Attorney Intel is pleased to announce the Top 25 Attorneys of Missouri for 2024. Missouri is known for its vibrant history, rich culture, and strong presence in agriculture and manufacturing. As a transportation hub for the United States at the junction of the nation's two longest rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi, shipping goods and raw materials is a definitive part of the state’s economy. However, as reflected in this year’s list, the need for corporate counsel in a variety of sectors has led to the rise of legal professionals in numerous fields including pharmaceuticals, real estate, healthcare, ophthalmology, and government-related cases. These attorneys showcase Missouri's exceptional legal talent, handling high-stakes litigation and complex transactions.
Among the awardees this year is John Wood, a partner at Holland and Knight, who brings a wealth of experience in the public and private sectors, having served in all three branches of the federal government. Another notable attorney is Jessica Zaiger from Polsinelli, who focuses on financing transactions for healthcare and other nonprofit organizations. She has extensive experience as bond counsel and lender's counsel on various high-profile deals totaling billions. Also recognized is Jim Goettsch, a partner at K&L Gates, who specializes in mergers and acquisitions and finance in the power sector. Goettsch has played a major role in utility-scale wind and solar projects and has led over $5 billion in financing deals.
The selection process for this year’s awardees considered factors such as years of legal practice, proficiency in specific areas, career achievements, leadership roles, and contributions to the legal community. Please join us in recognizing the accomplishments of the Top 25 Attorneys of Missouri for 2024.
1. Brian Baggott
Partner, Dentons
Brian Baggott is a Partner at Dentons, having first joined the company in 2016. Dentons was founded in March 2013 by the merger of SNR Denton, Fraser Milner Casgrain, and Salans. As of April 2023, it operates in over 80 countries and has over 160 offices, with the firm’s senior leadership primarily based in London and Washington, D.C.
Previously, Baggott was an attorney at Shook, Hardy, and Bacon and before that a judicial clerk at the United States District Court Western District of Louisiana. Earlier in his career he worked with the United States Marine Corps as a sergeant. Baggott earned a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School and an undergraduate degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University.
2. Kevin Fischer
Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US
Kevin Fischer is a Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright US, a British-American business law firm. It is the 13th-largest by headcount and 21st by revenue, with revenues of more than $2 billion. The law firm serves across a range of sectors. The British law firm Norton Rose originated in 1794 when it was established by Robert Charsley, and in 2013, Norton Rose Fulbright Was formed through the combination of the British law firm Norton Rose and the American law Fulbright and Jaworski.
Fischer has 24 years of experience, beginning his career in 2000. Earlier in his career, he worked with Bryan Cave LLP as a partner. Fischer also advises private equity funds and public and private companies on a broad range of corporate transactional matters across a range of sectors outside of financial services and insurance. Fischer graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School with a J.D. and from the University of Texas at Austin with an undergraduate degree in history.
3. Mairi Lough
Senior Legal Counsel, Express Scripts
Mairi Lough began her professional career 16 years ago. Today, she is the Senior Legal Counsel of Express Scripts. Headquartered in Greater St. Louis, Express Scripts provides integrated pharmacy benefit management services through its subsidiary Accredo; benefit-design consultation; drug-utilization review; formulary management; and medical and drug data analysis services to manage drug plans for health plans, self-insured employers and government agencies. One of its largest clients is the United States Department of Defense's Tricare program.
Lough first got her start in 2008 as an attorney at Husch Blackwell, before eventually rising to regulatory and compliance counsel at Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, her most recent position prior to joining Express Scripts. Lough graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a J.D. and from the University of Missouri-Columbia with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry.
4. Jim Goettsch
Partner, K&L Gates
Jim Goettsch first joined K&L Gates in 2022 and is currently a Partner at the firm. K&L Gates is an American multinational corporation law firm based in the United States, with international offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and South America. Its namesake firms are Kirkpatrick and Lockhart, a Pittsburgh-based firm founded in 1946 and Preston Gates and Ellis, a Seattle firm founded in 1883. These firms merged in 2007 to form K&L Gates.
