Husch Blackwell has named eight attorneys to partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Each of the attorneys was unanimously supported by the firm’s executive board and each attorney’s industry group leader.
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Laura F. Ketcham is a member of the Financial Services team and represents regional and national banks, floor-plan lenders and other creditors in commercial bankruptcy cases, loan workouts, loan documentation, foreclosures, lien priority disputes, enforcement of judgments and actions asserting the breach of loan documents — including actions before the American Arbitration Association. Ketcham is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and an executive council member of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Law section. She is an alumna of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Chattanooga Class of 2011-2012. Ketcham received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School (2005), where she was development editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law. She received her B.A. in political science and economics, magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University (2002).
Dallas
Joseph M. Kidwell is a member of the Real Estate, Development & Construction team, and represents owners, developers and investors in commercial real estate and general business transactions. He regularly counsels clients on legal issues that arise in connection with the ownership, financing, acquisition, leasing and disposition of both improved and unimproved real property. In addition, he has represented numerous tenants and landlords with respect to office, medical office, retail and industrial leasing matters. Kidwell is an active member of the The Real Estate Council, where he has served in a variety of leadership capacities. He also serves as chair of the National Benevolent Association’s board of trustees. Kidwell received his J.D., cum laude, from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law (2006), where he was on the Dean’s List and was articles editor for SMU Law Review. He received his B.A., with distinction, from Purdue University (2003), where he was Phi Beta Kappa and on the Dean’s List.
Kansas City, Mo.
Kris Kappel is a member of the Healthcare, Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals team. She represents the firm’s clients on a wide variety of intellectual property matters, including foreign and domestic patent and trademark protection, licensing of intellectual property rights, due diligence and freedom to operate analysis, and intellectual property portfolio management. Kappel specializes in biochemical and chemical patent prosecution matters, including significant work for healthcare and pharmaceutical clients. In addition to her legal practice, Kappel served on the board of directors of Kansas City’s Niles Home for Children for seven years and continues to work with Niles in board development. She also works with the University of Missouri – Kansas City’s Entrepreneurship Scholar’s Program to provide legal assistance to young inventors and entrepreneurs. Kappel has been recognized by KC Business magazine as a 2014 Kansas City Rising Star. Kappel earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law (2005), where she was articles editor for Urban Lawyer, and received her B.S. from Kansas State University (1998).
Curtis R. Summers is a member of the Healthcare, Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals team and counsels clients on labor and employment matters. He assists with human resources issues and defends clients in employment-related litigation. He has obtained summary judgment on behalf of employers in federal and state court actions involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation and other claims. He has also obtained favorable resolutions for employers on a variety of additional matters and assists employers in alternative dispute resolution. Summers is a member of the Heartland Labor and Employment Institute’s steering committee and has been recognized as a 2012 and 2013 Rising Star in employment and labor law by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers. Summers received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law (2005), where he was note and comment editor of Kansas Law Review, and his B.S. from Kansas State University (2002).
Springfield, Mo.
Laura A. Greene is a member of the Real Estate, Development & Construction team. She advises small businesses and Fortune 500 corporate clients on compliance issues and liability defense. Greene also has an active trial practice in both state and federal court with a focus on employment and contract litigation. In 2010, Missouri Lawyers Weekly recognized Greene for obtaining one of the top ten civil defense verdicts in the state. Greene is a national writer and presenter on litigation prevention and best compliance practices and has spent more than a decade contributing to and editing study guides for law school students. She serves on the board of the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, on the executive committee for the 2014 American Heart Association Go Red for Women Campaign, and is the chair of the AHA Circle of Red. She was recognized by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers as a 2013 Rising Star. Greene received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law (2003). She received her B.A., cum laude, from Southeast Missouri State University (1998).
Jason C. Smith is a trial lawyer on the Real Estate, Development & Construction team. He represents a variety of clients, ranging from individuals to Fortune 500 companies, throughout the country. A portion of his practice includes representing clients in real estate and construction matters, including contract review and negotiation, payment disputes, claims of defective design and defective workmanship, prevailing wage matters, and general claims resolution. He also has extensive experience defending class actions and other complex lawsuits, and has tried numerous cases in state and federal court and at the appellate level. Smith frequently speaks and writes on real estate law matters. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law (2005), where he was editor of Washington University Law Quarterly and graduated Order of the Coif. He received his B.S., cum laude, in business administration, from Maryville University of St. Louis (2002).
St. Louis, Mo.
Patrick T. Conner joined the firm in July 2011 and, as a member of the Financial Services team, has concentrated his practice on private wealth matters for more than 10 years. He handles estate planning, estate and trust administration, and organizational tax and succession planning for privately held businesses. In 2013, Conner was named a Rising Star by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, and in 2011, St. Louis Magazine named him a FIVE STAR Wealth Manager, placing him in the top 7 percent of wealth managers in St. Louis according to overall client satisfaction. Conner is on the Probate and Trust Law steering committee for the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, is a member of the Estate Planning Council of St. Louis and also serves as a legacy advisor for St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Conner received his LL.M. in Taxation from Washington University School of Law (2004), his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law (2003) and his B.S. in business administration, cum laude, from Saint Louis University (2000).
Kyle P. Seelbach is a member of the Healthcare, Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals team. He represents clients in complex individual and class action disputes across the country. His work focuses on disputes involving business torts and other commercial issues; consumer fraud claims, securities fraud and related professional negligence claims; and employment cases. In addition to his work for clients in the healthcare industry, Seelbach devotes a substantial part of his practice to representing private sector colleges in a range of matters, including class action cases and claims brought under the False Claims Act. Seelbach received his J.D., summa cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Illinois College of Law (2004), where he was notes and comments editor of the University of Illinois Law Review. He received his B.A. in political science, cum laude, from the University of Illinois (2001).