07
February
2018
|
10:04 AM
America/Chicago

MoveMakers & NewsMakers February 7, 2018

Summary

Feb. 7, 2018 - See who is making news and moving where in the weekly Missouri Bar update "MoveMakers & NewsMakers."

MoveMakers & NewsMakers

Feb. 7, 2018 - See who is making news and moving wherein the weekly Missouri Bar update "MoveMakers & NewsMakers."

Kansas City Area 

The Kansas City law office of Lewis Rice has selected Lori A. Gregory and John E. Cruz to the positions of business, tax and estate planning department chair and the newly created executive committee member-at-large, respectively. Gregory and Cruz assumed their leadership responsibilities on Feb. 1.

The Kansas City partners unanimously recommended Gregory to succeed Stan Johnston who has served as head of the department for 17 years. Gregory has been an integral part of the firm’s business, tax and estate planning department for nearly two decades. Her practice focuses on estate planning, elder law, and trust and estate administration and litigation. Gregory is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and has previously served as president of the Kansas chapter of NAELA and on the board of directors of the Missouri chapter of NAELA.

Gregory received her J.D. from the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law in 1988. She received her undergraduate degree at University of Missouri-Columbia as well, graduating magna cum laude in 1985 with a bachelor of science in business administration (emphasis in finance).

The new member-at-large position was created to provide additional perspective to the firm’s executive committee. Cruz received his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law in 1998 and received his bachelor of arts in 1994 from the University of Kansas. Cruz’s commercial real estate practice primarily focuses on retail and office leasing where he represents both landlords and tenants.

“Lori and John are among our most accomplished attorneys and leaders,” said Tom Martin, managing partner of Lewis Rice’s Kansas City office. “They understand the firm’s business, its practices, and its personnel and culture. They are collectively recognized by their colleagues as brilliant, dedicated, and generous individuals. I know they will continue to preserve the values upon which this firm is based and provide fresh ideas to navigate today’s highly competitive legal business.”

At its 2018 annual meeting, McDowell Rice Smith & Buchanan PC announced the re-election of Kristie Remster Orme as president, and the re-election of R. Pete Smith as chairman of the board of directors. Also re-elected to the board were Thomas R. Buchanan and Greg T. Spies; Charles W. Smiley was newly elected to serve on the board of directors.

It was also announced at the firm’s annual meeting that Donald G. Scott will continue to serve as the firm’s general counsel in 2018 with Buchanan and Orme each serving as associate general counsel. Smiley will continue to serve as the firm’s secretary, and Ronald S. Bronstein will continue to serve as the firm’s vice-president/treasurer/assistant secretary.

Additionally, McDowell Rice is pleased to announce that Michael J. Kelly and David A. Jack were elected as shareholders at the 2018 annual meeting.

Martin Leigh PC has been accepted into membership by The International Society of Primerus Law Firms (“Primerus”), a highly selective society of the world’s finest independent boutique law firms. The firm was accepted following a rigorous screening process by the society's accreditation board.

“We are honored to have been invited to join Primerus, and we look forward to the opportunity to both grow and enhance our practice through our relationship with Primerus,” said Tom Fritzlen, president of the firm.

In becoming a member of Primerus, Martin Leigh positions itself to not only serve their community on a greater level, but expand on their book of services including banking and financial law, litigation, corporate and business law, real estate transactions, creditors' rights and bankruptcy, construction, and HR/employment law.

Shaffer Lombardo Shurin is pleased to announce that Dawn M. Parsons has been named a partner in the firm.

Parsons is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Prior to joining the firm in 2015, she spent over 20 years with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. Parsons will continue her practice in the areas of insurance defense, federal and state criminal defense and personal injury.

We also congratulate Parsons on her recent nomination for fellowship in the International Society of Barristers (ISOB). The ISOB has a regular membership of less than 700 lawyers who have been deemed by their peers and judges to be outstanding in the field of advocacy. Parsons will be inducted this spring.

