Bench & Bar March/April 2025

WHO, WHAT, WHEN & WHERE

Stites & Harbison, PLLC , announced today that four attorneys have been promoted to member (partner). The promotions were effective Jan uary 1, 2025. The new members (partners) include: Frederick R. Bentley (Reggie) , Lou isville office, business litigation service group: Bentley practices complex business and com mercial litigation, class action litigation, real estate litigation and appellate advocacy. He represents clients in high-stakes matters in state and federal courts in Kentucky and elsewhere. He has counseled a wide range of clients in lit igation, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, manufacturers, insurers, individ uals in consumer advocacy matters and many others. Bentley also advises tech entrepreneurs with a growing practice advising businesses in the cryptocurrency industry, including lit igation involving Bitcoin mining operators. Trevor T. Graves , Lexington office, intellectual property & technology service group: Graves ’ practice focuses on intellectual property pro tection strategy, including counseling clients on infringement, validity and patentability, patent drafting and prosecution, trademark prose cution, trade secrets and transfer, copyrights and licensing of intellectual property. He is a registered patent attorney. Brian P. Lee , Louis ville office, real estate & banking service group: Lee ’s practice primarily involves advising cli ents in many aspects of commercial real estate law, including purchase and sale transactions, leasing and financing. He regularly represents private equity firms and high-net worth indi

College of Law, in 2018. Wood is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. His practice focuses primarily on general civil litigation, administrative law, and corporate and municipal law.

Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP , is pleased to announce that Christopher W. Brooker has been named leader of the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution service team and Mark J. Farmer has been named leader of the corporate and securities service team. Brooker is lead counsel in a wide array of cases at the trial level, including contract, fiduciary, health care, constitutional, gaming, and trademark cases. He also has extensive experience as lead counsel in both state and federal appellate courts. Brooker earned his J.D., with honors, from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Farmer concentrates his practice in general busi ness law, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital/private equity investments. Farmer earned his J.D. from the University of Louisville School of Law, magna cum laude .

Gwin Steinmetz & Baird PLLC is very pleased to announce that Kathleen E. Watson has been promoted to member. Watson’s practice primarily centers around defending health care providers against claims of professional negligence.

World Trademark Review (WTR) has rec ognized Stites & Harbison, PLLC , and their attorneys in the 2025 edition of WTR 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals . Stites & Harbison has been honored for its trademark practice in Kentucky and Tennessee. The firm’s Kentucky honorees include Joel Beres and Scot Duvall . WTR 1000 identifies the leading trade mark professionals and firms in more than 80 jurisdictions around the world. Inclusion in the guide is based on extensive research including depth of expertise, market presence, complexity of work and positive peer and client feedback.

viduals with their investment transactions across all asset classes of real estate. Lee also assists non-real estate businesses across various industries in achieving their real estate needs and goals, such as acquiring or leasing space for their operations. He also regularly assists in corporate transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, master service agreements and supplier agreements. Alison M. Zeitlin , Lexington office, business & finance service group: Zeitlin is a transactional lawyer who focuses on equine law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance matters. She has experience negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts. Zeitlin frequently navigates clients through strategic business transactions, with recent representation including deals in the technology, manufacturing and healthcare industries.

Joseph D. Halbert has announced the launch of his new law firm, Halbert Legal, PLLC , based in Lexington, Ky., specializing in Federal Black Lung and Workers’ Compensation defense. He is joined in this move by fellow attorney, Adam O. Stanley who brings significant expertise and dedication to the firm. Halbert Legal, PLLC, aims to provide comprehensive legal represen

Crocker Law Firm, PLLC , is pleased to announce that Robin Ferstl Hewitt has been made a partner in the firm. Hewitt has practiced law since 1996 and has been a personal injury attorney with Crocker Law Firm since 2011. She is a graduate of George Mason University and the University of Dayton School of Law. She is licensed to practice in Kentucky and Ohio.

tation to individual and businesses facing Black Lung and Workers’ Compensation claims, with a commitment to delivering personal ized, results-driven service to each client.

54 march/april 2025