Goettsch is a mergers and acquisitions and finance partner in the firm’s power practice group and has worked with clients in the power sector for over 25 years. Goettsch has led the acquisition of more than 25 utility-scale wind, solar, and energy storage projects, and over $5 billion in construction loan and tax equity financings. Earlier in his career, he worked with Husch Blackwell LLP as a partner. Goettsch has assisted clients in the acquisition of more than 25 utility-scale wind and solar projects that are now in commercial operation. He has led over $5 billion in construction loan and tax equity financings and helped structure several of the first tax equity transactions undertaken by subsidiaries of regulated public utilities. Goettsch earned a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law.
5. John Wood
Partner, Holland and Knight
John Wood is a Partner at Holland & Knight, bringing 32 years of experience to the role. Prior to joining Holland and Knight, Wood served as senior investigative counsel for the House Select Committee to investigate the events of January 6th. He conducted depositions and interviews of key witnesses, briefed and advised members of the committee, coordinated the preparation of committee hearings, and interviewed witnesses during a nationally televised hearing.
Previously, Wood worked in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he served as senior vice president, general counsel, and chief legal officer for the nation's leading business association. In addition, Wood's past experiences include a career in all three branches of the federal government. Wood served in numerous executive branch positions, including U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), deputy associate attorney general, counselor to the U.S. Attorney General and deputy general counsel for the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As U.S. attorney, Wood was the chief federal law enforcement official for the Western District of Missouri and supervised a staff of 128 employees.
Wood earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and from the University of Virginia with an undergraduate degree.
6. Tamara Conn
General Counsel and Senior Vice President, O'Reilly Auto Parts
Tamara Conn began her professional career 29 years ago. Today, she is the General Counsel and Senior Vice President of O'Reilly Auto Parts. O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. headquartered in Springfield, MO, is an American auto parts retailer to professional service providers and do-it-yourself customers. Founded in 1957 by the O’Reilly family, the company operates more than 6,000 stores in 48 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada.
Conn first got her start in 1995 as an attorney at Newberry Haden Cowherd Bullock and Keck. From there, she went on to Whiteaker and Wilson, P.C., before eventually rising to attorney at Lathrop and Gage LLP, her most recent position before joining O'Reilly Auto Parts. Conn graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law with a J.D. and from Drury University with an undergraduate degree in business administration.
7. Jay Morris
Partner, Gordon and Rees
James Morris is a Partner in the St. Louis office of GRSM. Morris is an experienced litigator who has successfully defended individuals, businesses, insurance agents, and brokers against a wide array of liability claims. Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani has more than 1,600 lawyers nationwide, providing comprehensive litigation and business transaction services to public and private companies.
Morris first joined the firm in 2019 and has spearheaded the firm’s growth in St. Louis and Kansas City from five lawyers to more than 30. Morris’ practice involves a broad range of litigation and trial practice. Morris earned a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and an undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy from Spring Hill College.
8. Jessica Zaiger
Attorney, Polsinelli
Jessica Zaiger is an Attorney of Polsinelli. Polsinelli was founded in 1972 by Jim Polsinelli and two other young attorneys to serve business and real estate clients in the historic Country Club District in Kansas City, Missouri. Presently, Polsinelli has more than 1,000 attorneys in over 20 offices nationwide. Zaiger has 17 years of experience, beginning her career in 2007. She focuses on financing transactions for health care and other nonprofit organizations across the country, serving as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel, underwriter’s counsel, and bank counsel on more than 250 issues totaling over $30 billion. She also serves as a Chair of the firm’s Capital Markets and Commercial Lending Practice Group.
Earlier in her career, she worked with Foley and Lardner LLP as an attorney. Zaiger has particular experience with large and complex financing transactions for recently affiliated health systems and advising on the financing aspects of acquisitions, divestitures, and other reorganizations of entities of all sizes. She additionally guides health care and other nonprofit organizations on post-issuance compliance matters, and has experience representing lenders in transactions with senior living/long-term care providers. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School and the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire.
9. Danielle Schmidt
Associate General Counsel, EyeCare
Danielle Schmidt began her professional career 18 years ago. Today, she is the Associate General Counsel of EyeCare, a provider of clinically integrated eye care, with a national network of over 300 ophthalmologists and 700 optometrists. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, over 700 ECP-affiliated practice locations provide services that span the eye care continuum in 18 states and 30 markets.