**********

St. Louis Area

Dan Slawski has joined Carmody MacDonald PC as an associate. He focuses his practice on general corporate law with an emphasis in banking and finance.Prior to joining the firm as an associate in late 2017, Slawski worked as an associate at another St. Louis law firm assisting publicly traded and privately held companies with financing arrangements including new loan and security agreements, amendments to existing facilities, and debt and equity offerings.Slawski received his bachelor of science in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis and his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was on the dean’s list.Slawski is a member of the ABA, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, The Missouri Bar, and the Illinois State Bar Association.

Candace Johnson has joined Carmody MacDonald PC as an associate. She focuses her practice in the area of litigation.Prior to joining the firm, Johnson was a summer associate for both a law firm and an in-house counsel department where she worked on projects in labor and employment, real estate, and general litigation. Having worked with a law firm and an in-house department gave her the unique opportunity to see a legal matter from both the client and law firm perspective, positioning her to better serve clients.Johnson received her J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis where she was named Marshall Brennan Fellow and George and Margret Jensen Scholar in Law.

Daniel W. Farroll has joined the personal injury group at Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli PC, an experienced personal injury and business and commercial litigation firm in the St. Louis-Southern Illinois region. He previously was a partner with Hepler Broom in Edwardsville, Illinois.

“With more than 25 years of experience providing legal counsel in the area of healthcare, nursing home liability, and other personal injuries, Dan’s experience will enhance our personal injury group, which includes medical device litigation, pharmaceutical litigation, products liability, wrongful death, and environmental,” said Mark Goldenberg, founder and managing partner of the firm.

Farroll is admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association and The Missouri Bar. He earned his J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale, Illinois, and his undergraduate degree at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Swanson, Martin & Bell LLP welcomes two lateral associates to the firm's St. Louis office:

Mehwish Aslam will focus on asbestos litigation, toxic tort litigation, product liability, and medical negligence and healthcare. She received her J.D. in 2014 from New York Law School and her B.S. in 2009 from Xavier University of Louisiana. She was previously an associate at Galvano & Xanthakis in New York City. 

Clement D. Warr, Jr. will focus on asbestos litigation and toxic tort litigation. Warr received his J.D. in 2013 from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and his B.A. in 2008 from Truman State University. He was previously an associate at Pitzer Snodgrass in St. Louis.

Armstrong Teasdale proudly announces the addition of litigation partner Donald M. Flack. A former judge in Madison County, Illinois, Flack is an accomplished trial attorney primarily focusing on complex business litigation and governmental affairs.

“We are excited to have Don join our litigation practice,” said John Beulick, managing partner at Armstrong Teasdale. “His unique perspective and experiences as a former judge will certainly benefit our clients across the firm, and further strengthen our presence in southern Illinois.”

He has argued appellate matters in state and federal courts across the country, and co-authored briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court. Flack also has experience with class action matters and mass torts, as well as products liability and catastrophic events. Throughout his career, he has handled cases in more than 20 venues across 10 different states. While on the bench, Flack presided over dozens of jury and bench trials.

“Don has his roots in Southern Illinois and we are very excited he made the decision to join the firm,” said Ray Fournie, partner at Armstrong Teasdale. “His experience and reputation for having a strong legal mind as well as integrity will greatly benefit our clients in the cases we have in this venue.”

Prior to joining Armstrong Teasdale, Flack served as a judge for more than five years. Before that, he worked as a special assistant state’s attorney in Madison County, where he managed civil litigation and personnel disputes through arbitration and litigation, and also served as compliance counsel. He also has more than 20 years of experience in private practice with law firms in southern Illinois.

He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law and B.S. in business economics from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Flack is admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Michigan, Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of Illinois. He is also licensed before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth and Seventh Circuits, and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale PC is pleased to announce that the firm has elevated lawyers Gino P. Gusmano, Karen M. Johnson and Betty Hartzel Schaefer to officers, effective Feb. 1. All three are based in the firm's St. Louis office.

“We congratulate Gino, Karen and Betty on the achievements that have earned them the position of officer,” said Timothy R. Thornton, the firm's chief executive officer. “Each is well-deserving of this honor, and both the firm and our clients benefit on a daily basis from their respective contributions.”

