MoveMakers & NewsMakers for February 6, 2024

St. Louis | Kansas City | Southern MO

St. Louis

Capes Sokol is proud to announce the elevation of Zachary R. McMichael to Shareholder. This promotion reflects Zach's outstanding contributions and underscores Capes Sokol's commitment to recognizing and advancing our members.

Zach, a seasoned trial attorney, brings practical insights to his client-focused approach. He navigates the complexities of business disputes, guiding clients on the strategic use of litigation—from smartly avoiding it to efficiently settling claims or, when necessary, taking a case to trial.

Specializing in real estate development and land use, Zach handles diverse business disputes, including zoning, construction defects, and shareholder issues. His extensive litigation experience spans from pre-filing strategies to courtroom trials and appeals, with a geographic focus on St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County, as well as federal courts in New Jersey, Illinois, and Missouri.

Zach earned his Juris Doctorate with honors from Washington University School of Law in 2015 and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Economics with honors from Pfeiffer University in 2012.

Capes Sokol welcomes Zach as a Shareholder, anticipating his continued success and leadership within the firm.

“We’re incredibly proud of Zach and extend our heartfelt congratulations in recognizing his accomplishments,” said Douglas Dove, Managing Shareholder of Capes Sokol. “Zach’s advancement acknowledges his hard work and dedication to the practice of law, and Zach represents the talent that Capes Sokol relies on to deliver excellent legal services that contribute to our clients’ success.”

United States Arbitration & Mediation (USA&M) is proud to announce that neutral Kim L. Kirn has been elected as the president of the St.Louis Chapter of the Association of Attorney-Mediators (AAM). Kirn will serve a one year term; she has previously served as vice president of the St. Louis chapter as well as serving as a board member for the national AAM board. AAM is a national nonprofit trade association of more than 350+ qualified independent attorney-mediators who must meet demanding qualifications for membership. The Dallas-based association also provides continuing legal education (CLE)/ continuing mediation training (CME) professional development opportunities including advanced attorney-mediator training twice a year and CLE seminars on timely topics.

“I’m very excited to be elected president of the St. Louis Chapter of the Association of Attorney-Mediators,” says Kirn. “Some of the best-known and most experienced mediators across the country belong to this group, and I’ve been involved with the organization for more than a decade. As president, I’m looking forward to growing our membership locally and bringing in speakers on important topics — like tackling some of the psychological issues involved in mediation, such as handling the grief experienced by clients and how to move forward in the dispute.”

Mantese Honigman, PC is pleased to announce that Michael Butterfield has been named partner at the firm. Mr. Butterfield, an experienced trial attorney licensed to practice law in both Missouri and Michigan, has successfully litigated a wide range of civil matters in state and federal courts throughout the two states, representing both individuals and corporations.

St. Louis-based law firm Lewis Rice promoted Lauren Rouse Carey, Benjamin M. Farley and Ryan C. Furtick to members of the firm.

Rouse Carey’s practice focuses on advertising, promotions and social media as well as general corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, and securities. In her advertising, promotions and social media practice, Rouse Carey advises clients on legal issues related to advertising, endorsements and consumer promotions. Her blog, “Legally Influenced,” shares legal tips, trends and developments for social media influencers. She is a member of Lewis Rice’s Recruiting Committee and was selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars® for 2023.

Farley began his career at Lewis Rice as a summer associate in 2014 and 2015. He currently practices in the firm’s Litigation Department. Farley assists clients with matters related to labor and employment and commercial litigation, and he has significant experience in appellate litigation. Before joining Lewis Rice as an associate, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Bobby E. Shepherd of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

Furtick joined Lewis Rice as an associate in the Taxation and Corporate departments. His tax practice includes federal income tax planning for individuals and businesses, and he frequently represents clients in disputes with taxing authorities such as the IRS. Furtick’s corporate practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, entity formation and structuring, corporate governance matters, and general business representation.

In a move fueling the strategic growth of its national White Collar Defense and Business Litigation practice, Thompson Coburn LLP welcomes former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Thomas Rea as a partner in St. Louis. This quickly follows the firm’s Washington, D.C. office addition earlier in January of partner and former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama Kenyen Brown.

“The experience Tommy garnered in almost two decades as an AUSA is invaluable to the Thompson Coburn team as we continue to strategically grow the firm,” Thompson Coburn Chair Roman Wuller said. “His impressive trial experience and deep understanding of civil and criminal codes will add immediate value to our national White Collar Defense and Investigations group and our strong litigation bench.”

