Oliver Maner, one of Savannah, Georgia’s most distinguished law firms, announces 19 of its lawyers have been named to the prestigious 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in America® with two team members also earning spots on the "Lawyer of the Year" Awards list. Additionally, six rising stars were recognized on the 2025 Ones to Watch list.

"We are honored by this recognition," said Patrick T. O'Connor, Managing Partner at Oliver Maner. "Having several of our lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers® once again is a testament to the hard work and expertise of our entire firm."

The two Oliver Maner lawyers being recognized for the 2025 Edition "Lawyer of the Year" Awards in Savannah include:

• William P. Franklin, Jr. - Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants

• Paul H. Threlkeld - Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

The 19 Oliver Maner lawyers named to the 2025 Best Lawyers in America® include:

• William P. Franklin, Jr. – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants); Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants)

• David H. Dickey – Tax Law; Trusts and Estates

• I. Gregory Hodges – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants); Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants); Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs)

• Robert W. Schivera – Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Trusts and Estates

• Patrick T. O’Connor – Bet-the-Company Litigation; Civil Rights Law; Commercial Litigation; Legal Malpractice Law (Defendants); Municipal Litigation; Mediation; Municipal Law

• James P. Gerard – Construction Litigation; Real Estate Law

• Patricia T. Paul – Employment Law (Individuals); Workers Compensation Law (Employers)

• Timothy D. Roberts – Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Trusts and Estates Litigation

• Lee A. Summerford – Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Corporate Law; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates

• Andrew M. Wilkes – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants), Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs)

• William J. Hunter – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants); Personal Injury Litigation (Plantiffs)

• Benjamin M. Perkins – Land Use and Zoning Law; Labor and Employment Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions (Plaintiffs)

• Paul H. Threlkeld – Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants and Plaintiffs); Product Liability Litigation (Defendants)

• George T. Major, Jr. – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants); Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs); Product Liability Litigation (Plaintiffs)

• T. Lawrence Evans – Construction Litigation

• R. Benjamin Lingle – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants); Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs)

• Bryan A. Schivera – Trusts and Estates Litigation; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates

• Douglas J. Giorgio, III – Tax Law; Trusts and Estates

• David Bobo Mullens, III – Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants)

The Ones to Watch award highlights lawyers who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement early in their careers. The Oliver Maner lawyers named to the 2025 Ones to Watch list include: 

• Jacob D. Massee – Municipal Law; Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs)

• Ryan Beasley – Tax Law

• David Bobo Mullens, III – Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs)

• I. William Drought, III – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants); Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs)

• William C. Phillips – Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants)

• Amelia C. Stevens – Municipal Law

More information can be found at www.bestlawyers.com and in the Best Law Firms rankings report.