Kansas City Area
Husch Blackwell was named one of the “50 Best Law Firms for Women” by Working Mother magazine, the authoritative source for career mothers, and Flex-Time Lawyers, a national consulting firm for attorneys and legal employees. The firm was selected for its family-friendly policies and business development initiatives that are retaining women and advancing them into the leadership pipeline.  The full 2012 “50 Best Law Firms for Women” list is available on workingmother.com and will be featured in the December/January issue of Working Mother magazine. Husch Blackwell is highlighted for allowing attorneys to reduce their work schedules by as much as 40 percent and still remain eligible for benefits. In addition, the firm has many female leaders: Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers founded the 50 Best Law Firms initiative for Women in 2007 to celebrate the law firms that are most successful in retaining and promoting women lawyers. The goal is also to give law firms the benchmarking tools to enable them to improve the status of women in their firms in the future. Husch Blackwell promotes diversity in the workplace by striving to recruit, develop, retain and promote talented attorneys and staff with diverse backgrounds and experiences. The firm believes that an inclusive environment enhances the commitment to serve clients, the legal profession and the community by building a workforce of people with varied backgrounds where individual differences are appreciated. In addition to being named to the “50 Best” list, Husch Blackwell consistently receives high ratings in the annual Corporate Equality Index, a Human Rights Campaign survey evaluating LGBT-related workplace policies and practices. The firm also received a 2011 Corporate Partner Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners.  Flex-Time Lawyers LLC is an international consulting firm that provides advisory, training and speaking services to employers and professionals on work life balance, retaining and promoting women and new models of legal practice. It offers speaking services at law firms, in-house legal departments, professional service firms, corporations, non-profits, bar associations, law schools, national conferences, events and retreats. For more information, please visit http://www.flextimelawyers.com. Working Mother Media, a division of Bonnier Corporation (bonnier.com), publishes Working Mother magazine, its companion website, workingmother.com and the Working Mother Research Institute. The National Association for Female Executives (nafe.com) and Diversity Best Practices (diversitybestpractices.com) are also affiliated programs. Working Mother Media’s mission is to serve as a champion of culture change. Working Mother magazine reaches more than 2 million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. For more information, please visit www.workingmother.com.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Kaste announced today that Kansas City Attorney Richard T. Bryant is the recipient of the 2012 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA).  The DCLA which is presented annually by the FBI Director was initiated in 1990 to publicly recognize individuals or organizations whose achievements in crime prevention and education have had an exemplary impact on the community and furthered the efforts of law enforcement.  Each year, one individual or organization is selected and recognized by each of the FBI’s 56 field offices.  This award will be presented to Mr. Bryant by FBI Director Robert Mueller, III in April, 2013 at a formal ceremony at FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC. Mr. Bryant not only supports area community outreach but is very supportive of law enforcement and the mission of law enforcement.  Mr. Bryant serves on the Kansas City Mayors Violent Crime Commission specifically recommending innovative and effective programs and solutions that will reduce crime across the city.  He works tirelessly with current and retired law enforcement to advance cooperation within the community and develop creative solutions. Mr. Bryant, a Knight Templar with the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem, works on funding issues and facilitating volunteers for events supporting area benevolent service and is deeply involved in leadership roles with the Sons of the American Revolution.  Additionally, he serves as a key leader in the local and national FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association supporting area community outreach, the national child identification program and the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association throughout the United States.  Mr. Bryant serves as a leader and ambassador for the FBI and law enforcement. 

Polsinelli Shughart PC welcomes new associate attorneys to the firm. The additions are part of the firm’s ongoing national growth and commitment to the development of new attorneys. The associates will practice in health care, financial services, real estate, life sciences, energy and technology and litigation. Rebecca B. Beal, Real Estate Transactions/Development. She holds a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law, with highest honors, 2006. Christine E. Brady, Real Estate Finance. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 2012.. Kristin A. Kenney, Science and Technology. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 2012. Brenda K. Leppin, General Corporate. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 2012. Latrice N. McDowell, Labor and Employment/ERISA. She earned her law degree from North Carolina Central University School of Law, cum laude, in 2012. Ryan J. Mize Health Care. He earned his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2012, and his Master of Health Services Administration from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2012. Ryan E. VanDyke, General Corporate. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri Kansas City – School of Law in 2011. Michael F. Orlowski, Real Estate Transactions/Development. He earned his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2012. Joseph N. Blumberg, Wealth Planning. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law in 2012. S. Roger Denny, II, Real Estate Development/Transactions. He holds a J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2007, and his LL.M in Taxation from Washington University in 2010. Sarah R. Kocher, Health Care. She earned her law degree, magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2012.

Peggy Sullivan, PP, PLS, CLA, was one of three finalists for the NALS 2012 Award of Excellence.  Ms. Sullivan has worked for 24 years at the Kansas City, Missouri office of Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.  She has been a member of KCLSA…the association for legal professionals (KCLSA), NALS of Missouri, and NALS…the association for legal professionals (NALS) since 1985.  Throughout her legal career, she has held many positions on local, state and national levels. The requirements to be nominated for the Award of Excellence are:  (1) must be a member of NALS with at least three years of legal experience (except current members of NALS Board of Directors), current NALS Award of Excellence chair, and former first place winners; (2) must be engaged in work of a legal nature, in accordance with NALS Bylaws; (3) must have a minimum of three years’ service to a local chartered chapter, state association, or NALS. The NALS 2012 Award of Excellence winner was announced during the NALS Annual Education Conference and National Forum in Portland, Oregon, which was held October 25-27, 2012.

St. Louis Area
Armstrong Teasdale LLP welcomes Danielle DuRousseau to its Corporate Services practice group and Laura Bentele to its Litigation practice group. Both are associates in the St. Louis office. Ms. DuRousseau advises on general corporate and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities and general corporate law. Her experience extends to representing banks with regard to FDIC filings and change of control notices. She earned her J.D. from Washington University School of Law and B.A. in Political Science and History from Washington University. She is admitted to the Missouri Bar. Ms. Bentele focuses her practice on effective case management through all phases of discovery, trial preparation and negotiation of settlements with opposing counsel. While in law school, Ms. Bentele worked with Washington University's Intellectual Property and Nonprofit Organization Clinic. She counseled clients and drafted founding corporate documents for a diverse array of start-up non-profit and entrepreneurial organizations.

Kenneth C. Brostron and Kevin L. Fritz were recently selected by their peers as the Top 50 Attorneys in St. Louis. Brostron and Fritz ranked top of the list in the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers 2012 nomination, research and review process through peer recognition and professional achievement. Mr. Brostron has more than 35 years of trial work. He defends health care providers and attorneys in professional negligence claims. He counsels businesses and government agencies in all aspects of their operations including disputes involving intellectual property and technology. He is also well-known for his work in education law, as well as state and United States constitutional matters. He earned his J.D. from Saint Louis University. Mr. Fritz  is a trial attorney experienced in both state and federal courts. He engages in civil litigation in Missouri and Illinois, with an emphasis on insurance defense and coverage, commercial litigation, premises liability, product liability, vehicular negligence matters and personal injury work. He also engages in transportation related matters that include interstate and intrastate issues, cargo, breach of contract and catastrophic casualty claims. In addition, he has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri. His hometown is Fulton, Missouri.

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