MoveMakers & NewsMakers for Oct. 18, 2022

St. Louis | Kansas City | Springfield

St. Louis

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice welcomes associate Sarah Rodgers in St. Louis. She joins the healthcare practice group focused on defending medical malpractice and personal injury matters. 

Recently admitted to practice law in Missouri, Rodgers was a 2021 Baker Sterchi summer law clerk. 

Rodgers earned her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University. 

Lewis Rice has named member Andrea M. (Andie) Patton chair of the firm’s Associate Development Committee. Comprised of Lewis Rice attorneys in various practice areas, the Associate Development Committee creates and provides in-house training and mentorship for associates and facilitates camaraderie within the firm by planning social events and activities. 

Patton practices in the firm’s corporate department and works on a variety of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation and restructuring, regulatory compliance (primarily in alcohol distribution law), commercial real estate transactions, and corporate and commercial contract issues. She is also a member of the firm’s recruiting committee. 

Simmons Hanly Conroy announces that firm shareholders Andrew S. Murrie and Holly Nighbert are among the recipients of Missouri Lawyers Media’s 2022 Up & Coming Awards. 

“We congratulate Andrew and Holly on their recognition from Missouri Lawyers Media as among the top young attorneys in the state of Missouri,” said Larry Nassif, managing shareholder of the firm. 

The Up & Coming Awards recognize early-career lawyers from throughout Missouri who demonstrate professional excellence while making a positive impact on their profession and communities. Honorees – who are age 40 or younger or are within their first 10 years of practice – have demonstrated professional accomplishment, skill, and leadership beyond their years, as well as extraordinary commitment to their communities through volunteer service and leadership. 

Murrie focuses his practice on helping individuals and families impacted by asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma. He is experienced in all aspects of litigation and has helped recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of his clients. 

Murrie and his wife volunteer for the St. Louis chapter of the ALS Association, which works to find a cure and better treatment options for Lou Gehrig’s disease. 

Murrie received his Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. 

Nighbert focuses her practice on mass tort litigation and is a key member of the firm’s opioid litigation team, which represents local governments across the country in state and federal courts. The nationwide multidistrict litigation alleges drug companies contributed to the opioid crisis by carelessly promoting painkillers and downplaying addiction risks. The litigation seeks to secure meaningful funds for communities that incurred millions in costs dealing with the estimated 400,000 opioid-related deaths since 1996. 

Nighbert received the Pro Bono Commitment to Community award for her work helping Hurricane Katrina victims get needed federal assistance. 

Nighbert received her Juris Doctor from the University of Dayton School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University. 

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis as the recipient of the firm’s 2023-2025 charitable grant program in St. Louis. 

As part of its charitable grant program, Spencer Fane will donate $50,000, paid in installments over the next three years, to Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis to support its mission to nurture and guide motivated youth in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women. After being selected as a grant finalist by the STL Charitable Contributions Committee, the organization received an overwhelming number of votes. 

“We are thrilled by this generous support from Spencer Fane and look forward to a meaningful partnership,” said Cassandra Sissom, executive director of Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis. “This donation will allow us to develop more young people into happy, prosperous change-makers.” 

Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis was founded in 1977 and is one of 16 Boys Hope Girls Hope affiliates across the U.S. and Latin America. It has dedicated the past 25 years to helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds graduate and maximize their potential. Currently, they serve 99 junior high through college students in the St. Louis metropolitan area. As participants of the nonprofit organization, students will participate in extracurricular activities, create and achieve life and academic goals, utilize tutoring services, and receive college scholarship packages after graduating high school. 

“Boys Hope Girls Hope has fostered the success of countless young people with the opportunities provided in their programs,” said Amy Mistler, St. Louis office managing partner at Spencer Fane. “As a firm dedicated to making a positive impact in our community, we are honored to advance the mission of Boys Hope Girls Hope of St. Louis. We look forward to maintaining this relationship now and in the future as this organization continues to serve as a valuable asset to our local community.” 

Kansas City

David W. Fairbanks and John A. DeMarco announce the partnership of Fairbanks DeMarco, LLC, a family law and criminal defense firm serving Missouri and Kansas. The new address is 11020 King Street, Suite 100, in Overland Park, Kansas.

Fairbanks has diligently advocated for his clients in contested family law and probate matters for the last ten years. DeMarco has represented clients in criminal and contested civil matters for the last 17 years. 

Lewis Brisbois announces the promotion of Karly Weigel and Blake Edwards to partner in the labor and employment practice of the firm's Kansas City office. 

Additionally, associates Alexander DeMasi, Alex Givens, Toni Martin, Amanda Olson, and Rob Wasserman have recently joined the firm in the general liability and labor and employment practices. 

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice welcomes associate Mary Jo Headrick in Kansas City. She focuses her practice on civil defense and employment litigation. 

Recently admitted to practice law in Missouri, Headrick was a 2021 Baker Sterchi summer law clerk. 

Headrick earned her law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas. 

Springfield

The Missouri Bar Board of Governors reappointed Chris Lebeck to the Missouri Court Automation Committee at its annual meeting in September. He is one of two Missouri Bar representatives on the committee.

Lebeck is senior assistant prosecuting attorney for the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office. He works in the major crimes unit, handling violent crimes, weapons offenses, and homicides.