We are proud to announce that Tressler attorneys Sarah Hertz Maisel, Jerome T. Murphy, Ryan L. Nolte, Taylor A. Brewer, Kiera Fitzpatrick, Caitlin Frenzer, and Samantha Shafer  were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®.

Learn more about this group of experienced attorneys below.

Tressler Partners: Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch in America®

Sarah Hertz Maisel: Insurance Law
Chicago, IL

Sarah is a partner and Co-Chair of the Insurance Services Practice Group at Tressler. She focuses her practice on a wide range of insurance coverage analyses and litigation. Sarah represents insurance companies in complex coverage litigation pending throughout the country in both state and federal courts. These actions involve various coverage lines, including commercial general liability, professional liability, management liability, excess exposures, and extracontractual liability. She also has significant experience in defending underlying claims including handling matters through mediation, arbitration, and trial.

Jerome T. Murphy: Real Estate Law, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants
Chicago, IL

Jerome serves his clients in a variety of complex litigated matters involving governmental tort defense, breach of contract and commercial disputes, indemnity and contribution claims, toxic tort litigation, and defense of personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home, and wrongful death suits. Jerome also represents buyers and sellers in real estate transactions. Jerome has successfully defended various clients in both state and federal courts and has trial and appellate experience.

Tressler Senior Counsel and Associates: Best Lawyers – Ones to Watch in America®

Ryan L. Nolte: Insurance Law
Chicago, IL

Ryan is senior counsel and a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He handles a wide range of complex civil litigation matters spanning across several practice areas including insurance, commercial, and business. Ryan approaches litigation with an eye toward results; understanding that advancing his clients’ legal strategies should fit within their overall business interests. He has achieved success in the defense of his clients through the successful presentation of dispositive and limiting motions, settlement negotiations, and trial.

Taylor A. Brewer: Health Care Law, Insurance Law
Chicago, IL

Taylor is an associate in Tressler’s Litigation and Appellate Practice Groups. Taylor’s practice focuses on providing comprehensive services to the insurance industry including coverage analysis, pre-suit claims assessment and handling, insurance defense litigation, and appeals. His experience also extends to healthcare statutory and regulatory compliance, as well as advising and handling claims for state and local governmental entities.

Kiera Fitzpatrick: Insurance Law, Labor and Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
New York, NY

Kiera is an associate in the Insurance Practice Group at Tressler LLP. Kiera represents her clients in State and Federal Courts in New York and New Jersey. Her practice areas include insurance coverage analysis and litigation, with a focus in directors and officers liability, financial institutions, professional liability, management liability, commercial general liability, and property insurance policies. Kiera represents insurers in litigation and non-litigation matters and advises insurers on complex insurance coverage issues. She is well-versed in drafting coverage letters, pleadings, dispositive motions, discovery documents, and settlement agreements. Kiera also represents her clients in depositions and mediations.

Caitlin Frenzer: Government Relations Practice, Municipal Law
Bolingbrook, IL

Caitlin is an associate and litigator in Tressler’s Professional Liability Practice Group. Caitlin focuses her practice on the representation of professionals and insurance companies in complex civil litigation, including business, professional and management liability litigation, insurance coverage litigation and disputes, and other tort, and contract actions.

Samantha Shafer: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insurance Law
Irvine, CA

Samantha is an associate in Tressler’s Insurance Practice Group. She has experience in a variety of insurance coverage matters including construction defect coverage litigation, bad faith and extra contractual liability litigation, and coverage claims involving a variety of tort issues. Samantha’s work includes evaluation and analysis of insurance coverage issues, risk assessment for insurance carriers, preparation of coverage opinions, and position letters and handling insurance coverage litigation and ADR. Samantha has obtained favorable results for her clients in handling settlement of various insurance coverage disputes.

About Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® awards are recognitions given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. The methodology for determining these awards remains the same as it did when Best Lawyers was founded almost 40 years ago: peer-review. Lawyers are the best resource to provide feedback on the caliber of work performed by their peers.

Click here to view the press release from Best Lawyers®.

About Tressler LLP

Headquartered in Chicago, with ten offices located in six states, Tressler LLP is a national law firm comprised primarily of attorneys who devote their practice to the representation of the insurance industry in coverage analysis and resolution, litigation, underwriting consultation, product development, claims management, and reinsurance.

In addition, Tressler has one of the most experienced and multi-faceted government law practices in Illinois, and has attorneys who represent clients in commercial litigation, defense litigation, corporate transactions, employment law and litigation, intellectual property, and condominium and common interest community association law.

For more information, please visit www.tresslerllp.com.