Jacqueline M. Thomas

Partner and Chair of the Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Litigation Group, Lacy Katzen LLP

Years in current role: 25

What changes in the legal industry do you believe will have the biggest impact on clients over the next few years?

Artificial intelligence will have the most significant impact on clients in the coming years. AI should not be feared but embraced as a tool to elevate our work product to another level. Much like the computer or the calculator before it, AI allows attorneys to focus more on the art form of what they do rather than the mundane. For a plaintiff’s attorney taking on institutional opponents like hospitals and healthcare systems, AI has the power to level the playing field against those with vast legal and financial resources. However, ethical responsibility remains squarely with the attorney. AI must be used thoughtfully, not blindly relied upon. The technology has the power to sharpen the lawyer’s judgment but should never be allowed to replace it.

What is one challenge currently facing the legal profession that deserves more attention?

One challenge that deserves far more attention is meaningful mentoring for young attorneys. I was blessed to have wonderful mentors throughout most of my career. However, as a female litigator, I hear and see too many instances where female attorneys view their female counterparts as rivals rather than allies. We cannot build a stronger profession by tearing each other down. We owe it to the women behind us to be the mentors we were lucky enough to have or wished we had.

How do you balance legal expertise with client service and relationship-building?

Balancing legal expertise with client service comes naturally in personal injury work because my clients are people in crisis. They are not a file number. They are someone’s mother, spouse or child, navigating pain, fear and uncertainty. Earning their trust means being technically excellent and genuinely accessible. I explain the law in plain language, never lose sight of the human being behind the case, and make it a priority to be not only their fierce advocate in the courtroom, but a steady, honest presence throughout the process. Clients do not always remember every legal maneuver. They remember how you made them feel. I want every client to feel seen, heard and relentlessly fought for.

What is one accomplishment — professional or personal — that you are especially proud of?

I am especially proud of building a litigation practice dedicated to representing individuals against some of the most powerful institutions in our society. Every case, every settlement, every verdict matters to me because each one represents a real impact on a real person’s life. But perhaps what I am most proud of is that I did it without compromising who I am. I did not have to become someone else to succeed. I brought my whole self, my empathy, my tenacity, my voice, into every case and courtroom. It made me a better attorney.

This profile is part of our Litigation Power List for 2026. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.