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ELPO Law Attorneys Recognized in the 32nd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
by Ashley Carter
English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP (ELPO Law) is proud to announce that fifteen of its attorneys have been recognized in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Twelve attorneys were selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America©, while three were named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®. Since 1983, Best Lawyers has been the gold standard for legal recognition, with selection based entirely on confidential peer reviews. The lists highlight legal professionals who have earned the respect and admiration of their peers for their integrity and professional excellence. Because of this, its annual lists are viewed as some of the most impartial and trusted attorney ratings.
For the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, more than thirteen million evaluations were analyzed, which resulted in more than 174,000 leading lawyers being honored this year. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
ELPO Law’s recognized attorneys for 2026 are:
- E. Kenly Ames is listed in the areas Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Intellectual Property. Kenly has been ranked since 2013.
- Buzz English is listed in the areas of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. This is the eighth year in a row he has been ranked.
- Charles E. English is listed in the areas of Appellate Practice, Banking and Finance Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Trusts and Estates. He has been listed in all six areas since 2006.
- Regina Jackson is listed in the area of Education Law. This is her first Best Lawyers recognition.
- Sarah Jarboe is listed in the area of Environmental Law. Previously selected as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®, this is Jarboe’s first Best Lawyers recognition.
- Michael Owsley is listed in the areas of Education Law and Litigation- Labor and Employment. He has been ranked since 2020.
- Park L. Priest is ranked for the fourth year in a row in Litigation- Insurance, and Utilities Law.
- W. Cravens Priest III is listed for Workers’ Compensation Law-Employers. He has been listed since 2024.
- Murry Raines is recognized in Health Care Law where he has been listed since 2013.
- Rebecca Simpson is ranked for the fifth year in a row in the categories of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, and Family Law Mediation.
- Michael Vitale is listed in Corporate Law and Labor Law-Management and has been ranked since 2013.
- LaJuana Wilcher is listed in the areas of Environmental Law and Litigation- Environmental. She has been ranked since 2009.
For the sixth year in a row, ELPO Law has attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®. This recognition is given to three attorneys who have demonstrated outstanding professional excellence early in their careers. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years.
The methodology for determining Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® is the same as for Best Lawyers recognition: peer-review.
2026 ELPO Law attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® include:
- Heather Coleman Brooks is listed in the areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, and Trusts and Estates (recognized since 2023).
- Jessica Shoulders is listed in the areas of Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs (recognized since 2022).
- J.A. Sowell is listed in the areas of Corporate Law, Personal Injury Litigation- Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (recognized since 2021).
