MoveMakers & NewsMakers for Aug. 28, 2020

St. Louis | Kansas City | Other States

St. Louis

The law office of Casey, Devoti & Brockland has moved. The new address is 8182 Maryland Avenue, Ste. 600, St. Louis, MO 63105.
 

Armstrong Teasdale announces the addition of Robynn D. Ragland as partner to the firm’s corporate services practice group. Ragland, who has more than two decades of experience focusing on estate planning and wealth management, is one of over 50 lawyers and staff who have joined the firm in 2020.

With comprehensive experience counseling multigenerational clients through trusts and estates, high net worth estate planning and business transactions, Ragland develops smart solutions for complex matters. She regularly advises individuals, families, business organizations and charitable/nonprofit organizations.

Ragland’s varied experience also includes real estate transactions, business transactions from formation to sale, legal disputes and pretrial work and intellectual property. She is also a professional musician, recording artist and songwriter, and as such, has both personal and professional experience advising on arts and entertainment business law.

Ragland is a frequent speaker and has presented estate planning workshops and educational seminars, as well as instructed courses in constitutional law as a faculty member at St. Louis Community College.

Prior to joining the firm, Ragland worked for a boutique firm focused on counseling her clients through wealth transfer, philanthropy and governance issues. Before that, she spent nearly 20 years in private practice at law firms in Missouri, California and Illinois, with varied areas of focus.

Kamykowski, Gavin & Smith PC, a law firm specializing in civil litigation and dispute resolution, is proud to announce national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Development Center - Midwest, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

“KGS has always recognized the importance of female trial attorneys in what has traditionally been a male-dominated arena, particularly in matters involving complex litigation. The diverse experiences women litigators can bring to the courtroom are essential to representing the needs of all clients, from individuals to large corporations. We anticipate our Women’s Business Enterprise certification will solidify our existing client relationships as well as garner the attention of new clients who desire to hire diverse and experienced outside legal counsel,” said Mandy J. Kamykowski, managing partner of the firm.

WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the Women’s Business Development Center - Midwest is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women. By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their vendor/supplier diversity programs.

Kansas City

Jesus A. Osete has been named deputy solicitor general for Missouri, effective Sept. 21, 2020. Osete is currently a lawyer at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. He received a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis and previously served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Bobby Shepherd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and Judge Zel Fischer of the Supreme Court of Missouri.

The Barnes Law Firm in Kansas City is excited to welcome back TK Smith as a partner. He is a respected and skilled employment and personal injury lawyer and will continue to serve Missouri, Arkansas & Georgia.

Dysart Taylor Cotter McMonigle & Montemore PC announces that Jonathan E. Gilmore has rejoined the firm as an of counsel attorney. Gilmore previously served as a real estate and corporate lawyer with the firm from 2017-2018.

Gilmore focuses his practice on estate planning and administration, business formation and operation, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and tax planning.

Prior to rejoining the firm, Gilmore served as in-house counsel at Denver-based M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., a NYSE publicly traded company and a top-15 home builder in the U.S. conducting complex land acquisitions. While there, he was responsible for more than $100 million worth of assets and oversaw every aspect of the real estate property acquisition process.

He also reviewed, negotiated and drafted real estate contracts including purchase and sale agreements, joint development agreements, non-disturbance agreements and escrow holdback agreements.

Prior to attending law school, Gilmore served in the U.S. Army as a legal specialist in the Judge Advocate General Corps, where he provided legal support to Army attorneys in the areas of estate planning, claims processing and litigation support. He received his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Kansas, and a J.D. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. 

Other States

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, announced that shareholder Erin Webber of Denver will become president and managing director of the firm, effective January 2021, for an eight-year term. Webber succeeds Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, who served as co-presidents and co-managing directors since 2013 and will continue in the role until the end of 2020, when their term ends.

“It's been our honor to lead the firm these past eight years – and we’re confident that Erin will continue to advance Littler's strategic plan and further position the firm as the dominant labor and employment powerhouse globally,” said Bender and Roth in a joint statement. “We are excited for her vision and to further build upon the firm’s commitment to key areas, such as inclusion and diversity, global expansion, innovation, recruitment and talent development, and client service. Erin has held a number of important leadership roles and her intimate knowledge of the firm will be an incredible asset for Littler’s future.”

Webber previously served as office managing shareholder for Littler in Denver and Kansas City. She has also been a 10-year member of the firm’s board of directors and its associates committee and has chaired the firm’s shareholder candidate committee since 2013. Between now and January, she will work closely with Bender, Roth and Littler’s management team to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities and operations.

“Over the past eight years, Tom and Jeremy have successfully led our firm and cemented its position as the world’s leading labor and employment law firm, growing Littler to more than 1,500 lawyers in 94 offices across 23 countries,” said Kate Mrkonich Wilson, board chair with the firm. “We look forward to Erin taking on the role in 2021. Her extensive legal background and deep understanding of Littler make her the right choice to expand upon Tom and Jeremy’s efforts, as well as to continue the steady guidance of steering the firm through the ongoing issues associated with the pandemic. Erin’s leadership experience, talent and vision will be instrumental as we continue to advance the firm’s strategic business goals over the next eight years.”

“I look forward to taking the reins in 2021 and continuing to grow Littler’s prominence worldwide,” Webber said. “While 2021 will pose unique challenges for our clients and our firm, I am committed to working diligently with our leadership teams to navigate the issues ahead while further pushing the boundaries of innovation, inclusion and how we deliver world class legal services to our clients around the globe.”

In her practice at Littler, Webber counsels and represents management on discrimination, harassment, retaliation and leaves of absence and disability accommodation matters. She defends employers before federal and state courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Missouri Human Rights Commission, the Kansas Human Rights Commission and the Colorado Civil Rights Division. Webber also helps clients train employees and managers.

Webber earned her J.D. and B.A. from the University of Missouri.