Ice Miller is proud to announce that three partners have been named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 list. Christopher Samis and the newest partner in our Wilmington office, Aaron Stulman, have been recognized as Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers. Freedom Smith has been recognized as a Leading Environmental Lawyer for the third time. The Lawdragon editorial team selected the 500 honorees through submissions, journalistic research on the lawyers behind some of the biggest deals and cases, and editorial vetting conducted by a board of peers.

Samis is a trusted bankruptcy and restructuring lawyer who guides companies, creditors, and fiduciaries through complex financial challenges with confidence and clarity. His practice centers on corporate bankruptcy, business restructuring, and insolvency related matters, where he represents debtors, official committees, individual creditors, and other parties in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 cases.

Stulman advises clients across industries on high‑stakes restructurings and bankruptcies, guiding them through distressed situations in ways that protect value, reduce uncertainty, and position them for stronger long‑term outcomes. He regularly represents debtors, official and ad hoc committees, secured lenders, liquidation trusts, asset purchasers, individual creditors and other significant stakeholders in Chapter 11, Chapter 7, and Chapter 15 bankruptcy proceedings before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Smith is part of the firm’s Real Estate, Environmental & Energy Law (REEL) Group and works in the areas of compliance and risk management, environmental and toxic tort litigation, brownfields and development, agriculture, procurement, and general litigation. She has litigated cases for both public and private clients involving contracts, accidental releases of contamination, property transfers, leaking underground storage tanks, cost recovery actions, environmental and other insurance and coverage claims, environmental enforcement actions or clean-ups under a wide variety of regulatory programs, including CERCLA/SUPERFUND.

Lawdragon is a leading digital media company producing legal industry content. Their guides recognize the most effective lawyers and legal professionals across a wide variety of industries and areas, and their news-focused, no-paywall content is followed by industry leaders and clients alike.