MoveMakers and NewsMakers for October 29, 2024

St. Louis

St. Louis

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Stuart C. Schmadeke joined the firm’s St. Louis office as an of counsel attorney in the Insurance section of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group.

Schmadeke represents businesses and manufacturers in insurance coverage disputes and other complex commercial matters, serving as an efficient and highly effective litigator when necessary and providing balanced guidance throughout alternative dispute resolution proceedings. His extensive experience spans almost every type of insurance coverage, including general liability, product liability, representation and warranty, environmental liability, directors and officers, commercial property, errors and omissions, product recall, and aviation coverage. He also guides clients with respect to insurance strategies in mass tort bankruptcies.

“Stuart’s experience navigating so many different clients and lines of coverage has equipped him for a deeply knowledgeable, comprehensive insurance practice in which he draws on diverse insights and tested strategies to consistently deliver successful outcomes,” said Amy K. Mistler, Office Managing Partner for Spencer Fane in St. Louis. “He will be a valuable addition to our growing, cross-office insurance litigation team as they continue to carve out a formidable reputation as industry leaders in achieving successful resolutions regardless of legal venue.”

Schmadeke received his undergraduate degree at Duke University before earning his Juris Doctor at the New York University School of Law.

Beyond his private practice, he has given back to his community through pro bono representation for students and their families in matters pertaining to asylum, educational access, and Individualized Education Plans.

St. Louis-based law firm Lewis Rice has named new leaders for several of its practice groups. Practice Group Leaders at Lewis Rice implement practice management and development plans that support the firm’s key commitment to deliver the highest quality legal services.

“These attorneys have consistently demonstrated their ability to devise creative solutions, achieve targeted results in challenging situations, and show longstanding dedication to both our clients and the community,” said Firm Chairman Richard B. Walsh Jr. “I look forward to working with them to ensure Lewis Rice remains our clients’ trusted source for legal counsel.”

The new practice group leaders include:

Charla M. Claypool and John B. Greenberg leading Advertising, Promotions & Social Media
Attorneys in this practice group provide services that include advertising clearances for legal compliance, drafting and reviewing sweepstakes and contest rules, negotiating and drafting licenses and other contracts, counseling, and litigation.

Edward T. Pivin leading Antitrust
Lewis Rice has a long antitrust practice history involving competition issues affecting businesses in the United States and around the world. These attorneys have extensive experience handling both multi-district and class action antitrust cases.

Steven S. Poindexter and Mark C. Winings leading Lending & Finance
Lewis Rice’s Lending & Finance group represents lenders and borrowers in a broad spectrum of commercial, real estate, private placement and public financing transactions. 

John J. Hall and Larry E. Parres leading Bankruptcy & Insolvency
The Bankruptcy & Insolvency Practice Group represents creditors, debtors, trustees, receivers and other parties in a broad range of bankruptcy, workout, receivership and other insolvency matters involving businesses and commercial matters throughout the country.

Jeremy P. Brummond leading Construction
Representing design and construction professionals, including engineers, architects, owners, construction managers, contractors, subcontractors, lenders and sureties has long been a tradition at Lewis Rice. This practice includes litigation as well as advisory and compliance work.

Emily K. Bardon leading Design & Luxury
In the rapidly changing and increasingly competitive fashion, apparel and beauty industry, the attorneys in Lewis Rice’s Design & Luxury Practice Group help brands build solid foundations, protect their interests, and capitalize on opportunities. 

Samuel A. Yoffie leading Early-Stage Companies
Our Early-Stage Companies practice offers tailored legal support for startups, guiding founders from formation to strategic exits. We focus on corporate structuring, venture capital, intellectual property, employment law, and regulatory compliance, providing practical solutions to help businesses thrive.

Pamela E. Barker and Christian T. Gordon leading Environmental Compliance
Our Environmental Compliance practice helps businesses navigate complex local, state, and federal regulations. We assist with permitting, audits, enforcement actions, and due diligence, offering practical legal solutions to minimize risk and ensure compliance with environmental laws across air, water, waste, and land use issues. In the context of mergers and acquisitions, the group provides tailored support to identify and mitigate environmental risks, ensuring smooth transactions and regulatory adherence. 

