LANCASTER, Pa., May 24, 2023 — “Super Lawyers” has named 14 Saxton & Stump attorneys to its annual Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists in Pennsylvania and South Carolina. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement, and each state has its own individual list of deserving attorneys. The 14 Saxton & Stump attorneys recognized are:
James W. Saxton, shareholder and CEO at Saxton & Stump, has now made the list for his 12th consecutive year and 13th year overall in the practice area of Civil Litigation: Defense. He is a member of the firm’s Healthcare Litigation, Medical Device and Technology, Investigations and Criminal Defense and Risk Management and Quality Assurance groups. Saxton has been named to the Central Penn Business Journal’s “Power 100” list in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the region’s top professional, political and economic leaders who hold positions that give them the ability to shape our communities and influence our quality of life. He also made CPBJ’s “Power 30” list for law and lobbyists for the last three years as well. 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 2023.
Mark E. Cedrone has made the Super Lawyers list every year since 2005 – 19 straight years in the in White Collar Crime practice. He is the co-chair of the Saxton & Stump Investigations and Criminal Defense Group and came to Saxton & Stump as a shareholder in the summer of 2022 in the midst of a 35-year-plus career. Cedrone is a graduate of the Temple University School of Law and in 2023, he was recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the Criminal Defense: White Collar practice.
Steven D. Costello was included in the inaugural Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list in 2004 and has been on the list several times thereafter in the category of Personal Injury – Medical Malpractice: Defense Issues practice. In addition to Best Lawyers in America naming Costello “Lawyer of the Year” in 2022 for Medical Malpractice – Defendants, Best Lawyers also named him as a Best Lawyer from 2017 to 2023 in both Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants. He is a shareholder in Saxton & Stump’s Malvern office, has been active on leadership committees with the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is a fellow of the Academy of Advocacy.
William C. Costopoulos was included on the 2023 Super Lawyers list for his work in the Criminal Defense: White Collar practice area, representing clients in matters related to institutional and individual criminal investigations. He has earned acquittal for his clients in several high-profile cases throughout Pennsylvania during his decades-long career, which was preceded by a tour in the U.S. Army as a sergeant from 1966 to 1968. This is the 16th consecutive time he has made the list, and the 19th overall.
The career of William A. DeStefano now includes 20 straight years of being named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list, each year since 2004 in the practice of White Collar Crime. DeStefano is Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named in the Chambers Guide to America’s Leading Business Lawyers for White Collar Crime and Government Investigations. He is a senior counsel member of the firm’s Investigations and Criminal Defense Group.
Elizabeth “Beth” J. Palmer made her debut on the South Carolina Super Lawyers list in 2021. She is a shareholder at Saxton & Stump who has since appeared on the 2022 list and now the 2023 list in the Business Litigation practice area. She had been named to the South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars List from 2013 to 2020. Palmer is a member of the Saxton & Stump Business, Corporate and Tax, Commercial Litigation, Trusts and Estates, Labor and Employment and Insurance Law groups, and is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law.
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 2023. “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 since 2011. Paylor is a shareholder in the firm’s Charleston office where she focuses her practice on representing businesses, governmental entities and individuals in complex commercial litigation, probate and estate litigation, zoning issues, labor and employment matters and investigations.
Benjamin L. Pratt repeats on the list after being named to it for the first time in 2022 in the Employment & Labor: Employment Issues practice area. He is the chair of the Lancaster Bar Association Committee for Labor and Employment in 2023 and is a shareholder in the Saxton & Stump Labor and Employment Group in the firm’s Lancaster office. He also is the chair for the Pennsylvania School Board Solicitors Association in 2023, as a section of practice also includes being part of the Saxton & Stump Education Group, as well as the firm’s Construction and Litigation groups.
M. Kelly Tillery also is a longtime honoree on the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list, as he is on the list in 2023 for the 19th consecutive year. He joined Saxton & Stump in 2022 as a shareholder in its Philadelphia office, and Best Lawyers in America named him “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Intellectual Property on its 2023 list. From 2011 to 2023, Best Lawyers also recognized him in its Litigation – Intellectual Property and Litigation – Patent practices in the Philadelphia area.
Jarina D. Duffy has been named to the Pennsylvania Rising Stars list for the fourth straight year in the practice area of Franchise/Dealership. She is a senior counsel at Saxton & Stump based in its Malvern office and a member of the firm’s Franchising, Licensing and Distribution, Business, Corporate and Tax, Mergers and Acquisitions and Intellectual Property Law groups. The International Franchise Association has approved Duffy as a Certified Franchise Executive, a program that educates individuals and organizations to the highest standards of franchising. She is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law.
Lauren A. Green has been named a Pennsylvania Rising Star for the second time in her career in the practice area of Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense. She is an associate in the firm’s Franchising, Licensing and Distribution, Healthcare Litigation and Mitigation and Quality Assurance and Peer Review groups at Saxton & Stump. Green is a graduate of the Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Bijan K. Ghom made his debut on a Super Lawyers list last year when he was named to the 2022 South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, and he has now made the Rising Stars list for a second straight year. An associate in Saxton & Stump’s Charleston office, he is a member of the Business, Corporate and Tax, Commercial Litigation, Labor and Employment, and Intellectual Property groups. He received his law degree at Charleston School of Law and his MBA from the College of Charleston.
For the first time, Katy S. Landis has been named a Rising Star for Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for 2023 in the practice area of Construction Litigation and Insurance Coverage. Best Lawyers of America also named Landis a Best Lawyer for 2023 in the Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants practice. An associate in the Lancaster office, Landis graduated magna cum laude from the Widener University School of Law.
Cody S. Deckert made the South Carolina Rising Stars list for the first time in 2022 and has now repeated that effort in 2023. He is an associate in the Saxton & Stump Charleston office in the Trusts and Estates Group as well as the Business, Corporate and Tax Group. Deckert received his Executive LL.M. degree in taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center and earned his law degree at the Charleston School of Law.
Saxton & Stump’s strategic growth outlook
The firm was named one of the fastest growing law firms in Pennsylvania by The Legal Intelligencer in 2022. Overall, Saxton & Stump has grown to a team of more than 175 professionals, including 100 attorneys. Recently, the firm has added established groups dedicated to education, public finance, franchising licensing and distribution, investigations and criminal defense and environmental, workplace safety and utilities.
The firm continues to grow based on its strategic plan for 2023 and will continue to expand its current team of lawyers and professionals, focusing on bringing additional resources to support client needs.
Saxton & Stump provides solutions for complex legal issues and partners with clients to create a roadmap for their success. The firm is committed to empowering clients by delivering five-star service and results-focused advice.