Husch Blackwell has elected 23 attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2021.
“These attorneys have earned the right to be part of our Partnership through an exceptional level of commitment to our firm and our clients,” said Chairman Greg Smith and Chief Executive Paul Eberle. “They understand the advantages of consistent collaboration with other team members and they are committed to Husch Blackwell’s continued growth.”
The Husch Blackwell Partnership Class of 2021 includes:
Andrew T. Bergman, Kansas City, Energy & Natural Resources – Drew has experience representing clients in mergers and acquisitions, restructuring transactions, negotiating joint ventures and partnerships, and financing transactions. He helps clients in the energy space with acquisition, development, and financing of wind and solar projects as well as other energy assets. He has also advised private equity firms in structuring, negotiating and managing investments in companies across a broad range of industries. Drew earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law, his M.B.A. from the University of Kansas School of Business ad both B.S. and B.A. degrees with distinction from the University of Kansas.
Scott W. Brunner, Milwaukee, Financial Services & Capital Markets – Scott is corporate counsel and transaction counsel for privately held companies, including multigenerational and institutional private businesses, emerging and growth companies, venture groups and private equity funds. His practice includes managing mergers and acquisitions for buyers and sellers, counseling on securities laws and structuring private placements and private funds. Scott is also active in southeastern Wisconsin’s growing startup community and is counsel to a number of early-stage companies. Scott earned his J.D. cum laude from Marquette University School of Law and his B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota
Anne D. Cartwright, Kansas City, Healthcare & Education – Annie counsels colleges, universities, academic medical centers, and K-12 schools on education and general operational issues. With a focus on regulatory matters, including Federal Student Aid and accreditation, she provides general counsel services, compliance guidance and audits, investigations, and customized training to help clients navigate the web of requirements impacting their organizations. She guides institutions responding to regulatory inquiries, and helps them resolve disputes when needed. Annie earned her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her B.A. from Lake Forest College.
Jennifer Cecil, The Link Virtual Office, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – As a team lead, Jennifer works on toxic tort and premises liability cases that involve nationwide asbestos exposure claims. Representing primarily oil refineries and oil producers, she develops defense strategies, completes discovery and fact investigations, manages responsive pleadings, deposes fact witnesses, drafts dispositive motions and prepares cases for trial. In addition, Jennifer works on product liability matters where she drafts pleadings, prepares corporate representatives and experts for deposition, analyzes and manages documents and conducts legal research. Jennifer earned her J.D. from Vermont Law School and her B.S. magna cum laude from Texas Christian University.
Ellee Cochran, Austin, Healthcare – Ellee represents physicians, hospitals, managed care companies, and other healthcare entities in their regulatory compliance and day-to-day operations. She counsels clients through a variety of state and federal regulations, including Medicare and Medicaid enrollment and payment, fraud and abuse laws, government and private audits, as well as medical staff governance and patient issues. Ellee earned her J.D. magna cum laude from St. Mary’s University School of Law and her B.B.A. summa cum laude from Texas Tech University, Rawls College of Business, and clerked for the Honorable Justice Paul Green at the Supreme Court of Texas.
Christine E. Fabin, Kansas City, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – Christine co-leads the business immigration and global mobility practice. She partners with clients to plan and implement practical immigration sponsorship strategies based on in-house experience. Christine also regularly defends employers before federal agencies on a wide range of immigration issues and investigations. A significant portion of her immigration practice focuses on regulatory compliance, policy development, and employer training. Prior to joining Husch Blackwell, Christine was counsel for a multi-national technology company, leading the organization’s business immigration efforts. Christine earned her J.D. from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College and her B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Maria C. Faconti, Austin, Energy & Natural Resources – Maria’s practice focuses primarily on administrative regulatory issues on behalf of clients before the Public Utility Commission of Texas and on transactional work for both renewable and non-renewable energy development clients. She assists clients in all aspects of the energy regulatory processes helping ensure all regulatory permits have been obtained, drafting and negotiating power purchase agreements and shared facility agreements, and assisting clients in understanding the energy regulatory frameworks within Texas and nationwide. Maria obtained her J.D. at William & Mary Law School, her LL.M at the University of Texas School of Law and her B.A. magna cum laude at UCLA.
