Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC is pleased to announce that 10 of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®.
Senior Partner John P. Comerford has also been named Lawyer of the Year in Buffalo for Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. Only a single attorney in each practice area and metropolitan region earns this recognition, underscoring the exceptional nature of this honor.
The Best Lawyers in America® 2026
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John Lipsitz – Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
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Michael Ponterio – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
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Mathew J. Morton – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
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Anne Joynt – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
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Dennis Harlow – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
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Lisa M. Baehre – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® 2026
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Sean Esford – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
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Ryan Ledebur – Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization Law; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
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Jillian Ponterio – Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
About Best Lawyers®
For more than four decades, Best Lawyers® has been regarded as a leading source for legal referrals worldwide. The foundation of its work is a Purely Peer Review® methodology, meaning recognition is based entirely on confidential peer evaluations and not influenced by marketing or paid participation.
For the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 26 million evaluations were analyzed. Only about 5% of lawyers in the United States and 3% globally are recognized, highlighting the selectivity of the process. The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® recognitions were based on more than 5.4 million evaluations.
The Lawyer of the Year accolade is particularly distinguished, as it is awarded to only one lawyer per practice area in each metropolitan region. Recognition reflects the highest level of peer feedback.
About Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC
Founded in 1995 by John Lipsitz and Michael Ponterio, and later joined by John Comerford, Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford has spent nearly three decades advocating for victims of asbestos exposure and catastrophic injury. Collectively, the attorneys have helped shape asbestos law in New York State and recovered over a billion dollars for clients diagnosed with mesothelioma. With deep community ties and a mission rooted in justice, the firm remains committed to protecting the rights of injured individuals and their families.
For more information, visit Best Lawyers®.
