Six Bodman PLC Attorneys Named 2026 Best Lawyers in America “Lawyers of the Year”
08/21/25
Bodman PLC is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have been named “Lawyers of the Year” for 2026 by the publisher of The Best Lawyers in America.
Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the Lawyer of the Year, making the accolade highly significant. Lawyers of the Year are selected based on particularly impressive voting results received during annual peer review assessments.
The Lawyer of the Year designation reflects the unusually high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and same practice areas for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity.
Bodman attorneys included as 2026 Lawyers of the Year include the following.
Timothy R. Damschroder has been named the 2026 Ann Arbor Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Law and for Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Damschroder is the co-chair of Bodman’s Business Practice Group. He specializes in middle market M&A transactions (typically ranging from $30 million to over $1 billion) and corporate finance. He has previously received the Ann Arbor Lawyer of the Year award in 2021 and 2016 for Corporate Law and in 2024, 2019, and 2017 for Mergers and Acquisitions Law. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2006.
Robert J. Diehl, Jr. has been named the 2026 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Banking and Finance Law as well as Litigation-Banking and Finance. Diehl is the chair of the Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Rights Practice Group. He represents lenders in out-of-court workouts and in bankruptcy proceedings involving all types of businesses and collateral, especially automotive-related businesses and real estate and construction businesses. He has previously received the Detroit Lawyer of the Year award in 2018 and 2010 under Banking and Finance Law and in 2012 under Litigation – Banking and Finance. Diehl was selected for the 2025 Detroit Lawyer of the Year award under Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 1995.
David P. Larsen has been named the 2026 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Litigation-Trusts and Estates. Larsen is the senior member of Bodman’s High Net Worth Practice Group and provides highly individualized and comprehensive legal advice to many high net worth families, their family offices, and their closely-held businesses. He has been a frequent recipient of Lawyer of the Year award with recognitions in 2024, 2022, 2020, 2018, and 2016 for the Litigation-Trust and Estates category. Larsen was also named the 2025 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Trust and Estates. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2003.
Marguerite Munson Lentz has been named the 2026 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Trusts and Estates. She concentrates her practice in representing high net worth individuals in matters involving estate planning, probate, and trusts. She regularly advises nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations regarding obtaining and maintaining exempt status, corporate governance, and general operational issues. She has been a consistent recipient of the Detroit Lawyer of the Year award for Trust and Estates with recognition in 2024, 2020, 2018, and 2016. Lentz has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2008.
Ralph E. McDowell has been named the 2025 Detroit Lawyer of the Year for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. McDowell assists clients primarily in the areas of commercial bankruptcy, debtors’ and creditors’ rights, workouts, and commercial lending. He also represents clients in general business law matters and has particular experience advising individuals on the myriad legal issues they and their closely-held businesses face. McDowell also received the Detroit Lawyer of the Year award in 2017 and 2020 under Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, in 2019 under Bet-the-Company Litigation, and in 2015, 2021, and 2025 under Litigation – Bankruptcy. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2003.
David B. Walters has been named the 2026 Troy Lawyer of the Year for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. He concentrates his practice in employee benefits, corporate law and estate planning. He has more than 30 years of experience counseling employers on all aspects of employee benefit plan formation, administration, and taxation. Walters was previously named the Troy Lawyer of the Year for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law in 2024, 2020, and 2017. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2007.