MoveMakers & NewsMakers for Jan. 9, 2020

St. Louis | Kansas City | Springfield Area

St. Louis Area

Jennifer R. Piper, a strong advocate for families and children over the years, opened a new law practice on Jan. 1. The new firm, Family Ally, will be located at 130 South Bemiston Avenue in St. Louis.

Family Ally will initially specialize in domestic law, delivering comprehensive legal services for clients looking for assistance with a wide range of family legal needs, including dissolutions, paternity, child support, custody, abuse and neglect, guardianships, and more. As her firm grows, Piper noted that she envisions additional services and collaborations being added to Family Ally’s suite of services, including partnerships with financial services professionals, accountants, and therapists and counselors to provide a holistic approach for clients looking to protect their families.

Piper earned her B.A. degree from University of Missouri-Columbia and her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law.

Piper was awarded a 2019 Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly. Her experience has also earned her the opportunity to serve as a past president of the St. Louis County Bar Association, and she is still an active member and volunteer.

Over the years, Piper has devoted her time to defending both adults and children in difficult family matters. She has been appointed to serve on various special committees to improve juvenile and family law in St. Louis County and across Missouri. Piper is also certified as a guardian ad litem, where she is regularly appointed to represent and protect children in St. Louis County and within the city. She also volunteers her time as a guardian ad litem for the St. Louis County Domestic Violence Court Docket.

“Family Ally’s goal is to offer caring, compassionate services to families as they navigate stressful domestic legal situations,” said Piper. “I have served as an unwavering advocate for the needs of families in the St. Louis area for nearly two decades, and I am looking forward to continuing my work by bringing that same passion to Family Ally as I work with families that are looking to protect and secure their futures.”
 

Armstrong Teasdale proudly announces that 12 lawyers in the St. Louis area have been named partners of the firm effective Jan. 1. Seven were named equity partners: Maureen Bryan, Daniel Burke, Steven Foristal, Jim Heinen, Jr., Travis Kearbey, Christopher LaRose, and Eric Walter. Five associates were named income partners: Laura Bentele, Jeremy Brenner, Patrick Coyle, Thor Mathison, and Tod Stephens.

“Our business is built around people, relationships and client service,” said David Braswell, managing partner at Armstrong Teasdale. “The individuals in this tremendous class of new partners have something in common – their unwavering dedication to excellence in serving our clients around the globe. Their promotions are reflective of our focus on growth and investment in our people over the past several years, and we are proud to celebrate and reward the remarkable accomplishments of these members of our team.”

Bryan is leader of the firm’s health care and life sciences industry team and a member of the firm’s mass tort and catastrophic loss practice area. She is in part responsible for many of Missouri’s top ranking defense verdicts and defends clients in matters alleging catastrophic injuries. 

Burke, a member of the financial and real estate services practice group, counsels clients on all aspects of real estate law, including purchase, sale, leasing, financing, development and incentives. He also chairs the firm’s hiring committee. 

Foristal, a member of the firm’s corporate services practice group, primarily focuses on mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, capital raising, and antitrust matters.

Heinen is leader of the firm’s higher education industry team and the patent agent/engineer subgroup. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and focuses on the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications for those in the chemical and biochemical industries.

Kearbey is deputy leader of the firm's employment and labor practice area, focusing his practice in the areas of litigation, business transactions, counseling and labor law.

LaRose is a trial lawyer focusing on complex business disputes and banking litigation in both state and federal court.

Walter has extensive state and federal litigation experience in a wide range of complex commercial and business cases. He is leader of the firm’s marijuana and hemp law practice area.

Bentele is a member of the litigation practice group, focusing her practice on commercial disputes, tort litigation and real estate matters. She is co-founder and leader of the firm’s agribusiness and food industry team. 

Brenner is a seasoned employment lawyer and co-leader of the firm’s national wage and hour/Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) practice. He is a member of the firm’s inclusion committee. 

Coyle, a registered patent attorney, focuses his practice on patent-related matters, including licensing and enforcement, infringement and validity, product clearance, and preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications, primarily in the mechanical, electromechanical and materials science disciplines. He also counsels clients on design patents and industrial designs. 

Mathison has a diverse practice focusing on corporate legal and regulatory issues, including complex technology and commercial contracts, digital payment systems, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities, and corporate governance and compliance. He is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US). 

Stephens, a former U.S. Army combat infantryman, an MBA and an experienced courtroom lawyer, resolves regulatory, litigation and government contracting challenges with a primary focus on the national security, defense and intelligence industries.
 

Kansas City Area

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Mark Cole, Patrick McAndrews, and Heather Morris have been elected partners, effective Jan. 1. McAndrews and Morris work out of the Kansas City office, while Cole is in Overland Park, Kansas.

Cole focuses his practice on litigation and health law. He has experience with individual and consolidated actions in state and federal courts, and in arbitration with the American Arbitration Association and American Health Lawyers Association.

McAndrews is a litigator, helping small and medium sized businesses resolve complex legal disputes quickly and efficiently, and has prepared numerous cases for mediation, arbitration and trial. He is the co-chair of the Spencer Fane Startup Lab.

Morris concentrates her practice in the areas of transactional and regulatory banking matters, including mergers & acquisitions, commercial lending, workouts, bankruptcy, and corporate trust.
 

Armstrong Teasdale announces that Megan Ochs and Rachel Orr of Kansas City have been named income partners with the firm effective Jan. 1.

Ochs, a member of the firm’s litigation practice group, focuses on many types of litigation matters, including real estate, personal injury, product liability and fire and explosion matters. She also leads the Women’s Inclusion Network (WIN) program and initiatives in Kansas City.

Orr is a skilled real estate development and tax lawyer who counsels banks, borrowers and municipal entities on all aspects of both taxable and tax-exempt capital project financings. She is a member of the firm’s inclusion committee. 
 

Springfield Area

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce Derek Ankrom of Springfield has been elected a partner with the firm, effective Jan. 1.

Ankrom focuses on commercial litigation, assisting clients with legal issues including employment disputes, claims of discrimination, civil rights violations, breach of contract actions, intentional tort and negligence actions, property disputes, construction law matters, and complex litigation.