Ellen J. Bruntrager
Ellen Bruntrager is an associate attorney in the St. Louis office and represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including employment discrimination and wage and hour disputes. Prior to joining the firm, Ellen worked as an associate in a St. Louis area law firm and represented individuals in civil rights litigation. Additionally, […]
Education
J.D., Saint Louis University – 2021B.A., University of Missouri -- 2017
Admissions
MissouriIllinois
Eastern District of Missouri
Western District of Missouri
Southern District of Illinois
Heidi L. Eckert
Member - St. LouisHeidi Eckert represents clients in all aspects of employment, labor, and civil rights disputes. Heidi is an active litigator who has defended claims in state and federal courts as well as before governmental agencies. She has also arbitrated and mediated numerous matters to successful resolution on behalf of her clients. Her litigation experience includes assisting […]
Education
Southern Illinois University School of Law (J.D., 1999)University of Missouri (B.A.,1994)
Admissions
IllinoisMissouri
James H. Ferrick
Member - St. LouisJim Ferrick is a seasoned litigator who represents clients in high stakes litigation throughout the country. He works to understand your business and how your goals drive strategy. Mr. Ferrick is experienced in handling all phases of litigation, from the temporary restraining order/injunction phase through trial and appeal. He has tried numerous cases to verdict, including in both bench and jury trials. He has argued before the Missouri and Illinois Appellate Courts and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Mr. Ferrick has brought and/or defended claims of virtually every type in the commercial and employment law contexts, including having handled claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, unfair competition (including in relation to trade secrets and restrictive covenants), commercial torts, violation of wage payment obligations, discrimination and retaliation, defamation, and many others. He also has substantial experience in products liability litigation.
Mr. Ferrick is at the forefront of counseling and litigation involving restrictive covenants and trade secrets in both the employment and sale-of-business contexts. He has represented clients across multiple industries and in various forums, including state and federal courts throughout the country as well as in arbitrations before FINRA and the AAA. He has particular expertise in disputes and counseling related to financial advisor transitions. In his day-to-day role counseling clients on risk management and other issues, Mr. Ferrick frequently drafts non-solicitation, non-compete and non-disclosure agreements.
Mr. Ferrick’s securities litigation experience involves defending brokerage firms in class actions and arbitrations alleging state and federal securities law violations, unsuitability and fraud in courts and tribunals throughout the country. In addition, he has represented broker-dealers, registered representatives, and investment advisors in matters involving non-solicitation agreements, trade secrets, and breach of loyalty or fiduciary duty throughout the country. Jim regularly appears on clients’ behalf in the FINRA arbitration forum as well as state and federal court. Mr. Ferrick also provides pre-employment counseling to effectively avoid litigation.
Mr. Ferrick has litigated trust and estate disputes on behalf of both beneficiaries and fiduciaries. He has handed a variety of different cases including disputes over trust distributions, will contests, fiduciary duty claims, and cases involving a promise to make a gift and the Deadman’s Act.
Mr. Ferrick has handled class actions throughout the country involving wireless telephone service, the securities industry, consumer products, insurance coverage and tax issues. He has handled all stages of class action defense, including class certification, dispositive motions, expert discovery, and settlement administration.
Honors
2025 Best Lawyers in AmericaEducation
University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1994University of Notre Dame, B.B.A. Finance, 1991
Admissions
MIssouriIllinois
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
Julie M. Chambers
Associate - St. LouisJulie Chambers is an associate attorney in the St Louis office and represents clients in civil litigation.
Julie joined the law firm after serving as Lead Counsel for ReubenLaw LLC, providing legal counsel related to regulatory matters, employment contracts, family law litigation, and landlord-tenant disputes while supervising legal staff and managing a volume of 350+ traffic and criminal cases for clients in Missouri and Illinois.
Julie previously served as a judicial law clerk for The Honorable Mary Barzee Flores in Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court.
Julie attended the University of Missouri School of Law where she served as the Note and Comment Editor for the Journal of Dispute Resolution and the President of the Women’s Law Association.
Practice Areas
Education
J.D., University of Missouri – 2009B.A., Vanderbilt University – 2005
Admissions
MissouriIllinois
Andrew W. Blackwell
Member - St. LouisAndrew is an experienced trial attorney who focuses his practice on complex commercial and employment disputes, as well as emerging issues related to digital assets. He has successfully tried cases to resolution in federal and state court, in arbitration, and before administrative bodies.
Prior to joining the firm, Andrew founded the first practice group dedicated exclusively to digital assets and blockchain technology in the Midwest and has represented businesses, developers, and investors across the country in matters related to digital assets and decentralized protocols.
