Carolyn M. McAllister

Patrick Hinrichs is recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Patrick has been included in Best Lawyers since 2026. The recognition is based on peer review within the legal profession among attorneys practicing in similar areas of law. Patrick Hinrichs is a personal injury attorney with The Bruning Law Firm, where he represents individuals and families in personal injury litigation matters. A St. Louis native, Pat...

Elizabeth Carver focuses her practice on appellate litigation in federal and state courts. She has successfully handled appeals in a wide variety of substantive areas, including employment, banking, class action, product liability, breach of contract, tort and insurance matters. She has extensive experience representing defendants in appeals involving large punitive damage awards. Ms. Carver has argued cases before the Eighth Circuit, the Federal Circuit, the Missouri Supreme Court, and the E...

John Barnerd is a Partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy. He joined the firm in 2002 as mesothelioma and asbestos attorney, and today is a member of the firm’s management committee. He previously served for two years as an Assistant State’s Attorney for Madison County, Ill. John earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Illinois College and graduated with his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law. In 2010, Chicago Lawyers Magazine recognized him as a top 40 Under 40 ...

Patrick J. Hagerty is a native of St. Louis. He completed his undergraduate studies at Quincy College in 1981. He received his law degree in 1985 from Saint Louis University School of Law, and served as an editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal. Mr. Hagerty is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois, and in federal district courts and courts of appeal in Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas and the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Circuits. He serves on the Board of Governors of th...

John D. Kershman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. John D., who practices law in Clayton, Missouri, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Amy Bender-Levy is a member of the Firm’s family law department and is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois as well as the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Amy’s practice focuses on divorce, custody, modification, orders of protection, third-party custody, guardianship of adults and minors, and grandparents’ rights. Amy serves as a Guardian ad Litem representing the best interests of children in those cases in which she is appointed by the cou...

Richard D. McNelley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Richard D., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William S. Thomas is one of the firm’s many experienced trial lawyers. His practice is diverse, with an emphasis in complex litigation. He has tried cases in a number of difficult venues, from the City of St. Louis, Missouri, to Madison and St. Clair Counties, in Illinois, and Federal Court in East St. Louis and St. Louis. He was lead trial counsel in one of the longest civil jury trials in St. Louis County history, which lasted 100 trial days. In addition to his trial practice, Bill is...

AJ Bruning – Attorney at Law AJ Bruning is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and founding attorney at The Bruning Law Firm in St. Louis, Missouri. For more than two decades, AJ has dedicated his career to representing individuals and families injured by negligence, workplace accidents, and unsafe products. His practice focuses on workers’ compensation , personal injury , and catastrophic injury claims , where he has built a reputation for securing meaningful results for his cli...

Allison Gerli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Allison, 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 Allison is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.