Twenty MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP Attorneys Named The Best Lawyers in America® 2027
Erie, PA, August 20, 2026: MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP is pleased to announce that 20 lawyers have been included in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.
MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2027 The Best Lawyers in America® list:
- Shaun B. Adrian: Trusts and Estates
- J. W. Alberstadt, Jr.: Banking and Finance Law, Public Finance Law, and Real Estate Law
- W. Patrick Delaney: Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction, and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- John W. Draskovic: Litigation - Labor and Employment and Workers' Compensation Law - Employers
- G. Michael Garcia II: Litigation - Insurance
- Jennifer B. Hirneisen: Real Estate Law
- Mark J. Kuhar: Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Matthew W. McCullough: Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Jack Mehler: Real Estate Law
- Daniel M. Miller: Employment Law - Management
- Nicholas R. Pagliari: Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Litigation - Bankruptcy, and Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
- Lisa Smith Presta: Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
- Jamie Schumacher: Litigation - Labor & Employment
- Craig Shamburg: Trusts and Estates
- Mark J. Shaw: Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental
- Colleen R. Stumpf: Real Estate Law, and Trusts and Estates
- Roger H. Taft: Commercial Litigation and Employment Law - Management
- Michael Thomas: Trusts and Estates
- James B. Toohey: Real Estate Law
- Russell S. Warner: Environmental Law
Attorney Adrian, a senior partner at MacDonald Illig in the Firm’s Estates and Trusts Group, is recognized for his work in the area of estates and trusts planning and administration. He concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, elder law and long-term care planning. He has presented to professional and community groups on estate planning and probate, planning for families with special needs children, long-term care planning and planning for the elderly.
Attorney Alberstadt, former chair of MacDonald Illig’s Banking and Real Estate Group, is recognized for his work in the area of real estate law. Attorney Alberstadt concentrates his practice on residential and commercial real estate, economic development, and conventional and tax-exempt financing. He provides legal services to individuals, business and non-profit entities, lending institutions, municipal authorities and economic development agencies. Attorney Alberstadt is listed in the Bond Buyers Municipal Market Place Guide® as nationally recognized bond counsel.
Attorney Delaney is recognized for his work in the areas of commercial litigation and construction litigation. He has spent his entire legal career litigating disputes in state and federal courts as well as arbitration tribunals. His practice is concentrated in the area of commercial litigation, including such matters as contract claims, shareholder or partner disputes, construction claims, property damage claims, business torts, and Uniform Commercial Code disputes. Attorney Delaney has been an author on issues relating to business disputes and is frequently asked by other counsel to mediate or arbitrate those types of claims. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Attorney Draskovic, is a member of the Firm's Litigation Practice Group and Labor and Employment Practice Group, Attorney Draskovic represents individuals and businesses in a variety of matters including Workers' Compensation, employment and business-related claims. He has twice served on the Board of Directors of the Erie County Bar Association.
Attorney Garcia, a partner at MacDonald Illig, is recognized for his work in Litigation - Insurance. His practice focuses on insurance defense, professional liability defense, commercial and business litigation, municipal liability, and civil rights defense. He represents businesses, insurers, municipalities, and organizations throughout all phases of litigation, including investigation, negotiation, motion practice, trial preparation, and courtroom proceedings.”
Attorney Hirneisen is being recognized for her work which is concentrated in the areas of real estate and banking, and municipal law. Her real estate and banking practice includes real estate transactions, tax sales, tax assessment appeals, quiet title actions and mortgage foreclosure litigation. Attorney Hirneisen serves as counsel for real estate-related municipal matters, including municipal liens, subdivision and land development, and tax assessment matters. She serves as the solicitor for the Erie County Land Bank and is an assistant solicitor for Millcreek Township. She also serves as deputy solicitor for Erie County and, in that role, handles matters on behalf of the Erie County Tax Claim Bureau and the Erie County Department of Health.
Attorney Kuhar, Chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group and partner at MacDonald Illig, he is recognized for his work in employment law and labor negotiating on behalf of management. He has been serving the employment-related needs of private and public employers throughout the region for 30 years. Attorney Kuhar becomes a trusted part of HR and leadership teams, guiding and informing employers through the most difficult employee-related challenges. He routinely assists employers in establishing and maintaining employment policies, negotiating employment contracts and severance agreements, training supervisors and other employees, negotiating collective bargaining agreements, conducting workplace investigations, and defending employers in the litigation of employment claims before courts and administrative agencies.
Attorney McCullough is recognized for his work in the area of labor and employment litigation. He handles complex, multi-party employment and commercial litigation, including class and collective actions, breach of contract matters, shareholder and fiduciary disputes, and the defense of all types of employment-related claims. Attorney McCullough regularly appears in federal and state court, before state and federal administrative agencies, before arbitration tribunals, and represents clients in alternative dispute resolution.
Attorney Mehler, is recognized for his work in business law, real estate, banking and financial transactions, and property tax litigation. With more than 40 years of experience, he represents businesses, developers, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. His practice includes real estate and business transactions, property tax litigation, and real estate valuation disputes.
