MoveMakers & NewsMakers January 24, 2019

Jan. 24, 2019 - See who is making news and moving where in the weekly Missouri Bar update "MoveMakers & NewsMakers."

St. Louis Area

The following personnel actions are announced by the Missouri State Public Defender System:

Kevin Gau has joined the Eastern Capital office. He was formerly with the St. Louis Appellate/PCR A office.

Richard “Buddy” Stratton and Joe Wilson have joined the Clayton office.

Cecilia Appleberry has joined the St. Louis City Trial office.

Chelsea Harris and Tamara Lucas have joined the Troy office. Harris was formerly with the Jefferson City office, and Lucas was formerly with the Kennett office.

Morgan Brewington has joined the St. Louis Appellate/PCR A office.

Kansas City Area

Crystal Ellison, Edward Berrigan, and Chris Janvier have joined the Kansas City Trial office of the Missouri State Public Defender. Janvier was formerly with the Kennett office.

Seyferth Blumenthal & Harris LLP is pleased to announce that Alex Aguilera and Nick Seacord have been named partners at the firm, effective Jan. 1.“Our firm has a singular focus – to provide clients the absolute best in litigation and trial practice – and Alex and Nick have definitely contributed to our being able to make good on that commitment,” said Kim Jones, Seyferth Blumenthal & Harris managing partner. “We are proud to call them partners as they both have demonstrated an incredible commitment to excellence in their practice while also representing the very best interests of our clients.”Aguilera and Seacord joined the firm in 2013 and have since dedicated their practice to employment litigation and counseling matters, as well as related business litigation.Aguilera is a skilled litigator who partners with clients on employment litigation and counseling matters. He represents large and small companies around the country in all stages of litigation, working across a wide range of areas in employment law. In particular, he regularly works with clients on human resources counseling, wage-and-hour claims, discrimination/retaliation/harassment disputes, and noncompete litigation.In addition, Aguilera counsels business leaders on a variety of important issues, including employment agreements, policies and procedures, reasonable accommodations, terminations, discipline, and other individual employee issues.Aguilera frequently speaks and writes on topics of concern to the business community. For instance, he was recently featured as a contributor to Law360 as an Expert Analysis columnist and has presented to groups on labor and employment issues with KCMBA and at the KU School of Law annual CLE.Seacord has built his counseling and litigation practice in a manner in which he is able to confidently advise clients at any state of the employment relationship. He has handled cases at every stage of the litigation and appellate process and has experience with cases involving discrimination and harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, noncompete issues, collective actions related to wage and hour claims and contract disputes.Prior to joining the firm, Seacord had the unique experience of working with Judge Robert E. Larsen, Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, and with the Public Interest Litigation Clinic, where he assisted in the appellate representation of individuals on death row.“In addition to Aguilera and Seacord being elected to partnership, we are pleased to share that our partner, Paul Seyferth, has returned to the firm after a well-deserved sabbatical,” Jones added. “As a founding member of our firm, as well as a mentor, colleague and friend, we are excited to have him back in the office.”

Graves Garrett LLC is pleased to announce that Lucinda Luetkemeyer and Dane Martin have become partners at the firm, effective Jan. 1.“Lucinda and Dane have earned this opportunity, and we look forward to their continued growth at the firm,” partner Nathan Garrett said. “They have earned the respect of their colleagues and have established reputations as talented litigators in the legal community. We are proud to have them.”Luetkemeyer recently rejoined Graves Garrett after most recently serving as general counsel to the office of the governor (Missouri). As the administration’s top lawyer, she was the chief legal officer for the executive branch, providing legal counsel to the governor, executive staff and cabinet officials. She oversaw and served as liaison to the general counsels of the more than 20 state agencies, boards and commissions in the executive branch.Prior to her government service, Luetkemeyer represented clients in Graves Garrett’s free speech, election law and white-collar litigation practices. She worked at the firm from 2015 until taking the role in the governor’s office in January 2017.“I’m thrilled to return to a firm I know so well,” Luetkemeyer said. “Graves Garrett is committed to helping our clients navigate their most pressing challenges, including those facing government and regulatory actions. I am excited to continue this work by joining the partnership of such a talented team of lawyers.”Martin has been with Graves Garrett since 2014. Since that time, he has played a key role in many of the firm’s most high-profile matters. His work has received both local and national media attention, including a successful appeal to the Supreme Court of Missouri, resulting in a significant win for his client. Martin also helped the firm achieve a multi-million dollar settlement in a class action against the IRS, personally conducting more than 20 depositions of IRS agents and three depositions of the IRS itself. Beyond those matters, Martin has appeared before state and federal courts throughout the country, handling a range of matters such as business and commercial disputes; class actions; constitutional law; regulatory compliance and investigations; and governmental affairs. He is well-versed in all aspects of litigation.Prior to joining the firm, Martin served as a judicial clerk to Judge Patricia Breckenridge of the Supreme Court of Missouri.“I am honored to join such a distinguished group of partners at Graves Garrett. I feel fortunate to be able to grow my practice at a firm with not only a track record of success, but also a team of attorneys who truly care about each other and the work they do. It is a great environment, and I believe that contributes to providing the best representation and outcome for our clients.”

Mid-Missouri Area

The following personnel actions are announced by the Missouri State Public Defender System:

Sarah Aplin has been promoted to District Defender in the Columbia Trial office. She formerly served as Deputy District Defender in the same office.

Jeremy Pilkington has been promoted to Deputy District Defender in the Columbia Trial office. He formerly served as Assistant Public Defender in the same office.

James Egan has joined the Central Appellate office. He was formerly with the Springfield office.

Elsewhere in Missouri

The following personnel actions are announced by the Missouri State Public Defender System:

The following lawyers have joined these trial offices:Kyle Allen (Farmington)Ashley Stollberg (Hannibal)Mitchell Lenyo (Jackson)Bethany Kircher and Justin Arentsen (Kennett)David Farmer (Nevada)Ian Page (Poplar Bluff)Manuel Tatayon (Sedalia)Lynna Shin (West Plains)Chris Belts has been promoted to District Defender in the Maryville office. He formerly served as Assistant Public Defender in the St. Joseph office.

Submit your news and moves here.