National law firm Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce it has elected 23 attorneys to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2026.
“Our success is rooted in the dedication and talent of our people,” said Jamie Lawless, Husch Blackwell’s Chief Executive. “Elevating these attorneys to partner celebrates their individual accomplishments and underscores our commitment to cultivating leaders who embody collaboration and client-first thinking.”
This year’s partner class brings a wide range of experience across industries, disciplines, and geographies, ensuring that we are well-equipped to meet the evolving needs of our clients. Their varied backgrounds and perspectives strengthen our ability to deliver innovative solutions and practical guidance for even the most complex challenges. Whether our clients are looking to solve immediate problems or chart a course for future growth, our new partners have the insight and skills to help them reach their goals.
The Husch Blackwell partnership class of 2026 includes:
- Michelle Alvey (Intellectual Property, St. Louis)
- Meredith Benage (Development Incentives & Tax Credits, St. Louis)
- Maria Bock (M&A, Denver)
- Drew Canning (Healthcare, The Link—Cincinnati, Ohio)
- Mary Deweese (Education, Chicago)
- McKinley Duke (Private Wealth, Kansas City)
- Sean Farrell (Energy, The Link—San Antonio)
- Sara Fevurly (Commercial Litigation, Kansas City)
- Brooke Ginsburg Guerrero (Trust, Estate, & Fiduciary Litigation, Dallas)
- Angela Harden (Commercial Litigation, Milwaukee)
- Shayan Heidarzadeh (Commercial Litigation, Oakland)
- A.J. James (Higher Education, Kansas City)
- Casey Kidwell (Corporate, Omaha)
- Kate Ledden (Commercial Litigation, St. Louis)
- Michael Long (Telecom, Milwaukee)
- Brendan Melander (Labor & Employment, Phoenix)
- Mary Kate Mullen (Commercial Litigation, St. Louis)
- Adam Royal (Healthcare, Austin)
- Aaron Schepler (Transportation, Phoenix)
- Mary Sprouse (Energy, Kansas City)
- Erin Strohbehn (Trust, Estate, & Fiduciary Litigation, Milwaukee)
- Jeff Vercauteren (Energy, Madison)
- Keith Ybanez (Labor & Employment, Denver)
In addition, Husch Blackwell also elevated 10 attorneys to the position of senior counsel, effective January 1, 2026. These attorneys play a key role on our client teams—from their legal technical knowledge to their ability to tackle complex issues. At Husch Blackwell, the senior counsel role provides career path opportunities that meet our lawyers where they are. It is also a role that honors our lawyers’ niche areas of experience, providing our clients with access to fulsome solutions and strategic insights in focused areas. The 2026 senior class include includes Alexandra Brakefield, Thomas Cocchi, Kristen Durant, Brady Hunt, Brynna Krough-Deaton, Kirsten Large, Dana Maugeri, Bryce Navarro, Courtney Steelman, and Ryan Wautlet.