LANCASTER, Pa., May 22, 2026 — Eighteen Saxton & Stump attorneys have been named to the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Super Lawyers recognizes outstanding attorneys across more than 70 practice areas who have demonstrated exceptional professional achievement and earned significant peer recognition, with honorees selected on a state-by-state basis.
The 18 Saxton & Stump attorneys recognized are:
James W. Saxton, chairman at Saxton & Stump, has now made the list for his 16th year in the practice area of Civil Litigation: Defense. He is a member of the firm’s Healthcare, Healthcare Litigation, Medical Device and Technology, and Risk Management and Quality Assurance groups. Saxton has been named to the Central Penn Business Journal’s “Power 100” list from 2021 to 2025 as one of the region’s top professional, political, and economic leaders who hold positions that give them the ability to shape the region’s communities and influence its quality of life. CPBJ also named Saxton to its 2025 “Icon Honors” list, recognizing his decades of leadership, business success, and service to the community. He is rated AV Preeminent by the Martindale-Hubbell rating service and has been named to the “Best Lawyers in America®” list from 2016 to 2026.
For the past 19 years, Cherie W. Blackburn has made the Super Lawyers list in South Carolina in the Employment Litigation: Defense group. Blackburn is a shareholder and member of the Labor and Employment, Intellectual Property Litigation and Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions groups in the firm’s Charleston, SC office. Best Lawyers in America® named Blackburn “Lawyer of the Year” in Litigation – Labor and Employment and Employment Law – Management in 2026. In addition, she has been recognized on the Best Lawyers list each year since 2005 in the practice areas of Copyright Law, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment, and Trademark Law.
Mark E. Cedrone has made the Super Lawyers list every year since 2005 – 21 straight years – in the Criminal Defense: White Collar practice. He is the co-chair of the Saxton & Stump Investigations, White Collar and Criminal Defense group in the firm’s Philadelphia, PA office. Best Lawyers in America® also recognized Cedrone in the Criminal Defense: White Collar practice from 2020 to 2026. In addition, Cedrone was recognized in 2026 by The Legal 500, Philadelphia Elite for his work in White Collar Crime.
Rory O. Connaughton has been recognized by Super Lawyers each year since 2014 in the practice areas of Business & Corporate and Business Litigation. Connaughton is a shareholder and co-chair of the Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions group and is a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment group in the firm’s Lancaster, PA office.
Steven D. Costello has made the Super Lawyers list the last four years in the category of Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense practice. In addition to Best Lawyers in America® naming Costello “Lawyer of the Year” in 2022 and 2024 for Medical Malpractice – Defendants, he was also included in the Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants practices from 2017 to 2026. Costello is a shareholder in the firm’s Malvern, PA office.
Elizabeth “Beth” J. Palmer made her debut on the South Carolina Super Lawyers list in 2021 and has been named to the list each year since then in the Business Litigation practice. She is a shareholder at Saxton & Stump who had been named to the South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars List from 2013 to 2020. Best Lawyers in America® has included her on its Commercial Litigation list since 2021 and the Litigation – Trusts and Estates list in 2026. Palmer is based in the firm’s Charleston office and is a member of the firm’s Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions, Trusts and Estates, and Labor and Employment groups.
Alice F. Paylor also made the list in South Carolina as a Business Litigation attorney and has been selected to Super Lawyers from 2009 to 2026. Best Lawyers in America® named her the “Lawyer of the Year” in the “Bet-the-Company Litigation” category in 2019, and she has been recognized on the Best Lawyers list each year since 2011. In addition, Paylor has been named to South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s 2026 “Influential Women of Law” list. Paylor is a shareholder in the firm’s Charleston office in the Labor and Employment, Education, and Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions groups.
Michael T. Traxler was named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for the first time in 2026 for his work in Personal Injury General: Defense. Based in the firm’s Harrisburg office, he is a shareholder and co-chair of the Trucking and Commercial Transportation and Insurance groups and a member of the Construction, Business and Corporate, and Real Estate groups.
