Childers, Schlueter & Smith (CSS) is proud to announce a firm-wide distinction for 2027. All six CSS attorneys have once again earned recognition from Best Lawyers®.
Three attorneys were selected for the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, while three were named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Together, the honors recognize attorneys across many areas central to CSS’s work, including personal injury, product liability, mass-tort and class-action litigation, and medical malpractice.
The 2027 selections also continue years of individual Best Lawyers recognition for members of the CSS team, with some attorneys appearing on the list for more than a decade.
Best Lawyers Recognition Is Based on Peer Review
Best Lawyers® describes its selection process as a peer-review process in which recognized attorneys evaluate other lawyers practicing in the same geographic region and practice area.
According to Best Lawyers, approximately 5% of practicing attorneys in the United States received recognition in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, while approximately 2% of eligible early-career attorneys were recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
For CSS, having every attorney at the firm included in one of the 2027 editions makes this year’s recognition especially meaningful.
CSS Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2027
C. Andrew Childers
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
C. Andrew Childers, a founding member of CSS, has once again been recognized for his work representing plaintiffs in significant personal injury and product liability litigation.
Richard R. Schlueter
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Richard R. Schlueter, a founding member of the firm, has again been recognized for his work on behalf of individuals and families affected by serious and catastrophic injuries.
M. Brandon Smith
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2015
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
M. Brandon Smith has again been recognized across three areas of plaintiffs’ litigation. His inclusion in the 2027 edition continues a record of Best Lawyers recognition dating to 2015 and reflects his work in complex mass tort, product liability, and serious personal injury litigation throughout the country.
Three CSS Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America
All three CSS attorneys eligible for Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America were also selected for the 2027 edition.
Jed Douglas
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2026
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Jed Douglas represents plaintiffs in complex litigation, including mass tort and personal injury matters.
Neil Edwards
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2023
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
Neil Edwards has again been recognized for his work in plaintiffs’ medical malpractice and personal injury litigation.
V. Ashley Spires
Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2024
- Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
V. Ashley Spires has once again been recognized in plaintiffs’ medical malpractice and personal injury litigation.
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America recognizes attorneys earlier in their private-practice careers for professional excellence based on the same peer-review methodology used for The Best Lawyers in America®.
A Recognition That Extends Across the Firm
While each Best Lawyers selection is an individual honor, having all six CSS attorneys recognized in 2027 reflects the depth of experience across the firm.
Our attorneys represent individuals and families in complex personal injury, product liability, mass tort, class action, and medical malpractice litigation in Georgia and across the country.
Those cases can look very different from one another, but the responsibility to our clients remains the same. People often come to CSS after a serious injury or loss has changed their lives, and our attorneys are committed to helping them pursue accountability and justice.
Recognition from fellow members of the legal profession is meaningful, but the trust our clients place in us remains the measure that matters most.
We are grateful to our peers for recognizing Andrew, Richard, Brandon, Jed, Neil, and Ashley in the 2027 editions of Best Lawyers®, and we congratulate each of them on this achievement.
To learn more about the Best Lawyers® selection process and 2027 recognitions, visit Best Lawyers.
