks Richardson Commercial Litigation
	Rob F. Robertson Commercial Litigation Corporate Governance Law Energy Law Oil and Gas Law (Lawyer of the Year)	Litigation – Banking and Finance Litigation – Bankruptcy Litigation – Environmental Litigation – Real Estate
	Leasa M. Stewart Insurance Law Litigation – ERISA (Lawyer of the Year)	Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
	Amy M. Stipe Commercial Litigation Oil and Gas Law
	Jay P. Walters Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions Litigation – Securities (Lawyer of the Year) Native American Law
Tulsa
	Steven J. Adams Commercial Litigation Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
	Jennifer R. Annis Litigation – Health Care Litigation – Insurance	Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (Lawyer of the Year)
	John R. Barker Banking and Finance Law Corporate Law Securities / Capital Markets Law
	Brandon C. Bickle Banking and Finance Law Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Commercial Litigation
	David L. Bryant Arbitration Bet-the-Company Litigation	Commercial Litigation Mediation
	Frank J. Catalano Copyright Law Patent Law	Trademark Law
	Jason B. Coutant Banking and Finance Law Corporate Law
	John D. Dale Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
	Renee DeMoss Commercial Litigation Insurance Law	Litigation – ERISA
	Adam Doverspike Commercial Litigation Municipal Law
	Alicia J. Edwards Patent Law
	LeAnn Drummond Ellis Litigation – Trusts and Estates
	Grant Fitz Litigation – Insurance Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants	Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
	Craig A. Fitzgerald Commercial Litigation Insurance Law	Litigation – Antitrust Litigation – Intellectual Property
	Amelia A. Fogleman Appellate Practice (Lawyer of the Year) Commercial Litigation	Litigation – Antitrust
	John A. Gaberino, Jr. Energy Law
	Jeffrey D. Hassell Banking and Finance Law Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law (Lawyer of the Year) Corporate Law
	Jeffrey T. Haughey Securities / Capital Markets Law Securities Regulation
	Steven G. Heinen Banking and Finance Law Corporate Law
	Philip D. Hixon Appellate Practice Commercial Litigation
	Andrew J. Hofland Commercial Litigation
	Thomas J. Hutchison Banking and Finance Law Corporate Law	Real Estate Law
	Susan I. Jordan Health Care Law Litigation – Health Care
	Stephen W. Lake Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation Corporate Law	Energy Law Mergers and Acquisitions Law Oil and Gas Law (Lawyer of the Year) Securities / Capital Markets Law Securities Regulation (Lawyer of the Year)
	Lloyd W. Landreth Litigation – Environmental (Lawyer of the Year) Natural Resources Law (Lawyer of the Year)
	James F. Lea III Copyright Law Patent Law	Trademark Law
	David Limekiller Commercial Litigation
	Justin A. Lollman Commercial Litigation
	Graydon D. Luthey, Jr. Commercial Litigation Corporate Compliance Law	Corporate Governance Law Corporate Law Gaming Law Native American Law
	David B. McKinney Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Health Care Law	Litigation – ERISA Trusts and Estates
	Carrie McNeer Insurance Law
	Barbara M. Moschovidis Insurance Law
	Todd A. Nelson Copyright Law Litigation – Patent
	Richard B. Noulles Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation	Natural Resources Law Oil and Gas Law
	Terry D. Ragsdale Commercial Litigation Energy Law
	Paul E. Rossler Patent Law Technology Law	Trademark Law
	John Henry Rule Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation	Litigation – Banking and Finance Litigation – First Amendment
	Stephen A. Schuller Energy Law Land Use and Zoning Law	Litigation – Real Estate Real Estate Law
	Deborah C. Shallcross Appellate Practice Arbitration	Family Law
	Trent Shores Commercial Litigation Native American Law
	Lisa T. Silvestri Energy Law (Lawyer of the Year) Insurance Law
	Tina Soin Banking and Finance Law
	Timothy J. Sullivan, Jr. Commercial Litigation Energy Law
	Sidney K. Swinson Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Litigation – Bankruptcy
	Chris S. Thrutchley Employment Law – Management Labor Law – Management	Litigation – Labor and Employment
	Mia Vahlberg Commercial Litigation Corporate Law	Energy Law Insurance Law (Lawyer of the Year)
	David G. Woodral Patent Law Trademark Law
	Scott R. Zingerman Copyright Law Patent Law (Lawyer of the Year)	Trade Secrets Law
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America
Oklahoma City
	Gerard D’Emilio Appellate Practice Commercial Litigation
	Scott Kiplinger Litigation – Construction Oil and Gas Law
	Ashlyn Smith Insurance Law Oil and Gas Law
Tulsa
	Barrett L. Powers Commercial Litigation Insurance Law
	Alex R. Telarik Commercial Litigation Oil and Gas Law

