Total Credits: 14.4 MCLE, 10.9 Ethics, 2.0 Elimination of Bias
Plenaries, CLE tracks, YLS New Lawyer Series, Ethics Series “Lunch & Learn” sessions | Oct. 7-11
14.4 MCLE | 9.4 ethics | 2.0 bias
While there can be many reasons someone may not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person, our virtual option means taking advantage of the high-value, low-cost CLE programming of the Annual Meeting IS NOT an either/or proposition.
Our virtual alternative mirrors the highly successful virtual “Lunch and Learn” format that collectively more than 3,300 attended and enjoyed from 2020 to 2023. It features an approach that does not tether you to a computer screen for long hours over multiple days. Instead, you will be able to attend in convenient midday time blocks while still having time to attend to your practice each day and all sessions qualify for live MCLE credit. Your virtual experience looks like this:
Use the Tabs above to explore the details of the Virtual Annual Meeting option.
Judge Jessica Agnelly was appointed circuit judge of Division 16 in September 2023 by Governor Michael Parson. At the time of her appointment, she was serving as associate circuit judge of Division 25, having been appointed by Governor Parson to the bench in August 2020.
Prior to her appointment as judge, she was a partner in the Wendt Law Firm. During 13 years in private practice, she handled a wide-ranging variety of legal matters including litigating personal injury, product liability and civil rights cases.
Judge Agnelly started her legal career in the nation’s capital as a law clerk for the Honorable Michael W. Farrell of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. Upon returning to Kansas City, she clerked for the Honorable Ronald R. Holliger at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District. Judge Agnelly graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Avila University.
While in private practice, Judge Agnelly was recognized with multiple awards including the Women’s Justice Award in Litigation, the Rising Star Women’s Justice Award, and as one of Missouri’s Up & Coming Attorneys by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. She was consistently named Best of the Bar by the Kansas City Business Journal, a Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyer, and recognized by the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 attorneys in Missouri. Judge Agnelly was also recognized several times as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Missouri and Kansas by Thompson Reuters/Super Lawyers.
Judge Agnelly has served as a member of the board of directors for the Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City (AWL) since 2014. She also serves as a mentor in the Denise Henning Connections Program which is a part of the foundation of AWL.
Cynthia L. Albin represents clients in complex divorce and other family law matters in St. Louis and St. Charles Circuit Courts. She is a member of Todt, Cody, Albin & Fuchs, LLC, with offices in St. Charles and Clayton. Ms. Ablin received her JD from Washington University School of Law and has been in practice for approximately 29 years. In addition to representing clients, Ms. Albin is often appointing as Guardian ad Litem in custody matters to represent the best interests of the children as well as mediates family law matters. Professional memberships include The Missouri Bar, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, St. Louis County Bar Association, St. Charles County Bar Association and Women's Lawyers' Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Ms. Albin also serves on the board of the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis. She is speaking today with her husband, Seth A. Albin, an attorney and Bankruptcy Trustee; they have two children who are college age.
As a former small-business owner, Seth Albin is familiar with the needs of his clients.
His background as a solo practitioner informs his advice to his clients and equips him to serve as a special master and receiver in civil cases.
Seth focuses his practice on bankruptcy, creditor’s rights, family law, enforcement and collection of judgments, secured transactions, arbitration, litigation, and municipal law.
He counsels individuals and businesses experiencing financial difficulties, as well as businesses that are being sued or suing others to repossess their property. He is experienced in overseeing repossessions of assets ranging from aircraft to car dealerships and in completing commercial loan workouts.
In his family law practice, he represents clients in all aspects of divorce and adoption, including child custody, child support, maintenance, spousal support, and modifications. He has also served as a guardian ad litem in domestic cases and volunteers for the St. Louis County Domestic Violence Court as a special prosecutor.
Seth’s legal experience runs the gamut from solo, small, and large firm practice to in-house and government work. He offers his clients big-firm experience and advice at a small-firm price.
He is skilled at bringing a practical perspective to the work – not just a legal one.
Mike W. Bartolacci is General Counsel for St. Louis Trust & Family Office in St. Louis, Missouri. Prior to joining St. Louis Trust in 2023, Mike spent 33 years with the law firm of Thompson Coburn, LLP, where he led the Firm’s probate and trust litigation practice and tried numerous fiduciary cases in both the State and Federal Courts. He was selected for inclusion in Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers from 2020-2022, and Best Lawyers in America from 2012-2022, being named Best Lawyers’ “Lawyer of the Year” for the St. Lous Region in Trust and Estate litigation in 2019 and 2021.
Mike received his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri in 1985, where he was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 1988, where he graduated 1st in his class and served as Editor-in-Chief of the Missouri Law Review.
Professor Mary Beck is the principal of LMB and has been practicing adoption law for over 30 years. Mary is also a family nurse practitioner, an emerita professor of law at the University of Missouri Law School, and a fellow in the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys.
Mary directed the Family Violence Clinic at MU Law for 27 years where she supervised law students representing abused women and children seeking orders of protection throughout Missouri, completed adoptions for abused/orphaned children, and obtained guardianships for the children of dying custodial parents and for disabled adults. She and her students also represented disabled adoptees in the Missouri Appellate Court, filed successful clemency/pardon petitions for abused women with Missouri’s Governors, and litigated extraordinary writs for clemency issues for abused women in Missouri’s Appellate and Supreme Courts.
Mary published an article urging the enactment of a national putative father registry in the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy in 2002. Since then, Mary has drafted putative father registry bills in multiple states and for Congress. Her work on putative father registry law has led to an appearance on CNN’s Anderson Cooper, an interview on National Public Radio, and mention in the New York Times. In 2017, Mary published an article in the Michigan Journal of Gender and the Law describing prenatal abandonment theory in adoption following the United States Supreme Court 2013 decision in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl.
Mary’s service includes running a free clinic; drafting legislation on birth parents’ rights, adoption of children, stand by guardianship, and domestic violence; helping with the Covid vaccination effort. She has also written Amicus Curiae briefs on behalf of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys to state courts and to the United States Supreme Court including in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl and in Brackeen v. Haaland.
Mary enjoys time spent with her husband of 52 years, their 4 children and 9 grandchildren, and their English Setters as well as biking and traveling.
Melinda J. Bentley serves as Legal Ethics Counsel in Missouri where she provides oral and written informal advisory opinions to attorneys on issues related to the Missouri Rules of Professional Conduct. In that position, she also serves as administrator and counsel to the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri. She began serving in that position in 2012. Prior to that she worked for the Illinois State Bar Association as Assistant Counsel from 2001-03, First Assistant Counsel from 2003-11, and Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs from 2009-11. She is a frequent speaker and author on professional responsibility matters. Ms. Bentley currently serves as a member of the Planning Committee for the American Bar Association (ABA) Center for Professional Responsibility’s National Conference on Professional Responsibility, the Planning Committee for The Missouri Bar Solo and Small Firm Conference, The Missouri Bar’s Special Committee on Remote Public Access to Case.net, and the National Organization of Bar Counsel’s Committees on Amicus, Website, Program, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She was a board member and officer of the National Organization of Bar Counsel from 2015-2020, including a term as President from 2018-2019, and formerly served on the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility (2020-2023), Editorial Board of the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct as a member (2015-2016) and Chair (2016-2018), as well as a member of the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility Coordinating Council (2016-2018). She is licensed in both Missouri and Illinois, and is a member of The Missouri Bar, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, National Organization of Bar Counsel, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Cole County Bar Association, and Mid-Missouri Women Lawyers’ Association.
Judge Borthwick was appointed to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District in September 2022. Judge Becky Borthwick was appointed circuit judge for the 31st Judicial Circuit Court in October 2019 and was retained in 2020. She was appointed associate circuit judge in April 2016 and was retained in 2018.
Judge Borthwick was previously in private practice, served as an assistant attorney general for Missouri, and was a full-time municipal court judge for Springfield.
Judge Borthwick received her Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma in 1995. She earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1991.
Patrick Connaghan is a highly respected legal professional who previously served as the Probate Commissioner and Clerk of the Probate Division for the 22nd Judicial Circuit, which covers the City of St. Louis, from 2007 to 2022. In this role, he was responsible for administering and overseeing probate cases, including the management of trusts, estates, and guardianships, as well as hearing civil commitment cases involving mental health and addiction issues. He brings the deep knowledge and experience gained from his time at the probate court to help clients resolve issues in an effective manner and navigate difficult situations.
Before his appointment as Probate Commissioner, Patrick’s long and distinguished career in public service included 12 years as General Counsel for the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen. There, he was responsible for providing legal advice and representation to the board and its members, as well as drafting legislation and serving as a liaison to the city’s operating departments.
Heather R. Cunningham was appointed to Associate Circuit Judge on March 6, 2020 by Governor Parson and appointed to Circuit Judge by Governor Parson on January 28, 2022. Prior to her appointments by Governor Parson, Judge Cunningham served as Family Court Commissioner– Juvenile Division.
Judge Cunningham graduated from Bradley University with a degree in political science and a minor in history. She received her law degree from St. Louis University.
Prior to serving on the bench, Judge Cunningham engaged in private practice as an associate attorney at a family law firm and served as Attorney for the Juvenile Officer in the 20th Circuit and 21st Circuit. She was also an Adjunct Professor at St. Louis Community College-Meramec.
Judge Cunningham resides in St. Louis County with her family.
With close to 35 years in the practice of law, Dana has served in several positions of bar leadership during her career, including being the first woman of color elected as president of The Missouri Bar, in 2016. Her numerous bar-related awards include the 2020 Eighth Circuit Richard S. Arnold Award for Distinguished Service; three President’s Awards from The Missouri Bar; a President’s Award from the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association; the Ronda F. Williams Spirit of Diversity Award; and the Sly James Diversity and Inclusion Award, just to name a few. She has been recognized as one of the Top 30 Education Law attorneys in Missouri; a Missouri Super Lawyer since 2014; and was honored as the 2018 Woman of the Year by Missouri Lawyers Weekly at their Annual Women’s Justice Awards Luncheon. Dana has tried more than twenty bench and jury trials.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with honors, from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
When not practicing law, Dana, along with her husband and law partner Keith Cutler, are co-judges on the two-time Emmy-nominated, nationally syndicated daytime television courtroom show “Couples Court with the Cutlers.” The show is seen daily on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Keith Cutler is a trial attorney with the law firm of James W. Tippin & Associates in Kansas City, and has practiced in the areas of commercial, construction, general liability, and insurance defense litigation for close to 35 years. He is a frequent CLE speaker on trial practice; ethics and professionalism; and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Deborah Daniels served as the probate judge in Boone County for almost 12 years. During that time, she was responsible for a docket on involuntary commitments involving a 32-county "catchment area" for the psychiatric hospital in Columbia. She also has worked on various committees involving the probate court and mental illness, including the Boone County Sheriff's Department. She currently is a senior judge and neutral.
Probate Commissioner Amy B. DeGraeve was appointed to the bench on October 29, 2021, by the judges of the 16th Circuit Court.
At the time of her appointment, Commissioner DeGraeve was an attorney with
The Counts Law Firm, LLC. In her law practice she specialized in
fiduciary litigation, trust and probate estate administration, estate planning, income tax planning, business succession planning, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, guardianships and conservatorships.
Prior to employment at the Count Law Firm, she was an attorney with Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP, Lathrop & Gage LLP, and Vold & Morris.
Commissioner DeGraeve graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2001 with a B.A. degree in Language and Literature. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from UMKC Law School in 2004, and a Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.) degree in 2006.
She has served on the Jackson County Probate Procedures Manual Revision
Committee. She is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar
Association Probate and Estate Planning Committee. She has also served as a member of the Children’s Mercy Hospital Donald H. Chisholm Planned Giving Council.
Commissioner DeGraeve was appointed to serve a four-year-term and was sworn in January 2022.
As a former law clerk of both a trial judge and an appellate judge, Brennan spent countless hours in the courtroom, which have given him a unique understanding of both trial practice and the appellate process. Brennan now utilizes this knowledge in his work as an attorney at Langdon and Emison, where he practices law in a variety of areas such as product liability, premises liability, and dram shop liability.
Brennan has received recognition for being a Top 10 Under 40 Attorney for Missouri by the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys (2017), a Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers for Missouri by the National Trial Lawyers (2017, 2019, 2020), Premier Lawyers of America (2019), and a Rising Star by Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers (2015-2018). He is an active member of various legal organizations and including the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. He also serves on the Law Alumni Board for his alma mater, the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Brennan periodically performs continuing legal education presentations on topics such as social media discovery, use of technology in the courtroom, the use of experts, and legal ethics.
Meet Danielle R. Drake, a dedicated attorney with a remarkable courtroom presence and an exceptional reputation for her trial expertise. Danielle's family has a longstanding history in the Lake of the Ozarks, with four generations residing and operating businesses in the area. After graduating in the top 10 of her class from School of the Osage, Danielle pursued her education at Kansas State University, where she earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management and a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Marketing in 2013.
?Danielle obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law in May 2020. She was admitted to the Missouri Bar in September 2020 and proudly holds membership in the 26th Judicial Circuit Bar Association. Danielle felt honored to return to her roots and practice law in her hometown following graduation.
While Danielle excels in various legal fields, her primary focus encompasses civil litigation, business planning, landlord/tenant law, property disputes, family law, and contract disputes. During her time in law school, Danielle's exceptional advocacy skills were evident as she served as a captain of the UMKC School of Law Mock Trial Team. Her excellence in the courtroom earned her the prestigious Order of the Barristers award, recognizing her as one of the top 10 courtroom advocates in her graduating class.
Returning to her hometown granted Danielle the privilege of advocating for causes close to her heart within the local community. She actively participates in the Young Professionals at the Lake through the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Membership Committee. This organization is dedicated to the advancement and expansion of young professionals in the lake area. Additionally, Danielle serves as a board member of The Changing Table, the sole diaper bank in the Lake of the Ozarks region, addressing a critical need in the community. She also volunteers with The Missouri Bar and holds a seat on the Young Lawyer Section Council. As the co-chair of the Continuing Learning Education Committee, Danielle contributes to the development of relevant learning opportunities for young lawyers across the state of Missouri.
Outside of her legal endeavors, Danielle embraces the vast array of activities that the Lake of the Ozarks offers. Whether she's boating or enjoying quality time with her friends, family, and two cherished labs, Danielle finds solace in the natural beauty and recreational opportunities that the lake area provides.
Choose Danielle R. Drake as your trusted advocate, and benefit from her courtroom expertise, deep understanding of family law, and unwavering commitment to her clients' success.
Laura Elsbury is Missouri’s chief disciplinary counsel, appointed by the Supreme Court of Missouri in the fall of 2022. Upon graduating from law school, she worked as an assistant attorney general for the state of Missouri for nearly 10 years. After leaving the Attorney General’s Office, and before joining the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel, she spent more than three years at the Missouri Ethics Commission as its general counsel.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Laura spent 25 years working for Commerce Bank in Columbia.
Since joining Langdon & Emison in 2011, Mark has obtained substantial results for his clients, including seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. He also has published articles on trucking accident litigation and other topics in national and state legal publications.
Mark was promoted to partner in 2017 for his proven leadership within Langdon & Emison and the legal community and for the exceptional legal representation he provides to the firm’s clients.
