MoveMakers & NewsMakers for Feb. 14, 2023

St. Louis | Kansas City

St. Louis

Kimberly Bousquet has joined the food + beverage practice at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, expanding the team’s litigation, regulatory, and counseling capabilities and positioning the group for further growth. 

“Kim’s passion for this industry infuses everything she does,” said Jesse Lyon, co-chair of the DWT food + beverage industry group. “Our team motto is ‘no dabblers’ and Kim absolutely lives up to that promise. She’s earned the trust of some of the most important and innovative players in the industry and she understands their goals. She will be a tremendous asset to our firm and our clients as we continue to build out this market-leading team.” 

“I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside the DWT team in the past and have come to appreciate their distinct combination of skills,” said Bousquet. “They’re experienced, practical, and connected. This is a group that’s committed to delivering transformational projects that provide better outcomes for all – and they’re expertly equipped to do so. I’m extremely excited to join them.” 

Bousquet comes to the firm from Thompson Coburn LLP in St. Louis. She will continue to practice from her home base in the Midwest, close by many of DWT’s large clients. “We are excited to welcome Kim and support the growth of the firm’s presence in the Midwest and our nationwide commitment to the food, beverage, and agriculture industry,” said Harris Kay, partner-in-charge at DWT’s Chicago office. 

Whether clients need a swift remedy or a sophisticated long-term litigation strategy, Bousquet works diligently to identify the straightest path to a successful resolution. She has particular expertise with food and beverage labeling and other regulatory compliance issues involving the FDA, USDA, and other agencies – all areas of significant strength at DWT. 

Bousquet has extensive experience with class actions and multidistrict litigation. Drawing on her post-graduate studies in ecology, conservation biology, and environmental studies, she’s been a key player in national lawsuits related to the release of genetically engineered plants. 

“Kim has a great understanding of the complex regulatory web in which our clients operate and incorporates that understanding into her litigation strategy,” said food + beverage industry group co-chair Jacob Harper. “Her skill at helping companies make informed risk-benefit analyses complements her expertise at handling disputes if and when they arise. She is going to be a terrific addition to our team.” 

Bousquet grew up in rural Missouri and received her B.A. in biology from Drury University in Springfield. She went on to concurrently earn a Juris Doctor from the University of Oregon School of Law and an M.S. in environmental studies from the University of Oregon. She also earned an LL.M. degree in food and agricultural law at the University of Arkansas School of Law, where she developed a sophisticated appreciation of the legal needs and pain points of companies in the food and agriculture space. 

“DWT’s nationally recognized excellence across so many areas that are complementary to my practice – including advertising – makes the platform especially promising for me,” said Bousquet. “The fact that the firm is well known as a national leader in advancing women was a big draw as well.” 

DWT’s robust commitment to DEI is reflected across the firm. The food + beverage team is an early participant in the J.E.D.I. Collaborative, a group of leading natural products companies seeking to embed justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion into the food ecosystem. 

Kansas City

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Band of Angels, a charity that provides band and orchestra instruments and music camp scholarships to children in need, as the recipient of the firm’s 2023-2025 charitable grant program in Kansas City. The announcement was made at the Heart Strings Gala on Feb. 4.

As part of its charitable grant program, Spencer Fane will donate $50,000, paid in installments over the next three years, to Band of Angels to support its mission of collecting musical instruments and providing them to kids in need who couldn’t otherwise afford them. With these instruments, students can join their school’s band and orchestra programs. 

“We started Band of Angels because we knew this project was important, but at the time, it was just important to us. With this honor, we realize it’s important to others too. And, we appreciate that Spencer Fane believes in what we are doing,” said Band of Angels Chair Mike Meyer. “Attending music camp is a huge chance for growth for students serious about studying music. We are thrilled by this generous support from Spencer Fane and look forward to sending even more students to summer music camps.” 

Band of Angels was formed in 2010 as a not-for-profit partnership between WDAF-TV Fox 4 and Meyer Music. Since then, Band of Angels collected and recycled thousands of instruments and helped students, directors, and schools from over 60 area school districts. 

Funds from the grant will go toward student scholarships for the annual summer music camp, which allows students to further their music education beyond the school year and classroom. Campers receive one-on-one attention from instructors that is not available in band or orchestra classes during the school year. For some students, music camp is a place where they can escape troubling situations at home and focus on what brings them joy. As of the end of 2022, Band of Angels has raised more than $350,000 to provide 400 student scholarships. 

“We are absolutely thrilled to partner with Band of Angels and to honor them with our next charitable grant in Kansas City. They are a local nonprofit with a ton of heart and at Spencer Fane, we identify with their mission to ensure local students have access to music programs,” said Spencer Fane partner Nate Orr, the lead attorney for the Kansas City Charitable Giving Program. 

The Spencer Fane Charitable Giving Program in Kansas City provides significant support to select local nonprofit arts organizations through a $50,000 donation over three years. The program is designed as a rotation so that one new recipient enters the program each year, with another exiting upon completion of its three-year cycle. Current and past recipients include Midwest Music Foundation, Charlotte Street Foundation, Crossroads Preparatory Academy, Lyric Opera Kansas City, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, ArtsKC-Regional Arts Council, and Kansas City Art Institute. 

The program’s primary goal is to encourage long-standing relationships with nonprofit organizations and provide Spencer Fane employees with additional opportunities to become involved with the firm’s charitable causes.