Andrew is an Adjunct Professor at the Washington University School of Law where he teaches Trial Practice and Procedure.
Andrew is an active member and Past President of the St. Louis Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and The Theodore McMillian American Inn of Court.
Representative Matters
As lead counsel, Andrew successfully obtained a jury verdict in a business dispute where the opposing party was found to have fraudulently induced Andrew’s client into a business deal and later tried to retain the profits from the venture. The jury returned verdicts in favor of Andrew’s client on all counts – both on the claims submitted by the client, as well as defendant’s counterclaims. As part of the judgment, the court awarded the client its attorney’s fees.
As lead counsel for the founder of a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol, Andrew obtained the dismissal of a putative class action complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York alleging the founder and co-defendants were members of a general partnership operating an illegal lottery in violation of New York state law. The lawsuit and dismissal were covered in the Wall Street Journal.
Andrew successfully obtained a jury verdict on competing claims for declaratory judgment between former business partners where the client was alleged to have improperly revoked the membership interest of the former partner and breached their fiduciary duties. Andrew drafted the special interrogatories that were submitted to the jury. The jury’s answers to the special interrogatories resulted in the court entering judgment in favor of the client, which included its attorney’s fees.
As lead counsel, Andrew successfully arbitrated a claim between two law firms where a dispute had arisen related to their business relationship. Andrew argued the case before a three-member arbitration panel. The case ultimately settled on confidential terms.
Andrew successfully obtained summary judgment for a local college where plaintiffs alleged that the college failed to protect them against stalking and sexual harassment by a fellow student under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The case was appealed and summary judgment in favor of the client was affirmed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Pearson v. Logan Univ., 937 F.3d 1119 (8th Cir. 2019).
In a case of first impression, Andrew obtained the reversal of an adverse summary judgment ruling for a client that asserted it was a third-party beneficiary to a contract and entitled to payment for its services. The Court of Appeals found that the client materially changed its position in justifiable reliance on the contract entitling it to payment for its services and reserved the trial court’s summary judgment ruling. Hilliker Corp. v. Watson Prop., LLC, 667 S.W.3d 117 (Mo. Ct. App. 2022).
Andrew successfully defended the State of Missouri when a political action committee and one of its founders brought action against the Missouri Ethics Commission and several of its members, seeking to enjoin a state enforcement proceeding. The federal district court abstained from hearing the case and the decision was affirmed by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Geier v. Missouri Ethics Comm’n, 715 F.3d 674 (8th Cir. 2013).
Andrew obtained summary judgment where the client was alleged to have subjected the plaintiff, a laborer, to a hostile work environment and racial discrimination under Title VII when he was removed from a construction project. The client moved for summary judgment on the grounds that plaintiff failed to establish a prima facie case for disparate treatment and because there was a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for his removal. Furthermore, the client was not plaintiff’s employer as it did not control the terms and conditions of plaintiff’s employment. The district court agreed and granted summary judgment in favor of the client.
Andrew favorably resolved alleged False Claims Act (FCA) violations against a testing laboratory. After meeting with the United States Attorney’s Office and Missouri Medicaid Audit & Compliance, the client’s license was restated and the FCA violations were resolved pre-suit.
Honors
Super Lawyers, Rising Star – 2017 – PresentEducation
University of Missouri School of Law, J.D., 2012The George Washington University, B.A. International Affairs, Middle East Studies, 2009
Admissions
MissouriUnited States District Courts -- Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Missouri, Southern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Kelley F. Farrell
Member - St. LouisKelley Farrell is a member in the St. Louis office, concentrating her practice in real estate, employment, trust and estates and commercial litigation.
Kelley’s extensive real estate practice includes representing condemning authorities, developers, and property owners in eminent domain cases involving total and partial takings of commercial, residential, and industrial properties, landlord-tenant actions, and neighboring property disputes.
Her employment practice focuses on the defense of employment disputes in federal courts, state courts and administrative agencies. She also advises many retail, manufacturing, bank and service-oriented clients on a wide variety of issues, including hiring, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, discrimination laws, wage and hour laws, employee leave rights and workers’ compensation, among others. Her most recent jury trial victory was representing a large insurance company accused of race discrimination and retaliation in Jackson County in August 2023. After six days of trial, the jury rendered unanimous defense verdicts in favor of Kelley’s client.
Kelley has also litigated a wide variety of matters in the trust and estate area, including trust and will contests, claims for tortious interference with inheritance or expectancies, trust and will constructions, trust reformations and actions against Trustees for breach of fiduciary duties. In 2015, Kelley was a key member of the BBD trial team that secured a defense judgment in a multi-million dollar trust case in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County. That win was identified by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly as one of the top five defense verdicts of that year.