Tyler C. Hibler, Kansas City, Healthcare, Life Sciences & Education – Tyler has significant experience representing companies and individuals, particularly those in the healthcare and education industries, in complex litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country. Focusing on labor and employment issues, he regularly defends employers against administrative complaints and investigations issued by government enforcement agencies, and serves as a resource to provide employers with advice, counseling, and training on workforce management. Tyler earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and his B.A. magna cum laude from Baker University.
Alison Hollender, Dallas, Healthcare – Alison represents individual healthcare professionals, hospitals and health systems, and ambulatory surgical centers and provides counsel on licensure and certification of healthcare facilities, regulatory compliance and operations, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, and corporate healthcare transactions. She regularly helps clients license and accredit new facilities, relocate, undergo mergers and changes of ownership, and navigate transactions in compliance with healthcare regulations. Alison earned her J.D. cum laude from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, and her M.H.A. and her B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Ashley W. Jordaan, Denver, Food & Agribusiness – Ashley focuses her practice on labor and employment matters, with an emphasis on providing practical and sound advice to minimize client risk and handling all facets of employment-related litigation. She provides companies with a full complement of day-to-day employment counsel that fits their business needs and is a persuasive advocate in court against a wide variety of employment claims. Ashley acts as a trusted advisor to clients with national operations and thousands of employees across the U.S., as well as to smaller employees locally. Ashley earned her J.D. cum laude from Southern Methodist University and her B.A. from Duke University.
Dieter J. Juedes, Milwaukee, Financial Services & Capital Markets – Dieter is a litigator specializing in complex commercial litigation and insurance coverage. He regularly represents companies, shareholders, and other stakeholders in a wide variety of quickly moving business-to-business matters. Dieter also represents major insurance carriers throughout the nation on difficult insurance coverage issues involving nearly every kind of claim and policy type. Dieter earned his J.D. cum laude from Marquette University Law School and his B.S. magna cum laude from University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.
Anne M. Mayette, Chicago, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – As an employment law attorney, Anne concentrates her practice on providing advice to employers inside and outside the courtroom. She advises employers on day-to-day practical issues related to their employees as well as handling related litigation matters brought the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, related state agencies and before state and federal courts. Anne works closely with clients to guide them through the litigation process and advise them of the employment law issues facing their businesses. Anne earned her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and her B.A. from Michigan State University.
Sabrina A. Neff, Houston, Financial Services & Capital Markets – Sabrina focuses her practice on consumer and commercial financial services litigation. She represents lenders in both state and federal court, defending against suits brought by consumers and asserting creditors’ rights in commercial default litigation. She also has expertise in mortgage litigation and Texas home equity lending, as well as usury laws and interest rate exportation. Sabrina works closely with clients to analyze business practices and recommend process improvements to mitigate future legal action. Sabrina earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and both her M.A. and B.A. from Baylor University.
Emily M. Park, Jefferson City, Healthcare – Emily helps healthcare providers navigate complex healthcare laws, including state license and certification requirements, Medicaid and Medicare participation, and reimbursement rules. She advises a broad array of healthcare practitioners, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, hospices and home health agencies, as well as behavioral health and Medicaid waiver providers. In addition to healthcare regulatory matters, she also assists clients navigate transactional issues, thereby providing a full spectrum of assistance for healthcare clients. Emily earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Missouri School of Law and her B.A. summa cum laude from Columbia College.
Jessica L. Prosperi, The Link Virtual Office, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – Jessica concentrates her practice on toxic tort matters with an emphasis on asbestos litigation. She has represented a broad range of sectors that includes automotive, aviation and railroad companies and currently serves on the national coordinating counsel teams for several large portfolios. She has extensive experience in all levels of asbestos litigation including serving on trial and appellate teams. Jessica earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Missouri.
