Brendan R. Zee-Cheng

Jim Layton joined the firm in 2017 after serving more than 22 years in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office—nearly all of those as the State’s principal civil appellate lawyer, Solicitor General. Jim practices in both appellate and trial courts, particularly in matters involving complex legal questions, including those arising under the U.S. and Missouri constitutions, Missouri school funding and other education statutes, discrimination laws, and Missouri tax laws. He repr...

Luther W. Simmons, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Luther W., who practices law in Alton, Illinois, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Luther W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael K. Daming is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Real Estate Law. Michael K., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin Lake is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Kevin, who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kevin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Kevin is a St. Louis, Missouri native and third-generation lawyer. He earned his B.A. in English from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 199...

Jonathan P. Soifer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Copyright Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Patent Law and Trademark Law. Jonathan P., who practices law in Clayton, Missouri, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Alexandra Kohlfeld is a family law attorney with Page Law and handles domestic relation cases and other family law matters. Alexandra has been practicing family law her entire career. The majority of her practice is within St. Louis County, the City of St. Louis and St. Charles County. She also handles cases throughout Missouri, including Lincoln, Jefferson, and Franklin counties. Alexandra is exceptional in the following practice areas: Divorces – Contested and Uncontested Paternity &n...

Partner Melissa Crowe Schopfer joined Simmons Hanly Conroy in 2005 as an asbestos and mesothelioma attorney. In November 2012, she became an asbestos trial team leader, where her responsibilities include managing a team of attorneys and legal staff. She has worked on over 500 cases in the past 10 years and helped recover over $100 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of individuals and families impacted by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. She has represented clients ...

Mark R. Sanders is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Mark R., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tad Eckenrode is the founder and managing office of Eckenrode-Maupin, Attorneys-at-Law, a small boutique litigation practice with primarily an insurance defense focus, although the firm attorneys also handle construction and municipal law issues, estate planning and business/corporate issues. In the realm of the firm's litigation practice, and that of Mr. Eckenrode personally, cases involving medical malpractice, product liability, nursing home injuries and deaths, automobile accidents, premi...

James F. Bennett has a national practice of cases that are not expected to settle before trial or appeal. He is lead trial and appellate counsel in high-profile cases, and has tried to verdict many cases involving eight- and nine-figure amounts in dispute. He has also prevailed before trial in other, similar cases and has argued appeals in eight different appellate courts around the country. Three times in recent years, he was awarded the “largest” defense or plaintiff verdict awa...