Private and Sergeant John R. Barker

In August 1969, I was set to begin law school. But, as life would have it, I was drafted in one of the last months of the old two-year military service draft. Joining the Army during the Vietnam War was a unique experience, especially with the widespread opposition to the war and the lack of choice for those drafted.

How did your military service shape your view of leadership and teamwork?

I started my basic training as a draftee in October 1969 at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, joining a company of approximately 150 soldiers, only 15% of whom looked like me. Most of the soldiers in my company were from Puerto Rico. After basic training, I was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma (this was my first time in Oklahoma) for advanced infantry training, specializing in field artillery and gunnery. All of my company at Fort Sill were recent college graduates drafted into the Army. I then spent a year on a firebase 60-70 miles from the border between Laos and Vietnam. Our Commanding Officer and the majority of men on the firebase were African American or Puerto Rican, which was our first time working closely with people of different racial backgrounds for many of us. This early exposure to diversity proved invaluable in my career and is something I would never have experienced otherwise so early in my development. The military brings together people from all walks of life, teaching us to work together, trust one another, and rely on each other. The training emphasizes setting goals, working to achieve them, and building teamwork. These lessons—and the people I served with—taught me a great deal.

After a year in Vietnam, I returned home and married my wife, Lucy, approximately two weeks after I returned home. I was then transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas, to finish my final three months as a sergeant assigned to the Chief of Staff at the base. I was discharged early to start law school at the University of Michigan in August 1971.

I lost two close friends during my service—people I will never forget. I often think of their families and wonder about their children today.

How can we better support veterans?

Support varies depending on individual needs, but even small gestures, like recognizing or highlighting a veteran like this profile, can make a difference. Having open conversations is helpful too. Initially, I felt uncomfortable when people thanked me for my service, as no one welcomed us back that way. But hearing appreciation for what we went through means a lot.

August 15, 2024 | GableGotwals is pleased to announce that 74 lawyers have been recognized in the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, three of which were newly included, and two newly named on the “Ones to Watch” list. In addition, seven GableGotwals attorneys were named 2025 “Lawyer of the Year.”

Best Lawyers has published their list for more than three decades. Its first international list was published in 2006, and since then has grown to provide lists in more than 75 countries. Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas and are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise.

GableGotwals would like to congratulate the following attorneys named to 2025 The Best Lawyers in America list:

