MoveMakers & NewsMakers for Sept. 9, 2025

St. Louis | Kansas City | Across MO

St. Louis

McMahon Berger proudly announces the return of William B. Jones, joining the firm after nearly 18 years leading the Global HR Legal initiatives at Enterprise Mobility. Bill’s expertise spans HR compliance, class and complex litigation, trade secret and non-compete protection and enforcement, mergers and acquisitions, government audits and enforcement actions, and labor and employee relations. Bill attended the University of Notre Dame for undergraduate studies and law school. He clerked for the Honorable James A. Pudlowski in the Missouri Court of Appeals immediately upon graduation before joining McMahon Berger. Bill is a leader in the community, having served on the boards of Saint Louis Children’s Hospital, Almost Home (which provides life skill services for teenage mothers and their children), the Racquet Club Ladue, and the Celebrate Saint Louis fundraising committee. 

With nearly two decades leading HR legal strategy at Enterprise Mobility, the returning partner brings deep knowledge and a proven commitment to achieving business goals while efficiently and effectively managing risk, compliance and legal claims. Bill’s global perspective and practical leadership will further strengthen McMahon Berger’s capabilities. 

“We’re excited to welcome back our former colleague,” said McMahon Berger partner Jim Foster. “Bill’s return enhances our mission to deliver first-rate labor and employment representation to our corporate clients, providing a unique and seasoned business minded approach to HR legal services.” 

Bill’s initial tenure with McMahon Berger led to an accelerated appointment to partner of the firm. While the firm was sorry to lose Bill, it was proud to have one of its partners join Enterprise, a long and valued client of the firm. Bill’s return highlights McMahon Berger’s commitment to innovation and growth. Enjoying its 70th year since its founding in 1955, McMahon Berger has been a leader in the labor and employment field serving local, regional and national clientele. Bill’s expertise will help clients navigate compliance, litigation, government investigations, and labor relations in today’s evolving workplace. 

“I’m honored to rejoin McMahon Berger in its 70th year and bring my global HR legal experience to the benefit our clients,” said Bill. 
 

Kansas City

Dysart Taylor McMonigle Brumitt & Wilcox, P.C. is pleased to announce Allison Sadler has joined the firm as an associate, focusing on civil litigation and dispute resolution matters.

Sadler is a skilled civil litigation attorney with experience representing clients in insurance defense, product liability and personal injury matters. She partners closely with her clients to develop litigation strategies tailored to their objectives, managing cases from intake through trial preparation while ensuring all deadlines and procedural requirements are met.

Sadler began her career at a personal injury firm in Topeka, Kansas. She also gained valuable experience through internships with a wealth management group and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, where she focused on compliance issues. Sadler also continued her civil litigation practice at a Kansas City law firm, concentrating on insurance defense and related matters. She has conducted numerous depositions, drafted and argued dispositive and motions, and is recognized for her organization, discipline and commitment to achieving favorable outcomes.

“The addition of Allison to our team will be incredibly beneficial not just for the firm as a whole, but for our clients as well,” said Managing Director Michael Judy. “Her experience, high attention to detail and ability to think quickly and effectively will be an asset at Dysart Taylor and all the clients she will serve.”

Sadler completed her undergraduate B.A. in communications with minors in sociology, history and political science at Washburn University. She also earned her law degree from Washburn University School of Law while competing as a collegiate volleyball player at a national championship level. She is licensed to practice in Kansas, Missouri and the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC is pleased to announce its merger with Wisconsin-based Corneille Law Group, LLC, led by Mark Budzinski, effective Oct. 1, 2025. The merger reinforces Baker Sterchi’s position as a premier civil defense litigation firm with expanded reach and even greater trial depth. 

The combined firm will operate under the Baker Sterchi name and add offices in Madison and Green Bay, Wisconsin, to its existing locations in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Washington and Oregon. Mark Budzinski will join Baker Sterchi as an equity Member, along with six additional attorneys. 

With more than 25 years of experience, Budzinski has tried more than 70 jury cases to verdict and litigated hundreds of matters in state and federal courts across Wisconsin. His practice includes catastrophic injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, contract disputes and other high-exposure claims. He is board certified in trial advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

"Both of our firms have built reputations on strong trial skills, thorough preparation and unwavering dedication to our clients,” said Scott Kreamer, Managing Member of Baker Sterchi. “This merger strengthens our ability to provide clients with seasoned trial lawyers in more jurisdictions and across a wider range of practice areas. Together, we are stronger, and our clients will be the greatest beneficiaries.” 

The merger expands Baker Sterchi’s presence in the Midwest and allows the Wisconsin attorneys to offer clients broader services supported by the infrastructure and collaborative environment of a larger firm. 

“This merger brings new opportunities for our attorneys and clients,” said Budzinski. “Baker Sterchi’s strong litigation platform, shared culture and broader geographic reach will allow us to deepen client relationships while continuing to deliver the high-quality service they expect. We’re proud to be part of a firm that values both excellence and collegiality.”

With the addition of the Wisconsin office locations, Baker Sterchi will have nearly 100 attorneys and more than 200 total professionals across nine offices, continuing its focus on civil litigation defense and trial advocacy in areas including commercial litigation, insurance, product liability, construction, employment, transportation and professional liability.

Across MO

Spencer Fane is thrilled to announce that Van DeGregorio (St. Louis) and Alden Smith (Springfield, Missouri) have joined Spencer Fane as associates.

DeGregorio will join the the Labor and Employment practice group and Smith will join the Real Estate practice group.

In addition to contributing to the firm’s continued national growth along with its expanding practice areas and industries, the five new associates will offer fresh perspectives and insights to meet the increasing demand for collaborative attorney teams with both broad and highly specialized legal skills in new and existing markets.

“We are always excited to welcome new associates who are eager to learn from and offer support to our attorney teams as they forge their own professional paths and shape the future of the legal industry,” said Spencer Fane Chair Patrick J. Whalen. “These talented attorneys each possess strengths that align with our core competencies and culture and understand the importance of driving exceptional service as they work across offices to deliver valuable solutions to our clients.”

Van DeGregorio (St. Louis)
DeGregorio represents employers and other business leaders across the full spectrum of labor and employment matters, including employment discrimination claims under Title VII, the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Family Medical Leave Act. His full-service practice encompasses investigation and response to employee claims before administrative agencies and, when necessary, litigation.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree from The University of Mississippi, DeGregorio earned his Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University. While in law school, he served as a legal extern to the Honorable Shirley P. Mensah, Chief Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, and was an active member of the Saint Louis University Law Journal.

Alden Smith (Springfield)
Smith assists clients with a wide range of real estate transactions and financings, bringing practical solutions which minimize time and resources to the forefront of even the most highly sophisticated transactions and related disputes.

Smith earned both his bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri, where he served as a note and comment editor for the Business, Entrepreneurship, and Tax Law Review and as a teaching assistant for two years in an introductory law course for undergraduates. Between degrees, he spent two and a half years teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. He graduated from law school with an Honors Tax Law Certificate, demonstrating a mastery of fundamental tax principles he now applies to efficiently structure real estate transactions under the tax code.