Husch Blackwell welcomes 16 new law school graduates to its offices this fall, with seven joining in St. Louis, five in Kansas City, two in Omaha, one in Chattanooga, and one in Springfield, Missouri.
Joining the St. Louis Office:
Laura J. Barke will practice in the area of business litigation law. She received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Southern Illinois University School of Law (2010), where she graduated as Valedictorian. In addition, Barke served as Managing Editor of the Southern Illinois University Law Journal and was awarded the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award. She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Webster University (2006).
Marissa L. Curran will practice in the area of environmental law. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School (2009), where she was an Articles Editor for Harvard Environmental Law Review and President of the Harvard Student Animal Legal Defense Fund. After law school, Curran clerked for The Hon. William Ray Price, Jr., Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri (2009-2010). Prior to law school, she received her A.B., summa cum laude, from Washington University in St. Louis (2006), where she was a member of Phi Sigma Tau and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies and won the Steven S. Schwarzschild Prize in Philosophy.
Brittany M. Ems will practice in the area of labor and employment law. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2010), where she earned a Certificate in Employment Law, was an Editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal, and served on the Executive Board of the Women's Law Student Association. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Missouri State University (2007), where she was a Board of Governors Scholar.
Melina S. L. Pinilla will practice in the area of business litigation law. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2010), where she received an Academic Excellence Award for Civil Procedure I. She received her B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri - Saint Louis (2005), where she received a Pierre Laclede Honors College certificate.
Peter J. Merideth will practice in the area of real estate and development law. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law (2010), where he was a Webster Scholar. Prior to law school, Merideth worked as a Litigation Clerk at Armstrong Teasdale (2006-2007) and as a Project Assistant at a law firm in Washington, D.C. (2005-2006). He received his B.M. from Catholic University of America (2005), where he was an Archdiocesan Scholar.
Josie M. Patane will practice in the area of trusts and estates law. She received her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law (2010), where she was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and received a CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Income of Trusts and Estates, and in Estate Planning. She received her M.S. in Accountancy, focusing on taxation, and B.S. in Business Administration, majoring in Accountancy, from the University of Notre Dame (2007, 2006).
Ashley Rothe will practice in the area of business litigation law. She received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2010), and was Class Valedictorian. In addition, Rothe served on the Saint Louis University Law Journal and received 11 Academic Excellence Awards for classes including Civil Procedure, Commercial Transactions, Evidence, Federal Courts and Torts. She received her B.S., summa cum laude, from Saint Louis University (2007), where she was a Presidential Scholar and a member of Beta Gamma Sigma honor society.
Joining the Kansas City Office:
Benjamin A. McMillen will practice in the area of labor and employment law. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law (2010), where he was on the Dean's List, President of the Federalist Society and a member of the Christian Legal Society. Prior to law school, McMillen worked as a Sales Executive for Scarborough International Ltd. (2006-2007). He received his B.A. from Northwest Missouri State University (2006), where he was a member of the baseball team.
Andrea J. Morrow will practice in the area of business litigation law. She received her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law (2010), where she was Managing Editor of Kansas Law Review and received an Advocacy Certificate. While in law school, Morrow also received the Payne & Jones Lawyering Program Award and the James P. Mize Trial Advocacy Award. Prior to law school, Morrow was a broadcast News Anchor for KAIT-TV in Jonesboro, Ark. (2004-2005) and a reporter for KOMU-TV in Columbia, Mo. (2002-2004). She received her B.J. from the University of Missouri - Columbia (2003).
Leo O. Salinger will practice in the area of real estate and development law. He received his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law (2010), where he was a staff member of UMKC Law Review and served as student Editor-in-Chief for The Urban Lawyer. In addition, Salinger received the Charles Whittaker Award for Academic Excellence. Prior to law school, Salinger was a Real Estate Administrator with Husch Blackwell (2005-2007). He received his B.A., cum laude, from Williams College (2004).
Tyler J. Scott will practice in the area of business litigation law. He received his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law (2010), where he was the Articles & Symposia Editor of UMKC Law Review. He received his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Missouri - Columbia (2007).
Robert A. Seefeldt will practice in the area of corporate law. He received his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law (2010), where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Saint Louis University Law Journal. Prior to law school, Seefeldt was an Enterprise Risk Services Consultant for Deloitte & Touche, LLP (2005-2007). He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University (2005), where he was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu honor society.
Joining the Omaha Office:
Jennifer L. Cooke will practice in the areas of corporate and insolvency law. She received her J.D. from Columbia Law School (2010), where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Finance Editor of Columbia Business Law Review. She received her B.A. and B.J., with honors, from The University of Texas at Austin (2007).
David M. Newman will practice in the area of business litigation law. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Creighton University School of Law (2010), where he was a member of the Order of the Barristers. Prior to law school, Newman served as the Army Liaison Officer with the Air Force Weather Agency at Offutt Air Force Base (2006-2007), a Military Intelligence Officer with the Multi-National Corps in Iraq (2005-2006) and an Infantry Officer in the 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kan. (2002-2004). He received his B.A., cum laude, from Creighton University (2001), where he was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha honor society.
Joining the Chattanooga Office:
K. Chris Collins will practice in the area of business litigation law. He received his J.D. from The University of Tennessee College of Law (2010), where he was inducted into the Order of the Barristers. He also received his B.S., cum laude, from The University of Tennessee (2007), where he was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Order of Omega and Mortar Board honor societies.
Joining the Springfield Office:
R. Caleb Colbert will practice in the area of business litigation law. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri - Columbia School of Law (2010), where he was Note and Comment Editor of Missouri Environmental Law and Policy Review. He also received his B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Missouri - Columbia (2007).