Greg Unatin Named 2027 “Lawyer of the Year”
For Personal Injury Litigation in Pittsburgh by Best Lawyers
What This Award Means for Injured Patients and Families Across Pennsylvania
Gregory R. “Greg” Unatin, partner at Lupetin & Unatin, LLC in Pittsburgh, has been named the 2027 “Lawyer of the Year” for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in Pittsburgh by Best Lawyers in America®. This distinction is awarded to only one attorney per practice area, per metropolitan area, per year—making it the most selective peer-reviewed honor in the legal profession.
For individuals and families across Pennsylvania who have been harmed by medical negligence, the delayed diagnosis of treatable conditions, or catastrophic accidents, this recognition confirms what his courtroom results and clients have known for years: Greg Unatin is among the most accomplished and compassionate personal injury trial lawyers practicing in the Commonwealth today.
Key Takeaways
- 2027 Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” – Personal Injury Litigation (Plaintiffs), Pittsburgh. Only one attorney receives this designation per practice area per city per year. The award is based entirely on peer review.
- Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® continuously since 2019. Greg has been listed every year since his initial inclusion, reflecting a sustained standard of excellence in the legal community.
- A deeply personal, client-centered approach. Greg is known for taking the time to understand the “whole person,” helping clients navigate the complex daily emotions of life-altering injuries and wrongful death.
- Multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. Over the course of his career, Greg has co-counseled some of Western Pennsylvania’s most significant cases, including a $10.83 million verdict for a patient who suffered brain damage during an MRI, and a record-setting $7.25 million slip-and-fall verdict in Erie County.
- Contingency fee representation—no cost unless we win. Lupetin & Unatin handles all personal injury and medical malpractice cases on a contingency fee basis, advancing all litigation costs on the client’s behalf.
What Is the Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” Award?
Best Lawyers in America® is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, established in 1983. Unlike directories that accept paid listings or self-nominations, Best Lawyers relies on a methodology built entirely on confidential peer evaluations. Lawyers are asked a straightforward question: If you couldn’t handle a case yourself, who would you refer it to? The attorneys who receive the highest number of nominations from their peers earn inclusion on the list.
The “Lawyer of the Year” designation takes this process one step further. From among all attorneys already recognized in Best Lawyers for a given practice area in a given city, only one attorney is selected for the “Lawyer of the Year” honor. The selection is based on the highest overall peer-review feedback in that specialty and market.
There are no applications, no fees, and no way to buy the recognition. Greg’s selection as the 2027 Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in Pittsburgh means that his fellow attorneys—including opposing counsel and judges—have identified him as the top practitioner in this field in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
Who Is Greg Unatin?
Background and Education Greg earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 1997, before returning to his hometown to earn his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2006. Since being admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar, he has cultivated a vast understanding of the complex medical issues at the core of every malpractice case, giving him the unique ability to translate highly technical medical failures into clear, compelling arguments for a jury.
A Compassionate Advocate for the “Whole Person” While his litigation experience is formidable, Greg’s practice is ultimately defined by his profound commitment to his clients. He believes that every client has a story, and that story doesn’t begin at the moment of a misdiagnosis at a hospital or the moment of impact in a vehicle collision.
Greg strives to learn as much as possible about his clients’ lives before and after their physical and emotional trauma. “I take the time to build open lines of communication with every client,” he says. His ultimate goal is to handle the client’s life, not just their case, even if only for the life of the lawsuit. Often, this means standing by his clients as a friend and confidant as they grapple with the daily feelings and emotions resulting from a catastrophic event.
“Every client and every case is unique,” Greg notes. “I will listen to you, understand who you are, and work to meet your expectations so I can guide you through a process which you should never feel is overwhelming.”
What Has Greg Unatin Achieved for His Clients?
Awards matter because they reflect peer recognition. But for injured patients and families, what matters most is results. The following are representative courtroom outcomes achieved by Greg Unatin and the team at Lupetin & Unatin:
- $10.83 million jury verdict: A patient suffered permanent brain damage during an MRI at Tyrone Hospital due to an unmanaged allergic reaction leading to cardiac arrest. The hospital’s own safety protocols were not followed. (Pre-trial offer: $3 million).
- $7.25 million jury verdict: Dr. David Irwin, former Chief of Pain Management at UPMC Hamot, suffered career-ending back and shoulder injuries after slipping on snow-covered ice at the hospital’s surgery center. The award is believed to be the largest slip-and-fall verdict in Erie County history.
- $6.3 million jury verdict: A complex commercial and product liability case against Intertek Testing Services after the company botched the testing of a newly unveiled space heater, holding out expertise they did not possess for the specific safety standards required.
(Note: Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is evaluated on its own facts.)
What Does This Award Mean If You’ve Been Injured?
If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, a delayed diagnosis, a defective product, or a catastrophic accident, the choice of attorney is the single most consequential decision you will make. The difference between a lawyer who views you as a case number and a lawyer who genuinely seeks to understand your personal story is monumental—it is measured not only in the compensation you receive, but in the peace of mind you have throughout the process.
The Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” designation tells you something that no amount of advertising can: the other lawyers in Pittsburgh—the people who see Greg’s work up close and across the table—have identified him as the best at what he does. That peer recognition, combined with a proven track record of life-changing verdicts, means that when you retain Lupetin & Unatin, you are hiring a legal team that hospitals, insurance companies, and defense attorneys take seriously from the moment the case is filed.