Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner HRO > St Louis, United States > Firm Profile

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner HRO > The Legal 500 Rankings

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 1

Standing out for its broad industry coverage, which spans the energy, infrastructure, insurance, technology and private equity sectors, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner continues to advise middle-market clients in the full slate of corporate transactions and governance issues. The firm has recently handled several high-value de-SPAC deals, and a variety of cross-border mandates on behalf of sellers and buyers. John Welge, who has great’ experience in this field, focuses on middle-market M&A in the US and abroad. He is one of the main points of contact in the M&A and corporate finance practice alongside Stephanie Hosler, who is regularly retained by public companies, closely held businesses, investment partnerships and portfolio companies. Joel Lander is singled out for his strong track record in the manufacturing, transport, technology, life sciences and private equity spaces, while Atlanta-based Amy Wilson leads on a number of cross-border M&A and SPAC transactions. All practitioners are based in St Louis unless stated otherwise.

Real estate > Land use/zoning Tier 2

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner handles the full range of matters relating to land use law, with particular emphasis on advisory services regarding development enhancement strategies. The New York-based group is well-versed in specific land use issues of the region, obtaining various forms of both municipal and state approvals related to zoning, construction, building codes and historic preservation, alongside financing-related zoning due diligence. Seasoned practitioner Judith Gallent chairs the practice, with vast experience in all aspects of the process for clients, including zoning analysis, air rights transfers and obtaining discretionary land use approvals, among others. James Colgate leverages his unique perspective as both a qualified lawyer and architect to guide clients through complex land use issues, specifically special permits, zoning variances, and navigating onerous bureaucratic and political processes.  

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 3

Although the scope of its work does include some national mandates, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner‘s St Louis-based team has developed a particularly strong reputation for handling regional product liability defense work in the Midwest. In this context, the team regularly forms an integral part of national counsel and trial teams with a significant nexus to work in the region and is noted for its ability to work ‘very collaboratively with other firms’.  Bettina Strauss often defends pharmaceutical and medical device companies in high-profile product liability litigation, where she is noted for her core trial skills as well as her aptitude at preparing company witnesses for trial and striking down opposing plaintiff experts through Daubert motions. The vastly experienced Dan Ball is praised as a ‘first-rate trial lawyer’. Other recommended practitioners include ‘very strong advocate’ Liz Blackwell and San Francisco-based Lee Marshall, who is lauded as a ‘skilled appellate advocate’. Strauss co-heads the firm’s pharma and medical devices class action and mass tort team alongside Timothy Hasken . All named practitioners are based out of St Louis unless otherwise indicated.    

Industry focus > Sport Tier 3

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner is commended for its ‘the breadth and depth of its resources in the sports business’, and its global network includes experts in sports litigation. The team’s industry specific litigation has been particularly noteworthy, with members recently representing NCAA athletics in lawsuits in relation to precedent-setting concussion legislation,e. Another area at the forefront of the practice is naming rights transactions, with the team recently assisting Acrisure with a 15-year naming rights deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team is led by Ryan Davis and Steve Smith out of St. Louis and Colorado Springs respectively.

Insurance > Insurance: non-contentious Tier 3

In addition to advising insurers, private equity funds and capital market clients on insurance, reinsurance and M&A, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner also supports clients with navigating regulatory frameworks and dealing with emerging insurtech. The practice also assists with the formation of new companies and innovative insurance products, including reinsurance policies and financing, captive insurance solutions and alternative insurance distribution arrangements. In Kansas City, Jodi Adolf is an experienced regulatory specialist, supporting a wide range of sectors including life, health and property insurers and is also called upon by state regulators to handle insurance receiverships and runoffs.

Tax > Not-for-profit (nonprofit and tax exempt organizations) Tier 3

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner stands out for its teamwork, breadth of expertise, and multi-disciplinary team members, who work out of the firm’s St. Louis, Colorado Springs and Kansas City offices. The team’s multidisciplinary nature is particularly highlighted by its range of industry expertise across the group; Gino Serra focuses on clients in the life sciences industry, and leads the team alongside Keith Kehrer and Steve Smith, the latter of whom is particularly knowledgeable in the sports sector.

Dispute resolution > Financial services litigation Tier 4

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner HRO has a broad range of financial services disputes experience, and alongside acting for a variety of financial services providers, the firm is recognized for advising broker-dealers in claims of ‘selling away’, unauthorized trading and fraud allegations, and mortgage servicers in consumer class actions brought under the FDCPA and the UDAP. Eric Martin leads the US practice, based across St Louis and Los Angeles. Martin has broad expertise in the field including acting for broker-dealers in a range of matters including U-5 defamation, raiding, suitability and non-compete. Lindsay Wuller Aggarwal is also recognized for her experience advising broker-dealers in contentious matters, both litigations and arbitrations, alongside Jeff Ziesman and Jeff Kalinowski. Kalinowski is also regarded for his work in securities litigation. Unless otherwise stated, all lawyers are in St. Louis.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 4

Known for its nationwide and international capabilities, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner represents regulated banks, debt funds, life insurance companies, private lenders and CMBS lenders in all aspects of commercial real estate finance. The practice also continues to grow its borrower-side offering, with new instructions from developers. In its Irvine office, practice head James Kousoulas specializes in securitized loan transactions, mezzanine financings, secured and unsecured real estate and asset-based borrowing facilities. In New York, regional practice head, Andrew Auerbach and William Campbell are the key contacts.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing

Dispute resolution > M&A litigation: defense