Schmidt first got her start in 2008 as an attorney at Lathrop and Gage LLP. From there, she went on to Troutman Sanders LLP, before eventually rising to counsel at Lathrop GPM LLP, her most recent position prior to joining EyeCare. Schmidt graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law with a J.D. and from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with an undergraduate degree.
10. Joseph Cruz
Partner, Shook Hardy and Bacon
Joseph Cruz is a Partner at Shook Hardy & Bacon. He first joined the company in 2018. Shook, Hardy and Bacon (SHB), L.L.P. is a U.S. law firm based in Kansas City, Missouri. The firm has offices in Los Angeles, Atlanta and Boston. For more than a century, the firm has defended companies in national and international product liability, mass tort, and complex litigation matters. Notably, it represents five of the six major U.S. tobacco companies.
Cruz focuses his practice on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, patent infringement, and invalidity analyses. Before joining Shook, Cruz worked as a patent prosecutor for IBM, where he worked with inventors in more than a dozen countries worldwide. Cruz has experience in computing and medical devices. Earlier in his career, he worked with the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities as a research assistant to Professor Ralph Hall. Cruz earned a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School, a master’s degree in computer science from Georgia Institute of Technology, and an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University.
11. Megan Galey
Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Hostess Brands
Megan Galey brings 14 years of experience to her role as the Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Hostess Brands, a sweet snacks company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing, selling, and distributing snacks in North America sold under the Hostess® and Voortman® brands. The company produces a variety of new and classic treats.
Before joining Hostess Brands, Galey was a founding co-chair of the food safety and regulation team; environmental law and regulation group, and associate at Husch Blackwell. Earlier in her career she worked with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a postdoctoral legal research associate, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. Galey graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law with a J.D. and from The University of Kansas with an undergraduate degree in anthropology.
12. Pamela Howlett
Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Bayer
Pamela Howlett began her professional career 32 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Bayer, a global enterprise in the life science fields of healthcare and nutrition. In fiscal 2023, the company employed around 100,000 people and had sales of about $50 billion.
Howlett first got her start in 1992 as a manager and sales representative at Roadway Express, Inc. From there, she went on to Bryan Cave LLP, before eventually rising to environmental and occupational safety and health attorney at Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, her most recent position prior to joining Bayer. Howlett graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law with a J.D. from the University of Chicago with an undergraduate degree in east asian languages and civilizations.
13. Andrew Brought
Partner, Spencer Fane
Andrew Brought is a Partner of Spencer Fane, and first joined the company in 2006. Brought has experience helping companies with workplace safety incidents and industrial accidents that involve the intersection of health, safety, environmental regulations, and government agencies. He has also worked with contaminated site redevelopment and the cleanup and reuse of legacy / Brownfield sites, allowing these properties to be put back to productive use.
Previously, Brought was an associate at Baker Botts LLP. Earlier in his career, he worked with the Maryland Court of Special Appeals - Judge Sharer as a clerk. Brought earned a J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and an undergraduate degree in environmental resource management from Virginia Tech.
14. Maureen Bryan
Partner, Armstrong Teasdale
Maureen Bryan is a Partner at Armstrong Teasdale, bringing 27 years of experience to the role. Armstrong Teasdale is a partner-owned law firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The firm has about 800 employees in 18 offices and was founded in 1901.
Bryan is a member of the firm’s Mass Tort and Catastrophic Loss practice area, where she defends clients in litigation related to medical malpractice, product liability, and premises liability. In addition, she represents clients in matters involving the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Office for Civil Rights, and breaches of protected health information, including conducting risk assessments, developing strategies to remedy data breaches, complying with notice and regulatory requirements, OCR investigations and reporting, and defending resulting civil litigation.
Before joining Armstrong Teasdale, Bryan was a partner at Williams Venker and Sanders LLC. Earlier in her career she worked with Sandberg Phoenix and von Gontard P.C. as an attorney. Bryan graduated from Washburn University School of Law with a J.D. and from the University of Arizona with an undergraduate degree in English literature and business.
