Husch Blackwell has promoted 13 attorneys to partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2015. “Husch Blackwell’s standards for partnership are high, requiring sustained, elevated levels of performance. Each one of these attorneys has demonstrated professional excellence, exceptional legal skills and client service, and commitment to our firm,” said Husch Blackwell Chairman Maurice Watson.
Denver
Daniel L. Bray is a member of the firm’s Financial Services industry team. He advises national, regional and community banks in all aspects of their business, with a focus on secured commercial lending. He has represented lenders in documenting and structuring construction, bridge, mezzanine and permanent loans, as well as syndicated and participated credit facilities. Bray also helps his banking clients resolve troubled commercial loans, through loan sales, workouts, foreclosures, collections and lender-liability litigation, mechanic’s lien litigation, contested receivership litigation, bankruptcy representation and REO sales. He is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the Denver Bar Association, and the Bankruptcy and Real Estate sections of the Colorado Bar Association. Bray received his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law (2006), his M.A. in International Economics & International Relations, with honors and distinction, from Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C. (2001), and his B.A. in History, with honors and high distinction, from the University of Iowa (1998).
Jennifer Haynes is a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Development & Construction industry team, and focuses on traditional real estate transactions and real estate development with an emphasis on senior housing, affordable housing, master-planned communities, resort and other mixed-use projects. She has closed hundreds of millions of dollars in commercial real estate sale and purchase transactions and has represented developers in the creation and documentation of common interest communities with favorable results. She has assisted in all areas of real estate development transactions, including zoning and other development approvals for residential, commercial and mixed-use projects. She also represents a major railroad company and has assisted in the sale of various railroad corridors. Haynes is a Board Member of Brother’s Redevelopment, Inc., and a member of the City of Englewood’s Housing Authority Commission’s Board of Commissioners. She was also named a Rising Star by Colorado Super Lawyers (2013-2014). Haynes received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law (2006), her M.A. in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2006), and her B.S. in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. (2000).
Michael J. Meacher is a member of the firm’s Real Estate, Development & Construction industry team. He focuses his practice around commercial real estate transactions, including the acquisition, financing, development, leasing and disposition of shopping centers, office buildings, residential and commercial condominiums, and industrial properties. He has experience representing landlords and tenants in all manners of leasing transactions across all property types. Meacher is a member of NAIOP - the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, and has been named a Rising Star by Colorado Super Lawyers (2013, 2014). Meacher received his J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law in Lexington, Va. (2006), and his B.S. in Animal Biology from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, B.C. (2001).
Kansas City, Mo.
Joan K. Archer Ph.D. is a member of the firm’s Food & Agribusiness team. With extensive experience representing numerous companies within the industry, she advances the corporate goals of animal health, precision and compliance agriculture, agricultural cooperatives, farm operation and other food and agribusiness-related clients, particularly in the areas of business operations and litigation; intellectual property advocacy and litigation; environmental compliance and litigation; data privacy; brand management; advertising and website counseling; product design and packaging and anti-counterfeiting campaigns. Her deep background also extends to matters involving agricultural software and other technologies; life sciences; chemical distribution; business seminars; consumer retail goods; marketing and advertising; and wine distribution and sales. In 2012, Archer was named Intellectual Property Lawyer of the Year by the Kansas Bar Association and has been named to the Kansas City Business Journal’s Best of the Bar (2009-2013). In addition, she has been named a Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer (2009-2014), and among the Top 50 Woman Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (2010-2011, 2013-2014). Archer received her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law (1992), her Ph.D. in Communication Studies and Jury Behavior from the University of Kansas (1991), her M.A. in Communications and Public Relations from Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. (1984); and her B.A. in Speech Communication from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. (1982).
Lyndsey J. Conrad is a member of the firm’s Financial Services industry team. She focuses her practice on representing corporations and their officers and directors in litigation matters related to corporate governance, including government enforcement actions, shareholder derivative actions, merger litigation and other types of shareholder class actions. Conrad is also a member of the firm’s Government Compliance, Investigations & Litigation team and represents companies and individuals dealing with allegations of corporate embezzlement and fraud, including by coordinating with state and federal regulatory and prosecuting authorities. Conrad assists corporations in all manner of litigation and also has significant experience litigating employment-related matters, including claims brought under a variety of federal and state anti-discrimination statutes and wage and hour laws. She also maintains a substantial appellate practice and in addition to being licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas, she is also a member of the State Bar of California and the New York State Bar. Conrad received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of California Hastings College of Law (2005), and her B.S., cum laude, from the University of California-Los Angeles (2000).
Nathan E. Oleen is a member of the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation industry team. A patent attorney, Oleen represents clients in a full range of intellectual property matters including patent, trade secret, trademark, domain name, unfair competition and copyright matters, and provides business and legal counsel relating to worldwide patent and trademark portfolio management, corporate intellectual property policies and technology development and acquisition. He also represents clients with technology-related transactions, including negotiating complex deals involving software development, software licensing and data hosting. Oleen is a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City and Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City. Oleen received his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (2006), and his B.S. in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from Kansas State University (2003).
