MoveMakers & NewsMakers for January 16, 2023

St. Louis | Kansas City | Across MO

Across MO

Spencer Fane is pleased to announce 10 attorneys have been elected to the partnership, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to providing an internal path to leadership from within the firm. The new partners are spread across eight offices and include Jay Ji (St. Louis); Hillary Martel (Overland Park, Kansas); and Shelby Wood (Springfield, Missouri). 

The elections were effective January 1, 2024. 

“Each of these 10 attorneys have proven to be exceptional examples of our firm’s commitment to providing thoughtful, collaborative and communicative service to clients,” Spencer Fane Chair Pat Whalen said. “Spencer Fane remains committed to both attracting and retaining the most talented attorneys in the legal professional, and we are proud to welcome this group to our partnership in recognition of their dedication and attentiveness to our valued clients.” 

Hillary Martel, Health Care 

Martel’s blend of medical and legal experience gives her unique insight into the legal concerns of health care entities, informing her ability to handle a wide variety of legal issues critical to operations. She counsels clients ranging from large health systems and hospitals to specialty providers and solo physician practices in an effort to navigate the constant changes in the industry, while protecting their ability to focus on what matters most: providing quality patient care. 

Before law school, Martel worked as a nurse in an intensive care unit at a large academic medical center. She obtained her degree in nursing from the University of Kansas and later earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s School of Law. 

Armstrong Teasdale is proud to announce a new appointment and committee election, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Partner Maureen Bryan (St. Louis) has been appointed to serve as the firm’s general counsel and will be responsible for protecting the firm’s legal interests, maintaining its operations within the scope established by law, and providing guidance on risk management and related liability issues. In addition, Partner and Kansas City Office Managing Attorney Tyson Ketchum was elected to the firm’s Compensation Committee, which is responsible for the allocation of compensation to firm equity partners. 

Bryan succeeds recently elected Managing Partner Richard Engel in the general counsel role. She is supported by Partners Timothy Miller, Mark Murray, Charles Palella, Jennifer Schwesig and Thomas Weaver who serve as assistant general counsels. 

Ketchum succeeds Partner Karrie Clinkinbeard, who recently completed a three-year term on the Compensation Committee. 

“I’ve worked closely with both Maureen and Ty over the years in various capacities,” said Engel. “Both are strong stewards of the firm, and I extend my thanks as they take on this additional leadership responsibility. I am confident that they have the firm’s best interest in mind and will continue to exceed expectations in their respective roles, aligned with our mission and values.” 

Bryan is a partner and leader of the firm’s Health Care and Life Sciences industry team and is in part responsible for many of Missouri’s top ranking defense verdicts. Active in firm management, she also sits on the firm’s Executive Committee. She is a member of the firm’s award-winning Mass Tort and Catastrophic Loss practice area. In addition, she represents clients in matters involving the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and breach of protected health information, including conducting risk assessments, developing strategies to remedy data breaches, complying with notice and regulatory requirements, OCR investigations and reporting, and defending resulting civil litigation. 

Ketchum focuses his practice on employment, insurance coverage, personal injury and commercial litigation cases. His practice is unique in that he has handled high-stakes cases for clients involving many different areas of law. In connection with this diverse litigation practice, Ketchum has tried cases to verdict before courts in Missouri and Kansas and has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court, Missouri Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. In his role as Kansas City office managing attorney, Ketchum is charged with driving growth and success in coordination with the firm’s overall strategic vision as determined by firmwide leadership and the managing partner. He also previously served as deputy general counsel. 

Stinson LLP has elected Alexander Barrett (Jefferson City) and Courtney Harrison (Kansas City) to the firm's partnership, effective January 1, 2024. 

Barrett's civil litigation practice focuses on advising clients through private and commercial disputes and government regulations. He has experience working with clients from various industries, including banking, private equity and public utilities. He also provides pro bono representation to Stinson's longstanding neighborhood partner, the Marlborough Community Coalition, in conjunction with Legal Aid of Western Missouri. Barrett earned his J.D. from Boston University. 

Harrison handles complex and high-stakes consumer class action litigation. She has a sophisticated e-discovery practice and utilizes her knowledge and experience to efficiently manage the collection and production of documents for a variety of complex matters, including class actions, trade secret disputes, antitrust cases and product liability lawsuits. She provides pro bono legal services to victims of domestic abuse and human trafficking, guiding them through a legal system that often prevents survivors from accessing justice. Harrison earned her J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis. 

Stinson's 2024 new partner class spans four of the firm's 13 office locations. Barrett, who is based in the firm's Jefferson City office, and Harrison, based in the Kansas City office, are two of the firm's six newly elected partners. 

 
Kansas City

Graves Garrett Greim, formerly Graves Garrett LLC, is pleased to announce a name change that became effective January 1, 2024. 

The name change to Graves Garrett Greim recognizes partner Eddie Greim’s commitment and contributions to the firm’s success. He joined the firm in 2006, became a partner in 2010 and maintains an influential and respected practice focused on complex commercial litigation, internal investigations, whistleblower claims, free speech and election law, and constitutional advocacy. His free speech and election law experience has included numerous constitutional challenges to election and campaign finance laws, representation of clients in state and federal ethics and campaign finance enforcement actions and investigations, initiative petition drafting and litigation, litigation and advice regarding First Amendment protections for petition circulation, representation of not-for-profit clients before state regulators, and advice on campaign and election law compliance. 

“Eddie has been here since the early days of the firm, and he is a recognizable and influential member of our team who provides sophisticated legal strategy to many of the most high-profile and consequential matters we handle,” GGG partner Todd Graves said. “We are honored to incorporate his name into the future of our firm and look forward to the contributions he will make in continuing to build our local, regional, and national reputation.” 

Seyferth Blumenthal & Harris LLC (SBH) is pleased to announce Nick Daugherty has been elected to partnership at the firm, effective January 1, 2024. 

“Nick has earned this opportunity through hard work and dedication to the clients he serves,” SBH managing partner Kimberly Jones said. “He has established himself as a respected colleague and litigator in the legal community, and we look forward to his continued growth at SBH.” 

Daugherty joined SBH in 2016 and focuses his practice on providing strategic legal counsel through all stages of commercial and employment discrimination litigation with an emphasis on insurance-related issues, representing insurers in various coverage-related cases. Daugherty is also a valued appellate advocate, authoring several briefs for submission with both state and federal appellate courts and recently presented oral argument in a successful defense of an appeal before the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District. 

Prior to entering private practice, Daugherty clerked for the Hon. Lisa White Hardwick in the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Kansas and earned his law degree from the Washburn University School of Law, where he served as a comments editor for the Washburn Law Review. 

 St. Louis

Tim McCurdy has launched the McCurdy Law Firm focused on trusts and estates litigation and guardianships.