MoveMakers and NewsMakers for October 22, 2024

St. Louis | Kansas City | STL & KC

St. Louis

Founding attorneys Robert Ortbals Jr. and Katie Rhoten are thrilled to announce the opening of Gateway Employment Law, LLC in St. Louis, Missouri. Gateway Employment Law was founded to help protect the rights of employees who have been mistreated by their employers. It represents employees in Missouri and Illinois who have been discriminated against or harassed, wrongfully fired, not paid for all of their work, retaliated against, or otherwise mistreated at work.

Before founding Gateway Employment Law, Mr. Ortbals and Ms. Rhoten practiced together for years at a national employment law firm representing employers. Mr. Ortbals spent nearly 20 years representing employers at some of the largest law firms in the U.S. He has handled various employment disputes including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour, family and medical leave, whistleblowing, and noncompete agreements.

Founding Gateway Employment Law allowed Ms. Rhoten to return to her roots and original passion of helping employees who have been mistreated in the workplace. She began her career helping employees navigate a wide variety of workplace disputes including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. She then spent six years practicing alongside Mr. Ortbals representing employers across the country.

Kansas City

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Brian M. Devling and Kristen M. Evans joined the Kansas City, Missouri, office as an of counsel attorney and associate, respectively, in the Banking and Financial Services practice group.

With more than two decades of industry experience, Devling adeptly represents lenders in the origination and workout of middle-market commercial finance transactions. Applying a resourceful and pragmatic approach to collaborative planning, he constructs strong foundations for consistently risk-averse and cost-efficient outcomes. Devling’s primary focus is representing asset-based lenders in structuring, negotiating, documenting, and maintaining credit facilities.

Evans works primarily in the bankruptcy space, analyzing legal issues within an intricate regulatory landscape. Her experience navigating the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure allows her to thoughtfully strategize optimal, cost-effective solutions that comply with all applicable federal and state rules and regulations.

“Brian and Kristen each bring unique skill sets and client-tailored approaches to their focus areas, bolstering multiple areas of our Banking and Financial Services practice,” said Julia M. Vander Weele, Office Managing Partner for Spencer Fane in Kansas City. “It’s exciting to continue to build on our traditional and niche sectors with new strengths and perspectives, and we look forward to their contributions.”

Devling received his undergraduate degree at Saint Louis University before earning his Juris Doctor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte cum laude, Evans earned her Juris Doctor at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

STL & KC

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice is pleased to announce the addition of three associate attorneys. Lisa Verity joins the firm in St. Louis, while Allison Garrett and Logan Wallace join in Kansas City.

Verity’s practice focuses on personal injury, employment, construction defects, contract disputes and municipal liability. She obtained her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Lindenwood University. Verity is licensed to practice in Missouri.

Garrett’s practice focuses on employment, commercial litigation, products liability and premises liability. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Missouri State University. Recently admitted to practice law in Missouri, Garrett was a 2023 Baker Sterchi summer law clerk.

Wallace focuses his practice on insurance coverage, bad faith claims, premises liability, personal injury, workers' compensation and wrongful death. He obtained his law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University. Wallace is licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas.