Husch Blackwell LLP > Los Angeles, United States > Firm Profile

Husch Blackwell LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Industry focus > Education Tier 1

Well-regarded by clients for its ‘impeccable service and attention’, the department at Husch Blackwell LLP is a strong choice for a range of advisory and contentious education mandates. Core areas of expertise include handling investigations, litigation, and advising on corporate transactions and regulatory compliance. The team advises universities, academic medical centers, religious institutions, for-profit institutions, and K-12 school districts. Two Kansas City-based partners share leadership: Hayley Hanson handles investigations, litigation, arbitration, and mediation, and also advises institutions on compliance with Department of Education regulations. Alongside her, Sean Tassi focuses his practice on the provision of day-to-day compliance and transactional counsel. In Chicago, Lisa Parker is described as a ‘true asset’ and provides regulatory counsel to institutions, as well as acting for them in litigation before trial and appellate courts. Julie Miceli, who previously acted as deputy general counsel for higher education and federal student aid at the Department of Education, is lauded for her ‘personalized service’ and majors on transactions and compliance issues. Scott Schneider left the group in August 2023.

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 3

Husch Blackwell LLP’s offering is co-led by Tessa Jacob from its Kansas City office and experienced high-stakes trial lawyer Steven Neeley from its Washington DC base. Jacob has strong capabilities in handling strategic e-discovery matters for its clients involving legal and technical issues, while Neeley regularly assists with commercial disputes. Kansas City-based Taylor Concannon Hausmann focuses on resolving complex high-stakes disputes concerning breach of contract and class-action lawsuits.

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

Husch Blackwell LLP is a popular choice among regional and national companies in the defense of claims alleging exposure to PCBs, benzene and PFAS, among others. The firm has, however, gained most visibility in relation to its work defending clients exposed to mass nationwide asbestos-related litigation. J.Y Miller is frequently at the forefront of many of these national coordinating counsel roles. Brandan Mueller, who is also based in St Louis, co-heads the team alongside Miller and is noted for his ‘very strategic’ approach and his willingness to go ‘the extra mile into achieving the best possible outcome for his clients’.

Energy > Renewable/alternative power Tier 3

While the practice is renowned for its experience and comprehensive counsel in tax matters, Husch Blackwell LLP has a strong offering across renewable energy project development, financing and M&A. A number of practitioners in the team draw on in-house counsel experience at renewable energy developers, utilities, and regulatory commissions. Anna Kimbrell, seasoned advisor to developers and owners through the life-cycle of wind and solar energy projects, leads the department from Kansas City. David Gardels in Omaha is a transactions expert with a focus on deals across the low carbon economy, and Chicago-based Jai Khanna is a veteran finance lawyer with a strong practice in renewable energy projects. Both Andrew Eastman (St Louis) and Brian Pullin (Austin) come with client recommendation, and are part of the firm’s strong crop of junior partners in this area, which was bolstered by the addition of Sara Bergan to the Minneapolis office from Stoel Rives LLP in June 2023.

Industry focus > Cannabis Tier 3

Demonstrating ‘deep cannabis knowledge’, the Denver-based team at Husch Blackwell LLP handles regulatory and transactional mandates, as well as a range of associated cannabis matters such as corporate and securities, vendor contracts, employment law, corporate governance, real estate, IP, litigation, and tax. The group is co-directed by cannabis all-rounder Marshall Custer and the ‘deeply knowledgeable, competent lawyer’ Steven Levine. The key associate-level contacts are Lindy Martinez, senior Megan Beebe, and senior counsel Alyssa Samuel, who focuses on transactional and regulatory mandates.

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

The ‘knowledgeable’ team at Husch Blackwell LLP handles a broad array of M&A-related matters, advising on poison pill and merger defense plans, asset and equity purchases, and hostile takeovers. In Kansas City, Kirstin Salzman heads up a team that is praised for its ‘well-reasoned arguments’ and centers her practice on transactions that involve the manufacturing, distribution, and healthcare sectors. Salzman’s Kansas City colleague Edward Wilson is a key contact for private fund clients. In Milwaukee, Philip Koutnik frequently leverages his transactional expertise to advise dentists and physicians on the expansions of their businesses.

Real estate > Land use/zoning Tier 3

Husch Blackwell LLP acts on behalf of clients in matters related to zoning, special use, code compliance, sale and lease of municipal lands, and creative development projects involving public-private cooperation. As an extension of the land use team, the public law group is also capable of advising clients on advocacy, government-related projects, and disputes. The team is jointly led by Nikelle Meade in Austin and David Richardson in St. Louis. In Houston, public law litigator Katharine David has extensive experience representing government entities, public officials, and private companies in real estate matters, including land use. Sandy Hellums-Gomez‘s practice in Houston is centered around advice related to civil rights, ethics, and land use, while Rodney Carter in Milwaukee has experience in all aspects of data center planning matters.

