Chambers USA recognized 59 Husch Blackwell attorneys in the 2022 guide released today, an increase of 18 ranked attorneys from 2021. In addition, 21 lawyers earned Chambers USA rankings for the first time.
Chambers also ranked Husch Blackwell in 27 departments spanning 15 of the firm’s practice areas with the firm’s Energy, International Trade and White Collar Crime & Government Investigations practices earning first-time rankings.
Client comments in the Chambers USA 2022 guide cite Husch Blackwell’s focus on solving client problems and providing excellent client service.
The firm is recognized in:
Banking & Finance
- *Colorado: Noted for its capabilities in real estate financings and lending transactions. “The team has notable experience of acting for financial institutions and REITs on a range of complex matters arising from high-value acquisitions. They are routinely called upon to provide counsel on credit facility agreements, as well as refinancings.” One client said, “The team offers exceptional service; they are very experienced, thorough and are able to operate both at a high level and in a detailed manner.”
- Wisconsin: Husch Blackwell handles a variety of commercial and public finance matters, ranging from complex financing transactions to tax credit and abatement issues, due diligence and intercreditor agreements. “They have always found the right resource for every question I have asked or every issue we needed handled,” said one client. “Their availability makes them an extension of our own team,” said another.
Cannabis Law
- USA Nationwide: Chambers cited the firm’s “cross-disciplinary team” that “utilizes its well-established base in regulatory compliance to advise on a range of transactions and business structuring matters.” Says one client, “They are impressive, they have expertise on licensing issues.” Another client notes, “The firm is responsive and available.”
Corporate/Commercial
- Nebraska: Chambers noted that the firm “boasts a distinguished corporate and commercial offering with considerable experience across a wide array of sector concerns,” with “commendable experience working with clients from the renewable fuel, energy and agribusiness sectors.” “The firm performs admirably in all areas,” states one client.
Corporate/M&A
- Kansas City and St. Louis: The team is “well placed to advise on large and complex transactions and regularly assists private and public companies with multimillion-dollar matters,” Noting the firm represents major clients in the food, agriculture, manufacturing and energy industries, one pleased client said, “Husch Blackwell LLP delivers best in class lawyers at regional firm prices without sacrificing the quality of their work or legal advice.”
- Wisconsin: Husch Blackwell “has a sophisticated corporate law team acting for a broad client base, ranging from small local businesses to large global corporations.” Attorneys are “well versed in a broad array of matters, including M&A, joint ventures, private equity transactions and licensing issues,” with “extensive experience in corporate financing matters.” according to Chambers.
*Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity)
- Texas: Husch Blackwell is “regularly engaged for their expertise in energy regulatory matters in Texas. The team regularly appear in regulatory proceedings before ERCOT and the PUC” and “possess additional strength advising on policy compliance.”
Environment
- St. Louis: Chambers said Husch Blackwell’s “established team with particular experience in litigation and regulatory compliance” has built up an “impressive client base in the agriculture, energy and chemical manufacturing industries,” with involvement “in CERCLA litigation, advising on disposal issues and remediation.” States one satisfied source, “Husch Blackwell LLP has excellent client service.”
Government Contracts
- USA Nationwide | The Elite: According to Chambers, the Husch Blackwell team is “a well-respected team noted for its expertise in advising on construction contracting matters,” and that it is “routinely called upon by government contractors to assist with significant issues, including bid protests before the GAO, contract administration matters and False Claims Act investigations.” It further cites the team’s “experience providing counsel to contractors assisting with state and federal healthcare programs.” One client said, "The team brings efficiency as a result of their broad knowledge and deep expertise." Another client noted, “Husch Blackwell's responsiveness is outstanding.”
Healthcare
- *Missouri: Husch Blackwell enjoys an excellent reputation for the strength of its healthcare practice, drawing from a “strong pool of expert attorneys with a wealth of experience in the healthcare sector.” One happy client stated, “Husch has continued to grow and add experts in different specialties and locations, making them an even stronger firm. The firm brings in the right resources as needed, which has been beneficial.”
- Texas: Chambers said Husch Blackwell is a “standout healthcare group representing clients in transactional and regulatory matters throughout Texas” with “expertise in healthcare fraud and abuse issues, governance and telemedicine.” Notes an industry source, “They have the ability to undertake very sophisticated work.”
- USA Nationwide | Highly Regarded: Husch Blackwell’s team “fields significant experience in disputes such as litigation arising from Medicare fraud” and is “noted for its expertise in transactions such as M&A, as well as advising on regulatory concerns arising from HIPAA and telemedicine issues.” Said one client, “The team do an outstanding job helping us navigate complex issues and transactions. We rely heavily on them, and they are a fantastic partner.”
*Insurance
- Missouri: Husch Blackwell is recognized for its representation of clients “across a wide range of matters, including coverage disputes, insurance sector transactions and regulatory compliance issues.”
- Texas: Chambers notes that the firm “represents major insurers in D&O, property damage and business interruption matters, among others. It also advises clients on regulatory matters.”
Intellectual Property
- Missouri: Chambers said the firm “enjoys a fine reputation for its defense work and maintains a highly active presence across the patent space,” offering “advice on copyright, trademarks and licensing issues,” and represents clients across a range of industries including distribution, engineering and agribusiness. The firm “also holds strong expertise in the area of trade secrets, becoming increasingly involved in data, contract and security disputes.” One client notes, “Husch is very responsive, which is facilitated by the breadth of their team.”
