Husch Blackwell LLP > Denver, United States > Firm Profile

Husch Blackwell LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Industry focus > Education Tier 1

Fielding a coast-to-coast presence, Husch Blackwell LLP continues to be a market leader in education with demonstrable strength in Title IX independence reviews and investigations. Hayley Hanson leads the practice and handles sensitive investigations on sexual assault and racial discrimination in higher education institutions, having over two decades of experience in this area. She also has additional expertise in the Clery Act and Title IV Federal Student Aid matters. Litigator Derek Teeter represents colleges and universities in complex disputes, with a specialty in sexual misconduct, religious liberty and freedom of speech issues. In Austin, Scott Schneider is the name for employment related matters and institutional misconductIn Chicago, core members of the group include managing partner Julie Miceli who advises both private and public institutions on financial aid and charitable contributions, strengthened by her background as former general counsel for federal student aid at the US Department of Education, and Lisa Parker who has a health-care related education focus and a strong regulatory practice. Senior counsel Richard Goldstein in Boston is rated by peers and focuses on litigation for healthcare clients. The group has an active pro-bono practice advising prominent black institutions on additional federal funding. Lawyers are based in Kansas City unless otherwise stated.

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

Husch Blackwell LLP  has a strong reputation for representing clients in the defence of a range of toxic tort matters, and has gained plaudits for its effective use of legal technology to streamline often resource intensive matters. The firm has had a more regional bent to its practice (particularly from its Missouri stronghold), however, the arrival in April 2021 of a 21-lawyer mass tort and litigation practice from Dentons substantially enhances the firm’s capabilities in the area and provides increasing geographical bandwidth on the West Coast. Based out of the firm’s Oakland office, Lisa Oberg is one of the new arrivals who adds increased firepower to the firm’s already strong asbestos litigation work. Joseph Orlet is a stalwart of the practice; based out of the firm’s St Louis office, he is a popular choice among clients for toxic tort and product liability matters.

Industry focus > Cannabis Tier 3

Husch Blackwell LLP ‘is very knowledge in the world of cannabis’ and handles cannabis and industrial hemp regulatory matters across all 50 states and Washington DC. The firm is primarily known for regulation and transaction work, but also provides expertise in corporate and securities, vendor contracts, employment law, corporate governance, real estate, IP, customs, sweepstakes, litigation and tax matters. The team is co-led from Denver by Steven Levine, who specializes in marijuana and industrial hemp regulatory work, as well as corporate and M&A, and Marshall Custer, who focuses his practice on the marijuana and industrial hemp industries. Associate Meghan Brennan left the firm in 2021.

Industry focus > Energy: renewable/alternative power Tier 3

The ‘responsive and competent‘ renewable energy group at Husch Blackwell LLP handles an impressive volume of mandates, bringing together multi-disciplinary expertise across project finance, tax equity finance, corporate deals, energy regulations, real estate and construction issues. Entirely devoted to renewable energy project development, financing and transactions, the team acts for a variety of clients, including developers, investors and lenders involved in wind, solar and battery storage projects throughout the United States. The energy and natural resources team is jointly led by Cacki Jewart in Austin, and Steven F. Carman and John Crossley, both of whom sit in the Kansas City office. Crossley is the main point of contact for renewable energy matters, and routinely acts for project developers, sponsors and investors in this space. Focused on energy regulatory law, Maria Faconti is an up-and-comer in Austin, where Chris Reeder is also recommended for regulatory proceedings.

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

Hailed for its ‘deep bench of expertise, Husch Blackwell LLP is a Midwest firm with significant exposure to both inbound and outbound M&A, including SPAC and deSPAC transactions. The team is led by Kansas City-based Kirstin Salzman and is particularly accomplished within the electric utility, renewable energy and private equity fields.

Government > Government contracts Tier 4

Husch Blackwell LLP represents contractors across the range on public procurement matters, particularly bid protests, claims, and contentious issues. Uniquely experienced in both the federal construction government healthcare spheres, the group, headed by Brian Waagner, advises on all phases of the contracting process, with Waagner sought after for regulatory compliance and bid protests. Hal Perloff is also notable in the team, extensively experiences in False Claims Act litigation. Michael Schrier joined the team in 2021 from Duane Morris LLP, bolstering the team’s capability at the intersection of procurement, employment, and litigation. Bid protests, contracts disputes, and transactional corporate matters are the purview of Steven Neeley, who is also recommended. All practitioners are based in Washington DC.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 4

Husch Blackwell LLP’s business immigration practice is housed in Kansas City, and has a national scope of matters including immigration-related investigations, audits, and visa work. The group is jointly managed by Kelli Meilink and Christine Fabin, and is highlighted for its national interest exemptions work, which has seen an increase of activity during the Covid-19 pandemic. Counsel Toni Blackwood has experience representing employers in compliance audits and investigations by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whilst senior counsel Carrie Claiborne provides employment law expertise. The team works closely with its Washington DC based government solutions group to handle high-stakes investigations and contentious work.

Real estate Tier 4

Husch Blackwell LLP focuses on the Midwest real estate market. Its primary St Louis office is led by Caroline Hermeling, a seasoned partner in regional and nationwide real estate sales and acquisitions, development and leases. She also represents lenders in the enforcement of loan and security agreements, notes, guaranties, deeds of trust and related documents.  

Industry focus > Healthcare: service providers Tier 5

Husch Blackwell LLP offers strong legal services to providers out of its office bases in Boston, Austin and the Midwest. Transactions are where the team’s strength lies, advising on large scale national transactions such as Talkspace’s SPAC listing, and smaller transactions focused on care centers. It has also aggressively expanded this year, bringing in seven partners from Summit Health Law Partners. Curt Chase leads the team from Kansas City, with strengths in physician integrations. Austin-based Hal Katz and Ellee Cochran are also recommended for transactional and regulatory matters respectively.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (International Trade Commission)

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense