St. Louis-based business & civil litigation law firm BB&D is pleased to announce that Christopher R. (“Chris”) Pieper of Columbia, Missouri, has been named the newest member of the firm. Chris returns to private practice following service at the highest levels of state government, including directing the Missouri Department of Economic Development and serving as Chief of Staff to the Governor. Chris will be located in the firm’s Columbia, Missouri, office and his law practice will focus primarily on government affairs, economic development, real estate, administrative law, litigation and regulatory compliance.
Chris’ wide range of expertise and unique experience is a tremendous benefit to our clients and our firm,” said founding partner and litigation attorney, Robert Blitz. “We are excited that Chris is joining us and look forward to him being a part of our continued growth and continued successes for our clients.”
A native of O’Fallon, Missouri, Chris was recruited from private practice at a large St. Louis law firm to join the incoming administration of former Governor Jay Nixon in 2009. During his time in state government, Chris served as 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).
Chris was appointed General Counsel and later to direct the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED), a cabinet-level agency with more than 900 employees and overall budget and programs totaling more than $1 billion. As director, Chris served on numerous boards, including the Missouri Development Finance Board (MDFB) and the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC). Chris later served as Senior Policy Advisor, Counsel, and ultimately Chief of Staff to the Missouri Governor, where he was engaged in all aspects of State government, including a budget of more than $27 billion and 44,000 state employees.
“I greatly enjoyed my time in public service; I learned a tremendous amount and was involved in some of the most consequential issues facing our state,” said Pieper. “I am excited to start the next chapter of my career by returning to private practice with an outstanding group of lawyers at one of the most well-respected firms in the state.”
Chris graduated magna cum laude with undergraduate degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and cum laude from the University of Missouri School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and Lead Articles Editor for the Missouri Law Review. Chris served as law clerk to the Hon. Ronnie L. White, then-Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, and to the Hon. John R. Gibson, Senior Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Chris has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the “Up and Coming Lawyer” Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2012.
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Over the last two decades Blitz, Bardgett and Deutsch has earned a respected reputation in the legal community as a top-flight litigation, real estate and business transactional firm based in St. Louis, Missouri, 120 S. Central Ave., 63105, with offices in Jefferson City and Columbia. BBD’s team of seasoned attorneys and notable up-and-coming associates are also recognized standouts in matters of Employment Law, Regulatory Work, Tax & Estate Planning and Alternative Dispute Resolution.