Husch Blackwell Sanders welcomes 27 new associates to its offices this fall, with 10 joining in St. Louis, eight in Kansas City, three in Chattanooga, three in Omaha, two in Chicago, and one in Springfield, Missouri.
Joining the St. Louis Office:
Joseph E. Bredehoft joins the Banking & Finance Department. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (2009), where he was Associate Editor of Missouri Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. He received his B.A., summa cum laude, from Truman State University (2005).
Phillip J.F. Geheb joins the Real Estate Development Department. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Washington University School of Law (2009), where he graduated Order of the Coif and was a member of Washington University Law Review. He received his M. Phil. from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. (2006), and M.Ed. from Saint Joseph's University (2005). From 2003 to 2005, he was a middle school math teacher and a Teach for America Corp member in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania (2003).
Andrew R. Gilfoil joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2009), where he was a member of the Order of the Woolsack. Gilfoil was an Articles Editor for the Saint Louis University Public Law Review and worked as a judicial extern for the Honorable Raymond W. Gruender at the U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. He received both his Bachelor of Music degree and B.A., magna cum laude, from Northern Illinois University (2005), where he was a recognized Student of Distinction.
Anthony G. Grice joins the Insolvency & Commercial Bankruptcy Department. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law (2009), where he received a Scholar in Law Award and was a member of the Black Law Students Association. He received his M.B.A. and B.S., summa cum laude, from Florida A&M University (2005, 2002).
Matthew D. Knepper joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2009), where he was Technical Editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal. He received his Master of Science for Teachers degree from Pace University (2005) and his B.A., with honors, from Washington University (2003).
Nathan D. Sturycz joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law (2009), where he was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. Prior to law school, Sturycz worked for a subsidiary of TLC Vision as a regional business consultant (2003-2006) and at Cardinal Health Inc. as a sales/operations representative (2002-2003). He received his B.A. from Northwestern University (2002), during which time he served on the Athletic & Outreach Committees of the Special Olympics.
Michael J. Tolles joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law (2009), where he was a member of the Global Studies Law Review and received a Scholar in Law Award. Prior to law school, Tolles was a paralegal in Husch Blackwell Sanders' Litigation Department (2003-2006). He received his B.A. from Washington University (2003).
Elizabeth K. Tomasovic joins the Litigation Department. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Washington University School of Law (2009), where she graduated Order of the Coif and received a Scholar in Law Award. She was also a member of Washington University Law Review and the Women's Law Caucus. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Rice University (2006).
Brian J. Weaver joins the Banking & Finance Department. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (2009). Prior to law school, Weaver worked as a paralegal for two law firms in Washington, D.C. (2004-2006), as an intern for former 9th District of Missouri Representative Kenny Hulshof (2003) and as an intern at The White House (2003). He received his B.A., cum laude, from American University (2004), where he was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Pi Sigma Alpha honor society.
Mark R. Wylie joins the Corporate Department. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Washington University School of Law (2009), where he received a Scholar in Law Award and graduated Order of the Coif. Prior to law school, Wylie arbitrated merger and acquisition purchase price disputes as a CPA for PricewaterhouseCoopers (2003-2006). He received his Master of Accounting Science degree, with highest honors, from the University of Illinois (2003) and his B.S., summa cum laude, from Saint Louis University (2002). Wylie is currently an adjunct accounting instructor at Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville.
Joining the Kansas City Office:
Faiza Bergquist joins the Litigation Department. She received her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (2009) where she was a Student Bar Association class representative and served on the Inclusion and Empowerment committee. She received her B.A., with honors, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (2006) and was an intern with New Letters literary magazine and "New Letters on the Air" radio program.
Michael T. Crabb joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law (2009), where he was Articles Editor for the Kansas Law Review and graduated Order of the Coif. During school, Crabb argued before U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in the KU Law Moot Court final round and advanced to the National Moot Court Competition Finals in New York. Prior to law school, Crabb was a student ministries director for Christ Church (2001-2005) and an executive intern for the International Justice Mission in Washington, D.C. (2005-2006). He received his B.S. from Kansas State University (2001).
Stephen M. James joins the Corporate Department. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (2009), where he was a Note and Comment Editor of UMKC Law Review. He received his B.S.B.A. from Rockhurst University (2006), where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Rockhurst Sentinel.
