Claire M. Schenk

Firm Partner Michael Stewart focuses his legal practice on helping individuals and families who have been wrongfully injured. Mike has represented people across the United States in wrongful death and personal injury cases. He currently represents individuals and their families in product liability, wrongful death, railroad injury and FELA claims and other catastrophic injury cases. Before joining the firm, Mike was a member of the United States Marine Corps from 1984 to 1988. His Education &...

Don O’Keefe has over 25 years of experience as a trial lawyer. In all, he has tried more than 100 cases to verdict in state and federal courts in Missouri and Illinois and arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association and United States Arbitration and Mediation. Don has argued before appellate courts in both Missouri and Illinois and has been before the Missouri Supreme Court on multiple cases. Don is a member of many prominent legal and state bar organizations including the ...

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...

Michael Barth is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Michael, 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 is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Debra K. Schuster has practiced Elder and Disability law since 1999, having practiced health law since 1991. Ms. Schuster’s practice focuses on elder law issues , a growing area of law with few experienced practitioners. Ms. Schuster works with and advises social workers, geriatric and care managers, financial planners and accountants, psychiatrists and geriatric physicians about incapacity issues and financial exploitation. Ms. Schuster’s practice focuses on multi-disciplinary co...

M. Graham Dobbs graduated with honors from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2000, where he served as a Student Editor of the Journal of Health and Hospital Law, was a member of the Health Law Association, and completed the school’s nationally recognized Health Law Certificate program. Mr. Dobbs also received an Academic Achievement Award in Evidence, and served as an intern at the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri. He obtained his BSN, nursing undergraduate degree...

John Kemppainen has more than 30 years of courtroom experience defending clients in Missouri and Illinois. He is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, recognized as a Missouri Super Lawyer, and has been named one of the Top Lawyers in Missouri by the St. Louis Post Dispatch . His practice includes personal injury, products liability, wrongful death, class actions, and toxic torts, with clients ranging from insurers and corporations to municipalities and individuals. He also serves as National Coord...

Michelle J. Spirn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Michelle J., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michelle J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John S. Wallach is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. John S., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrew Blackwell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Andrew, 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 Andrew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.