Kelley’s commercial litigation experience includes serving as trial counsel in lawsuits for Fortune 500 companies and other corporations, privately held companies and individuals. Kelley prosecutes and defends a variety of commercial, business torts, contract and insurance-related litigation.
Kelley received her Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude from the University of Missouri in 1991. She earned her law degree from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis in 1994, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. Kelley currently serves as Adjunct Professor for Trial Practice for Washington University School of Law (2011-present). She is also a Master Member in the Theodore McMillian Inn of Court, the St. Louis Chapter of the American Inns of Court.
Honors
2015-2025 Best Lawyers in America2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
2015 Largest Reported Defense Wins, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2008 Rising Star, Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
Education
J.D., Washington University, 1994B.A., University of Missouri, 1991
Admissions
MissouriIllinois
Anthony Bonuchi
Member - Kansas CityAnthony “Tony” Bonuchi’s litigation practice focuses on business disputes and appellate matters. He also leads the firm’s Kansas City office, where business and community leaders, fellow lawyers, and individual clients turn to Tony’s broad experience and talent for understanding the big picture when faced with complex and thorny problems.
Tony is recognized as one of the Kansas City region’s leading appellate lawyers. He has briefed and argued a wide range of appeals at the state and federal levels. Both before and during trial, other lawyers often call on Tony for strategy advice or counsel about the law, procedures, and motion practice critical to their cases. And he is regularly retained to provide these services and more as embedded appellate counsel at trial in high stakes litigation.
In addition to his thriving appellate practice, Tony handles all aspects of litigation for his clients – from investigation through trial. His clients range from startups, entrepreneurs, and individuals to some of the country’s most successful companies. Over the years, Tony’s cases have covered a broad scope of subjects, including commercial and business disputes; corporate governance; business ownership disputes; officer, director, fiduciary, and professional liability; construction; antitrust; intellectual property; administrative and constitutional law, consumer protection, mass torts, class actions, personal injury, and employment.
Tony’s diverse practice mirrors his background and career arc. Born and raised in a small town in North Central Missouri, he was the first in his family to earn a college degree. He went on to graduate near the top of his law school class at the University of Missouri, after which he clerked for the Honorable Phillip Garrison on Missouri’s Court of Appeals for the Southern District.
Tony began private practice at a regional, Kansas City-based firm, which soon grew to one of the nation’s largest. He spent eight years as an associate and partner in the firm’s the appellate and litigation practice groups. Tony then founded and ran his own firm, growing a successful appellate and business litigation practice.
Tony and his wife Becca live in Kansas City, Missouri and have two daughters, Avi and Frankie.
Honors
2023-2025 Best Lawyers in America2020-2024 Super Lawyer, Appellate Practice
2014-2020 Rising Star, Super Lawyers
2013 Up & Coming Attorney, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2013 Best of the Bar, Kansas City Business Journal
Education
University of Missouri – Columbia, 2005 J.D.University of Central Missouri, 2002, B.S. Political Science
Admissions
Missouri, 2005 (member in good standing)United States Court of Appeals for the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & Federal Circuits
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States District Court for the District of Kansas
United States District Court for the District of Colorado
United States Court of Federal Claims
Patrick Archer
Associate Attorney – St. LouisPatrick (Pat) Archer is an associate attorney in our St. Louis office and advises clients in a wide range of matters relating to contract negotiations, business entity formation, corporate finance, estate planning, and commercial real estate. Prior to joining the firm, Pat was based in Phoenix, Arizona, first as an auditor with Deloitte & Touche, […]
Education
J.D., Arizona State University, 2021Master of Accounting, Ohio State University, 2015
B.A., University of Dallas, 2014
Admissions
MIssouriThomas H. Limbrick
Associate Attorney – St. LouisThomas (Tom) Limbrick is an associate attorney in our St. Louis office and represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation, including business torts, class actions, employment disputes, and personal injury. Prior to joining the firm, Tom served as a law clerk to Judge Ronnie L. White of the U.S. District Court for the […]
Education
J.D., University of Missouri, 2016B.A., Missouri State University, 2013
Admissions
MissouriIllinois
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Recent News
Mark R. Sanders
Member – St. LouisMark Sanders is a member of the St. Louis Office who concentrates his practice in commercial, real estate, and fiduciary litigation. His diverse experience extends to a broad range of matters including probate and fiduciary litigation, the uniform commercial code, business torts, contract disputes, shareholder disputes, non-compete litigation, trade secrets, and real estate disputes. Mark […]
Honors
2025 Best Lawyers in AmericaAV rated by Martindale Hubbell
Education
J.D., Saint Louis University School of Law, 1997, Magna Cum LaudeB.S., Central Missouri State, 1994, Cum Laude
Admissions
MissouriIllinois
American Bar Association
Angela J. Burke
Associate – ColumbiaAngela Burke is an associate in the Columbia office whose practice focuses on Regulatory & Government Solutions, Real Estate and Public Finance.
