St. Louis Area
John G. Simon, founder of The Simon Law Firm, has received the Spirit of Justice Award from the St. Louis Bar Foundation. The award, which will be presented Oct. 30 during the St. Louis Bar Foundation’s second annual Golden Gala, is given annually to a member of the legal profession to honor exemplary charitable spirit and service to both the community and the profession.

Williams Venker & Sanders partners, Michael Hunter and Paul Petruska were recently named as “Up & Coming Lawyers” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. “Up & Coming Lawyers” recognizes the state’s premier lawyers that are younger than 40 years old (or within their first 10 years of practice) and are making a positive difference in the quality of justice while exemplifying the highest ideals of the legal profession.

Langdon & Emison, Attorneys at Law, is proud to announce the addition of three new lawyers, Adam W. Graves, Phyllis A. Norman and David A. Brose to their firm.

Joseph C. Blanner a partner of the Clayton law firm of Behr, McCarter & Potter, P. C., has been named one of the Up and Coming Lawyers by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. His practice is concentrated in the area of civil litigation, with an emphasis on construction and business litigation.

Mid-Missouri Area
The Missouri Land Title Association awarded the 2009 Young Title Professional Award to David A. Townsend, President and CEO of Agents National Title Insurance Company. The award is given to a title industry professional under the age of 35 for superior work in the title insurance field.

Kansas City Area
John D. Jurcyk, Roeland Park, has been elected to serve as president of the Kansas Bar Foundation (KBF) for a one-year term until June 2010.  He succeeds Sara Bootes Shattuck, Ashland, who recently completed a term as president of the Foundation. Mr. Jurcyk is a member with the law firm of McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips P.A. and practices at their Roeland Park, Kan., office.  He represents employers and their insurance carriers in all areas of workers’ compensation and general corporate defense.

Jack T. Bangert, with the firm of Sherman Taft Bangert Thomas & Coronado, P.C. has been named the Outstanding Defense Lawyer of the year by The Board of Directors of The Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers . The Ben Ely, Jr. Award is presented annually to an attorney for outstanding achievement in the practice of law while demonstrating the highest moral, ethical and professional standards. Mr. Bangert has been in practice for over 30 years and specializes in providing litigation services including mediation.

Witt, Hicklin & Snider, P.C. announced that Jennifer M. Duncan joined the firm as an Associate Attorney, further strengthening the firm’s commitment to the Platte County legal community. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Duncan clerked at the Tulsa County Public Defender’s Office. During law school, She was a Judicial Intern for the Honorable James E. Welsh of the 7th Judicial Circuit of Clay County, Missouri, and a law Clerk for the Clay County, Missouri, Prosecutor’s Office.