UB Greensfelder LLP (UBG) is pleased to announce that partners Edward S. Bott Jr., David A. Weder, and David W. Ybarra have been recognized as 2026 honorees in Missouri Lawyers Media’s inaugural Illinois Legal Leaders awards. Bott was honored in the Icons category, while Weder and Ybarra were recognized in the Leaders in Law category.

Illinois Legal Leaders is a new program that celebrates legal professionals who have shaped the legal community and advanced the practice of law across Southern Illinois. The awards recognize attorneys and judges whose dedication, expertise, and commitment to justice have made a lasting impact on the region's legal profession. Honorees were recognized during a Sept. 29 awards ceremony in St. Louis.

Bott was recognized in the Icons category, which honors senior leaders with 30 years or more of legal practice. A partner and co-group leader of UB Greensfelder's Product Liability Practice, he has spent more than four decades representing manufacturers in product liability matters and hospitals and health care providers in medical negligence litigation. Bott has earned a national reputation for his work in product liability litigation.

Weder was recognized in the Leaders in Law category. A partner in the firm's Product Liability Practice, he focuses on toxic tort litigation, representing premises and product defendants. He also handles a broad range of civil litigation matters, including contract disputes, real estate, intellectual property, business breakups, and construction matters, and has served in leadership roles within the Illinois legal community.

Ybarra was recognized in the Leaders in Law category. He is partner-in-charge of the firm's Southern Illinois office and an accomplished trial attorney whose practice focuses on toxic tort, construction, premises liability, and commercial litigation. He has tried numerous cases in Illinois and Missouri and is committed to serving both his clients and the Southern Illinois community.

About UB Greensfelder
UB Greensfelder LLP (UBG) is an Am Law 200 law firm dedicated to exceeding client expectations and delivering superior, customized legal solutions. The firm’s attorneys advise regional, national, and global businesses on a wide range of sophisticated legal matters across more than 25 specialized practice and industry groups. Renowned for its best-in-class client service and litigation excellence, UBG consistently earns top-tier accolades from Chambers and Partners and Benchmark Litigation. Established in 2024 through the merger of Ulmer & Berne LLP and Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., UB Greensfelder has quickly emerged as a super-regional powerhouse firm in the Midwest and in top-tier business centers. For more information, please visit www.ubglaw.com. Our Business Begins With You^®.