Angela joined the firm after serving as Senior Counsel for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, providing legal counsel related to various tax credit and incentive programs, including the Historic Preservation Tax Credit and Brownfield Tax Credit, advised on all aspects of compliance with the Missouri Sunshine Law, and provided legal counsel on government contracts, employment and federal compliance issues.
Angela previously served as Deputy General Counsel in the Office of Governor Jeremiah (“Jay”) Nixon and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Governmental Affairs Division of the Office of the Missouri Attorney General. Angela began her legal career as an associate in the Public Finance and Public Law practice group of a major St. Louis law firm.
During law school at the University of North Carolina School of Law, Angela served on the North Carolina Journal of Law and Technology.
Practice Areas
Education
J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law, 2008B.A., summa cum laude, St. Louis University, 2005
Admissions
MissouriIllinois
Christopher R. Pieper
Managing Member – ColumbiaChris Pieper is a trusted advisor and counsel, skilled in developing and executing effective strategies for highly complex legal, policy, and public relations challenges and opportunities. As a member of the firm, Chris’s practice is focused on regulatory & government solutions, real estate, public finance and incentives, local government, environmental, tax advice and controversies, energy and utilities, international business, administrative law, and appellate litigation. Chris recently returned to private practice following service at the highest levels of state government, including directing the Missouri Department of Economic Development and as Chief of Staff to the Governor.
Chris began his legal career at a large St. Louis law firm before being recruited to the incoming administration of Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, where he served in various roles, including Legislative Director for the Missouri Department of Revenue, Special Assistant Attorney General, Deputy General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Trustee for the Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund (PSTIF), one of the largest insurers of storage tank liability in the country.
In 2010, Chris was appointed General Counsel and later to act as Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED), a cabinet-level agency with more than 900 employees and overall budget and programs of more than $1 billion. Chris directed programs related to job creation, real estate and infrastructure development, workforce development, international trade, military installations, the arts, and tourism. As director, Chris served as a member of the Missouri Development Finance Board (MDFB), the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), the Missouri Workforce Investment Board, the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission, the Missouri Partnership, and the Hawthorn Foundation. As General Counsel, Chris provided strategic and legal counsel as part of the executive management team, directed all outside litigation, and represented the department before the Administrative Hearing Commission. Chris developed and drafted policy and legislation, including the Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act, which helped to revitalize Missouri’s automotive industry, Missouri Works, which streamlined Missouri’s business incentives and workforce training programs, and the Aerospace Industry Jobs Act, which strengthened Missouri’s aerospace industry by bring the first-ever commercial aircraft production to the State.
During his time with DED, Chris gained unique expertise in federal, state and local economic development programs, including Historic Tax Credits, Low Income Housing Tax Credits, Brownfield Tax Credits, Missouri Works, New Markets Tax Credits, BUILD, Missouri Development Finance Board (MDFB) Tax Credits, State Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Private Activity Bonds, Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), Tax Increment Financing (TIF), Chapter 100, Chapter 353, Community Improvement Districts (CIDs), Transportation Development Districts (TDDs), Neighborhood Improvement Districts (NIDs), among others.
Following his time as DED director, Chris was appointed Senior Policy Advisor and ultimately Chief of Staff to the Missouri Governor, engaging in all aspects of State government—a budget of more than $27 billion and more than 44,000 employees. In these roles, Chris drove passage of legislation enabling a historic bond issuance to invest more than $500 million in capital improvement projects throughout the state; coordinated the administration’s successful efforts to secure the new headquarters of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency—resulting in a $1.7B redevelopment and more than 3,000 high-paying jobs; and spearheaded administration efforts in key economic development initiatives such as City Arch River, CORTEX, and the $4.4 billion redevelopment of the former Bannister Mall in Kansas City into a global headquarters creating 15,000 new jobs.
Chris graduated with dual degrees, magna cum laude, from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and worked a news reporter and editor for Pulitzer Publishing before attending law school. He graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri School of Law and was a member of the Order of the Coif and Lead Articles Editor for the Missouri Law Review.
Chris served as law clerk for the Hon. Ronnie L. White, Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, now U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri, and as law clerk to the Hon. John R. Gibson, Senior Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit.
Chris is a member of the Boone County Bar Association, the Cole County Bar Association, the Elwood Thomas Inn of Court, and was recently appointed to a four-year term on the Missouri Arts Council.
