LASHLY & BAER, P.C. - Key Persons
Alexandra Wells is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully defended clients in both state and federal courts. She focuses her practice in civil litigation with an emphasis on professional liability, transportation law, premises liability, construction law, and insurance defense. She has experience in all areas of civil litigation, from the initial claims and investigative process through trial and appeals.
Alexandra S. Sievers focuses her practice primarily in the representation of governmental and public institutions, with a particular emphasis on contractual matters and education law. Alexandra's experience includes drafting and interpreting agreements, and preparing ordinances and resolutions for a variety of governmental entities.
Ms. Sievers focuses her practice on the representation of school districts and government entities. Ms. Sievers is an Assistant Prosecutor in Festus, Missouri. She has experience in researching and drafts memoranda on Sunshine Law, election law, labor and employment, sovereign immunity, electronic signature policies, notary law, body camera law, and taser retention. She assisted the firm in the drafting of the Coronavirus Resource page by conducting research and analysis on local, state and federal coronavirus statutes, orders and opinions. In a previous position at Coolfire productions, she worked in entertainment and production law as well as intellectual property, disclaimers, and social media platforms.
Alexandra received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Saint Louis University School of Law, where she is a member of the Order of the Woolsack. While in law school, she served on various committees and counselled clients in the Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic. She also earned Academic Excellence Awards in Intellectual Property Survey, Copyright and Jury Instructions.
Brian J. Malone devotes his practice to assisting governmental bodies and public institutions in the St. Louis area.
Brian has worked with local governments on a wide variety of legal issues including zoning, real estate development, election law, taxation, constitutional law, sunshine law, litigation, and general government operations. He has provided legal advice to St. Louis County, municipalities, public libraries, school districts, hospital districts, election authorities, and other governmental entities. Brian is the City Attorney for the cities of Ellisville and Festus, and the Municipal Prosecuting Attorney for the cities of Festus, Glendale, and Warson Woods. Brian began his career as an Assistant County Counselor for St. Louis County where he advised St. Louis County officials on a variety of legal issues. He has represented local governments and public bodies in circuit court, and has briefed and argued cases before the Missouri Court of Appeals, and has successfully argued before the Missouri Supreme Court.
Brian has presented seminars on zoning, municipal court procedures and Missouri's firearms laws, and has published the following articles: The Right to Regulate the Right to Bear Arms, Missouri Municipal Review, March/April 2018; News from the Bench: Considering the Right to Bear Arms, Missouri Municipal Review, January/February 2019; and Developments in the Law Regarding Warrantless Arrests, Journal of the Missouri Bar, November/December 2019; and Demystifying the Second Amendment Preservation Act: A Guide for Cities and Police Departments, Missouri Municipal Review, March/April 2022. Brian has presented a Missouri Bar CLE titled "Impacts of Legalization of Marijuana for Missouri Employers and Municipalities." In 2023, Brian presented a seminar on zoning and land use law at the Missouri Municipal League's Elected Officials Training Conference. Brian also edited the 2023 version of the Missouri Municipal League's "Planning & Zoning Procedures for Missouri Municipalities."
Brian earned his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law, where he was recognized for his achievements in moot court and the law clinic. He also studied comparative criminal law and comparative legal systems in the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Brian received a bachelor of arts in History from Truman State University. Brian, his wife Stefanie, and their children live in the City of St. Louis. Brian serves as the President of the Board of Commissioners for the Gardenside Subdivision Special Business District.
Professional Associations
FOCUS St. Louis, Leadership St. Louis Class of 2020-2021
Missouri Municipal Attorneys Association
Municipal Attorneys Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
The Missouri Bar
The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Job Titles:
- Associate, 2003 - 2009
- Attorney, 2004 - 2017
- Shareholder, 2003 - 2009 / Brown & James, P.C. Principal, 1986 - 2003
Job Titles:
- ATTORNEY at LAW
- Life Member of the U.S. Chess Federation
Christopher D. Castellanos concentrates his practice in trusts and estates including a wide range of estate planning and probate matters, asset protection planning, and estate and trust administration. He is experienced in taxation, especially estate and gift tax and real property tax abatement. He has successfully sought real property tax abatement for projects across Missouri, including Normandy, DeSoto, Kennett, St. Joseph and Excelsior Springs. In addition, he advises his clients in employment and non-competition agreements, corporate transactions, business succession planning, and trademarks.
Chris earned his J.D. and LL.M. in Tax from Washington University School of Law. In addition, Chris is a life member of the U.S. Chess Federation and has participated in rated chess competitions in five states.
