MoveMakers & NewsMakers for March 7, 2023

St. Louis | Kansas City

St. Louis

Armstrong Teasdale announces the addition of Judge Michael K. Mullen to the firm’s St. Louis office as litigation partner. A former circuit judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, he focuses his practice on arbitration, mediation, special master work, and general trial work. 

“We are excited to welcome Judge Mullen to our practice,” said Matt Reh, leader of the firm’s litigation practice group. “His experience and insight as a former judge will be a great asset to clients and the matters we handle in the City of St. Louis as well as other venues nationwide.” 

Mullen served as circuit court judge on the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court from 2008 to 2023. He presided over the mass tort docket for the City of St. Louis and, from 2017-2018, he served as presiding judge over the 22nd Circuit. He joined the court as an associate circuit judge in 2001.  During his time on the court, Mullen established St. Louis’ Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, comprised of intergovernmental agency leaders working to enhance public safety through coordinated decision-making; and the city’s felony redirect program, allowing people with low-level felonies to enter alternative rehabilitation programs. 

Mullen has more than three decades of diverse legal experience including roles on the bench, in private practice, and as an assistant circuit attorney for the City of St. Louis. He brings his in-depth insight into the workings of the court to his client representations, having tried multiple cases and presided over countless others – both bench and jury trials, involving felonies as well as high-value civil disputes. Mullen has also taught criminal law as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. 

Kansas City

Scott Kreamer, Baker Sterchi's managing member, was recently inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL).  The induction ceremony took place in February during the ACTL’s Spring Meeting in Miami, Florida. 

The ACTL is a distinguished organization of trial lawyers in North America that seeks to improve the standards of trial practice, professionalism, ethics, and the administration of justice through education and public statements on important legal issues relating to its mission. Recognizing less than 1% of the bar, the ACTL thoroughly investigates nominees for admission and selects only those who have demonstrated the very highest standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism, and collegiality. 

Kreamer is an experienced trial attorney, having tried a wide variety of cases including commercial, construction, financial services, insurance, and products liability, in state and federal courts. He has also served as national counsel for clients in the areas of toxic tort litigation and financial services. 

Kreamer is currently serving as secretary on the board of directors of Lawyers for Civil Justice, a coalition of defense bar organizations, law firms, and corporations committed to reform in the civil justice system. He is a past president and chair of the board of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, an invitation-only organization consisting of accomplished defense attorneys, corporate counsel, and insurance industry executives. 

Kreamer earned his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. 

Spencer Fane LLP announces Dane Martin has joined the litigation and dispute resolution practice group as a partner in the firm’s Kansas City office. 

Martin concentrates his practice on high-stakes commercial litigation and governmental disputes including class actions and multidistrict litigation, breaches of contract, business torts, employment issues, regulatory issues, corporate governance, and all forms of alternative dispute resolution. He handles matters from intake and through appeal when necessary, and he has served as counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in legal venues throughout the country. 

“Dane is a trusted resource known for vigorously pursuing his clients’ interests through careful evaluation of the best legal strategies applicable to the matter,” said Julia Vander Weele, office managing partner for the firm in Kansas City.  “We look forward to his contributions to our collaborative work, and his proven level-headed judgment, effective communication, and hard work will be assets to finding sensible, efficient solutions for our clients in litigious matters.” 

In appellate proceedings, Martin draws on the experiences he gained as a judicial law clerk for Judge Patricia Breckenridge of the Supreme Court of Missouri. He has handled appeals and writ proceedings in the Supreme Court of Missouri; the Supreme Court of Wisconsin; the Supreme Court of Nebraska; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits; the Missouri Court of Appeals; and the Texas Court of Appeals. 

Martin earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law and completed his undergraduate studies in business administration at Northwest Missouri State.