Honors
2025, 2024 Best Lawyers in America2012 Up & Coming Attorney, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Guy Thompson S. Award for Best Casenote
James S. Rollins Award
West Publishing Award for Excellence in Legal Scholarship
Sidney Faber Award in Criminal Law
Joe E. Covington Award in Legislation
John D. Lawson Award in Contracts
Academic Excellence Awards for the Highest Performance in Advocacy & Government Agencies, Business Organizations, Conflict Theory, Contracts I & II, Criminal Law, Environmental Law, Federal Civil Rights, Food & Drug Law, Government Information & Privacy, Land Use, Legislation, Local Government Law, Public Policy Dispute Resolution, and Torts
Publications
Note, Military Discipline and Criminal Justice: Prior Military Convictions as Predicate Felonies under Missouri’s Recidivism Statutes, 70 Mo L. Rev. 219 (2005).Note, No Harm, No Rule: The Muddy Waters of Agency Policy Statements and Judicial Review under the Missouri Administrative Procedure Act, 69 Mo. L. Rev. 731 (2004).
Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Missouri School of Law, 2005B.A./B.A., magna cum laude, University of Missouri, 1999
Admissions
MissouriIllinois
United States District Court Western District of Missouri
Recent News
- Twelve BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2025 Best Lawyers in America; Jim Deutsch Selected as Lawyer of the Year
- BB&D Secures Regulatory Relief for St. Louis Home Builders Association
- BB&D Represents Quaker Window Products in $65 mil Expansion
- BB&D Opens New Office in Columbia, Missouri
- Former Governor’s Chief of Staff Christopher R. Pieper Named Newest Member of BB&D
Richard B. Rothman
Member - St. LouisRichard B. Rothman is a founding Member of the firm and has been a Member of the firm since its formation in 2000. Richard’s practice focuses on the areas of business law, mergers and acquisitions, securities compliance, real estate and estate and tax planning. Richard has lectured in the past regarding various tax and estate planning matters for the Missouri Bar Association, Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He is also a past chairman of the Probate and Trust Section, of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Richard has served as a Patent Agent for the Office of Naval Research in Washington, D.C., and as a Patent Examiner in the United States Patent Office. From approximately 1985 through 1995, Richard was a principal owner and executive in several companies successfully involved in real estate investment and development and manufacturing of finished goods for sale at retail throughout the United States.
Honors
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021 Best Lawyers in America2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Real Estate, The American Lawyer Media & Corporate Counsel Magazine
Education
J.D., Georgetown University, Editor, The Georgetown Law Journal, 1974B.S.E., Princeton University, Aerospace Engineering, 1969 Cum Laude
Admissions
MissouriRecent News
- Twelve BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2025 Best Lawyers in America; Jim Deutsch Selected as Lawyer of the Year
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2023 Best Lawyers in America
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2022 Best Lawyers in America
- Seven BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- BB&D Represents Blackbird Group in Acquisition of International Battery Manufacturer
- BB&D Represents Company and Company’s Owners in $55 Million ESOP Transaction
- BB&D Law Firm Handles $98 Million Bond Refinancing for St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority
- Richard Rothman Selected as a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Real Estate
Glenn A. Norton
Of Counsel -St. LouisGlenn A. Norton is Of Counsel with the Firm. His practice focuses on the areas of mediation, arbitration and special master appointments. He has extensive experience in the courtroom, with hundreds of jury and non-jury trials, and has been assigned by The Supreme Court to cases involving complex litigation and felony matters. As a retired judge, Glenn Norton is particularly well-suited to preside over arbitration hearings on any type of matter. Judge Norton is certified by the University of Missouri School of Law as a mediator.
Judge Norton was appointed Judge for the Missouri Court of Appeals in 2002. He served as Chief Judge of the Court and presided over the settlement docket until he left the Court in 2015. He has also previously served as Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Bob Holden, where he oversaw the legal departments for all 15 state agencies and reviewed judicial appointments, death penalty cases, budget issues, clemency applications and legislation.
Judge Norton practiced law in the former Briscoe and Norton Law firm in 1985, where he was responsible for murder trials and other high-profile felonies, and he was elected to serve as Associate Circuit Judge for Ralls County. He was re-elected to this position in 1998. Within the Judicial Branch, Judge Norton served on the Executive Council, the Legislative Steering Committee and as Chair of the Associate Circuit Judge Section.
He is also a Past-President of the Missouri Association of Probate and Associate Circuit Judges. He has been active in many areas of judicial education, including serving on the faculty of The National Judicial College, and is a frequent presenter on various topics regarding the law in Missouri and in other states. He was the Chairman of the Supreme Court’s Trial Judge Education Committee until 2014.