Daniel D. Doyle has numerous successes in business litigation ranging from multi-national finance companies to tribal sovereigns, from federal circuit courts to state courts, and from local disputes to a billion-dollar lawsuit with national implications. Mr. Doyle has significant experience in both bankruptcy and transportation cases, having represented transportation companies both as creditors and as debtors in large Chapter 11 cases. Most recently, Mr. Doyle filed a Chapter 9 bankruptcy case for a critical-access rural hospital that culminated in confirmation of a plan supported by a number of governmental creditors, preserving desperately needed health care to an underserved region. Both Chapter 9 municipal filings and successful hospital reorganizations are rare.
Recently, Mr. Doyle co-authored A Practitioner's Guide to Liquidation and Litigation Trusts published by The American Bankruptcy Institute. In addition, he edited the section of the Norton Bankruptcy Law & Practice in 2007 dealing with retiree benefits and bankruptcy cases, while serving as lead bankruptcy counsel for the Official Committee of Retirees in the Solutia Inc. case in New York City, NY. He has also served for a decade as a bankruptcy lawyer in one of Missouri's largest law firms. Before enrolling in law school, Dan was an investigative journalist at two Memphis newspapers.
Daniel earned his J.D. from the Washington University School of Law and has been selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers lists in the area of Bankruptcy law and is peer rated AV Preeminent® with Martindale-Hubbell.
Daniel K. Mannion focuses his practice in the areas of health law, medical malpractice defense, commercial litigation and transportation law. He has extensive experience representing clients in all phases of litigation in both state and federal courts, from the filing of a claim or lawsuit through trial and appeal.
Dan routinely represents health care providers in medical negligence and wrongful death cases, as well as proceedings before administrative agencies and licensing boards. He also has significant experience in the area of corporate health care law, with an emphasis on corporate transactions, fraud and abuse, compliance and the negotiation and drafting of various vendor, employment and professional services agreements. He has spent a large part of his career working with health care clients to develop actionable strategies to mitigate risk and improve the quality of care.
Job Titles:
- Honorary Doctor of Law Degree, 2014
Job Titles:
- Managing Member, 1978 - 1986
Job Titles:
- Associate, 2006 - 2010
- Member of the 2007 - Present
Jeffrey Atkinson is an experienced trial attorney who concentrates his practice in civil litigation and medical malpractice defense. Jeff has received an AV Preeminent® rating by Martindale-Hubbell, a nationally-recognized peer-reviewed rating awarded to attorneys based on both professional excellence and the highest ethical standards.
Jeff represents a variety of doctors, businesses and insurance companies, primarily in litigated matters. In addition to trial work, Jeff has appeared successfully on numerous occasions before the Missouri Court of Appeals and the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission on behalf of businesses and insurance companies in workers compensation matters.
He is licensed in Missouri and admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Jeff is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. In 2024, Jeff was selected by his peers for inclusion to The Best Lawyers in America® list in the fields of Medical Malpractice Law-Defendants.
Professional Associations
Missouri Bar Association
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
American Bar Association
Job Titles:
- ATTORNEY at LAW
- General Counsel and Special Counsel
John Fox Arnold has served as general counsel and special counsel to public agencies, represented firms engaged in the underwriting and public offering of securities, and has represented developers and owners during acquisition and construction of governmental, commercial and urban redevelopment projects. In addition, he has structured sales tax rebate, tax abatement and tax increment financing transactions, and served as counsel in tax-incentivized transactions. Mr. Arnold has served as bond counsel, special counsel and underwriter's counsel for general obligation and revenue bond obligations. Billions of dollars have been invested in projects in which he has been engaged as counsel.
John earned his LL.B. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Corporate Law each year since 2005. In 2019, Arnold was selected as an ICON Award recipient by Missouri Lawyers Media. In 2016, he was selected the Lawyer of the Year for St. Louis in the area of Corporate Law by The Best Lawyers in America®. He is also peer rated AV Preeminent® with Martindale Hubbell.
He has served as sole arbitrator, chair and panelist for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (formally the National Association of Securities Dealers) and for the American Arbitration Association.
Joe Goedde is a trial attorney whose practice is primarily defending health care providers from medical malpractice claims. He also advises skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and both rural and urban hospitals.
Job Titles:
- ATTORNEY at LAW
- Founder of the Innovative Concept Academy
Judge Jimmie M. Edwards is a member of the firm's Litigation, and Government and Education practice groups. He is also a mentor, as well as assisting with the firm's recruiting and diversity committees.
Judge Edwards served St. Louis as the Director of Public Safety since 2017, when he was appointed by Mayor Lyda Krewson. Prior to this position, Edwards was appointed to the 22nd St. Louis Judicial Circuit Court and served there from 1992 to 2017. He spent most of his time on the bench as an Administrative Judge of the Family Court and Chief Juvenile Court Judge. Judge Edwards spent 15 years hearing adult cases before being appointed to the juvenile court in hopes of making a difference in the lives of children before they became criminals.
Judge Edwards is the founder of the Innovative Concept Academy, a ground-breaking school in St. Louis Missouri that acts as a last resort for at risk teens. The program garnered national attention from CBS Early Show, Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, and a visit from the U.S. Secretary of Education. The program also earned Edwards the "Hero Among Us" recognition by People magazine. Ebony magazine selected him to its 2013 "Power 100 Most Influential in America List" and Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts presented Judge Jimmie M. Edwards with the William Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence, one of our nation's highest judicial awards. In 2014, Judge Edwards received honorary Doctor of Law Degrees from Saint Louis University and Eden Theological Seminary.
Edwards graduated from Saint Louis University in 1978, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and again in 1982, where he earned a Juris Doctorate degree. Judge Edwards began the private practice of law in a small law firm in St. Louis, Missouri in 1981.
Professional Associations
American Bar Association
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
Fair St. Louis Foundation
Incarnate Word Foundation
The Missouri Bar
Mound City Bar Association
National Bar Association
Julie Z. Devine is a trial lawyer with 21 years of experience. She has extensive experience in all areas of litigation and employment counseling for employers in various industries including retail, restaurant, automotive/transportation, shipping, manufacturing, technology, healthcare, non-profits, telecommunications, call centers, hospitality, and elementary and secondary education. She has represented employers in a wide range of single-plaintiff, multiplaintiff, and class action lawsuits. She has successfully defended employers in state and federal court and government investigations involving claims for discrimination, harassment, and retaliation relating to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ("Title VII"), Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), Age Discrimination in Employment Act ("ADEA"), Family Medical Leave Act ("FMLA"), Fair Credit Reporting Act ("FCRA"), Fair Labor Standards Act ("FLSA"), Missouri Human Rights Act ("MHRA"), Illinois Human Rights Act, Missouri Worker's Compensation Act, Illinois Worker's Compensation Act, and Missouri and Illinois common law claims.
Julie also regularly provides advice and counseling to employers of all sizes about an array of compliance issues including hiring practices, credit and background checks, drug and alcohol policies and testing, workplace safety, employee discipline and terminations, accommodating employees with disabilities, religious expression in the workplace, social media and technology, arbitration clauses, non-compete agreements, and separation and severance agreements.
Julie also has extensive experience with cases and administrative proceedings involving complex medical and psychiatric issues including disability discrimination and failure to accommodate claims, civil litigation involving allegations of extensive medical and psychiatric damages, and appropriate placements for students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Julie earned her J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. In 2020 and 2021, Julie was named Top Attorney by St. Louis Small Business Monthly. She was also named a Super Lawyer, by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers. The United States District Court Legal Advice Clinic recently presented Julie with the Make A Difference award for her volunteer hours at the clinic.
Kevin L. Fritz is a trial attorney experienced in both state and federal courts. He engages in civil litigation in Missouri and Illinois, with an emphasis on insurance defense and coverage, corporate collection, commercial litigation, premises liability, product liability, construction, vehicular negligence matters and personal injury. He also engages in transportation related matters that include interstate and intrastate issues, cargo, breach of contract and catastrophic casualty claims. Kevin has received favourable judgments for numerous trials conducted in the St. Louis metropolitan area, including St. Louis City. He has also argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and is a court approved mediator for Missouri state courts.
Kevin also leads Lashly & Baer's Rapid Response Team, providing immediate response to serious vehicular and trucking accidents. This helps to achieve early evaluation of accidents and ensure the preservation of evidence. He is the current Chair of Lashly & Baer's Litigation Department and Transportation Practice Section.
Kevin has been selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers® (Transportation/Maritime) in multiple years, most recently in 2023. He was also selected as one of the Top 50 St. Louis attorneys in multiple years, as published by Super Lawyers Magazine, through peer recognition and professional achievement. In 2024, he was selected by his peers for inclusion to The Best Lawyers in America® lists in the field of Litigation-Insurance.
Kevin is AV Preeminent® rated with Martindale-Hubbell and earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law. He is Chair Emeritus of the USLAW Network, Inc. and is a past Chair of USLAW Network's Transportation Practice Group. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the USLAW Network. USLAW Network is a national organization composed of over 180 independent, defense-based law firms.
Job Titles:
- School Mock Trial Team, Lawyer Coach, 2009 - Present
Job Titles:
- ATTORNEY at LAW
- President of Lashly & Baer
Lisa O. Stump is President of Lashly & Baer and practices primarily in the areas of governmental and public institutions law including education. She advises public agencies on governance issues, contracts and procurement, governmental immunity, public employment, constitutional restrictions on taxation and bond issues, the use of public monies, elections and public records laws.
Ms. Stump has drafted proposed legislation, and policies and regulations for various governmental entities. She has assisted public entities in calling, conducting and recording public meetings. In addition, she advises educational clients on governance issues, ethics, student discipline, special education, access to student records, religion in schools, sexual harassment, bullying, and issues related to Internet usage by students.
