Melissa A. Szymanski

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...

Mr. Rolnicki practices Intellectual Property law in the firm's Business Services group. He is registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is a former Patent Office Primary Examiner. He has extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting patent and trademark applications in the United States and in many foreign countries. Mr. Rolnicki's patent preparation and prosecution experience encompasses technologies including aircraft components, conveyor systems, footwear, gear transmiss...

Kate L. Nash practices primarily in the areas of higher education, education, non-profit, litigation, labor and employment law. Kate works primarily with educational institutions, including public and private colleges and universities, community colleges, public school districts and charter schools. She regularly advises these institutions, as well as private employers, on all manner of employment issues including Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, the FMLA and related state laws. She advises inst...

J. Bradley Young has almost thirty years of experience in all aspects of workers compensation defense in both Missouri and Illinois, including the investigation of claims, trials, and appellate work. Mr. Young has spoken before corporate organizations and at in-house client seminars for many years, and frequently lectures for nationally known seminar companies on topics relating to workers’ compensation claims, employer liability, and third-party administration of claims.

Aaron M. DeLong is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Transactions / UCC Law. Aaron M., 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 Aaron M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

James H. Ferrick is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. James H., who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Irene J. Marusic is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Irene J., 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 Irene J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brenda G. Baum is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Brenda G., who practices law in Edwardsville, Illinois, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brenda G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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