Husch Blackwell LLP > Austin, United States > Firm Profile

Husch Blackwell LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Industry focus > Education Tier 1

Predominantly based in Kansas City, Husch Blackwell LLP’s coast-to-coast team offers a strong regulatory and compliance focus, servicing all facets of the industry, including public institutions, state university systems, private institutions, specialty, religious, and for-profit institutions, specialized accrediting agencies, and K-12 school districts. The group has an active pro-bono practice advising prominent black institutions on additional federal funding. With deep experience in education, Hayley Hanson co-heads the practice with particular expertise in handling sensitive high-profile reviews investigations on sexual assault and racial discrimination in higher education institutions as well as Title IV Federal Student Aid matters. Co-head Sean Tassi assists public and private education institutions in transactions and regulatory compliance matters alongside general advising. Litigator Derek Teeter represents colleges and universities in complex disputes, with a specialty in sexual misconduct, religious liberty and freedom of speech issues. In Chicago, Lisa Parker has a strong regulatory practice, advising both small private institutions and publicly-traded schools on financial aid and charitable contributions, and Julie Miceli, the former deputy general counsel for higher education and federal student aid at the U.S. Department of Education, advises institutions on issues related to campus safety, including Title IX, the Clery Act, serving minors and emergency planning and response. Austin-based Scott Schneider is a key contact for employment matters and institutional misconduct.

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 3

Husch Blackwell LLP‘s e-discovery team is highly active in litigation, with experience in a broad range of matters including IP disputes, breaches of contract, and class-action lawsuits. ‘All-star’ Tessa Jacob, based in Kansas City, has expertise managing e-discovery in active litigation, and provides the full range of discovery management to clients. Jacob co-leads the department alongside Steven Neeley, who works from Washington DC on litigation and arbitration related to government contracts, construction projects, and renewable energy. Taylor Concannon Hausmann, located in Kansas City, is also key.

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

Traditionally very strong out of its St Louis headquarters, and continuing to broaden its geographic reach,  Husch Blackwell LLP is increasingly taking on national roles in toxic tort matters, alongside more regional mandates. Although the scope of the firm’s toxic tort workload is broad, the team which is co-headed by J.Y Miller and Brandon Mueller , remains particular effective in handling asbestos litigation where it is noted for its ability to provide ‘strategic solutions that are innovative and practical’. Oakland-based partner Lisa Oberg , who is ‘exceptional at delivering client based solutions’, excels in managing the mass tort liabilities of clients involving asbestos and benzene, where she is noted for her ability to co-ordinate and oversee local counsel law firms.

Energy > Renewable/alternative power Tier 3

Husch Blackwell LLP‘s energy & natural resources team is well known for its capabilities in tax related matters, and is also experienced with project and tax equity finance, energy regulatory matters and M&A. Kansas City-based head Anna Kimbrell has broad experience in advising developers and owners on the whole life-cycle of wind and solar energy projects, including development, construction and acquisition. In Denver, environmental and permitting expert Megan P. Caldwell is also recommended, while Linda L. Walsh in Washington DC specializes in regulatory issues, especially related to the electric utility industry. Omaha’s transactional lawyer David E. Gardels is recognized for his expertise in low carbon renewable projects. Robert Joseph joined the Chicago office from Jones Day, and strengthens the team with his expertise in corporate finance, securities law disclosure, and corporate governance matters. With particular skills in supporting clients in energy transitions and valuable knowledge on wind and solar energy developments, Mashaal Bhaidani in Austin was promoted to partner in January 2023, as was Springfield-based transactional lawyer Christopher Peterson. John Crossley, Brogan Sullivan , Jim Goetsch and Maria Faconti left the practice in 2022.  

Industry focus > Cannabis Tier 3

Husch Blackwell LLP handles regulatory and transactional work, and has overseen cannabis as well as industrial hemp regulatory mandates across all 50 states. The department also assists clients in customs, corporate and securities, drug development, and employment law as well as litigation and tax matters. Marshall Custer co-leads the team alongside Steven Levine who often advises significant domestic cannabis clients. The team heads are supported by associates Megan Beebe, Lindy Martinez and Alyssa Samuel, the latter of whom is noted for her expertise in cannabis related regulatory matters. All mentioned individuals are based in Denver.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 3

Small and mid-size companies entrust Husch Blackwell LLP with their most significant M&A, contractual issues and corporate governance matters. The team, which is managed Kirstin Salzman in Kansas City, attracts considerable praise from clients for its ‘thoughtful, pragmatic approach to dealmaking‘. In the same office, Edward Wilson assists private equity funds, as well as strategic buyers and sellers in corporate transactions. Based in St Louis, Ashley Edwards concentrates on the consumer goods and manufacturing sectors.

Government > Government contracts Tier 4

Husch Blackwell LLP‘s ‘very knowledgeable’ government contracts team is particularly known for its strong litigation offering, with a proven track record in bid protests and disputes before federal courts. Alongside this practice, the group assists contractor and subcontractors with compliance matters, government investigations and federal and state government healthcare programs. The Washington DC-based team is led by Brian Waagner, who is especially sought after to handle complex litigation. Hal Perloff is well versed in suspension and debarment proceeding, while Steven Neeley is recommended for bid protests. Another key name is Michael Schrier.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 4

Exhibiting ‘expertise and incredible legal talent‘, the team at Husch Blackwell LLP assists hospices and behavioral health providers with service closures, and the creation of ambulatory surgery centers. Practice head Curt Chase works out of the Kansas City office, where he utilizes his ‘rare and exceptional‘ skills and experience to advise hospitals and health systems on physician hospital integration arrangements. Based in Austin, Hal Katz assists both for-profit and non-profit governmental healthcare businesses on collaborations, and transactional matters, while Ellee Cochran acts for managed care companies and physicians in matters concerning Medicare and Medicaid enrollment, private audits, and patient issues. Regarded by clients as a ‘clever problem solver‘, Robert Blaisdell supports the team from Boston, representing physician groups and nursing homes with HIPAA compliance, medical staff credentialing and peer review, and plans of correction.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission) Tier 4

Husch Blackwell LLP‘s ITC practice operates largely out of Kansas City and Washington DC, where many major ITC litigation players are located. The ITC practice works as part of a wider international trade team of the firm, allowing the individuals access to broader expertise.  The work of the team spans industries, with clients including leaders in the biotech, automotive, shoe manufacturing, and vaping cartridge spaces,. ‘Thoughtful attorney and solid litigator’ Beau Jackson acts on some of the most prominent ITC cases, notably representing Ventria Bioscience in a matter with intricate trade and IP issues across the United States and China. St Louis-based Jennifer Hoekel is also of note, as a talented first-chair intellectual property trial lawyer.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 4

Home to members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Husch Blackwell LLP represents a breadth of clients across the education, energy, food and agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing and telecommunications industries. Co-lead of the team Kelli Meilink works alongside employers in the development of immigration planning, including employer-sponsored work authorization, as well as H-1B and labor certification application processes. Also co-lead of the team, Christine Fabin assists organizations that hire foreign nationals with immigration policy development and training programs, regulatory compliance and I-9 due diligence in addition to sponsorship petitions and applications for work authorization. All individuals that have been mentioned are located in Kansas City.

Real estate Tier 4

Husch Blackwell LLP’s real estate practice concentrates on REIT transactions and funds, corporate real estate, retail, logistics, telecoms facilities and stadium development, land use and opportunity zones. Sports facility expert Kevin Kelley in Denver continues to assist with the relocation of an NFL team to a new stadium-anchored 300+ acre mixed-use development. In Kansas City, Charles Renner heads the public-private partnership group. In St Louis, key partners include David Linenbroker, David Richardson and head of practice, Carrie Hermeling.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 5

Husch Blackwell LLP‘s practice largely focuses on advising lenders and borrowers throughout the Midwest, West and Mid-South on real estate debt financing, including construction, bridge, mezzanine, term and syndicated loans. Head of practice Dan Bray resides in Denver, and is noted for his expertise in loans secured by multifamily, office, industrial, self storage, resort and retail, and senior housing properties.

International Trade > Customs, export controls and economic sanctions

International Trade > Trade remedies and trade policy