Matthew J. Smith

Adam D. Hirtz is a principal and the office litigation manager in the St. Louis, Missouri, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He prides himself on being a responsive, strategic and creative advocate and counselor for the firm’s clients. Adam has more than 25 years of experience as a trial attorney representing businesses in employment litigation in both state and federal courts throughout the country. He also acts as a mediator, including regularly mediating cases for the Equal Employment Opp...

Debbie Champion is a founding partner in the firm Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch and Champion. Ms. Champion actively practices in Missouri and Southern Illinois state and federal courts. She has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and the Eastern, Western and Southern District Missouri Courts of Appeals, and the Illinois Court of Appeals. She has also argued in the federal court of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, and the Eighth Circuit a...

Katherine E. Henry is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Katherine E., 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 Katherine E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Wright has represented victims and their families in complex personal injury, medical negligence, nursing home negligence and wrongful death cases since 1998. Chris is licensed to practice law in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas (currently inactive). Chris grew up in Oakville in South St. Louis County, and is the son of the late Colonel Allen D. Wright (US Army & MO Army National Guard) and JoAnn Wright. He graduated from CBC High School in 1990, where he was a member of the National ...

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

Gary A. Growe is a 1977 graduate of the George Washington University National Law Center. He has spent his entire professional career devoted to civil litigation and civil trial work. He has handled a wide variety of civil cases, including commercial litigation (including breach of contract cases, franchise litigation, securities litigation, anti-trust litigation and security transaction litigation), personal injury litigation (covering product liability, medical negligence, automobile litiga...

Celynda L. Brasher is a founding shareholder of the firm. She practices in the areas of education, litigation, and labor and employment law. Celynda represents numerous school districts throughout Missouri. She regularly advises boards of education and administrators on matters involving employee hiring, evaluation, remediation, and termination; student rights and discipline; special education; school finance; civil rights; contracts; the Missouri Open Meetings Act; church/state issues; and a...

Kenneth P. Danzinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs and Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Kenneth P., who practices law in Alton, Illinois, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenneth P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Andrew Kasnetz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Andrew, who practices law in Clayton, Missouri, has been recognized since 2015. 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.

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