Mark serves on multiple boards of legal and nonprofit organizations, including the Midwest Innocence Project, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the investigation, litigation and exoneration of wrongfully convicted men and women. He is also a board member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation.
Mark graduated from the University of Chicago Law School. Prior to joining Langdon & Emison, he completed a clerkship with the Honorable William Ray Price, the Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court at the time.
Nora Faris specializes in counseling global companies with complex supply chains on how to maximize their marketing strategies while minimizing regulatory and litigation risks related to the environmental impacts of their products and services. As an attorney at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, she advises clients across a range of industries - from food manufacturing and marketing to cosmetics and consumer products to fashion and retail - on environmental, social, and governance challenges, including challenges related to greenwashing and substantiation of environmental marketing claims. Prior to her legal career, Nora worked in international trade, agricultural policy, and public affairs roles for the Office of the US Trade Representative and US Senate Agriculture Committee in Washington, DC, and the US Department of Agriculture in the European Union.
Brian J. Figueroa is a Member of the Firm’s estate planning and probate department. He advises high net worth individuals and families in many aspects of their personal and business affairs, including sophisticated estate and wealth preservation planning, business succession planning, prenuptial agreements, charitable planning, trust modifications and the preparation of federal gift and estate tax returns. Brian also represents and assists individual and professional fiduciaries in the administration of complex estates and trusts.
Brian establishes personal, long-term relationships with his clients, and guides them through the legal, tax, financial and family issues in their unique situations with empathy and compassion. He enjoys working closely with his clients and their other advisors to navigate the ever-shifting planning landscape and ensure that the planning implemented ultimately reflects the client’s desired outcome.
During law school, Brian spent two summers with Lewis Rice as a summer associate, and he was a Dean’s Scholar and served on the editorial board of the Saint Louis University Law Journal.
Brian is a member of the Firm’s Recruiting and Technology Committees. He was selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars® in 2018-2023 as well as in Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch for 2021-2025. In 2020, Brian was also selected for Class II of the Heart of America Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
Judge Zel Fischer was born in Hamburg, Iowa and grew up in the small town of Watson, Missouri. He was educated in Rock Port public schools, and attended William Jewell College, in Liberty, MO. He went on to graduate from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law with distinction in 1988.
Judge Fischer was admitted to The Missouri Bar in 1988 and served one year as law clerk for the Honorable Andrew Jackson Higgins of the Supreme Court of Missouri. From there, he practiced law in Kansas City, engaged in a solo law practice in northwest Missouri, and in November 2006, he was elected associate circuit judge for Atchison County. Judge Fischer served in that capacity until his appointment to the Supreme Court of Missouri in October 2008. He served as chief justice from July 2017–June 2019, receiving the Theodore McMillian Judicial Excellence Award from the Missouri Bar in 2019.
Judge Fischer is the President of The National Courts and Science Institute (NCSI), which is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to training judges in science, and also serves as a member on the National Advisory Board for the University of North Carolina Bryson Center for Judicial Science Education.
Judge Fischer is an active member of his church and community.
Judge Fischer has been married to Julie Fischer, his wife of 36 years. They have four children, and four grandchildren.
Rachel Harris is Deputy General Counsel at Suzy, Inc. and leads its AI governance, privacy, and product compliance functions. She also co-leads its internal audit team (ISO 27001, ISO 27701, SOC 2 Type 2, NIST AI RMF, etc) and serves on both the Information Security and Privacy Council and the Incident Response Team. Prior to joining Suzy, she navigated complex litigation, e-discovery, and compliance in highly-regulated industries. Rachel is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and currently serves on the International Association of Privacy Professional’s advisory board.
Jennipher Hawkins is currently an Attorney for the Juvenile Officer in Jackson County, Missouri, as a Managing Attorney handling the Family Treatment Court Program for the Juvenile Office. Prior to joining the Juvenile Office in August 2018, Jennipher was in private practice handling criminal cases as a Special Public Defender, representing parents in abuse and neglect proceedings, representing parents in domestic cases, and acting as a Guardian ad Litem in domestic and juvenile cases. She is a member of the Association for Women Lawyers and KCMBA. In her free time, Jennipher enjoys listening to her son recite facts about the solar system, listening to her oldest daughter sing "It's a Small World," and watching her baby girl clap her toys together.
Professor Henson is an experienced trial lawyer with primary emphasis on employment litigation and commercial law matters. He worked in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office immediately prior to joining the law school in 2009. He previously worked as a Partner at Kutak Rock LLP in Denver and as Vice-President Law (Human Resources) at Adelphia Communications, where he was responsible for providing legal guidance and management of human resources issues, projects, and litigation for a corporation with 15,000 employees in 23 states.
In November 2015, Professor Henson was named interim vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity and equity for the University of Missouri.
Professor Henson received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from Yale in Economics and Political Science.
In the past, Professor Henson has taught Client Interviewing and Counseling, Lawyering, Employment Discrimination, Professional Responsibility, Pretrial Litigation, Trial Practice and Advanced Trial Practice.
Professor Renee Henson joined the University of Missouri School of Law in July 2023 as a Visiting Assistant Professor, bringing a distinguished legal career and expertise in business and commercial litigation. Before her academic appointment, Professor Henson practiced at Stinson LLP, where she handled complex cases in products liability, patent, copyright, and trademark litigation. While at Stinson, Professor Henson also routinely worked as the lead e-discovery attorney in cases involving data collection management, analysis, and production. Her exceptional performance earned her recognition as a Top Verdict and Settlement Winner by Missouri Lawyer’s Media in 2023 and a spot on the Lawyers of Color “Hot List” in 2022.
Professor Henson’s scholarship addresses the intersection of artificial intelligence and tort law. Her forthcoming article in the Georgia State University Law Review proposes a government-backed insurance paradigm for AI technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and healthcare risk management models. The article draws parallels between current government insurance for nuclear energy and Professor Henson’s proposed model for an AI insurance schema. Another article, soon to be published in the Missouri Law Review, examines the European Union’s AI Act as a potential model for U.S. regulation considering the increasing legislative focus on regulating AI. Her analysis focuses on how to balance innovation in AI technology while mitigating potential risks. The Temple Law Review recently published an article by Professor Henson where she uses her expertise in products liability to advocate for applying strict liability to the development of AI as an “abnormally dangerous activity.”
A sought-after speaker, Professor Henson frequently presents on AI’s impact on legal practice and ethics. She has presented to the American Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association, and the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, among others. In addition, she has presented at conferences and symposia hosted by the Oklahoma University College of Law, the University of Missouri School of Law, and the University of North Dakota Law School. Professor Henson also serves on the Missouri Supreme Court’s Committee on Jury Instructions and Charges – Civil, where she contributes her expertise to the state’s legal system.
Professor Henson graduated magna cum laude with distinction from Columbia College and earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Business, Entrepreneurship & Tax Law Review. In 2024, she received the Faculty Award from the University of Missouri School of Law’s Black Law Students Association for her dedication to supporting students from diverse backgrounds.
Peter Hoffman manages the Neighborhood Advocacy program for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. Neighborhood Advocacy provides free legal services to prevent and eliminate blighted, vacant, and abandoned property. Peter began his legal career in Kansas City where he helped to create Legal Aid of Western Missouri's "Adopt-a-Neighborhood" program connecting urban neighborhoods with volunteer lawyers. He served as that project's director until moving home to St. Louis in 2018 to found Neighborhood Advocacy. Peter received his JD/MPA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with an emphasis in Urban, Land Use, and Environmental Law. Peter’s articles, “Bringing Self-Empowered Revitalization to Distressed Neighborhoods” published in the Journal of Affordable Housing and Community Development Law, and “Legal Services and Pro Bono Lawyers Help Neighborhoods Tackle Vacancy” published in the St. Louis Bar Journal, both spotlight the role pro bono lawyers can play in community revitalization.
B.A. in Psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Phi Beta Kappa, 1986.
J.D. at New York University School of Law, 1989.
Worked as Asst. Public Defender and Asst. Prosecuting Attorney in Greene County; and as Asst. Attorney General.
Private practice in Tampa, Florida (1989-1992), New York, NY (1993-1995), and Springfield, Missouri. (2006-2014).
Appointed Associate Circuit Judge in 2014; Retained in 2016, 2020.
As a Partner in the Litigation Department of Lewis Rice, Bridget Hoy is a staunch advocate in the courtroom, a guardian of trademark rights, and she resolves business disputes skillfully and efficiently. With more than two decades of legal experience, Bridget has tackled complex contract cases exceeding $11M, secured a $59M verdict in a consumer fraud trial, and deftly navigated intricate personal injury matters with numerous defendants and sovereign immunity protections. She has also successfully asserted and defended against intellectual property allegations affecting the marketing and technology of both start-up and global leader organizations.
Before becoming a lawyer, Bridget enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for seven years, where she honed problem-solving skills as a ground radar technician and manager. Now, Bridget brings that same dedication to every client, forging strong relationships amid stressful situations.
Outside the office, community is paramount to Bridget. She has tutored in the local St. Louis City public school district, mediated for indigent litigants in federal court, and currently serves as Board Chair of the Ronald McDonald House Charities in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dawn E. Kuhlman, MA became the Executive Director of M.A.R.C.H. (Mediation Achieving Results for Children) Mediation in the fall of 2019. M.A.R.C.H. is a state-wide nonprofit that provides free mediation and limited scope legal services to eligible families in Missouri. www.marchmediation.org
Dawn is a respected pioneer in the mediation field and loves to create, challenge, and share ideas. She is the creator of a Trauma Informed Mediation Model and has been engaged in dialogue with mediators internationally regarding the concept of Trauma Informed Mediation. Dawn’s TEDx Talk on Trauma Informed Mediation has been recognized and placed on the TED website at https://www.ted.com/talks/dawn_kuhlman_trauma_informed_mediation
She holds a Masters (MA) in Clinical Psychology from the University of Dayton and a Bachelor of Science Degree (BS) in Psychology from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Dawn is both a Missouri and a Kansas Supreme Court Approved Mediator. She is also a certified administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
She has served as an Advanced Mediation Training Instructor at Johnson County Community College since 2012. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Baker University, MidAmerica Nazarene University, and Park University. Dawn served in a leadership role for the Missouri Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (MO-AFCC) from 2007-2015 and has been a member of the Association of Missouri Mediators (AMM) since 2005.
Dawn has trained thousands over the past 15 years on various topics such as mediation, personality type, domestic violence, non-defensive communication, trauma, conflict coaching, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and high conflict personalities.
She has been described as driven, compassionate, intelligent and hilarious. Dawn loves to inspire and encourage the best in others and is dedicated to promoting healing and growth in the community. When Dawn is not wearing her entrepreneur hat, she loves to drink coffee with her husband and spend time with their two beautiful daughters.
Zachary Langrehr is an associate in Armstrong Teasdale’s Corporate Services practice group. He concentrates his practice in the areas of general corporate and business representation and transactions, mergers and acquisitions, securities, entity formation and structuring, and corporate governance.
Zachary also has experience with litigation, real estate, estate planning and other matters. In addition, he has a background in accounting.
Emma McEnery is an associate in BCLP’s Private Client practice where she assists clients with pre-death estate planning and wealth preservation, including the creation of estate planning documents, gifting, and closely-held business succession planning. She received her Juris Doctor from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, where she served as her class Valedictorian and the Editor-in-Chief of the Washington University Law Review. After law school, Emma served as a Clerk for the Honorable David M. Ebel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mira serves as immigration law counsel to U.S. and multi-national corporations, providing advice, representation, immigration compliance audits, and training. She represents employers in IT, engineering, food processing, construction, manufacturing, healthcare, insurance and banking industries, working closely with executives, in-house counsel and HR professionals to ensure corporate immigration compliance and availability of visas for international personnel.
Mira has served as chair of The Missouri Bar's Immigration Law Committee and chair of the Kansas Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section. She has written books and articles on corporate immigration law, and has spoken on business immigration issues before lawyers and business leaders across the United States.
Mira's professional work and leadership have been recognized by numerous awards, including The Missouri Bar President's Award, Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City President's Award, Business Practitioner of the Year by Missouri Lawyers Media, Best of the Bar by the Kansas City Business Journal, Robert Gernon Award for Excellence in Continuous Legal Education, and pro bono recognition from the University of Missouri – Kansas City Law Foundation, the Kansas Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Mira received her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
Ron Mitchell serves as a mediator in more than 200 cases per year. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was President of the Missouri Bar for 1994-1995. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators and a Diplomate member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.
Ron was awarded the 2021 Distinguished Alumnus from Missouri Southern State University on September 26, 2021.
Ron received the Spurgeon Smithson Award from the Missouri Bar Foundation in 2005 “for significant contributions to the administration of justice.” He was presented the Missouri Bar President’s award in 1999 for his work as Chair of the Missouri Statewide Legal Services Commission. Ron served on the Supreme Court Committee studying Regional Justice Centers, the Venue Commission and the Commission on the Impartiality of the Judiciary. Most recently, Ron chaired the Lawyer to Lawyer Dispute Resolution Committee.
A member of the Board of Governors of the Missouri Bar from 1985 to 1996, he also has been active in a variety of other bar activities. He was a longtime member of The Missouri Bar’s Legal Education Committee, and previously served as vice chair of that committee. He has made contributions to the Missouri Bar CLE as an author and lecturer.
He was chair of The Missouri Bar’s Young Lawyers’ Section in 1983-84 and President of the Jasper County Bar in 1988-89. He served as an assistant prosecutor for Jasper County from 1978 - 1986.
A resident of Joplin since 1960, he graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 1971 and received his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1974. He has served as counsel for MSSU from 1994 to 2006.
He served as Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Doctor/Lawyer Softball Games in 1982 and 1983. In 1986-1987 he served as a Cub Scout Pack Master. He has also served on the board of directors of such organizations as the Missouri Southern Alumni Association, Kiwanis, Boys and Girls Club of Joplin, the United Way, Sheltered Workshop and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.
Mark Murray concentrates his practice in real estate and related matters, including transactions, leasing, real estate lending, secured transactions, loan workouts and foreclosures, development projects, easement law, eminent domain and property disputes. He advises clients ranging from publicly traded companies and banks to individual commercial real estate investors and municipalities on a wide variety of projects. These encompass smaller investments under $1 million to deals in excess of $25 million.
He also represents both landlords and tenants in the negotiation and enforcement of commercial leases. Mark handles other real estate-related matters including property tax appeals and exemptions and eminent domain issues. His experience includes helping clients with various municipal issues, including subdivision approvals, re-zonings, variances, conditional uses and other matters.
In addition to his regular practice, Mark provides pro bono legal services for several religious and charitable organizations.
He is the past chairperson of Holy Cross Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, and continues to serve on its strategic planning committee.
For over 35 years the mainstay of his practice is the trial of trucking, personal injury, and insurance cases. In 2017 and 2020 he was named “Lawyer of the Year” in St. Louis for personal injury defense, mass torts and class actions by Best Lawyers. He is listed in Martindale Hubbell as AV Preeminent by lawyers and judges.