Attorney Miller is a Partner and member of the MacDonald Illig Labor/Employment Group. His practice consists primarily of representing businesses, governmental entities and non-profits in the areas of employee relations, employment discrimination, collective bargaining, labor relations, unemployment compensation, and wage and hour matters. His practice includes the handling of administrative proceedings before various government administrative agencies. Attorney Miller's practice and experience affords him the ability to provide efficient and effective advice to and representation of clients to minimize legal risks before they occur. He also assists clients in defending claims that cannot be avoided. He is a frequent speaker on labor and employment issues.
Attorney Pagliari, Chair of MacDonald Illig's Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Practice Group, is recognized for his work in the areas of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Attorney Pagliari’s practice is concentrated in the areas of corporate restructuring and bankruptcy, bankruptcy-related litigation, and collection matters. He primarily represents secured creditors, corporate debtors, and other entities involved in bankruptcy and collection matters. Attorney Pagliari is also an approved mediator in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Attorney Presta, Chair of MacDonald Illig's Litigation Department, is recognized for her work in the area of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. She handles complex, multi-party litigation, including malpractice cases, breach of contract matters, and the defense of employment claims. She regularly appears in federal and state court, before administrative agencies, in arbitration tribunals, and in alternative dispute resolution settings. By appointment of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Attorney Presta recently serve on the statewide, 12-member Supreme Court Rules of Evidence Committee. She also served on the Lawyers Advisory Committee of the Judicial Council of the Third Judicial Circuit by appointment of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Attorney Presta is a Past President of the Erie County Bar Association and a frequent speaker on issues of substantive law and trial practice.
Attorney Schumacher is a partner with MacDonald Illig, and concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial, employment, estate, medical malpractice and insurance defense litigation, practicing before both the federal and state courts of Pennsylvania. She is the President of the Erie County Bar Association and a member of several non-profit Boards of Directors, including Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Erie Art Museum, and Early Connections. She is actively involved in the Erie Community (on the Board for the Erie Club, a Hamot Health Foundation Corporate, and instructor at Long's School of Dance) and a frequent speaker and author on issues of substantive law and practice.
Attorney Shamburg, Chair of MacDonald Illig’s Business Transactions Group and member of the Management Committee, is recognized for his work in Trusts & Estates. His practice includes estate planning, estate and trust administration, tax planning, and fiduciary disputes. He assists individuals and families with wills, trusts, and estate and inheritance tax planning, while advising businesses on formation, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, and corporate governance.
Attorney Shaw, Chair of MacDonald Illig's Government Services Practice Group and former chair of the Environmental Group, is recognized for his work in Environmental Law, including environmental litigation, Act 2, compliance, and permitting matters. Attorney Shaw is a 2-term member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Environmental and Energy Law Section Council, and currently serves as Treasurer. Attorney Shaw also handles complex commercial litigation cases in the federal and state courts and serves as Solicitor of Millcreek Township. He is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Attorney Stumpf is a transactional attorney whose practice focuses on estate planning and administration as well as the representation of for-profit and nonprofit entities. She provides compassionate guidance in long-term care planning, helping families create strategies that allow elderly loved ones to remain at home and receive the support they need throughout their senior years. In addition, she advises clients on asset protection and succession planning to ensure both family legacies and businesses are prepared for the future. Attorney Stumpf also supports organizations throughout their lifecycle, offering expertise in formation, governance, mergers and acquisitions, and serving as general counsel on day-to-day business matters.
Attorney Taft, past Chair of MacDonald Illig's Labor and Employment Practice Group, is recognized for his work in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Employment Law - Management. As an Of Counsel attorney at MacDonald Illig, he concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation and employment litigation and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Attorney Taft is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania and also is admitted to the bars of several federal trial and appellate courts.
Attorney Thomas, MacDonald Illig’s Managing Partner and a member of the firm’s Management Committee, is recognized for his work in Trusts & Estates. His practice includes estate planning, estate and trust administration, wealth transfer planning, taxation, and business succession planning. He assists individuals and families with estate and tax strategies, while advising businesses on mergers and acquisitions, business sales, corporate governance, and succession planning.
Attorney Toohey, a partner at MacDonald Illig, is recognized for his work in the area of real estate law. He represents and advises individuals, businesses and developers in a wide variety of real estate, oil and gas, and corporate matters. Attorney Toohey also has extensive experience in representing commercial and real estate lenders in business and real estate loans.
Attorney Warner, is the founder of the law firm's Environmental Law Practice Group, and is recognized for his work in the area of environmental law. His practice includes representation of businesses, economic development organizations, real estate developers, financial institutions and municipal entities regarding environmental and business matters. Attorney Warner has also served as the President of the Erie County Bar Association.
About Best Lawyers in America®
Best Lawyers® is an elite global network of legal professionals recognized through trusted, peer-reviewed distinction. For over four decades, our Purely Peer Review® methodology has upheld the principle that recognition should be earned through the opinions of fellow attorneys, not marketing influence or paid listings.
Legal Advice Disclaimer: The information presented on this website serves solely as general guidance and should not be construed as legal advice by MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP as a replacement for seeking personalized legal counsel from a qualified attorney. MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP does not assume liability for the accuracy or reliability of content hosted on any third-party websites accessible through links provided on this site.