*International Trade: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions
- USA Nationwide | Highly Regarded: Husch Blackwell “has solid skills in representing clients in export controls and economic sanctions matters. The firm's lawyers have expertise in the technology, manufacturing and transportation sectors, among others,” according to Chambers’ notes. “We have had very good experiences with Husch Blackwell LLP; the firm really invests in its client relationships,” says one client.
Labor & Employment
- *Colorado: Chambers states that Husch Blackwell is “a strong choice to handle business-critical litigation on behalf of employers. The firm's expertise encompasses trade secret, discrimination and retaliation claims, among others.” One source said, “The deliverables have always been high quality and the responsiveness timely.”
- Kansas City and St. Louis: Husch Blackwell was noted by Chambers for “outstanding labor and employment capabilities” and “significant litigation expertise in FLSA and wage and hour class and collective actions.” One client noted, “The firm has excellent depth and breadth. They have many experts who can assist us in making the best decision for our organization.”
Litigation/General Commercial
- *Austin: Chambers said that Husch Blackwell has a notable commercial litigation practice offering experienced handling of fraud, breach of contract and bankruptcy-related claims” and is “sought after by clients in the engineering, healthcare and financial services sectors,” among others. "The firm has strong players and handles commercial cases well," indicated one client.
- St. Louis: Chambers said the firm’s “distinguished outfit” has an “impressive record of representing clients across the pharmaceutical, healthcare, transportation and agriculture industries.” Chambers also cited the firm’s areas of strength that include class actions as well as fraud and insurance-related matters. “They have taken a lot of time to understand our industry and our needs and are always available and quick to respond,” said one pleased client.
*Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations
- Missouri: Chambers cited a “distinguished outfit with a particularly strong presence in St. Louis. Areas of strength include class actions as well as fraud and insurance-related matters. Has an impressive record of representing clients across the pharmaceutical, healthcare, transportation and agriculture industries.” One satisfied client states, “From managing partners to entry-level associates, all have been exceptionally kind and generous in dealing with very difficult situations. Husch Blackwell is an exceptional law firm, with the ability to cover multiple types of law, all with extraordinary class and competency.”
Real Estate
- Colorado: Chambers said that the group is “noted for its work on the financing and operation of sports facilities, as well as the full range of issues affecting mixed-use developments and clients in the railroad, healthcare and hospitality sectors.” Chambers also notes the that the team is “increasingly active in PPP redevelopment work and smart city communities” and “serves a varied client roster that includes REITs and developers.” A client says, “It is an extremely results-oriented team with a large body of experience.”
- St. Louis: Chambers cites an “outstanding team in St. Louis with a strong reputation for representing developers on complex projects involving tax credits and incentives and has experience handling PPP projects” and an “impressive track record providing counsel to both municipalities and corporations” with “deep sector expertise in housing, technology and sport” and the capability to advise on real estate matters throughout the USA. Clients say, “They have expertise across a wide range of issues relating to the development and operation of commercial real estate, including litigation." Another commented, “The Husch team is very responsive to our needs and makes themselves available at all times.”
- *Texas: Husch Blackwell's team provides high-quality counsel to a host of clients on a range of transactional matters, says Chambers “They are adept at advising on development, regulatory and environmental matters related to projects. The group has considerable expertise in the energy market, whereby they assist clients through complex financial matters. Additionally, Husch Blackwell complements its real estate practice with further strength in advising clients on zoning and land use issues.” One client says, “Husch Blackwell is a solid firm with deep roots in the space and a very fine real estate practice.” Another states simply, “They are very good at problem solving.”
- Wisconsin: Chambers said that Husch Blackwell offers a “noted real estate group acting for developers, purchasers, landlords and municipalities on all manner of transactions. Active in sectors such as leisure and entertainment, energy, retail and housing. Excels in financings, sales and leasings. Additional strength in tax increment financing and real estate litigation. Also regularly called upon for its land use and zoning expertise.” One client says, “Husch Blackwell and its staff are excellent to work with; they always give very practical advice and assist on all matters relating to their legal practice.”
Individual attorneys recognized by Chambers are:
Colorado
- *Daniel Bray – Banking & Finance – Band 2
- Barbara A. Grandjean – Labor & Employment – Band 2
- Kevin H. Kelley – Real Estate – Band 2
- Christopher Ottele – Labor & Employment – Band 3
Illinois
- Patrick S. Coffey – Healthcare – Band 4
Missouri
Kansas City
St. Louis
Nebraska
Texas
- Diane T. Carter – Healthcare – Band 2
- Scott L. Davis – Insurance – Band 4
- Joseph V. Geraci – Healthcare – Band 2
- David W. Hilgers – Healthcare – Senior Statespeople
- *R. Tyler Johnson – Real Estate – Band 4
- Hal Katz – Healthcare – Band 1
- *Nikelle Meade – Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use – Band 3
- *Chris Reeder – Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) – Band 3
- Julian Rivera – Healthcare – Band 3
- David H. Timmins – Insurance – Band 4
- Eric J. Weatherford – Healthcare – Band 3
Austin
- *Stephanie Kaiser – Litigation: General Commercial – Band 2
USA Nationwide
Wisconsin
*Indicates practices and attorneys previously not ranked by Chambers USA
Chambers and Partners, which publishes Chambers USA, develops its rankings by utilizing a team of 170 full-time researchers and editors who conduct thousands of in-depth interviews with lawyers and their clients worldwide. The team identifies and ranks the world’s best lawyers and legal departments according to the criteria most valued by clients: legal knowledge and experience, ability, effectiveness and client service.