Ted is perhaps best known for his role as a leading advocate and defense attorney for the trucking industry. Not only does he represent trucking companies and their drivers, he is a driver himself. He actively holds a Class A license to operate tractor-trailers in the State of Missouri (CDL). Ted has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Missouri Trucking Association and is active in various committees of the American Trucking Association and the Illinois Trucking Association. Presently, he serves on the Safety, Insurance Task Force, Communications & Image Policy, Small Carrier, and Independent Contractor Policy Committees of the ATA. In 2014 he was awarded the G. Findley Reed Award by the Missouri Trucking Association for his service to the trucking industry.
He is a frequent speaker for the Illinois Trucking Association, Missouri Trucking Association, TCA, ATA Litigation Forum, Machinery Haulers Association, and National Tank Truck Carriers.
Through Ted’s role in the Missouri and Illinois Trucking Associations he has been on several trips with fellow members making calls on Congress to advocate on behalf of truckers. As a trial lawyer on behalf of motor carriers, he has taken over 120 personal injury cases to verdict, many of which involved serious trucking accidents.
Ted represents both trucking companies and their insurance carriers. He counsels his insurance clients regarding the avoidance of extra-contractual liability (bad faith) which is prevalent in the “judicial hellholes” in which he regularly practices.
Ted made his mark in Missouri as a trial lawyer in the area of toxic tort litigation. He successfully defended Northeastern Pharmaceutical Company that resulted in a defense verdict after a six-month trial where several claimants alleged numerous health problems due to dioxin exposure at Times Beach, MO.
Ted is a member of many prestigious trial organizations such as the Council on Litigation Management, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, International Association of Defense Counsel, and the Trucking Industry Defense Association. He currently serves as the Committee Chair for the Transportation Committee of Primerus, a society of the world’s finest independent boutique law firms.
For more information, please call 314-421-1850 or email tperryman@robertsperryman.com
Christopher Pickett’s areas of focus include employment disputes, unfair competition and securities litigation. He helps clients from an array of industries with disputes related to restrictive covenants, misappropriation of trade secrets, as well as discrimination claims and claims of breach of fiduciary duty and unfair competition. In his higher education work, Chris represents colleges and universities in all facets of litigation, including employment and labor matters, personal injury litigation, contract litigation as well regularly advising on, and conducting investigations that relate to both student and employee conduct.
Chris is a member of the firm’s board of directors and also serves as chief diversity officer, leading efforts to foster an equitable and inclusive workplace. Since joining Greensfelder in 2012, he has helped oversee the firm’s diversity initiatives, and in 2013, he was named as a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity fellow, participating in a national leadership program for high-performing attorneys from diverse backgrounds. Chris is a frequent presenter to businesses, bar groups and other organizations on topics related to equity and inclusion, including dismantling assimilation and increasing diversity in the legal profession. As leader of the firm’s Equity, Retention and Advancement Committee, his focus areas include growing, retaining and advancing a diverse group of employees, with a particular focus on groups that have been historically underrepresented in law firms.
Bill Prince has served as the Chief Juvenile Officer and Family Court Administrator for the 31st Judicial Circuit - Greene County, Missouri since 2015. Prior to his appointment, he had been the Chief Legal Counsel for the Juvenile Office since 1998. He received his undergraduate degrees in Economics and Political Science from the University of Denver and his JD from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He currently serves on the Missouri Supreme Court Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Committee, the State of Missouri Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, the Missouri Supreme Court Commission on Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence and the Coordinating Commission for Judicial Education. He is the chair of the Juvenile Division Education Committee and serves on the Missouri Court Management Institute Oversight Committee. He is a member of the State of Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board. He is also the Vice-Chair of the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association Board of Directors.
Shane Rader joined the firm’s Springfield office in November of 2021. He practices in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, and fiduciary litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Shane spent a year and a half practicing at an insurance defense law firm in Springfield.
After graduating from Missouri State University with a degree in Accounting, Shane went to the University of Missouri in Columbia where he received his Juris Doctor degree with a concentration in tax and transactional law. He seeks to provide timely and reliable advice to his clients as they weigh important personal, legal, and financial decisions. Shane and his wife enjoy being close to friends and family in the Springfield area. In his free time, he enjoys running, kayaking, and other outdoor activities with his family.
Steven Alan Ramsey founder of The Ramsey Firm, LLC has developed unrivaled experience early in his career by building meaningful relationships and delivering results. He has worked in a variety of roles including but not limited to: a governor’s administration, the state attorney general’s office, the Missouri Supreme Court, as an assistant prosecuting attorney, in business at a non-depository financial institution, and in a preeminent private firm practice working on several complex legal matters.
He has successfully won jury verdicts as a trial attorney in federal court and state court as lead trial counsel. He has won as plaintiff and defense counsel. He has represented a diverse-range of clients from the state, state-wide elected officials, state agencies, judges, construction companies, banks, physicians, and healthcare-related statewide associations. He has also successfully conducted numerous bench trials.
Ramsey offers premium legal representation at an efficient cost for clients.
M. Andrew Roffmann has been a resident of Clay County, Missouri since 1995. He is a 1996 graduate of the UMKC School of Law. His legal career began as a Staff Attorney for the Missouri Division of Child Support Enforcement, followed by a stint as law clerk for the Honorable Christine Sill-Rogers in the 16th Judicial Circuit.
In private practice, he has focused on the areas of family law, criminal defense, and traffic matters. He is a trained mediator and Guardian ad Litem. He is often appointed to represent children and parents in the juvenile divisions in both Clay and Platte Counties.
He opened and has maintained his solo practice since October, 2010.
He previously served three terms, a total of nine years, on the Liberty Public Schools Board of Education. During that time, he was selected as Vice President and then President of the Board.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Clay County Bar Association, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association, the Association of Missouri Mediators, the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Paul Satterwhite helps employers interpret and understand the constantly changing landscape of employment laws to help the employers he works with manage their employment law risks. He focuses his practice on risk management so that the employers he works with can focus their efforts more on the operation of their businesses and less on the management of employment disputes and legal claims.
As part of this risk management approach to employment law, Paul provides clients with practical human resources counseling and he develops and delivers supervisory training programs to employers of all sizes. He works closely with clients to determine the appropriate risk management approach for each particular situation.
Robert Selsor is committed to representing, counseling, and protecting his clients in a variety of estate and trust disputes, including trustee claims, will and trust contests, estate asset recovery, contested guardianships, and a variety of other fiduciary claims at the trial and appellate levels. Bob also regularly advises and guides trustees and beneficiaries regarding ongoing trust administration to help them to avoid liability issues before disputes have fully materialized. He is also an authority on cases involving biological heirship and legitimation as well as church–related trust cases involving departing congregations. By taking the time to understand his clients’ unique situations, Bob uses his extensive experience to craft tailored legal advice geared toward each matter and careful strategies designed to achieve his clients’ goals. His practice is divided approximately equally between plaintiff and defense cases.
Bob has proposed, written and/or co-authored legislation relating to trust and probate litigation and is widely published in the area. His publications have been cited in court decisions and by other practitioners and he is the author of a chapter on estate fiduciary claims in the Missouri Estate Administration Deskbook. The former Fulbright Scholar is also a popular lecturer among Missouri practitioners and is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, where he serves on the Fiduciary Litigation Committee.
Maintaining a diverse geographic practice in Missouri and Illinois, Bob is also often involved in matters in numerous jurisdictions throughout the nation. His practice has also included a variety of international probate and trust matters involving estates in Canada, Central America, the United Kingdom, and the South Pacific.
Bob has tried a large number of jury and bench trials including what is believed to be the largest contested conservatorship in Missouri history, as well as the largest fee award against an opposing party. In addition to numerous successful outcomes at the trial and appellate level, Bob has won millions in punitive damages as well, a rare result in this area of litigation. A number of his appellate cases, including those in the Missouri Supreme Court, have helped to explain and shape the law in Missouri in the trust and probate area. In addition, he has served as a mediator in numerous estate cases with claims aggregating over $100 million. He likewise serves as an arbitrator and has provided early neutral evaluations for litigants in both state and federal courts.
