BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Aug. 21, 2026 – Cory Watson Attorneys is proud to announce that eighteen of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. The peer-driven honor, awarded to attorneys practicing in Birmingham, Alabama, reflects the firm’s more than 45 years of dedicated legal advocacy for injured clients across the country.
“On behalf of our thousands of clients nationwide, we congratulate this outstanding group of attorneys on this well-deserved recognition,” said Leila Hirayama Watson, Co-Founder of Cory Watson Attorneys. “This honor is a direct reflection of the standard of excellence and commitment to our clients that defines Cory Watson Attorneys.”
The Best Lawyers in America® – 2027 Edition
Eleven Cory Watson attorneys were named to the 2027 Best Lawyers in America list:
Joel Caldwell and Tiffany Webber Carpenter; Civil Rights Law; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Jon C. Conlin; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
G. Rick DiGiorgio; Appellate Practice; Civil Rights Law; Consumer Protection Law; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Medical Malpractice Law; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Stephen Hunt Jr. and Hirlye Lutz; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
R. Andrew Jones; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs
F. Jerome Tapley; Consumer Protection Law; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Mitchell Theodore and Brett Thompson; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (Thompson also recognized for Civil Rights Law)
Leila Hirayama Watson, Co-Founder; Litigation – Construction; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Medical Malpractice Law; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch – 2027 Edition
Seven of the firm’s rising attorneys were selected for the 2027 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognition:
Hannah Cory Caldwell and Hunter Phares; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Medical Malpractice Law; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs (Phares also recognized for Environmental Litigation)
James E. Cory and Nicolas Gutierrez; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Hamilton Jordan; Insurance Law; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
Nicole LeMier; Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
R. Akira Watson; Litigation – Environmental; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
To learn more about each honoree’s background and practice areas, visit corywatson.com or contact the firm directly using the information below.
About Best Lawyers: A Legacy of Peer-Recognized Excellence
First published in 1983, Best Lawyers is one of the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed publications in the legal profession. Attorneys cannot pay for inclusion, and rankings are determined through a rigorous peer-review process, making a Best Lawyers listing one of the highest accolades an attorney can receive. Corporate Counsel Magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.” The Ones to Watch award recognizes newer attorneys, typically those in practice fewer than 10 years, for outstanding legal excellence.
About Cory Watson Attorneys: Fighting for Families Nationwide
Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama, and Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $4 billion for clients nationwide and is frequently appointed to leadership roles in major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving dangerous pharmaceuticals and defective products. Practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation, Dangerous Pharmaceuticals, Defective Medical Devices, and Environmental and Toxic Torts. Learn more at corywatson.com.
Media ContactCompany Name: Cory Watson AttorneysContact Person: Patrick NolenEmail: Send EmailPhone: (877) 562-0000City: BirminghamState: AlabamaCountry: United StatesWebsite: https://www.corywatson.com/blog/2027-best-lawyers-ones-to-watch/
