Top Influential Lawyers to Look for in 2026

The legal profession continues to evolve in response to changing regulations, emerging technologies, and increasingly complex client needs. In 2026, many lawyers are contributing to their practice areas through legal work, leadership, innovation, and advocacy.

The professionals featured in “Top  Influential Lawyers To Look For in 2026” have earned recognition for their expertise, dedication, and impact within the legal community. Whether representing clients in high stakes matters, advancing legal reform, or building modern approaches to legal services, these attorneys have distinguished themselves as trusted leaders in their fields.

This list highlights five legal professionals whose work, experience, and contributions have been recognized within their respective fields.

1- Paul Levin

Lately, people talking about medical transparency and patient safety, not just for one reason. It seems more families are trying to get answers after unexpected outcomes in hospitals or care facilities, and they often do it publicly too. The talk around informed consent, how neonatal care is handled, and corporate responsibility has slipped out of the courtrooms and into the wider public conversation, with everyone weighing in.

Attorney Paul Levin has been involved in litigation connected to pre-term infant formula cases that have received national attention. The cases focus on claims that certain cow’s milk-based formulas contributed to serious illness in premature infants treated in neonatal intensive care units. The broader discussion has increasingly centered on parental involvement in medical decision making, transparency in neonatal treatment, and the communication of material information to families caring for medically fragile newborns.

Levin is a founding member of two law firms that handle injury litigation, medical malpractice claims, wrongful death cases, and mass tort matters. His recent work has centered on legal cases involving infant formula, toxic exposure, prescription medications, and medical devices. He was also a principal member of the litigation team in the Yale case, which was co-chaired by Attorneys Austin Johns and Stephen Reck.

Levin’s approach is a steady attention to openness within medical practice, particularly around choices made during early life care. When infants arrive too soon or face health challenges at birth, court discussions tend to shift past simple claims about equipment or drugs, turning instead toward whether doctors clearly explain shifts in therapy. Parents’ access to clear details, so they can weigh in on what happens next, can become important here, along with paper trails and dialogue. These elements shape much of the legal strategy Levin wants to employ.

The legal issues connected to these cases have also attracted attention through podcasts, articles, and television discussions. Levin recently appeared on a national podcast focused on neonatal care concerns and the legal questions surrounding infant formula litigation. Members of the litigation team have also participated in educational articles, media appearances, legal presentations, and public discussions focused on neonatal patient safety and informed consent.

The discussion surrounding these cases reflects larger concerns about informed consent, neonatal care standards, and the responsibilities of both medical institutions and product manufacturers. The Yale verdict has further highlighted calls for timely, complete, and understandable communication when major treatment decisions are made.

2- Katherine Forrest

Technological progress is moving at a pace that often outstrips the systems made to govern it. As new tools reshape industries, they also bring layers of uncertainty, which need careful interpretation and steady judgment. In this setting, the legal insight role has become more nuanced, with a balance between invention, risk, and accountability, not just simple compliance.

Katherine Forrest stands at the intersection of law and advanced technology. As Vice Chair at Paul, Weiss and Co-Chair of the firm’s Global Artificial Intelligence Practice Group, she plays a central role in advising clients on some of the most pressing issues in artificial intelligence, digital assets, and emerging technologies. Her work focuses on helping organizations understand risk, respond to regulatory shifts, and approach innovation with careful structure.

Her perspective is informed by her background in public service. Nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate, she served as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. During her time on the bench, she presided over thousands of cases and contributed to the Judicial Patent Task Force. This experience informs her approach today, bringing a measured and disciplined view to complex legal challenges.

Before her judicial role, she held a leadership position within the Department of Justice Antitrust Division. That experience continues to influence her work in high-level investigations involving agencies such as the DOJ and FTC, as well as international regulators. Her practice now spans litigation, advisory work, and strategic counsel across areas that demand both technical understanding and legal precision.

Katherine’s contributions extend beyond her client work. She is the author of books focused on artificial intelligence and hosts a podcast that explores its broader impact. Her voice reflects a consistent effort to make complex ideas more accessible while maintaining depth and accuracy.

She has been recognized by a number of industry publications. Through each role, her work continues to address the growing need for clarity in an increasingly complex digital world. 

3-  Jennifer Piskun Johnson

Success in the legal profession originates from more than technical skill. It includes providing wise advice, identifying strategic options, and balancing competing demands with clarity. The most effective practitioners understand that the law is not only about outcomes, but also about the process and the people involved. A perspective anchored in the totality of circumstances balanced by client needs and goals shapes how a successful lawyer approaches every case, every client, and every decision.

For nearly three decades, Jennifer Piskun Johnson built her career with the intention of the above-founding principles of success. Her legal path began defending public school districts as an associate with Bracewell, which led to being recruited to serve her state as Public Education Counsel to then-Governor George W. Bush. She pivoted back to private practice, concentrating on complex and high-profile matters, including the Enron-related litigation, before moving in-house as Corporate Claims Counsel with a Fortune 500 insurance company. Today, she serves as a litigation partner with Leighton, Michaux & Brown, PLLC, where her work focuses on commercial litigation and insurance defense of carriers and insureds.