Energy > Energy regulation: electric power Tier 4

Husch Blackwell LLP handles regulatory enforcement and compliance matters on behalf of clients such as utilities and generation companies and is often involved in matters pertaining to transmission and renewable energy projects. Chris Reeder, based in Austin, counts policy questions, rate cases, and transmission system access among his areas of expertise; he co-heads the practice with Washington DC’s Linda Walsh, who is regularly sought out by electric utilities to advise on FERC-proceedings and NERC reliability matters, among others. Also in DC, Richard Bonnifield assists clients with approvals, compliance audits, and the regulatory aspects of transactions.

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 4

Mortgage lenders, auto loan providers and credit card companies are among a spectrum of clients that Husch Blackwell LLP advises on compliance with a variety of state and federal regulations, including inter alia the FCRA, ECOA and TILA. Madison-based Marci Kawski leads the practice, with in depth knowledge of a number of Wisconsin-specific laws in addition to national consumer finance regulations. ‘Exceptional attorney’ Susan Seaman, who advises clients out of Columbus via the firm’s virtual office, assists with the gamut of regulations governing credit, deposit and payment systems, with Christopher Friedman, who also advises virtually, supports clients looking to enter new jurisdictions or launch new products.

Government > Government contracts Tier 4

Building its practice around litigation, particularly contract disputes, bid protests and claims, Husch Blackwell LLP is best known for its work in the federal construction, engineering support services, and healthcare contracting spaces. The team’s all-round capabilities are aptly demonstrated in its representation of Jacobs in bid protests and compliance matters involving NASA, the DOD, and the GSA. Brian Waagner chairs the group in Washington DC, and avails himself of expertise in compliance and contract administration, complex bid protests, disputes, and FCA matters. Hal Perloff focuses his practice on privatization of military housing and temporary lodging, domestic preference rules and labor standards. Steven Neeley fields subject matter mastery of small business matters and renewable energy, complementing contentious work with transactional and corporate experience. Michael Schrier operates at the intersection of government contracts, employment law, and litigation, and Cormac Connor is an asset in the defense of criminal and civil investigations.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 4

Praised for its ‘deep-rooted‘ knowledge, Husch Blackwell LLP‘s practice is known for its broad strength in telehealth matters. Curt Chase leads the team from Missouri, regularly advising hospitals and health systems on integration arrangements and reimbursement issues, while Hal Katz is a key name within the Texas team for his deep knowledge of transactional matters within the healthcare space. In Boston, Robert Blaisdell has longstanding experience in mandates concerning medical staff and governance, and Crystal Bloom has extensive regulatory knowledge, regularly acting for psychiatric hospitals and academic medical centers. Wisconsin’s Tom Shorter often advises clients on restructurings and joint ventures. Jonathan Porter and Rebecca Rodman joined the Washington DC and Boston practices respectively in 2023, with Porter bringing his deep knowledge of FCA federal investigations, and Rodman contributes her experience in Determination of Need applications.

Insurance > Advice to insurers Tier 4

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

Husch Blackwell LLP frequently appears at the International Trade Commission alongside parallel litigation in other venues as part of the firm's wider international trade and intellectual property strategy. With a particular stronghold in the Midwest, the group has worked on Section 337 cases across a broad range of technologies, including in relation for companies active in marine products, automotive appliances, biotech, and vaping cartridges. Trade lawyer Beau Jackson, who splits his time between Kansas City and Washington DC, is highly active at the ITC. St. Louis IP lawyer Jennifer Hoekel is also a key contact for ITC representation.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 4

With strong presence in Kansas and the wider Missouri area, Husch Blackwell LLP, provide immigration counsel to a wide-ranging client base. Short and long-term work authorizations, immigration planning, I-9 compliance and U.S. consular representation are some of the key issues in which the firm is well-placed to assist clients with. The group is co-led by business immigration specialist, Kelli Meilink, and Christine Fabin, who focuses her practice on hiring talent abroad, sponsorship petitions and immigration policy development. The leadership team operates out of Kansas City.

Real estate Tier 4

The real estate, development and construction team at Husch Blackwell LLP is led by St. Louis-based Jonathan Giokas who oversees a range of large transactions, lease work, and development mandates, evidenced by the team’s advising on a multifacility data center at Golden Plains technology campus, as well as a sizeable mixed-use development in Granby Colorado, totaling over 5,000-acres and containing commercial, residential, and hospitality properties. In Denver, Kevin Kelley is known for his experience assisting on sports facility transactions and public-private partnerships. Kansas City’s Charles Renner leads the firm’s public-private partnership team while St. Louis’ David Linenbroker assists developers and municipalities on a range of transactions, leasing, and construction contracting matters, among others. David Richardson, Courtney Hill and William Hof are other key names in St Louis, with Brad Dallet being a key contact in Milwaukee.

Real estate > Real estate finance Tier 5

Husch Blackwell LLP has a well-rounded real estate finance practice that specializes in advising borrowers and lenders throughout the Midwest, West and Mid-South of the US. The practice covers a wide range of asset types from multifamily, retail, and office to hospitality, mixed-use, and industrial developments. Denver-based Daniel Bray is noted for his ‘creative thinking‘ and real estate transaction expertise, while Milwaukee-based Cynthia Fletcher has represented a number of clients as borrowers and lenders in commercial financing transactions. In Madison, Paul Dombrowski has great experience representing lenders in construction-related matters.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Media, technology and telecoms > Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection)