Jonathan H. Garside

William S. Thomas is one of the firm’s many experienced trial lawyers. His practice is diverse, with an emphasis in complex litigation. He has tried 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. He was lead trial counsel in one of the longest civil jury trials in St. Louis County history, which lasted 100 trial days. In addition to his trial practice, Bill is...

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

Amy Hoch Hogenson is a member of the Firm’s family law department and is certified to practice law in the State of Missouri and Illinois. Her areas of practice include complicated divorce (involving high conflict custody, and business valuation), modification and enforcement (contempt) of child custody orders, paternity cases, grandparents’ rights, and adoptions. A graduate of St. Louis University School of Law, Ms. Hoch Hogenson served as Managing Editor of the St. Louis Universi...

Richard Elias is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Richard, 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 Richard is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Elaine Pudlowski joined the office of Frankel, Rubin, Klein, Payne & Pudlowski, P.C., in 1997. Elaine practices extensively in the field of domestic relations where she represents both men and women in matters pertaining to divorce, paternity, child custody, child support and spousal support. Elaine also works in the juvenile court handling adoptions, detentions and care and protection matters as well as in the probate court assisting families with legal guardianships and estates. In addi...

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

Dennis J. Graber 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. Dennis J., who practices law in Belleville, Illinois, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dennis J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. I come from two hard-working parents who were also born and raised here in St. Louis. In my early twenties, I was involved in a serious motor vehicle crash that left me unable to walk for several months. This experience was life-changing in every sense of the term. I learned first-hand how insurance companies could take advantage of someone without a law degree. But some good came out of it - ultimately this was the event that sent me on a path to...

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...

Patrick J. Hagerty is a native of St. Louis. He completed his undergraduate studies at Quincy College in 1981. He received his law degree in 1985 from Saint Louis University School of Law, and served as an editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal. Mr. Hagerty is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois, and in federal district courts and courts of appeal in Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Arkansas and the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Circuits. He serves on the Board of Governors of th...