Accolades and Recognition
We are honored that our law firm’s success on behalf of our clients has been recognized by a variety of legal listings and publications.
New York Law Journal
The New York Law Journal is a publication created by ALM to provide legal news, expert analysis, and updates on recent court decisions in New York State. ALM is a business-to-business informative media company that strives to provide clients with critical news on various industries. ALM serves more than six million professional businesses across different industries. ALM reports show that BOM has reported more case results exceeding $1,000,000 in New York State than any other law firm since 2012.
Best Lawyers in America
Partners Jeffrey A. Block, Stephen J. Murphy, Daniel P. O’Toole, David L. Scher, and S. Joseph Donahue as well as Associate Christopher Soverow have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America. According to the publication’s website, “Best Lawyers is the oldest and most highly respected peer review guide to the legal profession worldwide. With our robust search engine, you can search our lists of peer-recommended lawyers by individual, firm, practice area and location.” This recognition is only given to lawyers who receive high acclaim from peers. Partners Stephen Murphy, Jeffrey Block, and Daniel O’Toole were also selected as “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in New York City for 2022, 2023, and 2026, respectively.
U.S. News & World Report: Best Law Firms in America
In the New York City region, Best Law Firms in America ranks Block O’Toole & Murphy as Tier 1 in the area of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. According to a Best Law Firms press release, a tiered ranking indicates “a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.” Best Law Firms, published by U.S. News & World Report, uses client and attorney evaluations, peer reviews from other lawyers in the same practice areas, and information provided by the firm.
Super Lawyers
Block O’Toole & Murphy attorneys have been listed in Super Lawyers since 2008. The organization rates outstanding attorneys from more than 70 practice areas with high levels of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multiphased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Only the top 5 percent of lawyers in a particular field of law are recognized each year. In 2025, BOM partners Jeffrey A. Block, Daniel P. O’Toole, and Stephen J. Murphy were also named to the Super Lawyers Top 100: New York Metro list, which highlights the “best of the best” attorneys who received the highest point totals in their rigorous selection process.
Rising Stars
A number of our younger attorneys are listed as Rising Stars, a designation of Super Lawyers. The list is developed using the same selection process used by Super Lawyers, with these main differences: A candidate for Rising Stars must be 40 or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. Only 2.5 percent of lawyers in a state are named to Rising Stars. In 2025, BOM attorneys Pawel P. Wierzbicki, Kristian Krober, Aaron Fishkin, Gabriela Pulla, Olga Baginski, and Cameron McCrum were listed as Rising Stars in the New York Metro area.
Forbes Advisor
Forbes Advisor is a trusted resource that helps people make informed decisions about financial, legal, and consumer services. Towards this mission, its editorial team independently researches and curates lists of top lawyers across different practice areas. These lists highlight attorneys with proven experience, strong case outcomes, and a track record of excellence in their field, offering readers reliable guidance for choosing legal representation. Several attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy were recognized in the 2024 Forbes Advisor Best Lawyers List: Partner Daniel P. O’Toole for Best NYC Wrongful Death Lawyers, Partner Stephen J. Murphy for Best NYC Personal Injury Lawyers, and Partners David L. Scher and Scott Occhiogrosso for Best NYC Motorcycle Accident Lawyers.
New York Magazine
New York Magazine is a leading publication with that aims to share the ideas, people, and culture that impact the world. Although the publication operates out of New York City, its audience spans the world and reaches more than 100 million readers each month. The lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy have been recognized for their courtroom success in New York Magazine’s Top Verdicts and Settlements every year since 2010. This annual issue helps people who need a personal injury attorney identify New York lawyers with the most high-value verdicts and settlements in the state.
National Trial Lawyers
Partners Daniel P. O’Toole, Stephen J. Murphy, and Jeffrey Block were recognized among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New York State by The National Trial Lawyers. The National Trial Lawyers is a professional organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from across the country who exemplify superior qualifications as civil plaintiff or criminal defense trial lawyers.
Irish Legal 100
Firm partners Daniel P. O’Toole and Stephen J. Murphy have been named to the Irish Legal 100. The organization selects accomplished attorneys of Irish descent from across the United States and publishes the results each year in an issue of the Irish Voice. In a joint statement, attorneys O’Toole and Murphy said, “We are proud to be included among the Irish Legal 100 and happy that our work on behalf of the seriously injured has garnered this recognition.”
Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Several members of the firm are members of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Membership in Million Dollar Advocates is limited to attorneys who have won verdicts and settlements of $1 million or more. Membership in Multi-Million Dollar Advocates is limited to those who achieved awards of $2 million or more. There are over 5,000 members throughout the United States, constituting fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers. The organization recognizes the skills and results of trial attorneys who have won complex and high-award cases.