During his 17-year tenure as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Rea first-chaired numerous trials, led investigations and served as the criminal division chief. In that role, he oversaw thousands of cases, including those related to white-collar crime, public corruption, terrorism, organized crime, firearms and narcotics, as well as homicide and cold-case investigations. Rea also spent time in the civil division, handling federal litigation involving employment discrimination, immigration, personal injury and medical malpractice.

“It is a pleasure to be joining such a well-respected firm as Thompson Coburn,” Rea said. “As I return to private practice, I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues across the country to provide client service of the highest quality.”

In addition to his legal practice, Rea is an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law and spent the past decade as an instructor at the National Advocacy Center, a training institution operated by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Education.

Kansas City

Brynne C. Brown has joined the Kansas City office of law firm Lewis Rice as an associate. She will be practicing in the firm’s Charitable & Cultural Taxation, Corporate, Estate Planning & Probate, Taxation, TaxExempt Organizations, and Trust & Estate Litigation practice groups.

“Our clients will benefit from the high level of service Brynne provides in estate planning, taxation and business law,” said Thomas M. Martin, managing member at Lewis Rice. “She is known for collaborating closely with all of her clients to develop a plan or resolution that best fits their unique and dynamic needs and wishes.”

In her practice Brown counsels individuals and families on estate planning, probate, and trust administration, and estate, gift, and income taxation. She has drafted estate planning documents of all types and levels of complexity. Her experience on both sides of the table regarding estate plan drafting and estate and trust administration gives her a unique and valuable perspective.

Brown also represents tax-exempt and nonprofit entities. She has formed public charities and private foundations (both in corporate and trust form), filing the initial application for federal tax-exempt status and counseling exempt and nonprofit entities on operational and tax matters. She also works with for-profit entities such as closely held or family-owned businesses on business formation, choice of entity decisions, succession planning, and general governance matters.

Brown joins Lewis Rice from Commerce Trust—a division of Commerce Bank—where she advised on the administration of estates, foundations, and trusts, specifically the duties required of, and the discretion afforded to corporate fiduciaries under governing documents and statutes. She also gained extensive experience drafting complex nonjudicial settlement agreements and release and indemnification agreements. Additionally, overseeing outside counsel on court-involved matters and special projects has given Brown distinctunderstanding of what corporate fiduciaries expect from their outside counsel.

Brown obtained her juris doctorate from the University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law in 2016 where she was the articles & symposium editor for UMKC Law Review and recipient of the CALI Award for Top Grade in Tax of Property Transaction and in State and Local Tax. In 2017 she earned her master of laws in taxation from UMKC as well as the CALI Award for Top Grade in Federal Income Tax of Estates and Trusts.

Southern MO

Sikeston attorney Steve Taylor has been named the honored sponsor of the 2023 class of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois Eagle Scouts.

Taylor will provide the keynote address at a ceremony honoring the Eagle Scouts at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 at Southeast Missouri State University. He will also present the 54 Eagle Scouts with honorary medals. The Eagle Scout rank is the highest and most prestigious a member of the Boy Scouts of America can achieve.

Tony Smee, president of the Southeast Missouri Eagle Scout Association, said recommendations for class sponsors are solicited from local Eagle Scouts every year. Nominees have had successful careers, significant stories and, usually, some involvement with the Boy Scouts of America.

"Mr. Taylor is very well-regarded in the Sikeston community for sure, but in Southeast Missouri and the State of Missouri in legal circles, as well," Smee said. "... He's very worthy to be the class sponsor this year."

Taylor is a Sikeston High School and SEMO graduate who received his law degree from the University of Missouri--Columbia. He has served with the U.S. Army, been on the Missouri Association of Trial Attorney's board of governors and served as special assistant attorney general for the State of Missouri. Taylor also is a member of the Workers' Injury Law and Advocacy group; the Missouri Bar Workers' Compensation Committee; the American Association of Justice; the National Trial Lawyers; the Scott County Bar and the Missouri Bar Association. He has been involved with Boy Scouts of America, both as an active member and as an adult volunteer, for more than 40 years.

This year's class of Eagle Scouts will be known as the 2023 Steve Taylor Class.

The ceremony is free and open to the public.