Christopher Layloff

John Simmons founded the firm in 1999 with seven employees and a focus on asbestos litigation. Under his leadership, the firm has expanded to more than 250 employees, including more than 80 attorneys, spread between five offices in Alton, St. Louis, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles. John has overseen some of the biggest verdicts and settlements in the history of asbestos litigation. The firm’s first trial involved a roofer and former Shell Oil employee diagnosed with mesothelioma...

Richard A. Mueller is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Richard A., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrew Ryan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Andrew, who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Margaret A. Hesse primarily practices in the areas of education law, employment law, and litigation. She has represented school districts in employment matters, including Title VII, the Safe Schools Act, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Equal Pay Act. She has represented employers in labor matters before the United States Department of Labor/Wage and Hour Division, the Illinois Commission on Human Rights and the Illinois Educatio...

Richard W. Hill III practices in the areas of health care law and corporate law, with an emphasis on regulatory defense, health care fraud and abuse compliance, corporate transactions, as well as the negotiation and drafting of various software, equipment, and professional service agreements. He advises a broad array of healthcare providers, from hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities to individual physicians, nurses, and counselors. Rich advises clients on vari...

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...

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.

Jacque Albus is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Trusts and Estates. Jacque, 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 Jacque is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

For many years Rick Wuestling has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America© in the areas of Legal Malpractice Defense and Personal Injury Defense, for St. Louis, Missouri. In 2012, 2016, 2017 and 2021 Best Lawyers named him as its Lawyer of the Year for Legal Malpractice Defense in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2016, Best Lawyers named him as its St. Louis Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation Defense. In past years, Super Lawyers has named him as one of the top fifty lawyers...