TRANSITIONS - the Missouri Bar

TRANSITIONS
Thomas E. Roszak, managing
partner of Dysart, Taylor, Lay, Cotter
& McMonigle, P.C., and Amanda C.
Smith, a staff attorney with Shook,
Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P., were honored
with the Robert C. Welch Volunteer
Attorney Project Award. They received
the award in recognition of devotion
to the provision of pro bono legal
services.
The KCMBA selected John W.
Cowden, a member of Baker, Sterchi,
Cowden & Rice, L.L.C., and R. Pete
Smith, a partner at McDowell, Rice,
Smith & Buchanan, P.C., as this year’s
recipients of the Deans of the Trial
Bar Award. John “Jack” C. Craft of
Lathrop & Gage, L.L.P. and Thomas
W. Van Dyke, a partner at Bryan
Cave, L.L.P., were honored with the
Barons of the Boardroom Award.
The Missouri State Public Defender
System announces that Thomas J.
Porto, formerly with the Columbia
Public Defender’s office, has joined
the Kansas City office.
Springfield Area
The Springfield Metropolitan Bar
Foundation is the recipient of the 2010
National Conference of Bar Foundations
Award for Bar Foundation Excellence
in Public Service Programming.
This award is presented annually to a
bar foundation that demonstrates excellence
and impact to its community
in either its programs or grant-making
awards. The foundation received the
award at the American Bar Association
2010 Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
The Missouri State Public Defender
System announces that Eria A Graf
and Louis J. Nolan have joined the
Springfield office. Ms. Graf was
formerly with the Carthage Public
Defender’s office.
St. Louis Area
Polsinelli Shughart, P.C. announces
that Frederick W. Miller, III has
joined the firm as a shareholder in
the affordable housing and tax credit
finance and development practices.
Additionally, labor and employment
attorney Elisa B. Reinsmith has
joined the firm as an associate in the
firm’s trial department, focusing on
workplace issues counsel and litigation.
Frederick W.
Miller, III
Luke A. Baumstark and Michelle
Akinsiku Hayde have joined Williams,
Venker & Sanders, L.L.C.
as associates. Baumstark, a former
assistant circuit attorney for the City
of St. Louis, focuses his practice on
personal injury, products liability and
premises liability. Prior to entering
private practice, Ms. Hayde was an
assistant attorney general for the State
of Missouri, practicing in the litigation
division. She works with commercial
litigation, medical malpractice, toxic
torts and insurance defense.
Luke A.
Baumstark
Elisa B.
Reinsmith
Michelle A.
Hayde
The Mound City Bar Association
has awarded this year’s Legal Service
Award to the Honorable Jimmie M.
Edwards, circuit judge for the 22nd
Judicial Circuit. Judge Edwards has
initiated numerous programs during
Precedent Summer 2010
his tenure, including the Simon Foundation
Transitions Program that assists
juveniles in obtaining a G.E.D. or high
school diploma, then places the youths
in job settings. Most recently, Judge
Edwards played a part in the opening
of the Innovative Concept Academy,
which specifically addresses the needs
of troubled students.
In addition, Judge Edwards has
been named the 2010 recipient of the
Raymond Pace Alexander Award by
the Judicial Council of the National
Bar Association. The award was presented
to Judge Edwards at the Thurgood
Marshall Awards Luncheon in
New Orleans.
George L. Fitzsimmons,
a St. Louis attorney,
arbitrator and mediator,
has been inducted into the
Academy of Court Appointed
Masters (ACAM).
ACAM is an honorary
organization for lawyers who have
served with distinction as “Special
George L.
Fitzsimmons
Master” in complex litigation matters,
including mass torts, class actions, and
toxic torts.
The Simon Law Firm, P.C. announces
that John E. Campbell has
been awarded the John C. Shepherd
Professionalism Award by the Bar
Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
for exemplifying tenets of professionalism.
The Honorable Stephen
N. Limbaugh, Sr., senior
counsel of Armstrong
Teasdale, L.L.P., has been
selected to receive the
Stephen N.
American Inns of Court’s Limbaugh, Sr.
2010 Professionalism Award
for the 8th Circuit. The award was
presented at the 8th Circuit Judicial
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