About Us
Recognition
Best Law Firms
Firms included in the “Best Law Firms” lists are recognized for professional excellence with consistently high ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking indicates an impressive combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. The complete list of rankings is published on the U.S. News website. Downey Brand practices were first recognized in 2017:
Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyer recognizes attorneys for excellent achievement in their area of practice. Lawyers are selected through peer-review surveys, which are completed by thousands of leading lawyers who confidentially evaluate their peers. Downey Brand attorneys have been recognized as Best Lawyers in the following years:
2024 Best Lawyers in America
2023 Best Lawyers in America
2022 Best Lawyers in America
2021 Best Lawyers in America
2020 Best Lawyers in America
2019 Best Lawyers in America
2018 Best Lawyers in America
2017 Best Lawyers in America
2016 Best Lawyers in America
2015 Best Lawyers in America
2014 Best Lawyers in America
2013 Best Lawyers in America
2012 Best Lawyers in America
2011 Best Lawyers in America
2010 Best Lawyers in America
2009 Best Lawyers in America
2008 Best Lawyers in America
2007 Best Lawyers in America
2006 Best Lawyers in America
Best of the Bar
The annual list includes many of the region’s most prominent and well-respected attorneys from across Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo and Placer counties. Attorneys were nominated by their peers and then selected by a peer-review panel based on expertise and reputation within the legal community. Downey Brand attorneys have been recognized as Best Lawyers in the following years:
Best Places to Work
Sacramento Business Journal’s Best Places to Work honors companies with operations in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties. Employees of nominated companies were asked to answer questions that measure employee engagement in several categories, including teamwork, trust, compensation, and benefits. A third-party company evaluated the responses and identified first-, second-, and third-place winners in each size category.
Chambers USA
Chambers USA is the leading legal directory, ranking the top lawyers and law firms across the USA. Their legal rankings are based on unrivaled and in-depth market analysis and independent research, all of which is conducted by their dedicated team of researchers. Downey Brand attorneys have been recognized since 2019.
Martindale-Hubbell
Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ is a gold standard in attorney ratings, recognizing lawyers for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards. The Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ system is based entirely on the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary, who rank peers for their excellence in legal knowledge, communication skills, and professional ethics. The AV Preeminent® rating, the highest rating offered by the Martindale-Hubbel Law Directory™, is awarded to less than five percent of all attorneys across the United States.
- Meghan M. Baker
- Ernest Conant
- James L. Deeringer
- Jay-Allen Eisen
- Thomas J. MacBride, Jr.
- Mary J. Martinelli
- John C. McCarron
- Daniel J. McVeigh
- Stephen J. Meyer
- James M. Morris
- Kevin M. O”Brien
- Silvio Reggiardo, III
- James D. Squeri
- M. Max Steinheimer
- Danielle R. Stephens
- Dale A. Stern
- Melissa A. Thorme
- William R. Warne
Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers recognizes outstanding attorneys from more than 70 practice areas who have achieved distinction in their respective practices of law. Only the top five percent of lawyers in the state of California receive this honor each year. Attorneys are selected based upon independent research, professional achievement, and peer review. Downey Brand attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers in the following years:
2023 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2022 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2021 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2020 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2019 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2018 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2017 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2016 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2015 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2014 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2013 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2012 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2011 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2010 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2009 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
2008 Northern California Super Lawyers
2007 Northern California Super Lawyers
2006 Northern California Super Lawyers
2004 Northern California Super Lawyers
Top Lawyers
The list of Top Lawyers was compiled from votes from attorneys throughout the region recommending colleagues in more than 50 legal disciplines. The nominees were carefully evaluated on the basis of the survey results, legitimacy of their license, and State Bar standing. Attorneys who received the highest number of votes in each discipline received a Top Lawyer designation and will be featured in Sacramento Magazine. Downey Brand attorneys have been recognized as Best Lawyers in the following years:
40 Under 40
The Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 recognizes local leaders for their outstanding professional accomplishments and community involvement. Honorees must be under the age of 40 and work in Sacramento, El Dorado, Placer or Yolo counties. The following Downey Brand attorneys have been recognized as 40 Under 40:
Meredith Nikkel – 2019 Honoree
Meghan Baker – 2018 Honoree
Tyson Hubbard – 2018 Honoree
Annie Amaral – 2017 Honoree
Elizabeth Stallard – 2014 Honoree