Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce that nine new law school graduates joined offices in Missouri this fall. Five associates joined in St. Louis, three in Kansas City and one in Springfield, Mo.
Joining the St. Louis Office:
Erica A. Doerhoff joins the Business Litigation department. She received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Washington University School of Law (2011), where she received the F. Hodge O'Neal Corporate Law Award and graduated Order of the Coif. In addition, Doerhoff was Chief Notes Editor of Washington University Law Review. Doerhoff received her Ph.D. and M.A. in German Studies from Cornell University (2007, 2003). She received her B.A., summa cum laude, in German Literature and Philosophy from Vanderbilt University (1998) and studied at the University of Tübingen in Germany (1998-1999) as a Fulbright Fellow.
Kurt J. Fiehler joins the Banking & Finance department. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2011), where he obtained two Academic Excellence Awards and was on the Dean's List. Prior to law school, Fiehler worked as a credit analyst and commercial banking officer for UMB Bank (2006-2008) and gained corporate finance experience presenting commercial loan proposals to commercial loan committees and conducting detailed analyses. Fiehler received his B.S., summa cum laude, in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Saint Louis University (2006).
Tanya M. Maerz joins the Business Litigation department. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law (2011), where she earned a Certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution and was inducted into Order of the Coif and Order of the Barristers. Additionally, Maerz was an Associate Managing Editor of Missouri Law Review, on the Executive Board of the Board of Advocates and received a CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Civil Procedure. Maerz received her M.P.A. from the University of Missouri's Harry S. Truman School of Public Affairs (2011), where she was a member of Phi Alpha Alpha Honor Society. She received her B.A., cum laude, in Political Science from Truman State University (2007), where she was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha and Sigma Delta Pi Honor Societies.
Allison B. Pitzer joins the Corporate department. She received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Southern Illinois University School of Law (2011), where she obtained four CALI Excellence for the Future Awards. In addition, Pitzer was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Managing Editor of the Southern Illinois University Law Journal. Pitzer received her B.A., with Distinction, in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign (2007), where she was a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society.
Mark A. Pratzel joins the Toxic Tort department. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2011), where he obtained Academic Excellence Awards in Criminal Law and Business Associations and was Editor of Saint Louis University Law Journal. He received his B.S., magna cum laude, in Political Science and a B.S., magna cum laude, in History from the University of Missouri – Columbia (2008).
Joining the Kansas City Office:
Amy Raj Goostree joins the Corporate department. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law (2011), where she was Managing Editor of UMKC Law Review and the American Bar Association's The Urban Lawyer. Prior to law school, Goostree served as Director with the non-profit organization Safari Club International Foundation Sables (2004-2006) and as an account manager at Barkley Public Relations (2006-2008). Goostree received her B.A., magna cum laude, in English at Messiah College in Grantham, Penn. (2004), where she was Editor-in-Chief of the student newspaper The Swinging Bridge.
Anna D. Simpson joins the Business Litigation department. Simpson received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame Law School (2011), where she received the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award for distinguished achievement in the art of advocacy and a Best Brief Award in Legal Writing. In addition, Simpson was a member of the Student Bar Association. Simpson received her B.A. in English and B.A. in Spanish from Duke University (2008) and participated in Duke's Study Abroad program in Madrid, Spain.
Samantha J. Wenger joins the Business Litigation department. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law (2011), where she received the Trial Practice Award and served as Student Bar Association President. Wenger received her B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science & Business Administration from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa (2008), where she was captain of the American Mock Trial Association team and president of The Entrepreneurship Group.
Joining the Springfield Office:
Derek A. Ankrom joins the Business Litigation department. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law (2011), where he was a teaching assistant for Legal Research & Writing and Advocacy & Research. In addition, Ankrom was an associate member of the Journal of Dispute Resolution. Ankrom received his B.A., cum laude, in Communication from the University of Missouri – Columbia (2008), where he was the team captain for the American Mock Trial Association team.