Jim Shreve serves as a trusted adviser to clients facing complex cybersecurity and privacy issues — particularly those in the country's most highly regulated industries.
Jim advises all types of companies on the myriad legal concerns surrounding confidential information and how such information is stored and transmitted. Applying the law to rapidly changing technology and software capabilities, Jim provides clients with a profile of their potential risk, then works closely with executive leadership, legal, IT and compliance information security teams to develop a comprehensive and practical plan for risk avoidance and responding to cyber and data-related issues.
In a security breach, Jim draws on his years of experience handling thousands of incidents to counsel clients through every step of cyber and information security incidents, including notification, reporting and all associated state, federal and global regulatory requirements.
Jim helps clients develop robust and responsive security and privacy policies and governance documents, meet applicable data safeguarding requirements and implement compliance programs.
Brenda Sites is the Program Manager for the Missouri Safe at Home address confidentiality program administered by the Secretary of State's Office. She has led the program since it began in 2007. During her time with the Secretary of State’s office, she has provided training for victim advocates, government staff, law enforcement, and community agencies. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Columbia College and a Master of Social Work from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Prior to joining the Secretary of State’s Office, Brenda worked for the 13th Judicial Circuit in the juvenile division and adult court services. She then became the professional development coordinator for the National Association of Social Workers - Missouri Chapter. In addition to her role with Safe at Home, Brenda currently leads the National Association of Confidential Address Programs as the Board President.
Ken is dedicated to helping solve construction and development clients’ most complicated problems with as little disruption as possible to their businesses.
He represents architects, engineers, owners and contractors in construction disputes over alleged defective design and construction, delays, cost overruns, interference, obstruction, property damage and suspension of work. He litigates claims arising from injuries on project sites or from defective construction. His substantial experience also includes related civil litigation, arbitration and mediation.
Ken’s familiarity with the construction and design industry dates to his college days, when he worked for a residential and small commercial contractor. After law school, Ken was introduced to construction and design litigation by an attorney mentor. Having spent his entire career in construction law, Ken has a unique understanding of the business that benefits clients.
To help maintain his broad perspective and deep knowledge, Ken is actively involved in organizations affiliated with the non-legal side of the construction industry. These interactions provide valuable insights into the issues that clients experience day to day, as well as their longer-term concerns.
Natalie Spangler is Staff Counsel for the Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel. Previously, Natalie was an Assistant Attorney General for the Missouri Attorney General's Office and a law clerk for the Honorable Zel M. Fischer of the Supreme Court of Missouri.
Paige Sparks practices based out of St. Louis, Missouri. She primarily practices in the areas of employment law, criminal defense, and other areas of civil litigation.
Paige is a graduate of Lindenwood University and St. Louis University School of Law. One of her passions is representing individuals who have been wrongfully terminated in violation of state and/or federal law. Paige has successfully represented these employees in both state and federal court for these types of matters. You may know her as “LawyerPaige” on Tiktok, where she shares daily informational videos to demonstrate the law and educate employees on their rights in the work place.
Outside of the office, Paige enjoys being outdoors and taking care of her horse and dog on the farm.
Christian A. Stiegemeyer is the Director of Risk Management for The Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company where he helps lawyers arrive at practical solutions to a wide variety of ethical and legal malpractice issues. He received his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law.
Honorable Janet Sutton was appointed to the Western District Court of Appeals in December of 2021. She served previously as Circuit Judge in the 7th Judicial Circuit in Clay County, Missouri from 2013 to 2021 and as Associate Circuit Judge from 2003 to 2013. She previously served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Clay County from 1990 to 1999, and as the Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney from 1999 to 2003. She was the legal counsel to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office from 1993 to 1999. She worked for the City of Excelsior Springs first as the municipal prosecutor from 1994 to 2000, and then as the municipal judge from 2001 to 2002. She received her undergraduate degree in Communication Studies from UMKC and her law degree in 1990, also from UMKC. Judge Sutton is married and has one son. She lives in Liberty, Missouri.
Judge Sweeney is a retired circuit court judge for the 31st Judicial Circuit (Greene County), serving since his appointment as associate circuit judge in 1984 and his appointment as circuit judge in 1990. He served nine years as presiding judge. Judge Sweeney has tried over 300 jury trials. He served the judiciary of the state in a variety of committee positions.
Since retirement, he has conducted over 300 mediations and arbitrations as well as trial consultation and expert witness assignments. He has served on four cases as a special judge to the Supreme Court of Missouri and one for the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. He is a member of the National Association of Distinguished Neutrals.
Judge Sweeney received the Spurgeon Smithson Award from The Missouri Bar in 2007. He also received the Judicial Excellence Award from the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Wall of Fame Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Kansas Army ROTC.
Judge Sweeney was born in Pittsburg, Kansas and attended the University of Kansas for both his undergraduate and law degrees, where he was an editor of the Law Review. Between degrees, he was a First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army, serving one year in Vietnam.
Erwin (Erv) is a co-chair of the appellate practice group at Greensfelder. He has argued or briefed dozens of appeals in state and federal court. He has written numerous articles and presented or moderated appellate practice seminars for The Missouri Bar and other organizations. In addition to his appellate practice, Erv has deep knowledge of areas of law including consumer protection, governmental regulatory affairs, and data security. He is a co-editor of the treatise State Consumer Protection Law, recently published by the American Bar Association.
For 11 years, Erv served as chief counsel in the Office of the Missouri Attorney General, where he led litigation on matters including the Merchandising Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, civil rights, First Amendment law, and taxation in state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout Missouri. He has been involved in dozens of high-profile matters, including the relocation of the Rams to St. Louis, representation of the Missouri Commissioner of Securities and Secretary of State, and litigation resulting in a ban against the sale of ephedra products in Missouri. Recently he represented the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority (the governmental body responsible for the Dome at America’s Center) in negotiations with St. Louis City and St. Louis County regarding the allocation of a $500 million settlement with the NFL and the Rams.
Erv has significant community and leadership experience, including serving as president or chair of the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners, the St. Louis Housing Authority, and the St. Louis Public Library. He also served on the St. Louis Police Board, the Missouri Technology Corporation Board, the Governor’s Council on Disability, and the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life. Missouri Lawyers Media has recognized Erv with an ICON award, a Mentorship award, and attorney Power List designations. He has been included in Best Lawyers in Appellate Practice and was named Lawyer of the Year in Government Relations Law.
Elizabeth joined SRC Holdings Corp. as Deputy General Counsel in February 2024. In her role, Elizabeth supports SRC's employee-owners by providing guidance on a variety of legal issues for the SRC companies including, but not limited to, employment issues. Prior to joining SRC, Elizabeth was a partner in the labor and employment group at Spencer Fane LLP where she focused on collaborating with employers on preventative measures to mitigate labor and employment litigation and improve the workplace.
Robert J. Will serves as a Practice Group Leader for the Trust & Estate Litigation practice group. He advises clients on matters related to trust and estate litigation, class action and other complex litigation, professional liability, and eminent domain.
A frequent speaker and author on topics relating to his areas of practice, Bob is committed to continuing legal education. He is also committed to the support of many civic and charitable entities in the community, and works for the betterment of the legal profession through his longstanding membership in a number of national and local bar associations, including serving as a long-time leader in the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation. He is a fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Association (ABF).
Bob is AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers® 2009-2010 and 2013-2023. He also was named "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Trusts and Estates for 2023 by Best Lawyers®, and he was included in Best Lawyers' annual list for 2019-2025.
