MoveMakers and NewsMakers for Dec. 9, 2025

St. Louis

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to welcome Mary E. Burgoyne to the firm’s St. Louis office as an associate in the Corporate and Business Transactions practice group.
Burgoyne advises private equity firms and strategic companies on a wide range of critical transactions, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters. In her focus areas as well as in day-to-day corporate decision-making, she develops and optimizes short- and long-term strategies for favorable outcomes and improved business operations.

Burgoyne primarily works in the health care, food and beverage, and life sciences industries.

“As our attorneys continue to create agile solutions that incorporate objectives specific to the matter at hand as well as overarching client needs, we welcome fresh, creative legal talents that align with our commitment to exceptional, communicative client service throughout all stages of a transaction,” said Amy Mistler, office managing partner for Spencer Fane in St. Louis. “With this in mind, we look forward to Mary joining the team, who brings these attributes and more to her growing practice.”

After receiving her bachelor’s degree magna cum laude from Georgetown University, Burgoyne earned her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. Prior to moving to St. Louis, she gained experience working at a large international law firm in Philadelphia.

Thompson Coburn LLP is pleased to announce that the firm has elected nine attorneys to its partnership and promoted one attorney to counsel. The promotions, which are effective January 1, 2026, span several practice groups and offices, including St. Louis, New York, Dallas, and Washington, D.C.

The newly elected partners in St. Louis are:

Jesse K. Doggendorf handles all aspects of merger and acquisition transactions, including the acquisition and sale of stock and assets and guides each deal through negotiations to a successful closing. His clients come from various industries, from manufacturing to tech. He received his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Washington University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University.

Danny A. Garcia is a litigator with experience in state and federal courts. As a member of trial teams for complex commercial and class action litigation, he has worked across all facets of the discovery process. He also coordinates and supervises firm attorneys providing pro bono assistance to litigants in landlord-tenant cases through the firm’s partnership with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. He holds a J.D. degree, cum laude, from Washington University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Lewis & Clark College.

B.I. Middleton works with clients on a variety of litigation and regulatory matters in state and federal courts as well as in front of federal agencies. He litigates complex matters for clients in the health care, agribusiness, consumer goods, and energy sectors. He received his J.D. degree from Stanford University Law School and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Nicholas T. Schnell represents clients in complex, commercial disputes in federal and state courts and has worked on a range of matters including class actions, contract disputes, and appeals, serving clients from Fortune 500 companies to individuals. Schnell received his J.D. degree, with highest honors, from the University of Iowa College of Law, and holds two bachelor’s degrees, cum laude, from the University of Missouri.