Derek T. Teeter is a member of the firm’s Healthcare, Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals industry team. Teeter’s practice focuses on complicated, prominent litigation involving federal and state regulatory statutes, governmental immunities, constitutional rights, consumer class action litigation and the False Claims Act. He represents clients at all stages of litigation, including pre-settlement negotiations, dispositive motion practice, trials, arbitrations and appeals. A majority of Teeter’s clients are private and public colleges and universities that face lawsuits from students, faculty and contractors, as well as regulatory enforcement actions from the U.S. Department of Education and equivalent state agencies. He also has extensive appellate experience and maintains a substantial appellate practice. Teeter is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and the National Association of College and University Attorneys. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Catholic Education Foundation. Teeter received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law (2006), and his B.A., with high distinction, from the University of Kansas (2003).
Phoenix
Eric A. Ess is a member of the firm’s Financial Services industry team and concentrates his practice on estate and tax planning, probate and trust administration, business succession planning and lifetime gift planning for high-net worth individuals and families. He designs and implements estate plans through the preparation of wills, revocable trusts, complex irrevocable trusts and business transfer documents. As part of his practice, he also focuses on the unique considerations common to high-net worth families that are unrelated to tax concerns. Ess received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2006), his Master of Accountancy from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. (2003), and his B.S., summa cum laude, from Truman State University (2002).
Benjamin J. Kelly is a member of the firm’s Financial Services industry team. He designs and implements complex estate plans for high-net worth individuals, which include some of the following concepts: sophisticated irrevocable trusts, split-dollar agreements and family partnerships. He also develops core estate planning documents such as wills, revocable living trusts, financial powers of attorney and healthcare powers of attorney. In addition, Kelly helps numerous fiduciaries and beneficiaries in connection with the administration of estates and trusts, including estate tax returns and audits. Kelly is a member of the Central Arizona Estate Planning Counsel and was named a Rising Star by Southwest Super Lawyers (2014). Kelly received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Arizona State University College of Law (2006), and his B.S. in Entrepreneurship from Indiana University (1999).
Springfield, Mo.
Michael A. Cosby is a member of the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation industry team, and focuses his practice on Aviation law, with an emphasis on regulatory and tax matters. Cosby represents and advises a variety of clients including corporate flight departments, charter operators, management companies, high-net-worth individuals and bank-affiliated equipment financing companies. Specifically, he advises on the purchase, sale, lease and financing of business and commercial aircraft; the International Registry; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Registry; regulatory compliance (including domestic and foreign registration); Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosure compliance; and federal and state tax issues relating to owning and operating aircraft. As part of his aviation practice, Cosby also counsels clients on Unmanned Aircraft Systems operations in relation to regulatory and tax matters. Additionally, he assists a variety of small businesses and large corporations in all phases of operation including entity selection and formation, the purchase, sale and mergers of businesses and business assets, private equity financing and counseling on daily operations and risk management issues. Cosby is a member of the American Bar Association’s Aircraft Finance Committee, Taxation Section and Business Law Section; the Kansas City Business Aviation Association; the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association; the Planning Group of the National Business Aviation Association’s Tax and Regulatory Committee; and the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association. He also volunteers with the American Diabetes Association and the Boy Scouts of America – Ozark Trail Council. Cosby received his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law (2005), and his B.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1990).
St. Louis, Mo.
Kate M. Heideman Leveque is a member of the firm’s Healthcare, Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals industry team. Leveque focuses her practice on Labor & Employment matters. She has obtained favorable resolutions in employment-related litigation filed in numerous state and federal courts and administrative agencies. Her litigation experience includes defending wage and hour class and collective actions as well as single plaintiff employment claims involving Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other state and federal employment laws. In addition to her litigation experience, Leveque regularly advises employers about personnel decisions, wage and hour matters, internal complaints, investigations, personnel policies, employment contracts, employee handbooks, severance agreements and leave and accommodation issues. Leveque is a member of the American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section and she volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri. In 2009, she was named one of St. Louis Business Journal’s “30 Under 30.” Leveque received her J.D., magna cum laude and Valedictorian, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2006), and her B.S. in Elementary Education, magna cum laude, from Southwest Missouri State University (2003).
Sonni Fort Nolan is a member of the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation industry team. As a former corporate attorney for a Fortune 250 manufacturing company and a Fortune 25 pharmacy benefit management company with extensive litigation experience, Nolan advises companies on employment discrimination matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, related state agencies, and before state and federal courts. She also represents employers regarding numerous regulatory issues, wage and hour laws, restrictive covenant agreements, reductions in force and public policy discharge matters. In addition, she has achieved significant favorable outcomes in alternative dispute resolutions. Nolan received her J.D. from Washington University School of Law (1999) and Bachelor's degrees in English and Communication Studies from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (1996).
John M. Terry is a member of the firm’s Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation industry team and concentrates his practice on environmental litigation and enforcement defense. He represents both large and small corporate clients in the management of legacy environmental liabilities and the investigation and defense of claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and other state and federal environmental laws. Terry also represents clients as they seek recovery for environmental investigation and remediation expenditures and in the enforcement of insurance coverage for environmental liabilities. Terry received his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (2002), and his B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-Columbia (1999).