Judge Norton served on the Disproportionate Minority Confinement Governing Board, the Missouri Statewide Legal Services Commission for Low Income Missourians, and on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Municipal and Associate Circuit Judges Association. He serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Action for Autism, and is on the Executive Committee of Howard Park School for developmentally challenged children.
Honors
President’s Award, The Missouri Bar AssociationPractice Areas
Education
J.D., University of Missouri, Columbia, 1985B.A., Westminster College, 1982
Admissions
MissouriTenth Circuit
Bridget Monroig Nave
Member - St. LouisBridget Nave is a member in the St. Louis office who represents individuals in a wide range of estate planning techniques. She also represents business entities and individuals in taxation and general corporate matters. Bridget’s estate planning practice includes sophisticated estate planning techniques such as grantor retained annuity trusts, insurance trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, asset protection planning and joint spousal trusts. Bridget’s taxation practice includes representation of individuals and entities before the Internal Revenue Service as well as tax-exempt entity formation and classification, and tax planning in business and individual transactions. Bridget’s practice also includes general corporate representation, handling day-to-day legal matters for business clients, such as negotiating and drafting agreements, entity formation matters, and corporate governance issues.
Prior to joining the firm in June 2007, Bridget spent over 5 years as an estate planning and taxation lawyer with a large Clayton law firm after obtaining her LLM in taxation from Washington University School of Law.
Bridget is active in charitable and religious activities in the St. Louis area, including Sts. Joachim and Ann Catholic Church and School.
Honors
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021 Best Lawyers in America2024 Top Estate Planning Advisor, St. Louis Small Business Monthly
Practice Areas
CorporateEmployment
Real Estate
Regulatory & Government Solutions
Tax & Estate Planning
Education
L.L.M. in Taxation, Washington University, 2001J.D., Creighton University, 1998
B.S.B.A., Creighton University, 1996
Admissions
MissouriIllinois
Recent News
- Twelve BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2025 Best Lawyers in America; Jim Deutsch Selected as Lawyer of the Year
- Bridget Nave Named a Top Estate Planning Advisor by St. Louis Small Business Monthly
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2023 Best Lawyers in America
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2022 Best Lawyers in America
- BB&D Represents Gold Block Ventures in Acquisition and Financing of Parkville, Missouri Multi-Family Development
- BB&D Represents Minority Owner In Sale of 40% Ownership Interest Back To Company (Summer 2020)
- Seven BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- BB&D Represents Gold Block Ventures in Acquisition and Financing of St. Charles, Missouri Multi-Family Development
Kevin C. Fleming
Managing Member - St. LouisKevin Fleming is a member in the St. Louis office, representing corporate entities, public governmental bodies, and private individuals in a wide range of sophisticated and complex transactions and general representation.
Kevin’s private entity practice includes representing private entities and individuals in real estate, financing, and general corporate matters, including handling day-to-day legal matters for corporate clients such as negotiating contracts and advising on entity formation and corporate governance issues.
Kevin’s public entity practice includes representing governmental bodies in project finance and real estate development transactions. As counsel to the St. Louis Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, Kevin worked for over 18 months between 2014 and 2016 handling every aspect of the $1.1 billion riverfront stadium complex proposed to the National Football League in an effort to retain an NFL team in St. Louis. Kevin has served as outside counsel to the St. Louis County Port Authority in connection with the development and financing of new recreational sports facilities to be located in St. Louis County.
Kevin’s real estate practice includes purchase and sale transactions, commercial leasing, various types of public financings, construction and development matters, and real estate secured lending. Kevin has a robust multifamily residential development practice, including representing buyers, sellers and developers of apartment complexes in multiple states.
Kevin’s banking and commercial finance practice includes representing both borrowers and lenders in negotiating credit facilities and debt issuances, as well as handling work-outs and various types of debt restructuring and debt-related litigation disputes.
Prior to joining the firm in December 2008, Kevin spent over 5 years practicing real estate, commercial finance, and bankruptcy law with a large St. Louis law firm and 2 years practicing corporate and securities law in Menlo Park and San Francisco, California. In addition to his law degree, Kevin received an MBA from Northwestern University.
Kevin is active in a variety of civic, charitable, and religious activities in the St. Louis area, including the Dartmouth Alumni Club of St. Louis (in which he serves as Co-District Enrollment Director), the Kellogg Alumni Club of St. Louis, the St. Louis Sports Commission, Special Olympics Missouri, and Central Presbyterian Church.
Originally from Moberly, Missouri, Kevin lives in St. Louis with his wife and three young children.
