Cassie L. Barr

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 ...

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...

Richard D. Watters advises all types of health care clients from large hospital systems to individual physicians, nurses and other health care professionals on various matters including general health care laws and regulations, business operations, contracting, governance and corporate issues, licensing/regulatory compliance, the Stark Law, fraud and abuse, EMTALA, Certificates of Need, medical staff issues, practice and business acquisitions, joint ventures, Medicare and Medicaid conditions ...

Thomas J. O’Toole, Jr. is a founding member of the law firm of Mickes O’Toole, LLC. He chairs the firm’s Business and Corporate Group, while his practice focuses on real estate, specializing in zoning/land use, condemnation and real estate transactions. He received both his undergraduate degree (1979) and law degree (1985) from St. Louis University. Tom is a respected leader in the St. Louis legal and business community. For nearly 30 years, he has built a solid reputation f...

Michael Quillin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Michael, 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 Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Todd Neilson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Todd, 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 Todd is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Derek P. Ruzicka focuses his trial practice in a diverse range of areas, with an emphasis in complex litigation. He has handled 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. Whether through dismissal, favorable trial verdicts, or reasonable case resolutions, he has successfully handled many difficult matters through completion. Derek’s experience is extensive...

A. Courtney Cox is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. A. Courtney, who practices law in Edwardsville, Illinois, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which A. Courtney is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brenda G. Baum is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Brenda G., who practices law in Edwardsville, Illinois, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brenda G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen R. Woodley is a native of St. Louis who completed his undergraduate degree at Washington University in 1978. In 1982, Mr. Woodley received his DMD degree, also from Washington University, and in 1986 he graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law. In 1982, after completing his DMD degree, Mr. Woodley joined the then Gray & Ritter firm as a full-time law clerk, assisting primarily in the development of professional negligence cases. After graduation from law school in 1...