Jessi R. Paschall joins the Litigation Department. She received her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (2009), where she was a Note and Comment Editor of Missouri Law Review and a member of the Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity. She also received her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Missouri-Columbia (2006).
Jason P. Romero joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law (2009), where he held the position of Executive Footnote & Format Editor for the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy. He also received his Master of Construction Management degree from the University of Kansas School of Engineering (2009) and his Bachelor of General Studies degree from the University of Kansas (2006).
Gavin L. Smith joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D., cum laude, from Baylor Law School (2009), where he was Senior Notes and Comments editor of Baylor Law Review and attained the rank of Barrister. He received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Bob Jones University (2006), where he served in the South Carolina Student Legislature.
Shaun C. Southworth joins the Labor & Employment Department. He received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law (2009) and was a Neil James Blue Memorial Merit Scholar. At graduation, Shaun received the Class of 2009 Faculty Award for "Outstanding Achievement" in Labor and Employment Law. Prior to law school, Southworth taught English to middle school students through the Teach for America program (2004-2006). He received his B.A., with honors, from Grinnell College (2004).
Keron A. Wright joins the Insolvency & Commercial Bankruptcy Department. He received his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law (2007), where he acted as Vice President for the Black Law Students Association. Since law school, Wright worked as a clerk for the Honorable Julie Robinson of the U.S. District Court, District of Kansas (2007-2009).Prior to law school, Wright worked as a Legislative Intern for Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis (2003) and Texas State Representative Joe E. Moreno (2004). He also worked as a Council Aide for Council Member Ronald C. Green (2004). Wright received his B.A. from the University of Houston (2003).
Joining the Chattanooga Office:
Shelton Swafford Chambers joins the Tax, Benefits & Estate Planning Department. She received her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law (2009), where she was a member of the Business & Tax Law Association and Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law. Prior to law school, Chambers was an accountant at Joseph Decosimo & Company, PLLC (2004-2006). She also received her B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Tennessee (2004).
S. Spencer Elg joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law (2009), where he was a Moot Court Board Member and received the ABA/BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law. He received his B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Memphis (2006).
Dustin J. Manning joins the Insolvency & Commercial Bankruptcy Department. He received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law (2009), where he was an Associate Editor and member of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. Manning was also selected as a Caruthers Fellow to work as a Teaching Assistant for Legal Research & Writing. He received his B.A. from the University of Georgia (2006).
Joining the Omaha Office:
Mitchell E. Evers joins the Litigation Department. He received his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law (2009), where he was a recipient of the Dean's Academic Scholarship and was presented with two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards. He received his B.S. from the University of Utah (2005).
Christopher B. Kelly joins the Real Estate Development and Banking & Finance Departments. He received his J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law, with Distinction, (2009), where he was chair of the Nebraska Moot Court Board. Prior to law school, Kelly was a store manager of Classic Golf, Inc. (2004-2006). He received his B.B.A. from New Mexico State University (2003).
Tyler Mullen joins the Corporate Department. He received his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law (2009), where he received a Certificate of Concentration in Business Law, was a recipient of a Dean's Merit Award Scholarship and awarded a CALI Excellence for the Future Award. Mullen also successfully completed all four sections of the CPA exam during law school. He received his B.S.B.A. in Accounting, cum laude, from Creighton University (2006).
Joining the Chicago Office:
Samuel A. Brown joins the Intellectual Property Department. He received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law (2009), where he was awarded two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards and a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. Previously, Brown taught both Organic and General Chemistry for the City Colleges of Chicago (2005-2009) and Tennessee State University (2000-2005). He received his M.S. in Chemistry from Vanderbilt University (1998) and his B.S. in Chemistry from Morehouse College (1995).
Yasmin S. Schnayer joins the Intellectual Property Department. She received her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law (2009), where she was awarded two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards. Prior to law school, Schnayer worked as an environmental communications analyst for SRS Technologies and while there, she worked as a defense contractor to the Office of the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Installations and Environment (2005-2006). She received her B.S. from Indiana University (2004), where she was a member of Pi Alpha Alpha honorary society and graduated with Distinction.
Joining the Springfield Office:
Brooke E. Robertson joins the Corporate Department. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Washington University School of Law (2009), where she was a member of Washington Law Review and received a Scholar in Law Award and Oral Advocacy Award. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, with honors, from Drury University (2006).