Brian M. Pullin, Austin, Energy & Natural Resources – Brian guides renewable energy clients through every stage of their projects. Navigating a wide range of real estate and energy transactions, he helps energy developers, lenders and tax equity investors through the complexities of real estate in their projects from idea through implementation. Brian brings a background in contract analysis and experience working with oil and gas companies to his client work and served as in-house counsel to a financial institution prior to joining Husch Blackwell. Brian earned his J.D. at the Oklahoma City University School of Law and his B.A. at the University of Texas – Austin.
Michael T. Raupp, Kansas City, Healthcare & Education – Michael is an appellate attorney and litigator who assists organizations with constitutional, statutory and procedural issues. He has specific experience navigating litigation and challenging regulatory-compliance matters for colleges and universities, including Titles IV, VI and IX of the Higher Education Act, First Amendment free-speech protections for students and faculty, and student discipline. Assisting clients with appellate proceedings, complex litigation and high-stakes regulatory disputes, he works with both public and private institutions to achieve successful outcomes. Michael earned his J.D. with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law and his B.S. with distinction from the University of Kansas.
Robert M. Romashko, The Link Virtual Office, Healthcare – Robert puts six years of experience as senior attorney with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel to work for clients in his practice. He helps clients with state and local franchise, income, sales, use and property tax issues, as well as multistate voluntary disclosures for taxes owed. For non-profit clients, he coordinates with the IRS to secure exemption status and assists with ongoing compliance issues. Robert also defends organizations and professionals against allegations or investigations of white-collar crimes. Robert earned his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and his B.A. from Michigan State University.
Tana F. Smith, The Link Virtual Office, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – Drawing upon her family background in small business, Tana helps clients such as Fortune 500 and insurance companies with mass tort, premises liability and product liability matters. Her assistance includes advising on case settlement values, working with corporate witnesses, and positioning cases for resolution and trial. Additionally, she assists with motion strategy related to jurisdictional and scientific defenses in courts across the country. Tana earned her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law and her B.S. with honors from the University of Missouri.
A. James Spung, St. Louis, Healthcare – James specializes in class action, multidistrict, complex, commercial, and appellate defense litigation, where he has pressed his clients’ cases in federal and state courts. Much of his practice concentrates on clients including pharmacy benefits managers or hospital and pharmacy organizations, but he has also advocated for many other clients in a wide range of industries, including sporting goods, consumer products, and mass media. James earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law and two B.A. degrees from Whitworth University. After law school, he clerked for Hon. Emmett Ripley Cox of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Jamie H. Steiner, Denver, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – Jamie focuses her practice on a wide range of complex civil disputes, including primarily commercial and products liability disputes. She works with a diverse array of clients, and always welcomes the opportunity to learn about new products, companies and industries. Jamie enjoys being in court and has first-chaired trials and hearings in Colorado and across the country. She also enjoys getting to know her clients and helping them find the most efficient and effective ways to achieve their goals. Jamie earned her J.D. at Emory University School of Law and her B.A. from Stanford University.
Chris C. Sundberg, Denver, Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation – Chris concentrates his practice in commercial contracting and providing guidance on regulatory matters. He manages large books of procurement contracts for clients whose businesses range from service providers to consumer goods to heavy equipment sales. He also assists with corporate formation, governance and structuring, and handles mergers and acquisitions across numerous industries. Chris puts his deep aviation background to work advising commercial airline and aviation clients and serves on the firm’s cannabis team. Chris earned his J.D. cum laude from the American University College of Law and his B.A. from Duke University.
Nate Volz, Milwaukee, Financial Services & Capital Markets – Nate’s practice is focused on corporate finance. He represents and advises commercial banks, nonbank lenders, public and private companies, private equity funds and their portfolio companies in a wide range of financing transactions, including senior secured and unsecured credit facilities, domestic and cross-border syndicated and bi-lateral financings, acquisition financings, mezzanine financings, and cash-flow, asset-based and split-lien transactions. Nate has experience across many sectors and industries, ranging from middle-market financings to investment-grade facilities. Nate earned his J.D. summa cum laude from DePaul University College of Law, and both his M.Acc. and B.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.