Honors
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021 Best Lawyers in America2018 Top Small Business Lawyer, St. Louis Small Business Monthly
2010 Rising Star, Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
Education
J.D./M.B.A., Northwestern University, 2001B.A., Dartmouth College, 1995
Admissions
MissouriCalifornia
Recent News
- Twelve BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2025 Best Lawyers in America; Jim Deutsch Selected as Lawyer of the Year
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2023 Best Lawyers in America
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2022 Best Lawyers in America
- BB&D Represents Gold Block Ventures in Acquisition and Financing of Parkville, Missouri Multi-Family Development
- BB&D Congratulates Veterans Community Project (VCP) on St. Louis Land Dedication
- Seven BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- BB&D Represents Quaker Window Products in $65 mil Expansion
- BB&D Represents PermaSeal USA with Acquisition of Corporate Headquarters
James B. Deutsch
Member - Jefferson CityJames Deutsch is a founding Member of the Firm and Member of the Jefferson City office with over 30 years of experience representing businesses and individuals in disputes with the state, federal and local governments. His focus is on legislative and rulemaking practice, challenging agency regulatory action, issues of state and federal constitutional law, litigation and appellate practice, on all areas of administrative law with an emphasis on gaming and wagering law.
Jim has been listed for ten years in “Best Lawyers in America” in the field of gaming law and he has appeared and argued before the United States Supreme Court.
Prior to that he was a partner in a major Saint Louis, Missouri law firm practicing in Jefferson City. He spent 12 years working in government, including as: Deputy Director and General Counsel of the Missouri Department of Revenue; Commissioner, Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission; and Chief Deputy Attorney General for Missouri.
Jim has acquired a number of awards and honors over his career. He is rated A/V by Martindale-Hubbell. He has been listed in “Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers” in the field of administrative law. He is a founding member and officer of the International Masters of Gaming Law and is a graduate of the National Judicial College. He has written and lectured frequently on the subject of professional responsibility and ethics in the practice of licensed professions as a result of having been named by the Engineering News Record as “Man of the Year” and made an Honorary Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers for his work in deciding the 1981 collapse of walkways at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a former United States Marine and Vietnam Veteran. He is active in working with military veterans and veterans’ issues.
Honors
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016 and 2015 Best Lawyers in America2025 “Lawyer of the Year” in Columbia, MO for Administrative / Regulatory Law
Education
J.D., University of Missouri, Kansas City, 1978, with distinctionB.A., Southeast Missouri State University, 1974, Cum Laude
Admissions
MissouriUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Recent News
- Twelve BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2025 Best Lawyers in America; Jim Deutsch Selected as Lawyer of the Year
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2023 Best Lawyers in America
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2022 Best Lawyers in America
- Seven BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- Three BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2020 Best Lawyers in America
- James Deutsch Presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who
- Three BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2019 Best Lawyers in America
- James Deutsch Selected as an “Icon Award” Honoree by the Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Robert G. Brandt
Member - St. LouisRobert Brandt’s practice focuses in the areas of business law, mergers and acquisitions, private securities offerings, commercial practice, technology licensing, banking and finance, real estate, franchising and employment. Rob serves as outside general counsel for several mid-size, privately held businesses and outside corporate counsel to several public companies, in industries such as manufacturing, technology, real estate development, construction, medical supply distribution, equipment leasing, pharmaceuticals, software development, internet marketing, health and dental care, insurance, physician practice groups, banking and mortgage lending.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Rob held various positions within the business management and finance organizations at The Boeing Company over a ten year period. He was a member of the St. Louis University Public Law Review and an Articles Editor.
Rob counsels corporate clients that are in all phases of the business life cycle: from start-up companies to mature companies to companies that are in the process of winding up and liquidating their assets. Rob has extensive experience in: entity selection, structuring and formation of businesses, mergers and acquisitions, private securities offerings, corporate restructurings, private equity and debt financing, business succession planning, franchising, commercial practice, international compliance coordination, intellectual property licensing, real estate development, sale and leaseback transactions, employment and dispute resolution.
Rob is the recipient of Academic Excellence Awards in Corporations and Business Entities, Secured Transactions and Consumer Lending. Rob is a Member of the Leadership Counsel for The Donald Danforth Plant & Science Center and a youth soccer coach.
