Missouri Lawyers in the News: December 26, 2011 [Missouri Lawyers Media]

The Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City recently named Husch Blackwell as a 2011 Firm of the Year. A 2011 Platinum- level sponsor of AWL, Husch Blackwell was unanimously chosen for its continued support of the organization. Several attorneys of the firm are members of the organization, and Husch Blackwell partner Amber Steinbeck

* Husch Blackwell announced that Judd Treeman joined the firm's Kansas City office as an associate. Treeman joins the business litigation group, bringing experience handling several litigation defense cases as lead attorney. He also serves as vice president of the Treeman Family Foundation, a charitable organization founded by his late father. Before joining Husch Blackwell, Treeman was an associate in the Houston office of Seyfarth Shaw.

* Shook, Hardy & Bacon announced the promotion of 12 attorneys to partner in the law firm's offices. Among those named in Kansas City are: Christopher Aikin, Mark Cowing, John Golian, Scott Kaiser, Mathew Larsen, Harley Ratliff and Jonathan Zerger.

* Springfield law firm Baird, Lightner, Millsap & Harpool announced its newest associate, Teresa Baird. Baird joins from the Fairfield and Woods law firm in Denver. Her practice focuses on estate planning and trust administration, probate litigation, corporate law, nonprofit organizations and intellectual property.

* Spencer Fane Britt & Browne named six attorneys who will become partners of the firm on Jan. 1. New partners in the firm's Kansas City office are: Chad Beaver, Drew Brought, Craig Davis and Adam LaBoda. Eric Kelly, in the firm's Overland Park, Kan., office as well as Joe Bednar, in Jefferson City, are also advancing to partner.

* The Joplin law firm of Fleischaker & Williams announced that Benjamin Slawson joined the firm as an associate. Slawson recently completed an LL.M. in taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law. In addition to general practice, Slawson aims to help his clients in the areas of complex estate planning, elder law, tax minimization techniques and IRS tax controversy matters.

* Marc Goldstein joins Polsinelli Shughart as an associate in the firm's trial department in St. Louis. He will focus on labor and employment law. Goldstein will assist clients with civil litigation, investigations and responses to charges of employment discrimination on behalf of employers, and counsel companies about various labor and employment issues. He previously practiced at Gallop.

* Lathrop & Gage partner Don Dagenais in Kansas City will be honored at the 2012 ArtsKC Awards Luncheon & Campaign Launch. Dagenais, who focuses on real estate law, will receive the ArtsKC Virtuoso Award for his leadership in the arts in 2011. Founded in 1999, ArtsKC (The Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City) develops programs designed to strengthen the region through the arts.

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