Husch Blackwell is pleased to welcome 22 attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2020.
“Congratulations to these 22 attorneys as they transition to the next level of their careers with Husch Blackwell,” said Chairman Greg Smith and Chief Executive Paul Eberle. “We’re proud to note that nearly 60 percent of this class is comprised of women. Each of these individuals has earned a place in our partnership by providing an exceptionally high level of commitment to our firm and to our clients.”
The 22 members of Husch Blackwell’s 2020 partner class are:
Gabrielle Baumann Adams, Milwaukee, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – Gabrielle develops and executes effective strategies for clients across industries including finance, insurance, and chemical and machine manufacturing in all phases of dispute resolution, from discovery through appeal. Additionally, she regularly represents clients in toxic tort, products liability, personal injury, insurance coverage, and breach of contract litigation. Gabrielle earned her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School and her B.A., with distinction, from the University of Michigan.
Jacque Albus, St. Louis, Financial Services & Capital Markets – Jacque provides customized strategies for tax and estate planning, trust administration, business succession planning and lifetime gift planning for high net-worth clients and their families. She works with each client’s team of advisors, accountants and other professionals to design and implement sophisticated planning strategies to minimize income and transfer taxes, provide flexibility to achieve client goals, and ensure trusts and entities are properly administered and managed through the generations. A certified public accountant and former FBI agent, Jacque earned her J.D. magna cum laude from St. Louis University School of Law and her B.S. magna cum laude from St. Louis University.
Andrea Austin, Denver, Real Estate, Development & Construction – Andrea focuses her practice on public-private partnerships and social infrastructure development, including negotiating transactions for major league sports facilities, development of higher education capital programs, and adaptive re-use projects. Andrea earned her J.D. magna cum laude from Marquette University Law School, her M.G.A. from University of Pennsylvania, and her B.A. with distinction from Stanford University.
Cynthia G. Fletcher, Milwaukee, Financial Services & Capital Markets – Cyndi advises financial institutions and borrowers in structuring, documenting, negotiating and closing secured and unsecured commercial financing transactions. She has extensive experience with credit facilities of all sizes and types, and also counsels financial institutions on informal workouts and forbearance situations when loans become troubled. Cyndi earned her J.D. from Marquette University Law School and her B.A. cum laude from University of San Diego.
Ryann A. Glenn, Omaha, Food & Agribusiness – Ryann represents clients throughout all phases of civil litigation, often focusing on representing companies and individuals who focus their business within the food and agribusiness industries. In addition to focusing her practice as an experienced litigator, Ryann also serves as a member of the firm’s Food Safety and Regulation Initiative. In this role, she has assisted clients by providing advice related to challenges that appear within food safety and transportation regulations. Ryann received her J.D. cum laude from the Creighton University School of Law and her B.A. cum laude from Augustana College.
Laura J. Grebe, Milwaukee, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Technology & Transportation – A registered patent attorney, Laura manages large domestic and international patent portfolios for U.S. and foreign-based companies in a number of technologies across industries. In addition to drafting and prosecuting patent applications, Laura conducts and reviews patentability and freedom to operate searches to assist clients in appropriately pursuing meaningful patent protection. Laura also manages large domestic and international trademark portfolios and additionally advises on licensing and other contractual matters. Laura earned her J.D. from Marquette University Law School and her B.S. magna cum laude from Marquette University.
Scott J. Helfand, Chicago, Financial Services & Capital Markets – Scott defends providers of consumer financial services and other business clients in class actions, individual lawsuits, arbitration and against government enforcement actions. Additionally, he regularly represents clients in a wide range of general commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract claims and alleged business torts. Scott earned his J.D. cum laude from DePaul University College of Law and his B.A. magna cum laude from University of Pittsburgh.
Tiffany A. Hetland, Kansas City, Healthcare – Tiffany focuses her practice on regulatory and transactional law. She has experience with the 340B drug pricing program, specialty pharmacy arrangements, pharmacy benefit management matters, physician-hospital affiliation and integration models, managed care and insurance contracting, Medicare and Medicaid, and regulatory, compliance, contracting and transactional matters associated with providers and hospitals. Tiffany earned her J.D. with honors from St. Louis University School of Law and her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis.
Timothy A. Hilton, Kansas City, Healthcare – Tim is a comprehensive advisor and litigator for companies with labor and employment issues. He helps clients navigate the ever-changing waters of federal compliance, particularly those that involve the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Tim defends state and federal employment claims at the agency, trial and appellate levels and also has experience with immigration compliance. Tim earned his J.D. with distinction from University of Iowa College of Law and his B.A. from University of Missouri.
Ben H. Kass, Denver, Energy & Natural Resources – Ben focuses on renewable energy development, construction, financing and transactional matters. He uses his experience, as both an advisor to clients and a former client himself, to provide pragmatic and cost-effective legal advice and solutions focused on identifying and minimizing risk while achieving favorable results. Ben earned his J.D. and LLM/MRLS from University of Denver Sturm College of Law and his B.S. from University of Minnesota.
Anna R. Kimbrell, Kansas City, Energy & Natural Resources – Anna represents developers and owners in the acquisition, development, funding and financing of wind and solar projects. She works with clients from early-stage greenfield efforts through permitting, site design, landowner engagement and local approvals to ready projects for construction and financing. She also does transactional deal work, representing buyers, sellers and sponsors in the acquisition, sale, financing and investment of renewable energy projects. Anna earned her J.D. from University of Kansas School of Law, her M.B.A. from University of Kansas School of Business, and her B.A. from American University.
