MoveMakers & NewsMakers for January 30, 2024

Across MO | St. Louis | Kansas City 

Across MO

The Missouri Sports Hall of Fame announces Hon. Scott Sifferman as part of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024.

Scott Sifferman – Cyclist

A 1972 Mount Vernon High School graduate, Sifferman is an accomplished cyclist. He has won six national Time Trial Championships and holds the national 5K Time Trial record of 5:52.25, which is the fastest for all age groups and all categories. He has 87 state championship medals and 13 Missouri state champions jerseys. He also has been in the top five of National USA Cycling four times and is one of the few sponsored amateurs by Trek Bicycle as one of its “Great Athletes.” He has the record for the fastest amateur 100-mile bike ride and worked with teammates to finish 100 miles in 3 hours, 40 minutes, or a better than 25 mph pace. A few of his wins include the Missouri State USA Cycling Time Trial Championships (12 times), the Missouri USA Cycling Road Race Championship, the Tour of Hermann (2010, 2011, 2012 and overall Omnium champion in 2010), the 5K & 10 Time Trials for the Missouri State Senior Games (9 times), the 2010 Branson High Road Time Trial (2010), the Truman Cup Time Trial (2020) and the Buckner Burn Time Trial (2010). Sifferman, a four-year football letterman at Mount Vernon, graduated from the University of Missouri in 1976, earned a master’s degree in 1977 and a juris doctorate degree from Missouri-Kansas City in 1980. He retired in early 2023 after 33 years as the circuit court judge in Lawrence County.

Lathrop GPM has bolstered its Tort, Insurance & Environmental Practice Group with the addition of four attorneys over the past six months, as well as the elevation of three attorneys, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

The new hires include associate Caitlin Albaugh in Kansas City. Elevations to partner include counsel Jessica Rosell in Kansas City and associate Kayla Brewe in St. Louis.

"We’re thrilled to build on the deep knowledge and experience of our environmental and toxic tort group with the addition of new attorneys and elevation of talent within our ranks," said Mara Cohara, leader of the firm's Tort, Insurance & Environmental Practice Group. "This recent growth reflects our ongoing commitment to attracting and developing a talented team to meet growing client needs around these complex, challenging and often high-stakes matters."

About the new hires

Caitlin Albaugh is a first-year associate and recently received her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Kansas. Albaugh joined the firm’s Kansas City office as an associate after working as a summer associate in 2022 and now advises clients regarding insurance and environmental tort matters.

About the new promotions

Jessica Rosell – promoted from Counsel to Partner on Jan. 1 – concentrates her practice on environmental, litigation, and appellate matters, representing clients in negotiating administrative claims with federal and state environmental agencies, advising clients in initiating and maintaining environmental regulatory compliance programs, and assisting in complex environmental and toxic tort litigation in federal and state courts. Rosell's extensive experience handling highly technical issues in state and federal regulatory matters and in litigation uniquely positions her to advise on emerging contaminants, particularly PFAS issues related to due diligence, regulatory compliance, remediation, and litigation avoidance. Rosell holds a J.D. from Washington University School of Law and a B.A. from Trinity University.

Kayla Brewe – elevated from Associate to Counsel – focuses her practice on environmental, toxic tort and product liability litigation, including Superfund sites and odor nuisance class actions. She also assists with contribution claims under CERCLA and state counterparts. She received her J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2016 where she was named to the Order of Barristers and served as the note and comment editor of the Journal of Environmental and Sustainability Law. She received a B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Central Missouri in 2013.

Lathrop GPM is also pleased to welcome partner Issaku Yamaashi to the Business Transactions Practice Group in the firm's Kansas City office. His move to the firm comes on the heels of strong growth for the practice group in 2023, including the November addition of associate Kristen Koerber in Kansas City.

Drawing on over two decades of experience, Yamaashi focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), securities transactions, financing, business entity ownership issues, commercial real estate transactions, software licensing and general business matters. He has represented clients in multimillion-dollar M&A and securities transactions across numerous sectors and service industries, including healthcare, real estate, manufacturing, transportation and more.

"We are thrilled to welcome Issaku to our growing team," said Mark Williamson, chair of Lathrop GPM's Business Transactions Practice Group. "He will play a key role in fostering tight collaboration between the Real Estate & Development and Business Transaction groups and we look forward to seeing him further enhance our business development efforts in Kansas City. He will be a meaningful asset to our clients throughout the region, and beyond."

"With one of the leading business transactions, healthcare and nonprofit organization practices in the country, Lathrop GPM offers the national reputation, resources and deep bench crucial to expand my current client base. I look forward to working alongside such a talented group of dedicated lawyers and paralegals," Yamaashi added.

Yamaashi has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for his achievements in M&A law and Chambers USA as a leading lawyer in Corporate/M&A. He holds a J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Chicago.

St. Louis

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that Mary Kate Hogan has joined the firm’s St. Louis office as a partner in the Business Law Practice Group. Prior to joining Quarles, Hogan served as in-house general counsel for a national print, marketing and logistics provider and a credit card processing company.

Hogan guides her clients on a variety of transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, general corporate matters, commercial contracts and internal restructurings. She counsels family businesses, private equity funds and publicly held companies.

“Mary Kate brings a wealth of experience in the M&A and private equity field and has a track record of successfully closing complex deals for clients,” said Will Schultz, Business Law Practice Group national chair. “Acquiring an experienced M&A deal attorney in our St. Louis market was a strategic goal because we knew it would greatly benefit our clients. Mary Kate will be a great fit and we look forward to working with her.”

Hogan holds a Juris Doctor from New York University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California. She is a member of the board of director for Books for Newborns and is active with the United Way of Greater St. Louis, serving as the women’s segment chair of the de Tocqueville Society Cabinet and a member of the women’s leadership segment mentorship program. Hogan was named a “Rising Star” in the 2020 Missouri In-House Counsel Awards.

“I wanted to return to a law firm environment, and I was impressed with Quarles’ collaborative style and dedication to providing excellent client service,” said Hogan. “I’m excited that the firm has invested in St. Louis, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues in contributing to the continued growth of the St. Louis office and Business Law practice.”

Kansas City

Dysart Taylor McMonigle Brumitt & Wilcox, P.C. is pleased to announce Alex Johnson has joined the firm as an associate, focusing on construction law and other commercial litigation.

Johnson brings experience as a litigator in Kansas and Missouri at both the state and federal levels, having developed strong legal research skills in addition to handling aspects of dispute resolution processes including motions, trials, settlements and appeals. He has served as second and third chair in several bench and jury trials.

Prior to entering private practice, Johnson completed a clerkship with the Hon. Eric Melgren in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

“We are so excited to welcome Alex to the Dysart Taylor team and expand our capabilities,” said Michael J. Judy, the firm’s managing director. “Our clients depend on us to provide sound legal guidance and lead them to beneficial resolutions in complex litigation matters. I know Alex will be a strong advocate focused on aligning strategies with their business goals and objectives.”

Johnson completed his undergraduate degree in political science with a minor in economics at the University of Kansas and later earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.