Russell F. "Russ" Watters

Jim has extensive experience in handling labor and employment law litigation in federal and state courts, and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and several state agencies. He also regularly advises employers on all labor and human resource management issues in an effort to prevent or resolve employee issues before they escalate into legal disputes.Prior to his pr...

Shareholder Perry Browder is head of the Asbestos Department at Simmons Hanly Conroy. He has worked for more than 30 years helping numerous families resolve hundreds of million dollar-plus cases. He started at the firm in 2001 and played a key role in helping the firm develop a national reputation. Within a few years, he had successfully secured one of the largest asbestos verdicts in the country, a $250 million verdict against U.S. Steel. Today, Perry manages the firm’s more than 50 as...

Lisa G. Moore was working full time in business management while she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Columbia College in 1994. When she entered law school in 1995, she began her legal career as a law clerk with Paule, Camazine and Blumenthal, P.C. and in 1998 she received her law degree from St. Louis University School of Law. Ms. Moore’s natural leadership skills are evident in both her legal career and business career prior to law school. Listed as a Missouri and...

Burton D. Garland, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Burton D. practices law in St. Louis, Missouri Best Lawyers has recognized Burton D. Garland, Jr. since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Burton D. Garland, Jr. is held by other lawyers.

Jonathan Marks , Family Law Attorney in the St. Louis area, received his Juris Doctorate in 1997 from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Jonathan is admitted to practice in the State of Missouri, the State of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Central Distr...

Ted L. Perryman is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Insurance Law, Litigation - Insurance, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Transportation Law. Ted L. practices law in St. Louis, Missouri Best Lawyers has recognized Ted L. Perryman since 2010. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the profes...

Mark Piontek is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Municipal Law. Mark practices law in St. Louis, Missouri Best Lawyers has recognized Mark Piontek since 2021. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Mark Piontek is held by other lawyers.

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...

Melissa Pesce is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Melissa practices law in St. Louis, Missouri Best Lawyers has recognized Melissa Pesce since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Melissa Pesce is held by other lawyers.

James F. Bennett has a national practice of cases that are not expected to settle before trial or appeal. He is lead trial and appellate counsel in high-profile cases, and has tried to verdict many cases involving eight- and nine-figure amounts in dispute. He has also prevailed before trial in other, similar cases and has argued appeals in eight different appellate courts around the country. Three times in recent years, he was awarded the “largest” defense or plaintiff verdict awa...