15. Brad Crandall
Principal, Carmody MacDonald
Brad Crandall is a Principal attorney at Carmody MacDonald P.C. in Clayton, Missouri. Carmody MacDonald P.C. is a St. Louis-based law firm. Crandall focuses his practice on complex mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and corporate finance transactions, primarily representing entrepreneurs and privately held middle-market companies throughout the lifecycle of their business.
Before joining Carmody MacDonald in 2023, Crandall was a founding member of Affinity Law Group, LLC, a boutique business law firm in St. Louis, Missouri, where he practiced since 2007. Crandall graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, with honors as a member of the Order of the Coif, earning his J.D. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, graduating cum laude from Southwest Missouri State University.
16. Dan Spirn
Partner, Dentons
Dan Spirn began his professional career 24 years ago. Today, he is a Partner at Dentons, a firm that helps clients grow, protect, operate, and finance client organizations and is the world's largest global law firm by number of lawyers. It was founded in March 2013 after the merger of SNR Denton, Fraser Milner Casgrain and Salans.
Spirn concentrates his practice in the areas of construction, real estate, and other complex commercial litigation. He first got his start in 2000 as an associate at Bryan Cave, his most recent position prior to joining SNR Denton. Spirn graduated from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law with a J.D. and from George Washington University with an undergraduate degree in east asian studies.
17. Michelle Nasser
Partner, Dowd Bennett
Michelle Nasser is a Partner at Dowd Bennett. She first joined the company in 2016. Dowd Bennett focuses on litigation and trials, internal and governmental investigations, and appellate representation. The firm is led by trial-seasoned lawyers, including former federal prosecutors and judicial law clerks
Before joining Dowd Bennett, Nasser served for more than 13 years as a federal prosecutor and supervisor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, serving in the office’s Major Case, Financial Crimes, General Crimes, and Violent Crimes sections. From 2010-2016, in addition to her other responsibilities in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Nasser led the office’s Human Trafficking Program, which entailed supervision of all federal human trafficking investigations and cases in the Northern District of Illinois. Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Nasser was an associate at a large law firm in Chicago and a law clerk for a federal judge in Chicago.
Nasser earned a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Portland, and an undergraduate degree in English and psychology from the University of Notre Dame.
18. Sara Juarez
Deputy General Counsel and Director of Risk and Legal, Mosaic Life Care
Sara Juarez is the Deputy General Counsel and Director of Risk and Legal of Mosaic Life Care. Mosaic Life Care is a physician-led healthcare system serving 35 counties in northwest Missouri, northeast Kansas, southeast Nebraska, and southwest Iowa. With hospitals, clinics and medical centers in St. Joseph, Maryville and Albany, MO, the organization serves a population of approximately 270,000 and is the largest employer in the region with more than 4,000 employees.
Juarez has 18 years of experience, and began her career in 2006. Before joining Mosaic Life Care, Juarez was an assistant city prosecutor at the City of Kansas City, Missouri. Earlier in her career she worked with Legal Aid of Western Missouri as an attorney. Juarez graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law with a J.D. and a master’s degree in international relations and affairs, and from the University of Denver with an undergraduate degree in international relations and affairs and Spanish.
19. Emilia Brown
Attorney, Dolce Vita Law
Emilia Brown began her professional career 20 years ago. Today, she is an Attorney at Dolce Vita Law, a firm that caters to family offices, investment funds, corporates, and individuals. . Brown counsels start-ups, small businesses, and nonprofits in forming entities, applying for tax-exempt status, and other legal issues.
Brown has experience in both civil and criminal litigation and had a full career in nonprofit arts management – working with companies like The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, Italy – before passing the bar. Brown holds a J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law, a graduate degree in Arts Management from the University of Florence, Italy, and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Northwestern University.
20. Vyas Suresh
Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
Vyas Suresh first joined Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner in 2005 and is currently a Partner at the firm. Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP is an international law firm with 31 offices worldwide. In 2018, Bryan Cave, a firm in St. Louis, and Berwin Leighton Paisner, a London-based firm merged to create Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.
Suresh is a real estate lawyer with a special focus on construction-related transactions. Suresh also represents clients across the full spectrum of real estate matters from the beginning of their transactions to the end--structuring the deal and preparing and negotiating documentation Suresh is also experienced with multi-state and portfolio acquisitionsSuresh earned a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis and an undergraduate degree from Truman State University.
