Berwyn, PA – January 9, 2026 Sauder Schelkopf LLC is proud to announce that partner Joe Sauder has been selected to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon’s flagship guide honoring the most accomplished and influential lawyers in the nation.This guide honors the lawyers who lead for their clients, their communities, and the profession.
Now in its 21st year, the Lawdragon 500 recognizes lawyers who are brilliant, impassioned, and deeply dedicated to the law and its practice. The 2026 guide arrives after a year that tested the legal profession as never before, marked by unprecedented challenges to the independence of lawyers and law firms. In that context, Lawdragon describes this year’s guide as both a celebration and a tribute to the essential role lawyers play—and to the fundamental right of clients to hire fearless advocates.
Mr. Sauder’s selection reflects his nationally recognized work representing individuals, survivors of sexual abuse, consumers, and small businesses in complex, high-stakes litigation. His practice is rooted in the belief that great lawyering is not symbolic or ceremonial, but a daily act of commitment—standing with clients through long odds, institutional resistance, and years-long fights for accountability.
The 2026 Lawdragon 500 highlights a profession in evolution, where litigation has surged, boutiques have flourished, and lawyers have adapted to new realities. Across practice areas and geographies, the lawyers honored share a defining trait: they chose the law to make a difference.
Lawdragon selects those attorneys honored here through a year-long independent research, peer and competitor vetting, and a robust nomination process. Excellence is required, typically alongside sustained leadership at the highest levels of practice. The result is a guide that celebrates not just achievement, but courage, resilience, and the craft of lawyering itself.
“Being named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America is a reflection of the collective work of our team and the courage of our clients,” said Sauder. “It is an honor to stand alongside so many outstanding advocates who dedicate their careers to the pursuit of justice.”
About Sauder Schelkopf
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $1 billion on behalf of their clients and class members. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania.