Meet your new Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees members
As a charitable, nonprofit partner to The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Bar Foundation seeks to advance the administration of justice, elevate the legal profession, foster public appreciation of the rule of law, and further our constitutional form of government.
The foundation does this through law-related community projects, scholarships, jurisprudential research, and recognition of exemplary legal and public service.
Meet some of the latest additions to the Missouri Bar Foundation Board of Trustees.
Quinn Benson
Benson is a lawyer with The Benson Law Firm, LLC in Kirksville. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and is a graduate of the 2022-2023 Leadership Academy class. He currently represents District 2 on The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section Council and is the YLS representative to the foundation Board of Trustees.
Benson is inspired by the foundation’s goal to address previously unmet legal needs in rural communities.
“Because of my everyday rural practice, this stuck out to me,” Benson said. “I believe the foundation should have a rural voice while directing its attention at rural issues and projects.”
Benson also appreciates the awards given by the foundation and how they recognize the work lawyers are doing for their clients and communities.
“I'm proud that the Missouri Bar Foundation does not let these great-hearted people go unnoticed,” Benson said.
Debbie Champion
Champion is a founding partner of Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch and Champion in St. Louis, where she focuses on a wide range of practice areas including various types of liability, personal injury, transportation, and more.
She enjoys working with the foundation because it helps lawyers support their communities and the legal profession.
“The foundation is important to me because we have a direct opportunity to help provide access to justice and support to those truly in need,” Champion said.
Douglas A. Copeland
Copeland is a lawyer at Jeep Law in St. Louis. He earned his J.D. from the Saint Louis University School of Law and was president of The Missouri Bar from 2005-2006.
The mission of the foundation is extremely important to Copeland, and he encourages other lawyers to get involved in any way they can.
“If you feel that the mission of the foundation is an important one, and any part of that mission speaks to you, please come join me in supporting the foundation in some fashion,” Copeland said. “You won’t be disappointed.”
Chris Pieper
Pieper is a managing member of Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch in Columbia. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law.
The foundation’s recognition of excellence in the legal profession is important to Pieper, and he encourages lawyers to nominate their peers and members of the community.
“I believe it is important to recognize exceptional legal and public service to elevate the profession and foster public appreciation for the rule of law,” Pieper said.
Learn more about the Missouri Bar Foundation and how you can support it here.