Three Searcy Law lawyers named Best Lawyers 2027 Lawyer of the Year

Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA said James Gustafson, Jack Hill and Cameron Kennedy earned Best Lawyers in America's 2027 Lawyer of the Year recognition. The peer-based honor highlights top feedback in specific practice areas and regions and spotlights the firm's plaintiffs-side trial work in Florida.

Why it matters: - Best Lawyers' Lawyer of the Year designation signals strong peer recognition in a specific practice area and geographic region. - The honor can help reinforce a firm's reputation in high-stakes plaintiffs litigation, where referrals and credibility matter. - Searcy Law said the recognition reflects attorney dedication to clients, excellence and contributions to the legal profession.

What happened: - Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley PA said three attorneys were named 2027 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America. - The honorees are James Gustafson, Jack Hill and Cameron Kennedy. - The announcement was dated Aug. 25, 2026, from West Palm Beach, Florida.

The details: - Best Lawyers awards Lawyer of the Year to individual lawyers who receive the highest overall peer feedback in a specific practice area and region. - Best Lawyers says the recognition comes through its peer-review process, not paid placement or self-nomination. - Gustafson was recognized in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Plaintiffs. - Gustafson is a shareholder, a member of the firm's executive committee and managing partner of the Tallahassee office. - Gustafson focuses on product liability, tobacco litigation including fraud and conspiracy, trucking negligence and other catastrophic injury and death cases. - Gustafson is based in Tallahassee, Florida. - Hill was recognized in Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs. - Hill is a shareholder at Searcy Law and previously served as a felony prosecutor in the Palm Beach County State Attorney's office. - Hill's practice focuses on automobile and trucking negligence, product liability, medical malpractice and other high-stakes matters. - Hill is based in West Palm Beach, Florida. - Kennedy was recognized in Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs. - Kennedy is a shareholder and a member of the firm's executive committee. - Kennedy handles catastrophic injury and wrongful death matters involving dangerous and defective products, medical and hospital negligence, trucking and motor vehicle accidents, industrial accidents, negligent property owners and premises liability. - Kennedy is based in Tallahassee, Florida. - Chris Searcy, founding partner, said the firm is honored to have three attorneys named Lawyer of the Year and appreciates their work for the firm and its clients.

Between the lines: - Three awards in one year suggest broad peer recognition across multiple plaintiffs practice areas. - The mix of mass tort, personal injury and product liability reflects the firm's focus on catastrophic injury and complex litigation. - The peer-review nature of the award may carry weight with potential clients and other lawyers because it comes from other attorneys rather than a paid ranking.

What's next: - Searcy Law is likely to continue using the recognition in its client and recruiting efforts. - The named attorneys will remain key faces of the firm's plaintiffs litigation practice in Tallahassee and West Palm Beach. - Best Lawyers' 2027 rankings will continue to shape how firms market peer-recognized talent in major litigation markets.