James L. "Jay" Nouss Jr.

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...

Matthew Buesching is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Matthew, 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 Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Don Schlapprizzi is the President of Schlapprizzi Attorneys at Law and is one of the most highly regarded trial lawyers in the State of Missouri. In 1981 he founded Schlapprizzi PC, which he has continued to expand through the years, to ensure those hurt by another's negligence or other wrongful act could obtain justice. He was the lead trial lawyer in the longest civil jury trial in the history of Missouri. Over the years, his firm has handled a wide variety of cases in Missouri and Illinois...

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...

Andrew pairs his experience in tax and estate law with a focus on client responsiveness to help families and businesses structure plans for their valuable assets. He works with clients on an array of estate planning matters, including wealth transfer planning, asset protection planning, and closely-held business succession planning. He frequently assists clients with trust and estate administration. He often advises clients on modifying irrevocable trusts. Additionally, he represents clients ...

Harry W. Wellford, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Harry W., 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 Harry W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Attorney Nick Angelides is a shareholder at Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC. He joined the firm in 2003. He currently helps direct the legal strategy for all of the firm’s asbestos and mesothelioma cases. In addition, he oversees the firm's Los Angeles office. A veteran of more than 300 asbestos cases, Nick has extensive experience representing individuals exposed to asbestos through their work as pipefitters, sheet metal workers, ship yard workers, HVAC workers and more. His legal career span...

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...

Michelle H. Basi practices primarily in the areas of education, special education, litigation, and labor and employment law. Michelle regularly advises school districts and charter schools on student matters, including special education and Section 504 compliance, First Amendment rights, Title IX compliance and student discipline. Michelle also advises schools districts and charter schools on employment matters, including Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA, and the Teacher Tenure Act. Mic...

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 ...