David W. Sweeney leading Government Solutions & Administrative Law
These attorneys work with a wide range of elected and appointed decision makers as they navigate major policy issues. They regularly represent clients' interests before executive departments, legislative committees, administrative agencies and local government bodies. 

Matthew J. Haas leading Insurance
Attorneys in the Insurance Practice Group have decades of experience providing sophisticated insurance advice to policyholders and their insurers facing complex insurance issues that can arise before or after a loss. 

Kathleen Markowski Petrillo and Benjamin J. Siders leading Intellectual Property
The Intellectual Property Practice Group works closely with clients to create meaningful patent, copyright, and trade secret protections that are capable of withstanding scrutiny if enforcement action is necessary and assist in maintaining their intellectual property for years to come. 

Robert M. “Bob” Evans Jr. and Michael J. Hickey leading Intellectual Property Litigation
Lewis Rice’s intellectual property litigators aggressively advocate for clients' intellectual property rights in courts across the country and around the world, both in defense and enforcement of infringement claims. 

Brian P. Pezza and Jerina D. Phillips leading Labor & Employment
Our Labor and Employment Group has extensive experience advising clients in all aspects of employment law, from providing day-to-day advice to defending complex employment litigation. Our attorneys work with executives and human resources professionals across the country to help them navigate the evolving landscape of employment laws that impact the workplace. 

Joseph E. Martineau and Michael L. Jente leading Media & Communications
For more than half a century, Lewis Rice’s Media & Communications attorneys have addressed the unique needs of major publishing and electronic media entities as well as independently owned media companies. 

Thomas L Caradonna and Sarah A. Milunski leading Medical Negligence
Lewis Rice has extensive experience representing physicians and other medical providers in various medical-related cases and is national trial counsel for one of the country’s leading clinical reference laboratories. 

Jacqueline K. Graves leading Municipal Law, Zoning & Finance
This practice group is involved in all legal matters confronting municipalities, fire districts, state and local bonding authorities, and other governmental bodies, including labor law, contractual issues, environmental issues, pension issues, zoning, and traditional litigation cases. 

Lynn A. Hinrichs and Kelly M. Gorman leading Employee Benefits
Attorneys in the Employee Benefits Practice Group are experienced in all aspects of employee benefits and executive compensation matters, including plan design, administration, and compliance for qualified and non-qualified retirement plans as well as welfare benefit plans. 

Thomas P. Berra Jr. and Oliver H. Thomas leading Products Liability Defense Litigation
These attorneys represent manufacturers around the country and have experience in both class action and multi-district litigation procedures that may arise in complex products liability actions. The practice group defends personal injury and property damage claims involving a variety of matters.

David W. Brown leading Public Finance
Attorneys in this practice group represent municipal bond underwriters, issuers, borrowers, trustees and credit enhancers in connection with their participation in municipal finance transactions both within and outside Missouri.

Leonard J. Essig and Lauren Rouse Carey leading Securities, Capital Markets & Investments
The Securities, Capital Markets & Investments Practice Group provides securities law representation, advice and counsel to businesses in all types of corporate finance and capital formation transactions and serves as securities counsel to investment bankers, underwriters and placement agents in securities offering transactions. 

Michael T. Donovan and Ryan C. Furtick leading Taxation
Our tax attorneys advise on federal, international, state, and local tax matters for corporations, pass-through entities, nonprofits, and individuals across various industries. Collaborating with other practice groups, we provide practical, tailored solutions to meet our clients' diverse business needs.

Bridget Hoy leading Trademarks
Our Trademarks practice provides comprehensive legal services for businesses seeking to protect their brands. We assist clients with trademark registration, enforcement, portfolio management, and litigation. Our team advises on brand strategy, helping clients secure and defend their trademarks both domestically and internationally.