Awards and Recognition
American Antitrust Institute (AAI) and the Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL)
Judith Zahid, a partner in Zelle’s Oakland, CA office was the 2023 recipient of the Hollis Salzman Memorial Leadership Award.
Benchmark Litigation
Chris Micheletti, a partner in Zelle’s Oakland, CA office, was named a 2025 Benchmark Litigation Star in the areas of Competition/Antitrust and General Commercial Litigation.
Best Lawyers
Thirty-six Zelle attorneys from nine different offices were selected for inclusion in the 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America® 2026, and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
Best Law Firms
Best Lawyers ranked Zelle as a 2025 Best Law Firm in its National and Metropolitan Tier categories. Offices and practice areas recognized include:
National Tier 1
Insurance Law
Metropolitan Tier 1
Dallas/Fort Worth (Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance)
Minneapolis (Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance)
Metropolitan Tier 2
Atlanta (Commercial Litigation)
Boston (Insurance Law)
Dallas/Fort Worth (Commercial Litigation)
Oakland (Litigation - Antitrust)
Philadelphia (Insurance Law)Washington, DC (Litigation - Insurance)
Metropolitan Tier 3
Fort Lauderdale (Litigation – Construction)
Chambers USA
Chambers and Partners recognized Judith Zahid, Christopher Micheletti, Qianwei Fu, Jennifer Hackett, Heather Rankie, and Jane Warring, as well as the firm’s Antitrust practice and Texas Insurance practice in its 2025 Chambers USA Guide.
Corporate Counsel
Jennifer Gibbs, a partner in Zelle’s Dallas, TX office, was named among the honorees for Corporate Counsel’s 2024 Women, Influence & Power in Law (WIPL) Awards. The WIPL awards honor in-house and law firm women leaders and allies who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the empowerment of women in law. Jennifer was selected as a winner in the Mental Health & Well Being Initiative category.
Dallas Bar Association
Zelle’s Dallas, TX office joined the Dallas Bar Association (DBA) 100 Club, reflecting the firm’s commitment to the advancement of the legal profession and the betterment of the community. Every full-time attorney in the Dallas office must be a member of the DBA to achieve the 100 Club listing.
Steve Badger, a partner in Zelle’s Dallas, TX office, was honored in 2024 as a Texas Tort and Insurance Legend by the Dallas Bar Association for his contribution to Texas Insurance Law.
Dallas Business Journal
In 2025, Zelle was named among the Top Law Firms in North Texas in the Dallas Business Journal’s annual list.
Lawdragon
Five Zelle attorneys from its Oakland, CA and Washington, DC offices were named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers list, including Qianwei Fu, Jennifer Duncan Hackett, James Robertson Martin, Christopher Micheletti and Judith Zahid, all of whom were named for the seventh consecutive year.
Legal 500 United States
The Legal 500 has consistently ranked Zelle in the Antitrust Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Plaintiff in the United States category. In 2025, Zelle was ranked in Tier 3, and Oakland, CA partner Judith Zahid, and Washington, DC partner James Robertson Martin, who co-chair the firm’s Antitrust group, were named among “Leading Lawyers”.
Martindale-Hubbell
Several Zelle attorneys have gained AV Preeminent ratings, and Jessica Port, Counsel in the firm’s Washington, DC office has earned the Platinum Client Champion designation every year since 2022.
Minnesota State Bar Association (North Star Lawyers)
Five attorneys from Zelle’s Minneapolis, MN office were recognized by the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) as 2024 North Star Lawyers. This honor is awarded to attorneys who have certified that they provided at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services in 2024 to low-income individuals at no cost and without expectation of a fee. Leona Ajavon, Laura Bartlow, Eric Caugh, James Dugan, and Mackenzie Moy were selected.
Minnesota Women Lawyers
Laura Bartlow, a partner in Zelle’s Minneapolis, MN, office, was recognized by Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL) as a 2025 Annual Award recipient.
Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers annually recognizes multiple Zelle attorneys from across the firm. In 2025, 11 attorneys were named as a Super Lawyer, while nine attorneys were named a Rising Star. Offices in eight regions were represented, including Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, New York, Northern California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington, DC.
Texas Bar Association
Steven Badger and Brandt Johnson, partners in Zelle’s Dallas, TX office, were elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation. Fellows of the Foundation are selected for their outstanding professional achievement and their demonstrated commitment to the improvement of the justice system throughout the state of Texas.