Scott Loftin, Denver, Healthcare – Scott focuses his practice on regulatory and transactional healthcare law. He helps healthcare providers and suppliers of all sizes navigate the complex state and federal regulatory environment, including Medicare and Medicaid requirements of participation, licensing requirements, reimbursement issues and general operational and risk-management considerations. Scott’s clients include individual healthcare workers to large hospitals, national telehealth companies, healthcare industry associations, private equity firms and more. Scott earned his J.D. from University of Colorado Law School and his B.A. from Rice University.
Tanya M. Maerz, St. Louis, Healthcare – Tanya’s experience as a litigator helps her work with clients to both avoid unnecessary litigation and to strategically navigate through litigation when it does arise. Tanya is responsible for developing, advising, and implementing appropriate and effective dispute resolution strategies for clients of all sizes from the initial analysis of a dispute through appeal. Her practice includes the representation of healthcare clients including providers, nursing homes, and practitioners, as well as business and corporate clients in business-critical claims and decisions. Tanya earned her J.D. magna cum laude from University of Missouri School of Law, her M.P.A. from University of Missouri Harry S Truman School of Public Affairs and her B.A. cum laude from Truman State University.
Ben A. McMillen, Kansas City, Manufacturing, Technology & Transportation – Ben represents clients in state and federal courtrooms and in arbitration hearings involving complex issues regarding discrimination, harassment, retaliation, termination, compensation, non-compete agreements and safety. Additionally, Ben is a sought-after presenter for companies on discrimination, harassment and other labor-related topics and offers consultation on company policies and employee handbooks. Ben earned his J.D. summa cum laude from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and his B.A. from Northwest Missouri State University.
Kelli J. Meilink, Kansas City, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – Kelli leads the immigration practice at Husch Blackwell, focusing on business immigration and global mobility. She represents a wide range of employers in obtaining and maintaining employment authorization for foreign national employees on a temporary and permanent basis and provides immigration compliance counseling to employers. Kelli also guides employers in responding to investigations and audits by immigration-related government agencies. A significant portion of Kelli’s practice is devoted to the special immigration rules for health care organizations and colleges and universities. Kelli earned her J.D. cum laude from Seton Hall University School of Law and her B.A. with distinction from University of Kansas.
Jeffrey M. Miller, Denver, Real Estate, Development & Construction – Jeff manages a wide array of real estate transactional matters. He counsels clients on the sale, purchase, financing, development, operation, lease and disposition of apartments, mixed-use communities, retail facilities, office space, multi-use real estate and self-storage facilities. He also represents landlords and tenants negotiating warehouse leases and retail leases, and represents real estate investors in the development and acquisition of commercial buildings used by cannabis tenants. Jeff earned his J.D. from University of Denver Sturm College of Law and his B.A. from Allegheny College.
Wendy M. Proctor, Chattanooga, Real Estate, Development & Construction – Wendy concentrates her practice on negotiating complex lease agreements for clients across the nation. She represents landlords, developers, and tenants in a broad range of market areas, from big-box retail concepts, restaurants, ground-up developments, redevelopments, and ground leases. In addition to counseling retail leasing clients, Wendy also negotiates leases for office, healthcare, industrial and warehouse uses. Wendy earned her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law, her M.B.A. from Rockhurst University and her B.A. magna cum laude from the University of St. Thomas.
Christina M. Pyle, Kansas City, Food & Agribusiness – Christina assists clients with complex commercial disputes and class actions at both the state and federal level. With a focus on business litigation and as a member of the firm’s Franchise & Distribution team, she regularly advises and defends franchisors against claims by franchisees and third parties. Christina earned her J.D. from Notre Dame Law School and her B.S. from Kansas State University.
Eric J. Rakestraw, St. Louis, Manufacturing, Technology & Transportation – Eric prepares and prosecutes patents involving polymers, pharmaceuticals, precision agriculture and other emerging technologies. He is also an experienced intellectual property litigator, representing companies as both plaintiffs and defendants in claims of infringement, misuse, dilution and unfair competition. Eric earned his J.D. summa cum laude from Southern Illinois University School of Law and his B.S. from University of Missouri.
James (Jake) C. Remington, Milwaukee, Real Estate, Development & Construction & Technology – Jake represents developers, construction companies, and technology and communications companies in their zoning and project management efforts. When disputes arise, Jake represents clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts, arbitration, and before state and federal regulatory agencies on issues arising under the Telecommunications Act, contractual disputes, rights of way, facilities leasing, siting and easements. Jake earned his J.D. from University of Wisconsin Law School and his B.A. from University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Linda L. Walsh, Washington, DC, Energy & Natural Resources – Linda focuses on regulatory issues affecting the electric utility industry nationwide. She earned her J.D. cum laude from Syracuse University, her M.A. from University of Hartford and her B.A. from University of Connecticut.
Jameson J. Watts, Austin, Financial Services & Capital Markets – Jameson represents businesses and individuals in litigation and bankruptcy matters. Banks, private lenders, loan servicers and other financial institutions as well as businesses, debtors and trustees turn to Jameson for representation in state and federal courts, bankruptcy courts, and arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association. He also handles pre-bankruptcy workout matters and state court insolvency and receivership cases. Jameson earned his J.D. from University of Houston Law Center and his B.A. from University of Texas at Austin.