MoveMakers & NewsMakers July 17, 2019

July 17, 2019 - See who is making news and moving where in the weekly Missouri Bar update "MoveMakers & NewsMakers." 

Kansas City | St. Louis | Mid-Missouri | Springfield | Elsewhere in Missouri 

Kansas City Area

Thomas “Jeff” Stephens has joined the commitment defense unit in the Kansas City office of the Missouri State Public Defender.

Rodney Wilson has joined the Kansas City trial office of the Missouri State Public Defender. He formerly served as assistant public defender in the Liberty office.

Spencer J. Webster has joined Hinkle Law Firm LLC as an associate in the firm's Overland Park office. His practice focuses on civil litigation, including insurance litigation, commercial litigation, and personal injury. His practice further includes construction matters, employment and labor laws, contract disputes, and real estate issues.

Webster joins the firm from Baty Holm Numrich & Otto. He is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers.

Webster graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a B.A. in communication studies. He earned his J.D. from California Western University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in both Kansas and Missouri.

Lewis Rice LLC is pleased to announce that Michael P. Gaughan and Rodger M. Turbak have joined the firm. Both have extensive backgrounds in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors' rights, and banking litigation. They practiced with SouthLaw, PC prior to joining Lewis Rice.

Gaughan joins Lewis Rice as a member of the litigation team. For over 30 years, he has provided quality legal services to meet the needs of lenders and businesses. His practice principally focuses on protecting the rights of creditors nationwide with an emphasis on the representation of secured creditors, such as commercial lenders, mortgage servicing companies, and businesses.

As an associate with the litigation team, Turbak represents the interests of local, regional and national creditors as they relate to consumer and commercial matters, automobile and loans, foreclosures, commercial loan defaults, and workouts. He has had extensive experience representing creditors as both plaintiff and defendant throughout the complex litigation and bankruptcy process.

Shaffer Lombardo Shurin is pleased to welcome Peter Rottgers and Michaela Marine to the firm.

Rottgers’ practice focuses on civil litigation, construction litigation, insurance defense and municipal law. He brings unique experience to Shaffer Lombardo Shurin as a result of his representation of numerous municipalities across the state of Missouri and service as a staff attorney for Legal Aid of Western Missouri. His experience in representing a diverse range of clients across a variety of forums instills a creative yet pragmatic approach to his legal practice. Rottgers earned his B.A. from Wake Forest University and his J.D. from the University of Kentucky.

Marine’s practice focuses on appellate law, business litigation, construction litigation, insurance defense and alternative dispute resolution. Prior to joining Shaffer Lombardo Shurin, Marine was a law clerk for Judge Thomas H. Newton on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District where she assisted with research and writing on a variety of complex appellate issues. Marine earned her B.A. from the University of Tulsa and her J.D. from Washburn University.

St. Louis Area

The Missouri State Pubic Defender System makes the following announcements:

Kyle Keenan has joined the St. Louis appellate/post-conviction relief "B" office.

Jordan Cohen and Cynthia “Cindy” Finney have joined the St. Louis City trial office.

Tiffany Walker has joined the Clayton office. She formerly served as assistant public defender in the Rolla office.

The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers is proud to announce the election of Joan M. Swartz of St. Louis as a new fellow. Election as a fellow is the highest recognition by colleagues of sustained outstanding performance in the profession, exemplifying integrity, dedication and excellence.

The installation of fellows will be held Nov. 9, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana, coinciding with the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section's annual conference.

Mid-Missouri Area

Matthew Dresner has joined the Fulton office of the Missouri State Public Defender.

Christina Sawyer has joined the post-conviction relief central office of the Missouri State Public Defender in Columbia. She formerly served as assistant public defender in the Springfield office.

Springfield Area

Carol Palmer and Lucretia Myers have joined the Springfield office of the Missouri State Public Defender.

Elsewhere in Missouri

The Missouri State Public Defender System announces the following lawyers have joined offices in Missouri:

Yvette Duvall (Ava)Britnie Byers (Farmington)Janeal Matheson (Harrisonville)William "Rance" Butler (Kennett)Zachary Riedel and Sean Randall (Lebanon)Joshua Baseley (Nevada)Jason Cox (Poplar Bluff)Thomas Schmitz (Rolla)Submit your news and moves here.