10
February
2021
|
10:57 AM
America/Chicago

MoveMakers & NewsMakers for Feb. 10, 2021

Summary

See who is making news and moving where in the weekly Missouri Bar update "MoveMakers & NewsMakers."

St. Louis | Kansas City | Mid-Missouri

St. Louis

Lewis Rice LLC has promoted Brian J. Figueroa to a member of the firm. Figueroa joined Lewis Rice in 2013 after graduating from Saint Louis University School of Law. He practices in the firm’s estate planning department and is a member of the recruiting committee.

“Brian is a terrific lawyer,” said Richard B. Walsh, firm chairman. “As an estate planner, Brian does an excellent job guiding his clients through the highly personal, complex legal issues of their unique situations with empathy and compassion. I’m proud to call him my partner.”

Figueroa advises high net worth individuals and families in many aspects of their personal and business affairs, including sophisticated estate and wealth preservation planning, business succession planning, prenuptial agreements, charitable planning, trust modifications, and the preparation of federal gift and estate tax returns. He also represents and assists individual and professional fiduciaries in the administration of complex estates and trusts.

During law school, Figueroa spent two summers with Lewis Rice as a summer associate, and he was a Dean’s Scholar and served on the editorial board of the Saint Louis University Law Journal.


Deborah Lynn Price was reappointed to Harris-Stowe State University Board of Regents by Gov. Mike Parson. Price has been the vice president of business recruitment and general counsel for the Missouri Partnership since 2013.

Before joining the Missouri Partnership, Price served as director of boards and commissions for the office of Governor Jay Nixon. She also serves as a special public defender handling pro bono criminal defense cases.

Price has been named as a Fellow of the Frank Family Institute’s Young Leadership Program, and she is a recipient of the Missouri Lawyers Media Women’s Justice Award.

Price holds a B.S. in history from Washington University and a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law.


Kansas City

White, Graham, Buckley & Carr LLC is pleased to announce that partner Bryan White has been named an honoree of Missouri Lawyers Media Top Verdicts & Settlements, a list that recognizes the top verdicts and settlements of 2020 on both the plaintiff and defense side. White will be part of a group of lawyers honored at the virtual 2021 Missouri Lawyers Awards Feb. 11.

White, along with the firm and co-counsel Tom Bender and Dirk Hubbard of Horn Aylward & Bandy and Clayton A. Jones of Raymore, earned the No. 2 spot on the list and were recognized for their work in Hornbeck et al. v. Orscheln Farm and Home LLC, et al. In the case, the firm and its co-counsel group secured a $19 million class settlement agreement with Citgo Petroleum Corporation, the defendant in the high-profile class-action lawsuit arising from the defendants’ manufacturing and sale of so-called 303 tractor hydraulic fluid.

Missouri Lawyers Media originally covered the case in October after the team’s final fairness hearing, where the Court approved and finalized the settlement agreement.


Gov. Mike Parson has appointed retired lieutenant colonel Kelly McClelland of Liberty to the Missouri Veterans Commission. McClelland has been president of McClelland Law Firm, PC since 1993 and general counsel of the New Liberty Hospital District since 1984.

McClelland is a member of the Clay County Bar Association, Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce, and American Legion. He also previously served as president of Liberty Rotary Club and Freedom House.

McClelland was active duty in the U.S. Army from 1968-1973, serving across Europe and Vietnam, and in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1973 until his retirement in 1991.

McClelland holds a bachelor’s degree from William Jewell College and a J.D. from the University of Missouri - Kansas City.


Paul LLP is proud to announce that Ashlea Schwarz, a partner with the firm since 2015, has been named managing partner. Her practice focuses on complex commercial cases, involving multi-party, multi-jurisdictional litigation. Schwarz regularly handles large-scale litigation matters across the country. She represents the rights of thousands of agricultural workers who have suffered financial or personal injuries due to the wrongful actions of biotech companies. She currently serves as a member of the board of directors for KCMBA and as president of its Federal Courts Advocates Section.

Paul LLP elected Sean Cooper as a partner, effective Jan. 1. Cooper focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, class actions, wrongful death and catastrophic injury, antitrust litigation, and mass torts. He joined Paul LLP in 2017. He is an active member of KCMBA, participating in mentorship through the Student Law Academy, representing veterans through Military Matters, and engaging in LEAP.

Steven Rowe has also joined the firm. Rowe earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas. He practiced at The Rowe Law Firm LLC and was most recently an assistant county counselor with Jackson County, Missouri. He will focus his practice on complex commercial litigation.


Kennyhertz Perry, LLC is pleased to announce that Dan Saathoff has joined the firm, effective Feb. 1. Prior to joining the firm, Saathoff previously worked for Wallace Saunders, Chtd, as well as acted as general counsel for Louie's Wine Dive Parent Co, which remains one of Kansas City's largest privately owned restaurant groups.

Both a litigator and transactional attorney, Saathoff routinely handles the negotiation of his client's critical business agreements, such as commercial leases and vendor contracts, as well as the sale or acquisitions of targeted brands, on their behalf. His practice includes the representation of construction companies and small businesses, with an emphasis of those operating in the restaurant, bar, and hospitality industry.

Saathoff earned his law degree from Creighton University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas.


Mid-Missouri

Andrea Follett of Jefferson City recently graduated from the Missouri Leadership Academy. Follett is an assistant general counsel for the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. She joined DOLIR in 2016 and previously served as the department’s equal opportunity officer.

The Missouri Leadership Academy is an innovative, nationally recognized program that brings together public servants from across state government to develop new skills and become better leaders. The program is based on the idea that by developing its leaders, Missouri state government will continue to improve and better serve its citizens.

Follett has focused much of her professional career on issues that matter in the workplace. For several years, she provided human resource counsel to Missouri school districts and advised University of Missouri law school students as they prepared to join the workforce. In her current role, Follett not only provides legal advice to the department but also serves as a trainer and mediator. She most enjoys helping state employees create and foster courteous, professional working relationships.

 

 

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