Zachary (Zach) Winter is an associate attorney in the St. Louis office who represents clients in a wide range of tax, estate planning, real estate, and corporate matters, including business entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. Prior to joining the firm, Zach worked as a tax associate at a “Big Four” professional services […]
Kelley 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.
Patrick (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. Pat brings extensive problem solving and technical experience to the table. Prior to joining the firm, he lived in […]
Angela 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.
Chris 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.
Richard 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.
Bridget 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.
Kevin 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.
Robert 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.
Chris 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.