Russell "Russ" Riggan

Deme Sotiriou is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Deme, 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 Deme is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Bob Stewart has extensive employment law/labor law trial experience in federal and state courts (jury and non-jury), as well as before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and arbitrators. Throughout his career, counseling clients on virtually all aspects of the employment relationship, successfully to avoid litigation, has also been a focus. Another significant aspect of Bob’s practice has been assisting employers in dealing with labor unions, both during collective bargaining, st...

Partner Melissa Crowe Schopfer joined Simmons Hanly Conroy in 2005 as an asbestos and mesothelioma attorney. In November 2012, she became an asbestos trial team leader, where her responsibilities include managing a team of attorneys and legal staff. She has worked on over 500 cases in the past 10 years and helped recover over $100 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of individuals and families impacted by mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. She has represented clients ...

Philip Graham is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Philip, who practices law in St. Louis, Missouri, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Philip is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Attorney Drew Sealey works as a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy. He focuses his practice on representing individuals and their families across the country impacted by asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma. He has helped recover more than $50 million in verdicts and settlements on their behalf. “Mesothelioma is such a rare disease and often times the initial shock of a diagnosis, coupled with the cost of treatment and the need to file a lawsuit, can be overwhelming for my clien...

Jared Howell is a distinguished trial attorney at Hamilton Weber, renowned for his masterful command of civil litigation defense. With a sharp focus on medical malpractice, premises liability, complex commercial disputes, and labor and employment law, Jared delivers unparalleled representation marked by precision, foresight, and unwavering commitment to his clients’ success. His strategic acumen and meticulous approach to unraveling intricate legal challenges have earned him a reputatio...

AJ Bruning – Attorney at Law AJ Bruning is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and founding attorney at The Bruning Law Firm in St. Louis, Missouri. For more than two decades, AJ has dedicated his career to representing individuals and families injured by negligence, workplace accidents, and unsafe products. His practice focuses on workers’ compensation , personal injury , and catastrophic injury claims , where he has built a reputation for securing meaningful results for his cli...

Heidi M. Ottsen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Heidi 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 Heidi M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen R. Woodley is a native of St. Louis who completed his undergraduate degree at Washington University in 1978. In 1982, Mr. Woodley received his DMD degree, also from Washington University, and in 1986 he graduated from the Saint Louis University School of Law. In 1982, after completing his DMD degree, Mr. Woodley joined the then Gray & Ritter firm as a full-time law clerk, assisting primarily in the development of professional negligence cases. After graduation from law school in 1...