Nicole S. Zellweger was appointed an Associate Circuit Judge in April 2018, by Governor Eric Greitens. She was elevated to a Circuit Court Judge in January 2023, by Governor Michael Parson.
Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Zellweger was a partner with the law firm of Stinson Leonard Street LLP. Her legal practice focused primarily on business litigation with concentration in the areas of franchise law and trust and estate litigation.
She graduated from the University of Georgia magna cum laude in December 1999 and received a Master of Arts degree from Yale University Divinity School in 2001. Judge Zellweger attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating Order of the Coif in 2004.
11-11:50 a.m. | Track 1
All About Business - Seeing the forest for the trees, the in-house and outside counsel view
Presented by: Beverly Garner, Chris Pickett, Bridget Hoy, Mira Mdivani
Moderator: Mira Mdivani
Family Law - Safe at home: What is it, and how do I work with it?
Presented by: Brenda Sites
All About Litigation - Ethics in approaching the bench: Insights and advice from trial judges
Presented by: Hon. Jessica Agnelly, Hon. Heather Cunningham, Hon. Nicole Zellweger, Hon. Ed Page
Moderator: Hon. J. Miles Sweeney
Probate, Trust and Elder - Probate disputes require a different mediation approach
Presented by: Bob Selsor, Ron Mitchell
Moderator: Comm. Amy DeGraeve
12-12:50 p.m. | Track 2
All About Business - Influencer agreements in social media marketing and related trends in contests and sweepstakes
Presented by: Gabriela Baeza-Stout, Shannon Dunham
Family Law - The kid said what? Out of court statements made by children
Presented by: Jennipher M.C. Hawkins
All About Litigation - May it please the court: Judicial advice and insights on appeals
Presented by: Hon. Zel Fischer, Hon. Becky Borthwick, Hon. John Torbitzky, Hon. Janet Sutton
Moderator: Erv Switzer
Probate, Trust and Elder - Is the Probate Court friend or foe if the client has a mental health problem?
Presented by: Comm. Patrick Connaghan, Deputy Travis Lorance, Hon. Deborah Daniels
Moderator: Hon. Deborah Daniels
1-1:50 p.m.
YLS New (and Not So New) Lawyer Series - Happy clients, happy life? Ethical considerations and avoiding burnout
Presented by: Prof. Chuck Henson, Danielle Drake
11-11:50 a.m. | Track 3
All About Business - The ABCs of ESG – An introduction to environmental, social, and governance legal risk
Presented by: Nora Faris, other TBA
Family Law - Setting the stage for mediation
Presented by: Andy Roffmann, Dawn Kuhlman
All About Litigation - Balancing ethical standards with technological advancements: The role of AI for litigation practitioners
Presented by: Prof. Renee Henson
Probate, Trust and Elder - Section 420, a 10-year retrospective
Presented by: Mike Bartolacci, Bob Will
12-12:50 p.m. | Track 4
All About Business - Expectations and impacts of the Corporate Transparency Act
Presented by: Mark Murray, Zach Langrehr
Family Law - Adoption of children; Post-adoption contact agreements
Presented by: Emerita Prof. Mary Beck, Joanna Beck Wilkinson
All About Litigation - Expert testimony: To present or not to present – Testimony, selection of experts, and ethical concerns
Presented by: Mark Emison, Brennan Delaney, Ted Perryman
Moderator: Hon. Deborah Daniels
Probate, Trust and Elder - The burdens of transparency: Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act
Presented by: Emma McEnery, Shane Rader
1-1:50 p.m.
YLS New (and Not So New) Lawyer Series - I beg your pardon… Difficult opposing counsel and the duty to report
Presented by: Natalie Spangler, Paige Wheeler
11-11:50 a.m. | Track 5
All About Business - Top 10 employment law issues
Presented by: Paul Satterwhite, Elizabeth Wente
Family Law - A family law conversation about bankruptcy: How to afford your life post-divorce
Presented by: Cynthia Albin, Seth Albin
All About Litigation - Getting the most out of mediation
Presented by: Ken Slavens, Luke Weissler
Probate, Trust and Elder - Challenges for lawyers in administrating probate and estate planning to underserved communities
Presented by: Silya Shaw, Peter Hoffman
12-12:50 p.m. | Track 6
All About Business - HI Robots: An in-house counsel’s guide to navigating Artificial Intelligence
Presented by: Rachel Harris, Jim Shreve
Family Law - Understanding juvenile court terminology and how the system can help families
Presented by: Hon. Andy Hosmer, Brooke Downing, Bill Prince
All About Litigation - Civility + Professionalism = A Better lawyer
Presented by: Keith Cutler, Dana Tippin Cutler
Probate, Trust and Elder - Top tips and tricks that all estate planners should know
Presented by: Brian Figueroa
1-1:50 p.m.
YLS New (and Not So New) Lawyer Series - Connection of life and the law: The role of social media networking in your practice
Presented by: Paige Sparks, Steven Alan Ramsey
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Plenary 1 - Bridging the Generational Gap in the Legal Profession: I want it THAT way... When generational differences create friction in the workplace and what to do about it
Presented by: Kelli Dunaway, Mollie Farrell
12:25-1:25 p.m.
Ethics Series 1 - Ethics update from the Missouri Legal Ethics Counsel – September 2024 edition
Presented by: Legal Ethics Counsel Melinda J. Bentley
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Plenary 2 - Ethical considerations of embracing and using generative AI: From “How do I?” to “Should I?”
Panel: Chris Stiegemeyer, Jim Shreve, Rachel Harris, Matt Braunel
Moderator: TBA
12:25-1:25 p.m.
Ethics Series 2 - A conversation with the Chief Disciplinary Counsel: Avoiding common ethical problems
Presented by: Chief Disciplinary Counsel Laura E. Elsbury
Track 1 | Monday, October 7 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Beverly Garner, Chris Pickett, Bridget Hoy, Mira Mdivani
Moderator: Mira Mdivani
Track 2 | Monday, Oct. 7 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Gabriela Baeza-Stout, Shannon Dunham
Track 3 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Nora Faris, Brittainy Cavender
Track 4 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Mark Murray, Zach Langrehr
Track 5 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Paul Satterwhite, Elizabeth Wente
Track 6 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0 | Ethics 1.0
Presented by: Rachel Harris, Jim Shreve
Track 1 | Monday, Oct. 7 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Brenda Sites
Track 2 | Monday, Oct. 7 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Jennipher M.C. Hawkins
Track 3 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Andy Roffmann, Dawn Kuhlman
Track 4 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Emerita Prof. Mary Beck, Joanna Beck Wilkinson
Track 5 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Cynthia Albin, Seth Albin
Track 6 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Hon. Andy Hosmer, Brooke Downing, Bill Prince
Track 1 | Monday, Oct. 7 | 11-11:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0 | Ethics 1.0
Presented by: Hon. Jessica Agnelly, Hon. Heather Cunningham, Hon. Nicole Zellweger, Hon. Ed Page
Moderator: Hon. J. Miles Sweeney
Track 2 | Monday, Oct. 7 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Hon. Zel Fischer, Hon. Becky Borthwick, Hon. John Torbitzky, Hon. Janet Sutton
Moderator: Erv Switzer
Track 3 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0 | Ethics 1.0
Presented by: Prof. Renee Henson
Track 4 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0 | Ethics 1.0
Presented by: Mark Emison, Brennan Delaney, Ted Perryman
Moderator: Hon. Deborah Daniels
Track 5 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Ken Slavens, Luke Weissler
Track 6 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0 | Ethics 1.0 | Bias 1.0
Presented by: Keith Cutler, Dana Tippin Cutler
Track 1 | Monday, Oct. 7 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Bob Selsor, Ron Mitchell
Moderator: Comm. Amy DeGraeve
Track 2 | Monday, Oct. 7 | 12-12:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Comm. Patrick Connaghan, Deputy Travis Lorance, Hon. Deborah Daniels
Moderator: Hon. Deborah Daniels
Track 3 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Mike Bartolacci, Bob Will
Track 4 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Emma McEnery, Shane Rader
Track 5 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 11-11:50 a.m.
