Each year, our team is recognized by the nation’s most notable and distinguished legal organizations for our attorneys’ excellence and contribution to the legal profession.
We are dedicated to excellence and integrity and as a result, our work has earned the respect of judges, the legal community and most importantly our clients. We are grateful for the awards we have received, but are even more proud of the commitment and dedication our attorneys make to our clients.
As a firm, we are constantly humbled by the accolades we receive from other attorneys, firms, judges, and legal organizations around the country. Their recognition of the work that we do for our clients is highly valued by our team here at GRG. However, the greatest and most meaningful awards we receive are the “thank you” we receive from our clients for the personal attention we give to their cases and positive results we achieve on their cases. Below is an overview of the achievements and honors that our firm and its attorneys have received over the years.
Chambers
Gray Ritter Graham received a "Band 1" rating (highest possible) for “Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs." Four attorneys from GRG each received a "Band 1" rating in the same category.
Chambers, a renowned legal directory, assesses lawyers and law firms all over the world through extensive research and interviews. It is considered by many to be one of the most difficult legal rankings for which to be selected.
Recognized Attorneys are Maurice B. Graham, Don M. Downing, Joan M. Lockwood, Morry S. Cole.
U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" (2014 through 2023)
Gray Ritter Graham is listed in 10 practice areas in the 2023 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” survey. The areas of concentration for which GRG is listed are: Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice Law-Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs, Appellate, Litigation-Antitrust, Litigation-Banking and Finance, Railroad Law, Mass Tort/Class Actions-Plaintiffs, and Bet-the-Company Litigation.
Super Lawyers (2005 through 2023)
Since 2005, attorneys from GRG have been recognized by Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters. In the most recent survey, 12 of GRG's 13 attorneys were honored. Super Lawyers chooses its “outstanding attorneys” via a patented process that combines peer evaluations with independent research. About 5% of practicing lawyers in the U.S. are selected each year, with a smaller number recognized as “Rising Stars.” Three GRG attorneys have been recognized as Rising Stars.
Recognized Attorneys are: Maurice B. Graham, Stephen R. Woodley, Patrick J. Hagerty, Don M. Downing, Joan M. Lockwood, Morry S. Cole, Gretchen Garrison, M. Graham Dobbs, Thomas K. Neill, and Kaitlin A. Bridges.
Rising Stars Attorneys are: M. Graham Dobbs, Kaitlin Bridges, and Jack Downing.
Best Lawyers in America®
The Best Lawyers in America is an annual peer-reviewed guide to the country’s top legal talent, based on “the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues.” Since 2003, this prestigious guide has listed attorneys from GRG. In a recent survey, 11 of GRG’s 12 attorneys were honored in the 2023 edition The Best Lawyers in America® and M. Graham Dobbs was named Best Lawyers 2023 St. Louis "Lawyers of the Year" for Medical Malpractice Law-Plaintiffs.
Recognized Attorneys are: Maurice B. Graham, Stephen R. Woodley, Patrick J. Hagerty, Don M. Downing, Joan M. Lockwood, Morry S. Cole, Gretchen Garrison, M. Graham Dobbs, Thomas K. Neill, and Kaitlin A. Bridges.
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
Eight attorneys and the firm itself have an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell law directory, which is the highest possible rating.
Recognized Attorneys are: Maurice B. Graham, Stephen R. Woodley, Patrick J. Hagerty, Don M. Downing, Joan M. Lockwood, Morry S. Cole,
M. Graham Dobbs, Thomas K. Neill.
The “A” signifies the highest level of legal ability, while the “V” denotes a very high adherence to the professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence. GRG is also listed in Martindale-Hubbell’s Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers — America’s most exclusive directory of attorneys.
Pro Bono Challenge
In 2017, 2018 and 2019, GRG was awarded the Hon. Richard B. Teitelman Memorial St. Louis Pro Bono Challenge Award of Achievement.
BAMSL partnered with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) to implement this program to encourage and support pro bono legal services and to publicly recognize those lawyers and law firms who step up to the Challenge.
Missouri Coalition for the Right to Counsel
Founded and launched in 2017, the Missouri Coalition for the Right to Counsel coordinates and arranges training for attorneys who have committed to take over some cases from the State's overburdened public defender system on a volunteer basis.
GRG was part of the inaugural class of law firms that volunteered to serve the Coalition's pro bono public defender assistance initiative.
More GRG Accolades
In 2013, the firm received the following Corporate INTL Magazine Legal Awards:
- Commercial Litigation Law Firm of the Year in Missouri
- Insurance & Reinsurance Law Firm of the Year in Missouri
Corporate INTL magazine is a London-based publication with a readership of business leaders, professional advisers and providers of finance throughout the world.
GRG attorneys have also been honored with memberships in the most prestigious trial lawyer organizations in the world. These professional associations enable our attorneys to remain current with the latest developments in the legal community. Included are memberships in the International Society of Barristers, the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates. Our principal attorneys have held leadership positions in these organizations throughout the history of the firm.
Because of our professional reputation and careful screening of cases for merit, many other professionals, including physicians, economists, engineers and other experts, (who normally will not get involved in litigation) are willing to consult with our firm and provide testimonies where appropriate.
At GRG, the client is always our one and only priority. Our firm uses a team approach to provide effective and powerful client representation. In most instances, two attorneys, a professional legal assistant and experienced support staff work together on behalf of the client. This well-planned and closely monitored approach, in which the contributions of all team members are incorporated into one focused effort on behalf of the client, is the underlying foundation of our strategy and our success.
