06
December
2022
|
09:00 AM
America/Chicago

MoveMakers & NewsMakers for Dec. 6, 2022

Summary

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

St. Louis | Kansas City

St. Louis

Kelly M. Spann has joined Annette P. Heller in the practice of trademark and copyright law. The firm name has changed from Heller & Associates to TM Law & Associates. The firm represents law firms and other companies who do not have their own trademark attorney.


Armstrong Teasdale celebrated its annual Inclusion Week from Nov. 14-18 across its U.S. offices. Hosted by the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department and more than 35 lawyers and staff firmwide who serve on the Inclusion Week committee, the week involves a robust schedule of programming and activities designed to immerse lawyers and staff in the importance of inclusion as a shared value firmwide.

The week’s activities included a keynote address from Dr. Steve Robbins, an inspirational speaker with an academic background in communication science, social psychology, and cognitive neuroscience; an engaging discussion with Webster University linguistics expert Dr. DJ Kaiser; and an all-affinities mixer, which presented opportunities for lawyers and staff from diverse backgrounds to connect 1:1. 

One of the marquis events of Inclusion Week is the opportunity to recognize lawyers, staff, and alumni who emulate and model inclusion in their daily work and demonstrate excellent client service and team engagement. Annual Inclusion Award winners are selected in four categories – Trailblazer, Inclusive Leader, Client Champion, and Ally – after being peer-nominated. Members of The Missouri Bar receiving awards were John Willard (Inclusive Leader award) and Jaimie Mansfield (Ally award), both partners with the firm.

The 2022 award program also introduced a new recognition – the Groundbreaker Award – presented to Armstrong Teasdale alum Steve Cousins, who retired from the firm in 2018 after a storied 38-year career. Cousins now provides consulting services as president and CEO of Cousins Allied Strategic Advisors LLC. 

“Steve has been a mentor to me, and so many others at the firm and in the legal profession,” said Vice President of DEI Sonji Young. “This recognition speaks to his character. Steve is a role model, and he endured at a time when there were very few African American equity partners to look up to. We are so fortunate to have witnessed his many ‘firsts’ and incredible career trajectory at Armstrong Teasdale.” 

Cousins dedicated his entire career to the firm, contributing tremendously to its history and success, as well as to the broader St. Louis community through his extensive civic and charitable service. Cousins was the first African American lawyer at Armstrong Teasdale in 1980; the first associate to lead a department at Armstrong Teasdale when he created the financial restructuring, reorganization, and bankruptcy practice area in 1984; and the first African American to serve on the firm's executive committee, a position he held for 15 years. He received a number of national awards and was considered a significant rainmaker and mentor while at the firm. 

Cousins also recently earned the 2022 National Service to Youth Award from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis for more than 20 years of dedication to the St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP). Cousins and Armstrong Teasdale were also recognized with the Capture the Vision Award for their longstanding contributions to SLIP. 

“I thank Armstrong Teasdale for this recognition and its partners and leaders for their trust in me throughout my time at the firm,” said Cousins. “The tribute really goes to Armstrong Teasdale. They had the foresight to hire a young African American lawyer and provide me, as an associate, with many advancement opportunities. I’m honored to be an alumnus of the firm.” 


For the fifth consecutive year, the Association of Corporate Counsel - St. Louis Chapter (ACC STL) received the 2021 Gold Chapter of Distinction by the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), which is an award bestowed on the best chapters in the United States.

The award recognizes an individual chapter’s accomplishments in areas including programming; membership recruitment; diversity, inclusion, and equity; and governance and operations. 

“This is an incredible honor for the St. Louis chapter, and it is a reflection of the dedication, support, and commitment of our members. The last two years have brought unique opportunities to engage with our members. Our board frequently asks members what they want from their chapter, and we implement their advice into innovative programming, CLEs, and social gatherings,” said Sven Fickeler, 2021 chapter president, and senior corporate counsel, Bunzl Distribution NA.  


Kansas City

Linda Kaufman Gollub was honored on Nov. 18 by University of Missouri Athletics. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Title IX, trailblazing female student-athletes from the 1976-77 season were honored – the first year Mizzou had a combined intercollegiate athletics department, eliminating separate men's and women's athletics programs. Gollub was on the 1976-77 women's track team.

Gollub practices in the areas of business formation and transactions, estate planning and probate, educational law, and bankruptcy law. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Management and the University of Saint Mary-Overland Park.
 

Boilerplate

Submit your announcements here.