J. Bennett "Ben" Clark

Tom Clark serves as the firm's Chief Operating Officer and leads the firm’s St. Louis office. His expertise encompasses all aspects of employee benefits programs, including the design, implementation and compliance of retirement plans, health and welfare plans, and executive and incentive compensation arrangements. He also has a robust practice assisting covered service providers in meeting their ERISA compliance needs. Mr. Clark’s vast litigation experience complements the firm&r...

Kevin Carnie Jr. has earned a reputation for taking on some of the most high-profile cases in the region, securing nearly half a billion dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients. Carnie focuses on catastrophic personal injury and product liability cases. His product liability cases range from accidents involving cranes, vehicles, construction equipment, heavy machinery, factory equipment, and medical devices. His personal injury practice includes medical malpractice, auto accidents...

Justin L. Assouad is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Justin L., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrew Ruben is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law, Litigation - Construction and Real Estate Law. Andrew, who practices law in Clayton, Missouri, has been recognized since 2021. 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...

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

Thomas K. Neill practices primarily in civil litigation, including personal injury, medical malpractice, products liability, Federal Employer’s Liability Act, and consumer class actions. He is admitted to practice in Missouri, Arkansas, and Illinois. Mr. Neill’s work for his clients has been recognized on numerous occasions. In 2013, he received the St. Louis County Bar Association’s Roy F. Essen Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, given annually to an attorney under 36 years of...

James Corrigan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. James, who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael J. Payne is a partner at Frankel, Rubin, Klein, Payne & Pudlowski, P.C. and focuses his practice on estate planning, fiduciary litigation and civil litigation. He counsels individuals, couples, families and small business owners in creating an estate plan that is specifically tailored to their individualized needs. His passion for estate planning is evident in his approach of collaborating with clients to solve their most important personal, legal and business planning decisions. ...

Melanie Gurley Keeney practices in the areas of education, higher education, labor and employment, and immigration law. Her experience in education law includes representing school districts and institutions of higher education regarding various personnel and student matters, including tenure, terminations, discrimination, First Amendment, discipline, special education, Title IX, sexual discrimination, § 1983 claims, Open Meetings law, OCR complaints and other issues. Melanie represents ...