Best Lawyers in America named five Manatt attorneys “Lawyer of the Year” for 2023 – Christine Reilly, Donald Meaders and George Soneff in Los Angeles; Robert Belfort in New York; and Steve Edwards in Orange County.
Christine Reilly
2023 Advertising Law Lawyer of the Year, Los Angeles
Christine Reilly heads the firm’s consumer protection, advertising and competition practice. She defends companies in consumer class actions and other major civil litigation in various areas, including consumer protection, unfair competition, and false and deceptive advertising. She also represents clients facing investigations and proceedings initiated by the Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission and other federal and state regulatory agencies.
Donald Meaders
2023 Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law Lawyer of the Year, Los Angeles
Don Meaders' practice focuses on employee benefits and ERISA, with a broad range of experience within the specialty. His skill set encompasses qualified plan design, drafting, counseling (including 401(k), defined benefit, and employee stock ownership plans), welfare plan drafting and compliance, executive compensation (including nonqualified deferred compensation plan drafting and counseling, and stock-based compensation, such as restricted stock and qualified and nonqualified option plan drafting and counseling), Internal Revenue Service audits and corrective programs, Department of Labor audits, tax controversy, benefits due diligence and counseling in connection with mergers and acquisitions, and strategic assistance to litigators in ERISA litigation.
George Soneff
2023 Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law Lawyer of the Year, Los Angeles
George Soneff is a partner in the Los Angeles office and leads the real estate litigation practice. He has more than 30 years’ experience as a trial lawyer in complex litigation. He has an extensive background in real property litigation, including eminent domain, inverse condemnation, real estate development and valuation, land use restrictions and governmental regulation of property rights, construction-related claims, water rights, ownership disputes, and insurance. His clients have included major real estate developers, utilities, energy companies, banks and individuals from many industries.
Robert Belfort
2023 Health Care Law Lawyer of the Year, New York
With more than 25 years of experience in health care law, Robert Belfort advises health care organizations on regulatory compliance and transactional matters. His clients include hospital systems, other health care providers, health insurers, managed care organizations, accountable care organizations (ACOs), pharmacy chains, IT vendors, health care industry investors and trade associations. Bob handles a wide variety of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions as well as joint ventures. He specializes in transactions that raise complex regulatory issues and necessitate sophisticated health care due diligence.
Steve Edwards
2023 Real Estate Law Lawyer of the Year, Orange County
Steve has a broad background in real estate and real estate law, including in‑house experience in the real estate industry, and serving as co-chair of the real estate practice for an international law firm. He has been active in virtually all aspects of the acquisition, sale, exchange, financing, ground leasing, leasing, and development of improved and unimproved real estate for both individual and institutional clients. His practice has emphasized the representation of both developers and capital providers in the formation of joint ventures, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies for the acquisition and development of housing and commercial properties.
View Manatt’s full list of attorneys recognized in the 2023 Best Lawyers in America report here.