The Best Lawyers in America
Houston
	John D. Sullivan Commercial Litigation
Oklahoma City
	Ellen A. Adams Energy Law
	Jeffrey A. Curran Insurance Law Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants	Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
	E. Talitha Ebrite Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation	Energy Law Oil and Gas Law
	Jake M. Krattiger Commercial Litigation Oil and Gas Law
	Lance E. Leffel Commercial Litigation Construction Law	Insurance Law Litigation – Insurance
	Robert G. McCampbell Administrative / Regulatory Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation	Criminal Defense: White-Collar Government Contracts Government Relations Practice Health Care Law Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)
	Nick V. Merkley Commercial Litigation Energy Law	Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions
	J. Blake Patton Commercial Litigation
	Leo J. Portman Corporate Law Energy Law	Litigation – Trusts and Estates
	Brooks Richardson Commercial Litigation
	Rob F. Robertson Commercial Litigation Corporate Governance Law Energy Law Oil and Gas Law	Litigation – Banking and Finance Litigation – Bankruptcy Litigation – Environmental Litigation – Real Estate
	G. Blaine Schwabe III Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation
	Leasa M. Stewart Insurance Law Litigation – ERISA
	Amy M. Stipe Commercial Litigation Oil and Gas Law
	Jay P. Walters Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions Litigation – Securities Native American Law
Tulsa
	Steven J. Adams Commercial Litigation Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
	Jennifer R. Annis Litigation – Health Care Litigation – Insurance	Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
	John R. Barker Banking and Finance Law (Lawyer of the Year) Corporate Law Securities / Capital Markets Law
	Brandon C. Bickle Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Commercial Litigation
	David L. Bryant Arbitration Bet-the-Company Litigation	Commercial Litigation Mediation
	Frank J. Catalano Copyright Law Patent Law	Trademark Law
	Jason B. Coutant Banking and Finance Law Corporate Law
	John D. Dale Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
	Renee DeMoss Commercial Litigation Insurance Law	Litigation – ERISA
	Alicia J. Edwards Patent Law
	LeAnn Drummond Ellis Litigation – Trusts and Estates
	Grant Fitz Litigation – Insurance
	Craig A. Fitzgerald Commercial Litigation Insurance Law	Litigation – Antitrust Litigation – Intellectual Property
	Amelia A. Fogleman Appellate Practice Commercial Litigation	Litigation – Antitrust
	John A. Gaberino, Jr. Energy Law
	Robert J. Getchell Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Litigation – Real Estate
	Jeffrey D. Hassell Banking and Finance Law Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Corporate Law (Lawyer of the Year)
	Jeffrey T. Haughey Securities / Capital Markets Law Securities Regulation
	Steven G. Heinen Banking and Finance Law Corporate Law
	Philip D. Hixon Appellate Practice (Lawyer of the Year) Commercial Litigation
	Andrew J. Hofland Commercial Litigation
	Thomas J. Hutchison Banking and Finance Law Corporate Law	Real Estate Law
	Susan I. Jordan Health Care Law Litigation – Health Care
	Stephen W. Lake Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation Corporate Law	Energy Law (Lawyer of the Year) Mergers and Acquisitions Law Oil and Gas Law Securities / Capital Markets Law (Lawyer of the Year) Securities Regulation
	Lloyd W. Landreth Litigation – Environmental Natural Resources Law
	James F. Lea III Copyright Law Patent Law	Trademark Law (Lawyer of the Year)
	David Limekiller Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation
	Graydon D. Luthey, Jr. Commercial Litigation Corporate Compliance Law	Corporate Governance Law Corporate Law Gaming Law Native American Law
	David B. McKinney Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Health Care Law	Litigation – ERISA (Lawyer of the Year) Trusts and Estates
	Todd A. Nelson Copyright Law Litigation – Patent
	Richard B. Noulles Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation	Natural Resources Law Oil and Gas Law
	Terry D. Ragsdale Commercial Litigation Energy Law
	Paul E. Rossler Patent Law Technology Law	Trademark Law
	John Henry Rule Banking and Finance Law Commercial Litigation	Litigation – Banking and Finance Litigation – First Amendment
	Stephen A. Schuller Energy Law Land Use and Zoning Law	Litigation – Real Estate Real Estate Law
	Deborah C. Shallcross Appellate Practice Arbitration	Family Law
	Trent Shores Commercial Litigation Native American Law
	Lisa T. Silvestri Energy Law Insurance Law
	Timothy J. Sullivan, Jr. Commercial Litigation Energy Law
	Sidney K. Swinson Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Litigation – Bankruptcy
	Chris S. Thrutchley Employment Law – Management Labor Law – Management	Litigation – Labor and Employment
	Mia Vahlberg Commercial Litigation Corporate Law	Energy Law Insurance Law Oil and Gas Law
	Tom C. Vincent II FinTech Practice Privacy and Data Security Law
	David G. Woodral Patent Law (Lawyer of the Year) Trademark Law
	Scott R. Zingerman Copyright Law Patent Law	Trade Secrets Law
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America
Oklahoma City
	Gerard D’Emilio Appellate Practice Commercial Litigation
	Scott Kiplinger Litigation – Construction Oil and Gas Law
	Ashlyn Smith Oil and Gas Law
	Tim Sowecke Energy Law Environmental Law	Natural Resources Law
Tulsa
	Emily Collins Litigation – Trusts and Estates Trusts and Estates
	Madeline Cook Litigation – Intellectual Property
	Adam Doverspike Administrative / Regulatory Law Appellate Practice	Commercial Litigation Litigation – Construction Municipal Law
	Justin A. Lollman Appellate Practice Commercial Litigation	Criminal Defense: White-Collar Labor and Employment Law – Management
	Barrett L. Powers Commercial Litigation Insurance Law