21. Matthew Reid
General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Bradken
Matthew Reid is the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Bradken. Bradken is a manufacturer and supplier of differentiated consumable and capital products to the mining, transport, general industrial, and contract manufacturing markets with operations in Australia, China, Canada, India, Malaysia, and the United States. It is a subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery. Reid has 16 years of experience, and began his career in 2008.
Before joining Bradken, Reid was a director of legal ethics and compliance at CrowdStrike and before that, a senior compliance officer of corporate ethics attorney at Stryker. Earlier in his career, he worked with the U.S. Army as a judge advocate - associate attorney. Reid graduated from Golden Gate University with a J.D., from Purdue University with his MBA, and from Oregon State University with an undergraduate degree in political science and government.
22. Ashleigh Johnson
Partner, Foley and Mansfield
Ashleigh Johnson began her professional career 16 years ago. Today, she is a Partner at Foley and Mansfield. With over 100 attorneys in 13 U.S. cities, Foley Mansfield maintains national reach while providing local service. In 1989, Stephen Foley and Kyle Mansfield founded the firm.
Johnson focuses on product liability and toxic/mass tort litigation. She first got her start in 2008 as an attorney at Schlichter, Bogard and Denton, her most recent position prior to joining Foley and Mansfield. Johnson graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law with a J.D. and from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with an undergraduate degree in English/rhetoric.
23. Charice Anderson
General Counsel and Compliance Officer, Sightpath Medical
Charice Anderson serves as Sightpath’s Chief Legal and Administrative Officer. She first joined the company in 2018. Sightpath Medical is a provider of mobile ophthalmic services for cataract and refractive surgery. More than 190 Sightpath employees serve hundreds of surgeons and facilities in both rural and urban communities across the country. Anderson is responsible for the company’s legal affairs and compliance program and oversees all integration activity across the organization. She has led the company’s efforts on a broad range of strategic and regulatory matters.
Anderson’s career with Sightpath started with its former parent company, TLC Vision, where she served as associate general counsel and later general counsel. Following her time with TLC Vision, Anderson joined the private law firm of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP where she worked with the firm’s commercial practice group. Earlier in her career she worked with Kortenhof and Ely, PC as a civil litigation associate. Anderson earned a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and an undergraduate degree in economics from Vanderbilt University.
24. Jarriot Rook
Partner, Harrison and Held
Jarriot Rook is a Partner at Harrison and Held. Harrison LLP is a national law firm focused on providing sophisticated legal advice, exceptional client service, and innovative solutions. The firm’s wealth planning attorneys team up with attorneys from all areas of expertise to service the full range of a client’s personal and business needs. Rook has 13 years of experience and began his career in 2011.
Before joining Harrison and Held, Rook was an attorney at Bryan Cave and before that an attorney at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. Earlier in his career, he worked with Husch Blackwell as an attorney. Rook is an experienced member of a multi-office team that advises trustees and international families and family offices on planning for U.S. beneficiaries, U.S. investments, pre-immigration tax planning for foreign individuals who plan to become a U.S. tax resident, expatriation from the U.S. and FATCA and CRS compliance matters. Rook graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a J.D., an LLM in taxation, and an undergraduate degree.
25. Emily Cantwell
Partner, Lathrop GPM
Emily Cantwell began her professional career 14 years ago. Today, she is a Partner at Lathrop GPM. Lathrop GPM was formed in 2020 through the combination of two 100-year-old firms, both with strong Midwestern cores—Lathrop Gage, established in Kansas City in 1873, and Gray Plant Mooty, established in Minneapolis in 1866. Nearly 325 attorneys practice in 11 offices nationwide.
Cantwell is a litigation attorney whose practice focuses on business litigation, specifically in the areas of commercial, banking, and real estate litigation, loan enforcement, employment, title disputes, and mechanic's liens. Cantwell got her start in 2010 as an associate at Danna McKitrick, her most recent position prior to joining Lathrop GPM. Cantwell graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law with a J.D. and from the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in political science and public relations.