Honors
2025, 2024, 2023 Best Lawyers in America2023 Missouri Lawyer’s - Power 30 Mergers & Acquisitions Attorney
2021 Best Attorney, Small Business Monthly
2020, 2019 and 2018 Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
2012, 2010 and 2009 Rising Star, Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
Education
J.D., St. Louis University, 2001, Magna Cum LaudeM.B.A., St. Louis University, 1995
B.S., University of Missouri, Columbia, 1992, Dean's List
Admissions
MissouriRecent News
- Twelve BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2025 Best Lawyers in America; Jim Deutsch Selected as Lawyer of the Year
- Rob Brandt Named to First Ever Power List of Missouri M&A Attorneys
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2023 Best Lawyers in America
- BB&D Attorneys Successfully Defend Business Owner In Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit
- Rob Brandt Selected as 2021 “Best Attorney” in St. Louis
- Three BB&D Attorneys Named 2020 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
- BB&D Represents Minority Owner In Sale of 40% Ownership Interest Back To Company (Summer 2020)
- BB&D Attorneys Quickly Terminate Labor Investigation Without Penalty
Robert D. Blitz
Member - St. LouisRobert Blitz is a founding member of the firm. His practice focuses on the areas of trials and appeals. Bob’s continued success across the nation has earned him his reputation as a well-known and respected member of the trial bar. He has had great success in both defending and prosecuting business and commercial disputes, with his verdict and settlement numbers exceeding $300,000,000, including breaches of contracts, real estate, securities, first amendment, entertainment, employment and other business-related cases.
Bob has also successfully represented clients, individual and corporate, in construction, restrictive covenants, and Title VII cases and contract, discrimination, trade secrets, business torts, land use, entertainment, and other complex civil business litigation. He has represented more than 100 cases, which he has tried to verdict or judgment and many more in which favorable settlements were received for clients.
Bob holds many awards including Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in St. Louis, Attorney of the Year by Lawyers Weekly and Largest Verdicts and Settlements in the State of Missouri.
Honors
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2017, 2016 and 2015 Best Lawyers in America2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 “The Power List” for Commercial Law attorneys
2024, 2023 “The Power List” for Sports Law attorneys
2022 Missouri Lawyers Media’s Power List of Top 100 Attorneys
2022 Top Settlement Missouri Lawyers Media
2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
2016 Lawyer of the Year, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2015 Largest Reported Defense Wins, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2014 Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers – St. Louis Top 50
2011 Largest Plaintiff Wins, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2010 Attorney of the Year, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2010 Largest Plaintiff Wins, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Education
J.D., University of Missouri, Columbia, 1973B.A., Drake University, 1969
Admissions
MissouriUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
United States Tax Court
United States Supreme Court
Recent News
- Bob Blitz Named One of Missouri’s Top Commercial and Sports Lawyers
- Twelve BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2025 Best Lawyers in America; Jim Deutsch Selected as Lawyer of the Year
- Bob Blitz Named as Chair of newly created Mizzou Intercollegiate Athletics Special Committee
- Bob Blitz Named One of Missouri’s Top 100 Lawyers
- Bob Blitz’s Three Decades Of Top Verdicts & Settlements
- Bob Blitz Named One of Missouri’s Top Sports & Entertainment Lawyers
- BB&D Founding Member Bob Blitz Appointed to the University of Missouri Board of Curators
- Bob Blitz Named One of Top 100 Attorneys for 2022
Christopher O. Bauman
Member - St. LouisChris Bauman is a member of the St. Louis Office who joined the firm in 2003 after serving as Deputy Chief Legal Counsel and Interim Chief Legal Counsel in the office of Missouri Governor Bob Holden. Chris has represented a number of closely-held businesses and local businesses in connection with their complex commercial litigation, including lender disputes, construction matters, and litigation concerning operational control of business entities.
Chris’s practice is centered on trials and appeals, including litigation and appeals concerning securities class actions, tax increment financing and other public financing mechanisms, employment covenants, wrongful death, and a wide variety of contractual disputes.
Chris has acted as first chair in several cases tried to judgment as well as numerous evidentiary hearings on temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions. He has also argued appeals before the Missouri Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, Eastern and Western Districts.
Honors
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021 Best Lawyers in America2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers
2015 Largest Reported Defense Wins, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011 Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Stars
2013 Up & Coming Attorney, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2011 Largest Plaintiff Win, Missouri Lawyers Weekly
2011 David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award, Missouri Bar Foundation
Education
J.D., Harvard University, 2000, Cum LaudeB.S., Central Missouri State University, 1997, Summa Cum Laude
Admissions
MissouriUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Recent News
- Twelve BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2025 Best Lawyers in America; Jim Deutsch Selected as Lawyer of the Year
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2023 Best Lawyers in America
- Bob Blitz and Chris Bauman Secure Judgment for Concrete Strategies
- Eight BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2022 Best Lawyers in America
- BB&D Caps off 2020 with Third Straight Appellate Victory
- Three BB&D Attorneys Named 2020 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers
- Seven BB&D Attorneys Selected as 2021 Best Lawyers in America
- Missouri Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Blitz, Bardgett and Deutsch’s Rams Phone Records Subpoena