Jennifer’s experience across multiple disciplines with often differing interests shaped her ability to craft clear, practical, and efficient approaches in all branches of government and across spectrums of corporate and individual civil litigation issues. Clients as well as opposing counsel routinely commend her ability to quickly identify risk, to build strategies that align with client goals and objectives, and to efficiently seek resolution or streamline to trial, as needed. She does not view legal practice as a system driven by billable hours, but as a service grounded in client needs and overall outcomes. When resolution is the right path, she works to achieve it without unnecessary delay.

At the same time, her career reflects a broader understanding of life beyond the profession. She made the decision to step away from practice to raise her twin daughters, returning years later with a renewed perspective. That period strengthened her ability to manage competing priorities and deepened her sense of empathy. It also reinforced the idea that a career can evolve in stages, without losing momentum.

Her local and state contributions extend into the community through leadership and volunteer roles with organizations such as The Junior League of Austin, Helping Hand Home for Children,  and The Women’s Symphony League of Austin, among others. These efforts reflect a continued commitment to service beyond the courtroom.

Recognition has followed, including honors as a Rising Star and Super Lawyer, along with numerous industry and community awards. For Jennifer, the oath taken as an attorney is not symbolic. It defines how the law should be practiced, with respect for both the system and the people it serves.

4- Kai Haakon E. Liekefett

When pressure shows up, decisions seem like they have extra weight, beyond just the immediate outcome. Leadership gets really tested not in rooms where nothing happens, but in moments when the stakes are high, and the clock feels too fast. And that’s common, especially in domains where strategy, judgment, and staying power come together in real time.

Kai Haakon E. Liekefett has built a career within one of the most demanding corners of corporate law. As a Partner at Sidley Austin LLP and Founder and Co-Chair of its Shareholder Activism and Corporate Defense practice, his work centers on advising boards and management teams during critical turning points. These situations often involve activist campaigns, proxy contests, and hostile takeovers, where each move can shape the future of an entire company.

Over more than two decades, his focus has remained sharply defined. He is one of a number of legal professionals who dedicate their full-time practice to shareholder activism defense. This level of specialization has led to extensive experience across global markets. In recent years alone, he has defended hundreds of activist campaigns and a significant share of late-stage proxy fights in the United States. This work demands not only legal precision but also a deep understanding of human behavior, governance, and the dynamics of negotiation.

The practice he established reflects a shift in how companies approach activism. Shareholder activism is now a consistent force in public markets, driven by sophisticated investors who seek to influence corporate direction. In response, companies require guidance that goes beyond traditional legal advice. The work involves preparation, strategic planning, and the ability to respond under pressure when challenges arise.

Recognition from industry institutions reflects the impact of this work. Honors such as inclusion in leading legal rankings highlight both consistency and influence. Regular insights shared through major media platforms further contribute to broader discussions around corporate governance and market behavior.

At its core, this field is about navigating uncertainty with clarity. It requires balancing immediate demands with long-term value, while guiding leadership teams through some of the most intense moments they may face.

5- Yuka Hongo

There is a growing need for professionals who can move comfortably between cultures, languages, and legal systems smoothly. For many international families, legal matters are not just paperwork; they reach deeper. They’re tied to family history, financial security, and the weight of safeguarding future generations. In those moments, technical knowledge on its own is rarely enough; it feels distant. People want guidance from someone who understands the human face of the process as well, not only the legal mechanics.

Yuka Hongo, Esq., has built her legal practice around that understanding. Based in Hawaii, she works closely with Japanese individuals and families who own property or maintain personal ties in the United States. Many of her clients are navigating unfamiliar legal territory while also balancing cultural expectations that differ greatly from the American system. Her ability to speak both Japanese and English fluently allows conversations to move beyond translation and into genuine understanding.

That distinction has become central to her work. Estate planning and estate administration can already feel emotionally heavy. Adding two legal systems, different tax structures, and language barriers often makes the process even more intimidating. Hongo approaches those situations with a perspective shaped by both legal knowledge and cultural awareness. Her familiarity with Japanese tax rules alongside U.S. estate law allows her to explain complicated matters in a way that feels practical and accessible to clients.

Her regular visits to Japan also influence the way she advises people. Staying connected to current culture and social expectations helps her better understand the concerns many Japanese families bring into legal conversations. That awareness has helped her establish long-term trust with clients who are often trying to manage important family decisions across countries and generations.

The legal community has also taken notice of her work. She received the Elite Lawyer Award from 2023 through 2026 and was recognized in a 2025 list highlighting attorneys. She was also included in America’s Top 50 Lawyers for Estates and Trusts in Hawaii. Additional recognition came through professional organizations and industry publications for her work in probate law.

For Hongo, the larger goal has always been access and understanding. Many people entering the U.S. legal system for the first time do not know where to begin, especially when language and cultural differences are involved. Her practice continues to focus on helping clients feel informed rather than overwhelmed.

As her firm keeps growing, she wants to branch out into more areas of law and also bring in additional professionals to her team. Even while the practice is evolving, the underlying basis still stays the same; it is about assisting international clients through pretty complex legal matters, with clarity plus some cultural awareness, and with confidence, steadily.

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