MCLE 1.0 | Ethics 1.0 | Bias 1.0
Presented by: Silya Shaw, Peter Hoffman
Track 6 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 12-12:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Brian Figueroa
YLS 1 | Monday, Oct. 7 | 1-1:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0 | Ethics 1.0
Presented by: Prof. Chuck Henson, Danielle Drake
YLS 2 | Tuesday, Oct. 8 | 1-1:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0 | Ethics 1.0
Presented by: Natalie Spangler, Paige Wheeler
YLS 3 | Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 1-1:50 p.m.
MCLE 1.0
Presented by: Paige Sparks, Steven Alan Ramsey
Ethics Series 1 | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 12:25-1:25 p.m.
MCLE 1.2 | Ethics 1.2
Presented by: Legal Ethics Counsel Melinda J. Bentley
Missouri's legal ethics counsel will provide an update including a discussion of recent changes to the Rules of Professional Conduct, opinions in disciplinary cases, published Informal Advisory Opinions, and more.
Ethics Series 2 | Friday, Oct. 11 | 12:25-1:25 p.m.
MCLE 1.2 | Ethics 1.2
Presented by: Chief Disciplinary Counsel Laura E. Elsbury
The program will review some of the specific Rules of Professional Conduct that are frequently asserted in complaints received by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel and will discuss the importance of avoiding these all-too-common ethical problems.
Plenary 1 | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
MCLE 1.5
Presented by: Kelli Dunaway, Mollie Farrell
Plenary 2 | Friday, Oct. 11 | 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
MCLE 1.5 | Ethics 1.5
Panel: Chris Stiegemeyer, Jim Shreve, Rachel Harris, Matt Braunel
Moderator: TBA
We encourage you to send a qualified substitute if you cannot attend. Registration fees, less a $40 processing fee, will be refunded to registrants who cannot attend and notify the office in writing prior to the meeting.
| Program Date/Time | Session Title | Presenters | Credits | Duration | Course Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
All About Business - Track 1 | Seeing the forest for the trees, the in-house and outside counsel view
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » | |
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
Family Law - Track 1 | Safe at home: What is it, and how do I work with it?
|
Brenda Sites
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
All About Litigation - Track 1 | Ethics in approaching the bench: Insights and advice from trial judges (qualifies for 1.0 ethics)
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » | |
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
Probate, Trust and Elder - Track 1 | Probate disputes require a different mediation approach
|
Robert Selsor
Ronald Mitchell
Comm. Amy DeGraeve
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
All About Business - Track 2 | Influencer agreements in social media marketing and related trends in contests and sweepstakes
|
Gabriela Baeza-Stout
Shannon Dunham
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
Family Law - Track 2 | The kid said what? Out of court statements made by children
|
Jennipher Hawkins
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
All About Litigation - Track 2 | May it please the court: Judicial advice and insights on appeals
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » | |
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
Probate, Trust and Elder - Track 2 | Is the Probate Court friend or foe if the client has a mental health problem?
|
Comm. Patrick Connaghan
Travis Lorance
Hon. Deborah Daniels
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 07, 2024 @ 01:00 PM (CDT) |
YLS New (and Not So New) Lawyer Series - Track 1 | Happy clients, happy life? Ethical considerations and avoiding burnout (qualifies for 1.0 ethics)
|
Charles Henson
Danielle Drake
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
All About Business - Track 3 | The ABCs of ESG – An introduction to environmental, social, and governance legal risk
|
Nora Faris
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
Family Law - Track 3 | Setting the stage for mediation
|
M. Roffmann
Dawn Kuhlman
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
All About Litigation - Track 3 | Balancing ethical standards with technological advancements: The role of AI for litigation practitioners (qualifies for 1.0 ethics)
|
Renee Henson
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
Probate, Trust and Elder - Track 3 | Section 420, a 10-year retrospective
|
Michele Bartolacci
Robert Will
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
All About Business - Track 4 | Expectations and impacts of the Corporate Transparency Act
|
Harry Murray
Zachary Langrehr
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
Family Law - Track 4 | Adoption of children; Post-adoption contact agreements
|
Mary Beck
Laura Wilkinson
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
All About Litigation - Track 4 | Expert testimony: To present or not to present – Testimony, selection of experts, and ethical concerns
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » | |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
Probate, Trust and Elder - Track 4 | The burdens of transparency: Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act
|
Emma McEnery
Shane Rader
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 08, 2024 @ 01:00 PM (CDT) |
YLS New (and Not So New) Lawyer Series - Track 2 | I beg your pardon… Difficult opposing counsel and the duty to report (qualifies for 1.0 ethics)
|
Natalie Spangler
Paige Wheeler
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
All About Business - Track 5 | Top 10 employment law issues
|
Paul Satterwhite
Elizabeth Wente
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
Family Law - Track 5 | A family law conversation about bankruptcy: How to afford your life post-divorce
|
Cynthia Albin
Seth Albin
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
All About Litigation - Track 5 | Getting the most out of mediation
|
Kenneth Slavens
Luke Weissler
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
Probate, Trust and Elder - Track 5 | Challenges for lawyers in administrating probate and estate planning to underserved communities (qualifies for 1.0 ethics)
|
Silya Shaw
Peter Hoffman
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
All About Business - Track 6 | HI Robots: An in-house counsel’s guide to navigating Artificial Intelligence (qualifies for 1.0 ethics)
|
Rachel Harris
Jim Shreve
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
Family Law - Track 6 | Understanding juvenile court terminology and how the system can help families
|
Douglas Hosmer
Brooke Downing
William Prince
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
All About Litigation - Track 6 | Civility + Professionalism = A Better lawyer (qualifies for 1.0 ethics)
|
Keith Cutler
Dana Chamin Cutler
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 12:00 PM (CDT) |
Probate, Trust and Elder - Track 6 | Top tips and tricks that all estate planners should know
|
Brian Figueroa
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 09, 2024 @ 01:00 PM (CDT) |
YLS New (and Not So New) Lawyer Series - Track 3 | Connection of life and the law: The role of social media networking in your practice
|
Paige Sparks
Steven Ramsey
|
Total Credits: 1.0 MCLE | 50 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 10, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
Plenary 1 | Bridging the Generational Gap in the Legal Profession: I want it THAT way... When generational differences create friction in the workplace and what to do about it
|
Kelli Dunaway
Margaret Farrell
|
Total Credits: 1.5 MCLE | 1 Hour 15 Minutes | More info » |
| Oct 10, 2024 @ 12:25 PM (CDT) |
Ethics Series - 1 | Ethics update from the Missouri Legal Ethics Counsel – September 2024 edition (qualifies for 1.2 ethics)
|
Melinda Bentley
|
Total Credits: 1.2 MCLE | 1 Hour | More info » |
| Oct 11, 2024 @ 11:00 AM (CDT) |
Plenary 2 | Ethical considerations of embracing and using generative AI: From “How do I?” to “Should I?” (qualifies for 1.5 ethics)
|
Total Credits: 1.5 MCLE | 1 Hour 15 Minutes | More info » | |
| Oct 11, 2024 @ 12:25 PM (CDT) |
Ethics Series - 2 | A conversation with the Chief Disciplinary Counsel: Avoiding common ethical problems (qualifies for 1.2 ethics)
|
Laura Elsbury
|
Total Credits: 1.2 MCLE | 1 Hour | More info » |
