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Webinar

2025 Annual Government Practice Institute - Virtual


Total Credits: 6.0 MCLE, 1.0 Ethics

Practice Area:
Government Practice |  Ethics

Dates


Description

(Exact times may change)

9-9:50 a.m. | Legislative update
An update of the 2025 legislative sessions will be provided.

Speaker: Andrew W. Briscoe, Government Relations Director, The Missouri Bar, Jefferson City

9:50-9:55 a.m. | Break

9:55-10:45 a.m. | Managing complex matters
In government practice there is a wide variety of matters that arise for lawyers. Some, of course, are routine and often repeated. But there are a great many that are complex factually, procedurally, and legally. This session will deal with preparing and handling especially complex matters and how government lawyers can obtain the best results considering all the various interests that may be involved.

Learning objectives:

  • How best to organize, prepare, and plan an effective response.
  • What are the critical interests and potential pitfalls that a government lawyer may face?
  • What constitutes an excellent result in the practice of law with a government entity?

Speaker: Jeremiah J. Morgan, Deputy Attorney General - Civil, Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Jefferson City

10:45-10:50 a.m. | Break

10:50-11:40 a.m. | ALJ Panel
A discussion of the practice before the Administrative Hearing Commission with Commissioners providing their insight on the operations and practice of the AHC.

Speakers: Comm. Katie Jo Wheeler, Administrative Hearing Commission of Missouri, Jefferson City; Comm. Amy S. Westermann, Managing Commissioner, Administrative Hearing Commission of Missouri, Jefferson City; Moderator: Marc H. Ellinger, Ellinger Bell LLC, Jefferson City

11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m. | Lunch

12:40-1:30 p.m. | Sunshine Law Update
This will be a complete overview of the Missouri Sunshine Law and the most basic of knowledge to allow for a general understanding of the statues used most in the law. 

Learning objectives:

  • Understanding what the Sunshine Law is.
  • How the sunshine law works for public governmental bodies and citizens.
  • What is a PGB & fee calculations.
  • How meetings are to be posted and conducted.

Speaker: Victoria Hooker, Sunshine Law Outreach, Missouri Attorney General's Office, Jefferson City

1:30-1:35 p.m. | Break

1:35-2:25 p.m. | Writing as a team sport

Speaker: Rick Horowitz, Wordsmith in Chief, Prime Prose, LLC,

2:25-2:30 p.m. | Break

2:30-3:20 p.m. | Ethics and state employees
In this presentation, Missouri Ethics Commission General Counsel, Brian Hamilton will address relevant conflict of interest provisions for state agencies and employees. Topics covered will include nepotism, quid pro quo, confidentiality restrictions, use of public funds, and personal financial disclosure.

Learning objectives:

  • Violations of Missouri's nepotism laws automatically result in forfeiture of office, subject to enforcement by the Missouri Attorney General's office.
  • State employees and officials are subject to the provisions of many of Missouri's conflict of interest statutes.
  • Many public officials and employees must file a Personal Financial Disclosure with the Missouri Ethics Commission to identify and prevent potential financial conflicts of interest.
  • Missouri statutes and the Constitution restrict the use of public funds, resources, and property to support or oppose candidates and ballot measures.

Speaker: Brian J. Hamilton, Missouri Ethics Commission, Jefferson City

3:20 p.m. | Adjourn

Agenda as of 11/3/2025

Opinions and positions stated by presenters of MoBarCLE programs are those of the presenters and not necessarily those of The Missouri Bar. This program is intended as information for lawyers in Missouri, in conjunction with other research they deem necessary, in the exercise of their independent judgment.

 

Speaker

Andrew Briscoe Related Seminars and Products

Government Relations Director

The Missouri Bar


Marc Ellinger's Profile

Marc Ellinger Related Seminars and Products

Ellinger Bell, LLC


Marc Ellinger is a founding partner of Ellinger Bell and represents businesses, individuals, organizations and committees in disputes. Marc focuses his practice in election and political law, legislative and rulemaking practice, regulatory law, municipal finance and transaction structuring, issues of state and federal constitutional law, appellate practice and gaming law. 


Brian Hamilton's Profile

Brian Hamilton Related Seminars and Products

Missouri Ethics Commission


Brian Hamilton joined the MEC in 2016 as Staff Attorney. In 2021, he was promoted to Compliance and Education Manager, overseeing campaign finance, personal financial disclosure, lobbyist reporting, and training. In 2022, he became General Counsel, directing legal operations, providing legal advice and representation to the Commission and its staff.


Victoria Hooker's Profile

Victoria Hooker Related Seminars and Products

The Supreme Court of Missouri


Originally from Waynesville, MO, I attended college at William Woods University where I obtained my bachelor's degree in Political and Legal Studies. I have had the opportunity to work in state government since graduating. Most recently I have worked for Governor Mike Parson and State Senator Curtis Trent. 


Rick Horowitz's Profile

Rick Horowitz Related Seminars and Products

Prime Prose, LLC


Rick is founder and Wordsmith in Chief of Prime Prose, LLC, leading highly popular – and highly practical – legal-writing workshops coast to coast. A graduate of Brandeis University and NYU School of Law and a former lawyer himself, he's worked with state and local bar associations, government agencies, and a variety of corporations, non-profits and law firms.


Jeremiah Morgan's Profile

Jeremiah Morgan Related Seminars and Products

Deputy Attorney General

Missouri Attorney General's Office


Mr. Jeremiah J. Morgan serves as the Deputy Attorney General for the State of Missouri and oversees the civil practice of the Missouri Attorney General's Office. He has argued more than a hundred appeals and tried dozens of cases throughout his career. He previously served as general counsel to the Supreme Court of Missouri, as a visiting law professor, and he clerked on the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. He currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Missouri Bar and is active in his community and church.


Comm. Amy Westermann's Profile

Comm. Amy Westermann Related Seminars and Products

Managing Commissioner

Administrative Hearing Commission of Missouri


Commissioner Westermann joined the AHC in 2024.  Previously, Commissioner Westermann served as Chief Counsel to the State Tax Commission of Missouri, as a Senior Hearing Officer for the State Tax Commission, and as Litigation and Policy Manager for the St. Louis County Assessor’s Office.  Prior to those positions, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk/Judge’s Staff Attorney for the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District.  Commissioner Westermann also served many years as an adjunct professor of legal studies at St. Louis Community College and as a professor and the Chair for Law at University of Phoenix-St. Louis Campus, where she was named 2012 Faculty of the Year.  Prior to her legal career, Commissioner Westermann was a newspaper reporter, editor, and a public relations specialist.  


Comm. Katie Jo Wheeler's Profile

Comm. Katie Jo Wheeler Related Seminars and Products

Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission


Presiding Commissioner Wheeler joined the AHC in 2021. Previously, she served as Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, managing the Department’s environmental regulatory programs, administration, communications, and legal counsel. In private practice, she advised clients on regulatory compliance, litigation, and business transactions.


Dates

Thu, Feb 05, 2026 - 9:00 AM to 3:20 PM CST

Cancellation Policy

Click HERE to review the Cancellation Policy.