Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C. Attorneys Recognized in 2027 Edition of Best Lawyers in America®

August 20, 2026

New Haven, Connecticut (August 20, 2026) – Attorneys from the law firm of Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C. have been recognized by their peers for inclusion in the 2027 Edition of Best Lawyers in America^®, along with six associates who earned the distinction of Ones to Watch in America, for the Hartford and New Haven metropolitan areas.

“This is always a special time of year, when we enjoy the validation of our hard work, but this year is remarkable as we celebrate several members of the firm who are recognized in this prestigious list for the first time,” said Greg Pepe, founding principal.  “They deserve a moment in the spotlight because of the hard work they’ve done on behalf of our clients.  We often tell them how much we appreciate them, but external peer recognition has a particular prestige.”

Andrew R. Lubin, principal, has been included by in the list produced by Best Lawyers^® for Real Estate Law in New Haven since 2001.

Douglas S. Skalka, principal and managing partner with Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C., has been included in Best Lawyers in America since 2006 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law in New Haven.

Since 2012, Michael D. Neubert, principal has been included in Best Lawyers in America for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.  Deborah Monteith Neubert has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America since 2013, for Construction Law.  Attorneys Neubert and Monteith Neubert, who both practice in New Haven, co-founded the firm in 1993 with Attorney Pepe.

Judy K. Weinstein has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2019 for Real Estate Law, Commercial Finance Law, and Banking and Finance Law in New Haven.

Jane Elaine Ballerini, attorney and managing partner working from the New Haven office, has been recognized in Best Lawyers for Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law, and Real Estate Law since 2026.

Kevin Godbout, principal, has been honored for his work in Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Construction since 2026.  He is based in the New Haven office.

Since 2026, Patrick Linsey, principal in the New Haven office, has been recognized for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Bankruptcy.

This year marks the first time Deborah Etlinger and Claudia Sklar, principals in the Hartford office, were recognized, for Employment Law – Management and Litigation – Insurance and for Commercial Litigation, respectively.

Also recognized for the first time this year, in New Haven, are James Brownstein, principal, for Real Estate Law; Marc T. Miller, principal for Commercial Litigation; Kari Mitchell for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; and Lucas Rocklin for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Labor and Employment.

Five associates have been honored since 2026 as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America: Lauren Astone for Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law in Hartford; Joseph Dunaj for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Commercial Litigation in New Haven; Michael O’Sullivan III for Business Organizations, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation – Labor and Employment in New Haven; Sarah Smerliglio for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, and Professional Malpractice Law in New Haven; and John Szalan II for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Litigation, and Real Estate Law in New Haven.

Joining these associates as Ones to Watch is Alexander S. Lee, in White Plains, NY, for Commercial Litigation.

Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers^® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers recognitions are compiled based on an exhaustive Purely Peer Review^® evaluation. More than 123,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received more than 20 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world.

Five percent of practicing attorneys in America receive Best Lawyers recognition.  This year’s research cycle drew the highest voting participation in Best Lawyers history, making the 2027 edition an especially strong reflection of consensus among practicing attorneys.

Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

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