In a recent announcement, English, Lucas, Priest and Owsley, LLP was proud to learn they have ten attorneys recognized in the 31st edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, and five attorneys recognized in the fifth edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®. Best Lawyers has established itself as the oldest and most respected peer-review publication company in the legal profession. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has been esteemed by both legal professionals and the public as a premier benchmark for legal integrity and distinction in the United States. Consequently, being recognized by Best Lawyers is a testament to exceptional practice. Based on peer review feedback and meticulous vetting, the selection process whittles down thousands of nominees to recognize the best of the best as objectively and meaningfully as possible. Because of this, its annual lists are viewed as some of the most impartial and trusted attorney ratings.
For the 2025 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, more than twenty-seven million evaluations were analyzed, which resulted in more than 166,000 leading lawyers being honored this year. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
ELPO Law attorneys chosen for recognition by Best Lawyers in 2025 are as follows:
E. Kenly Ames is listed in the areas Bet-the-Company Litigation and Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Intellectual Property. Kenly has been ranked since 2013.
Buzz English is listed in the areas of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. This is the seventh year in a row he has been ranked.
Charles E. English is listed in the areas of Appellate Practice, Banking and Finance Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Law, and Litigation – Trusts and Estates. He has been listed in all six areas since 2006.
Michael Owsley is listed in the areas of Education Law and Litigation – Labor and Employment. He has been ranked since 2020.
Park L. Priest is ranked for the third year in a row in Litigation – Insurance.
Murry Raines is listed in Health Care Law where he has been listed since 2013.
Rebecca Simpson is ranked for the fourth year in a row in the categories of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, and Family Law Mediation.
Michael Vitale is listed in Corporate Law and Labor Law – Management and has been ranked since 2013.
LaJuana Wilcher is listed in the areas of Environmental Law and Litigation – Environmental. She has been ranked since 2009.
W. Cravens Priest III is ranked for the second time in Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers.
For the fifth year in a row, ELPO Law has attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®. This recognition is given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years.
The methodology for determining Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® is the same as for Best Lawyers recognition: peer-review.
2025 ELPO Law attorneys recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® include:
Heather Coleman Brooks is listed in the areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Real Estate Law, and Trusts and Estates (recognized since 2023).
Sarah Jarboe is listed in the areas of Corporate Law, Environmental Law, and Litigation- Environmental (recognized since 2021).
Jessica Shoulders is listed in the areas of Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions – Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs (recognized since 2022).
J.A. Sowell is listed in the areas of Corporate Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs (recognized since 2021).
Nathan Vinson is listed in the areas of Corporate Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (recognized since 2021).
About ELPO Law: English Lucas Priest & Owsley LLP (ELPO Law), based in Bowling Green, KY, is the largest full-service law firm in south central Kentucky. ELPO Law offers business clients and individuals the experience and depth of a large firm and the personal commitment and attention of a small one. For over 50 years, the firm has worked with clients to develop creative solutions to difficult legal and business problems; working extensively with established international and national businesses, regional companies, family-owned businesses, utilities, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. Alongside its business practice, ELPO Law also represents individuals in a wide variety of personal matters including people who have been seriously injured in accidents, need assistance with divorce or custody, or those who need help with estate planning or probate.