A member of the litigation practice group, Gusmano handles complex litigation at the trial and appellate levels, frequently defending clients in the trucking industry and those facing medical malpractice claims. In addition, Gusmano has assisted clients with issues involving toxic torts, professional liability, catastrophic personal injury, construction and other business disputes. He has experience with insurance claims involving the failure to place coverage and disputes with policyholders and their insurers. His breadth of litigation experience is paired with in-depth understanding of federal and state e-discovery practices, including the duty to preserve data and litigation holds, computer forensics, metadata production, corporate information systems and protected health information.

Gusmano earned his law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Southwest Missouri State University.

A member of the business services and intellectual property practice groups, Johnson counsels clients on the acquisition, protection, maintenance and enforcement of intellectual property rights. Her experience includes managing trademark portfolios, providing clearance opinions, devising filing strategies, procuring and maintaining trademark and copyright registrations, negotiating intellectual property agreements, reviewing and analyzing intellectual property due diligence in connection with stock and asset purchases, and defending intellectual property rights through Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings, cease and desist communications, and online take-down procedures under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. In addition, she handles general corporate and M&A matters.

Johnson earned her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

A member of the trusts & estates practice group, Schaefer helps clients with estate and trust administration matters, as well as estate planning and trust funding needs. She has helped clients with estate and trust controversies, particularly in the areas of probate, trust and fiduciary litigation. Schaefer also assists clients with special needs estate planning and advises financial institutions on issues related to probate and trust administration, as well as their roles as corporate fiduciaries. She previously worked as legal counsel to the St. Louis County Probate Division.

Schaefer earned her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and a bachelor of arts from Northwestern University.

Armstrong Teasdale proudly announces the addition of Jill M. Palmquist to its partnership effective Feb. 1.“

Jill is a highly skilled trusts and estates lawyer,” said John Beulick, managing partner at Armstrong Teasdale. “She is consistently a strong performer. We are proud to recognize her commitment to our clients and elevate her to partner status.”

Palmquist previously focused on providing counsel to a select group of clients and will expand her practice as a partner of the firm. She is a member of the corporate services practice group and focuses primarily on estate planning, including wealth management and gift and estate tax issues. For families and individuals, she utilizes instruments such as powers of attorney, wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts and limited partnerships. Palmquist also has experience in dealing with special assets including closely held stock, 401(k) plans, traditional and Roth IRAs, and Section 529 Plans; and in working with situations requiring extra consideration, like planning in the context of a second marriage, special needs trusts and asset protection.

She also works with individual beneficiaries and individuals appointed as agents, personal representatives and successor trustees to properly administer instruments making up an estate plan, including preparing estate, gift and fiduciary income tax returns, funding trusts created at death, making distributions to beneficiaries and opening probate proceedings.Admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois, Palmquist earned her J.D., cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law and B.A. from the University of Dallas.

**********Other Areas

Rudy D. Beck, founder of Beck Estate Planning & Elder Law, LLC is pleased to announce Jayson B. Lenox has joined the firm as a partner.Over the last 26 years, Lenox has written thousands of wills and trusts for clients throughout the state. He is an accredited agent of the Veterans Administration and works with veterans and families in obtaining benefits. Throughout his career, he has tried more than 80 jury trials to conclusion and handled hundreds of mediations representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Additionally, Lenox has served as a mediator himself.

After graduation from the University of Missouri law school with a J.D. in 1991, Lenox became a member of The Missouri Bar and then passed the Illinois Bar as well. In 2014, he became the judge for the city of New Melle. Lenox previously served as assistant prosecutor for the city of St. Peters and city attorney for the city of Foristell.Lenox is a member of The Missouri Bar, the St. Charles County Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the ABA. He is also a member of the Senior Sevice Resources of Greater St. Louis, a group of professionals assisting seniors and their families. He is on the board of directors for Unlimited Play, an organization providing playgrounds for handicapped children. Lenox is also a past president for the St. Charles Kiwanis.

Lenox is a native of St. Charles, a graduate of St. Charles West High School and lives with his wife Kelly and three children.

Have news of your own to share? Submit your news and moves here.

Boilerplate

Submit your news and moves here.