Paul L. Smelcer

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...

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...

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...

I became a trial lawyer because I trust myself to never give up on someone I am fighting for. It’s that simple. Once I agree to represent someone, that’s what I do. Tirelessly. No matter what. Whatever it takes. Until we win. You can ask every client I’ve ever represented—they’ll tell you that the road to seeking justice (and I mean full justice) includes every terrain. There are challenges to overcome, battles to fight, and elation to feel when we we’ve me...

Larry Hepler, Partner larry.hepler@heplerbroom.com www.heplerbroom.com Practice Description: Mr. Hepler focuses his practice on the defense of complex, multiparty civil cases and class actions involving a wide range of subjects, including all aspects of consumer fraud, personal injury, products liability, pharmaceutical, commercial, toxic torts, construction and insurance litigation. Mr. Hepler has represented clients in numerous jurisdictions, with primary emphasis in Illinois and Missouri. ...

For more than two decades, Tony has passionately committed himself to protecting the patents and intellectual property of clients all over the United States. His opponents have included some of the largest companies in the world, including Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and more. Thanks to his dedication to the law and skillful application of its principles, he has stood against these industry giants and successfully protected the interests of his clients each time. He represents a uniquely divers...

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...

Trevor A. Sondag 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. Trevor A., who practices law in Belleville, Illinois, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Trevor A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark H. Levison is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Copyright Law. Mark H., 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 Mark H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Fox Arnold has served as general counsel and special counsel to public agencies, represented firms engaged in the underwriting and public offering of securities, and has represented developers and owners during acquisition and construction of governmental, commercial and urban redevelopment projects. In addition, he has structured sales tax rebate, tax abatement and tax increment financing transactions, and served as counsel in tax-incentivized transactions. Mr. Arnold has served as bond...