Joshua J. Voss has been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for a second year after being named to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list from 2016 to 2019. He was honored for his work in the Appellate practice. Voss is a shareholder in the firm’s Appellate Advocacy, Regulatory and Government Affairs, and Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions groups based in the firm’s Lancaster, PA office. Best Lawyers in America® recognized Voss in the Criminal Defense: White Collar practice in 2025 and 2026.
Amoreena L. Bua made her Super Lawyers debut on this year’s Pennsylvania Rising Stars list in the Health Care practice. She works out of the firm’s Lancaster office as an associate in the Healthcare and Senior Care groups.
Coulter D. Ebbert made the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list in the Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense practice for a third year in row. In addition, he made his inaugural debut on Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch” list for his work in Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants. Ebbert is an associate in the firm’s Healthcare, Healthcare Litigation, Environmental, Workplace Safety and Utilities, and Attorney and Judicial Ethics and Discipline groups in the firm’s Harrisburg office.
Emily C. Ford has been named to the South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars list for a second year in the Family Law practice. She is an associate in Saxton & Stump’s Charleston office and is a member of the firm’s Family Law group.
Harlan W. Glasser has been recognized on the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list in the Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense practice since 2024. He previously made the list from 2017 to 2019 during his first tenure with Saxton & Stump. Based in the firm’s Harrisburg, PA office, he is part of the firm’s Labor and Employment, Investigations, White Collar and Criminal Defense, Healthcare Litigation, and Appellate Advocacy groups.
Lauren A. Green has been named a Pennsylvania Rising Star for the fifth time in her career in the practice area of Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense. She is a senior counsel in the firm’s Malvern, PA office, and for the past three years, Best Lawyers in America® has named her to its Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants “Ones to Watch” list. Green is part of the firm’s Franchising, Licensing and Distribution, Healthcare Litigation, Risk Management and Quality Assurance, Intellectual Property, and Intellectual Property Litigation groups.
Bijan K. Ghom made his debut on the 2022 South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, and he has now made the Rising Stars list for a fifth straight year in Business Litigation. Best Lawyers in America® has honored Ghom on its Ones to Watch list for Commercial Litigation for six straight years and its Corporate Law list the last three years. Ghom is a shareholder in Saxton & Stump’s Charleston office where he is a member of the Business and Corporate, Trusts and Estates, Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions, Labor and Employment, Intellectual Property, and Intellectual Property Litigation groups.
Rebecca Johnson Barksdale has made the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list for a fifth consecutive year in the practice areas of Civil Litigation, Construction Litigation, and Insurance Coverage. She is a senior counsel in the Saxton & Stump Pittsburgh, PA office, and is a member of the Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions, Insurance, and Construction groups.
Daniel M. Maier was named to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list for the first time in 2026 for his work in Construction Litigation. He also made his debut on Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch” list in 2026 for his work in Litigation – Construction. Maier is an associate in Saxton & Stump’s Construction and Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions groups based in the firm’s Pittsburgh, PA office.
Shohin Vance has made the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list since 2024. Vance, a shareholder in the Saxton & Stump Malvern, PA office, made the list for his work in Criminal Defense: White Collar. He is a member of the firm’s Appellate Advocacy, Business Litigation and Strategic Solutions, and Regulatory and Government Affairs groups.
Saxton & Stump’s strategic growth outlook
With nearly 300 professionals, including more than 150 attorneys, Saxton & Stump continues to grow through its innovative, collaborative model that attracts top legal talent. This expanding platform enhances the firm’s ability to serve clients and includes seven growing affiliated companies that extend its business advisory reach nationwide.
Saxton & Stump is a full-service law firm providing solutions to complex legal and business challenges with five-star service and results-focused advice, offering a refreshingly different experience for clients, attorneys, and business professionals alike.
