Two attorneys recognized in workers’ compensation law at a Dayton firm handling Social Security disability, workers’ comp and injury claims across Ohio.

DAYTON, Ohio, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Emily A. Port, a workers’ compensation attorney at Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal, LPA, has been named to the 2027 Ohio Rising Stars list in her first selection, joining partner L. Fred Sommer III, who was named to the 2027 Ohio Super Lawyers list for the sixth consecutive year. Both attorneys are rated in workers’ compensation and practice from the firm’s Dayton office, where more about the team is available on the firm’s About Us page: https://hnb-law.com/about-us/.

“Every injured worker deserves to be treated with dignity and fairness,” said Port, who focuses on workers’ compensation. “Being able to guide clients through such a difficult time and help them get the medical care, benefits, and peace of mind they need to move forward is deeply rewarding. I take pride in standing up for hardworking people and making sure their rights are protected.”

Dayton Workers’ Compensation 2027 Super Lawyers Selections

Having attorneys on both the Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists in the same year speaks to the depth of Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal’s bench, with recognized counsel at different parts of their careers working the same practice area. Rising Stars is limited to attorneys who are 40 or younger or who have practiced 10 years or less, and no more than 2.5% of Ohio lawyers make the list. Port was admitted in 2021 after graduating from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, and she represents claimants in workers’ compensation matters from the firm’s Dayton office.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters rating service, uses a patented process that is peer-influenced and research-driven, combining peer nominations, independent research across 12 indicators, and peer evaluation by practice area. No more than 5% of attorneys in a state are named to the Super Lawyers list each year. Rising Stars applies the same process to lawyers who are 40 or younger or in practice 10 years or less, and is capped at 2.5%.

• Emily A. Port, Rising Stars 2027. Top rated in workers’ compensation, Dayton. Practice area: workers’ compensation, claimant side. Licensed in Ohio since 2021. Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 2021. First selection.
• L. Fred Sommer III, Super Lawyers 2022-2027. Top rated in workers’ compensation, Dayton. Practice areas: workers’ compensation and personal injury. Licensed in Ohio since 1999. Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law. Sixth consecutive selection.

Two Generations of the Same Practice

The pairing is the part worth noting. Sommer was admitted in 1999 and has been listed every year since 2022. Port was admitted in 2021. Both are rated in workers’ compensation, and both work out of Dayton, where the firm opened 40 years ago.

Workers’ compensation is not a field that rewards volume. Claims turn on medical evidence, hearing procedure before the Ohio Industrial Commission, and deadlines that are unforgiving if missed. An attorney five years into practice, earning peer recognition in that area, suggests the firm is handing real files to newer lawyers rather than keeping them on the margins.

About Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal

Horenstein, Nicholson & Blumenthal, LPA opened in Dayton 40 years ago to represent people in disputes with institutions that have more lawyers and more money — insurance companies, large employers, and government agencies. The firm has since added offices in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, and has recovered more than $500 million in benefits and compensation for clients. The practice covers Social Security Disability, veterans’ disability, workers’ compensation, personal injury, ERISA long-term disability, medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, and homeowner’s insurance claims. More information is available at hnb-law.com.

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SOURCE Horenstein Nicholson & Blumenthal