Ms. Stump also does significant corporate work for governmental clients including reviewing contracts, drafting memorandums of understanding, and drafting corporate agreements between governmental entities. Ms. Stump also consults governmental clients regarding procurement issues, including construction contracts.
Lisa is the chair of Lashly & Baer's Governmental and Education Practice Groups. In 2024, Lisa's peers nominated her to The Best Lawyers in America® list in the area of Government Contracts. In 2019, Stump was selected as a recipient of the Women's Justice Award by Missouri Lawyers Media and honored as a YWCA Metro St. Louis Leader of Distinction. She has been included in the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers list as a top rated State, Local, Municipal attorney. She earned her J.D. from Washington University School of Law, and is a member of the Order of the Coif and Phi Beta Kappa.
Mr. Levison was a member of the Missouri Legislature's Subcommittee on the Privatization of Government Services. In Washington D.C., Mr. Levison served on the staffs of the United States Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Mark is a community leader who serves on many governmental and charitable boards. He is currently the Chairman of the Land Reutilization Authority of the City of St. Louis and the Chairman of the Board of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Mark R. Feldhaus is a trial attorney with experience in both state and federal courts in Missouri and Illinois. He engages in civil litigation with an emphasis on medical malpractice defense, professional liability, insurance defense and coverage, product liability litigation and commercial litigation. He also advises clients in property management related matters that include risk management, landlord/tenant issues, and state and federal regulatory compliance for affordable housing complexes.
Mark has both pursued and defended his clients' interests in appeals before courts in both Missouri and Illinois and has tried cases before both juries and judges. His recent trial work successfully defended the care rendered by a hospital accused of causing a brain injury to a newborn during labor and delivery. His recent appellate work has helped assisted living facilities and skilled nursing facilities enforce arbitration clauses in their admission contracts. His recent administrative appellate work on behalf of affordable housing property managers has vindicated their budgets and justified requested rent increases before government regulators. For his work, Mark has been recognized three times by his peers as a Missouri & Kansas Rising Star. He earned his J.D. from Washington University School of Law.
Matthew Eddy is a litigator and trial lawyer with experience in both state and federal courts, focusing his practice on the defense of complex litigation and health care regulatory matters. Matt has tried cases before juries and judges, and has defended and pursued his clients' interests in appeals before courts and administrative bodies in Missouri and Illinois.
His practice includes defending medical negligence, product liability and toxic tort lawsuits, advising a wide spectrum of health care clients in government investigations relating to Medicare-Medicaid fraud and abuse, false claims and anti-kickback laws, and professional licensure disciplinary actions. Matt also regularly counsels clients who have been served subpoenas and civil investigative demands from the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General, state Attorney Generals, state and federal drug agencies, state licensure boards, and private parties involved in civil litigation, among others. He has successfully litigated insurance disputes involving claims for coverage, breach of contract, bad faith and contribution.
His accomplishments also include successful representation of product manufacturers, retailers and owners in product liability actions involving consumer products, industrial machinery, medical devices, asbestos, silica, chemical solvents, and herbicides. Matt is a member of the firm's Health Care and Litigation practice groups.
Matt has been selected for inclusion to the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers lists in the area of Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
Matthew S. McBride engages primarily in litigation throughout the state and federal courts of Missouri and Illinois, with an emphasis on commercial litigation and corporate law issues. He represents corporations, their officers and employees for which millions of dollars are exposed. Mr. McBride is regularly involved in litigation involving breaches of contract, breaches of employment contracts, enforcement of landlord's remedies, covenants not to compete, trade-secret violations, construction contracts, violations of federal and state consumer protection acts, violations of duties of good faith and fair dealing, indemnification and contribution, obtaining liquor licenses for local businesses, and mechanics' liens and related disputes between owners of property and general contractors and subcontractors. He has represented his clients in consumer protection matters in numerous state and federal jurisdictions. He has also successfully defended health care professionals from disputes with insurance companies and private licensure organizations. He also has successfully represented clients in intellectual property litigation involved copyright infringement of computer programs and the illegal downloading of computer files. In addition, Mr. McBride has experience in complex litigation including federal and state antitrust actions, interpleader actions with numerous parties, shareholder derivative suits, bankruptcy actions and redetermination of tax liabilities (in addition to general corporate defense). Mr. McBride uses his experience to advise businesses on risk management and other matters to avoid costly lawsuits. Mr. McBride also structures business entities, negotiates leases, sale of businesses and other contracts, as well as providing general corporate representation. Matt earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.
Michael D. Regan is an experienced transactional attorney having handled business transactions for more than 25 years. He has engaged in business law with an emphasis on real estate, commercial lending, mergers and acquisitions, general corporate and shareholder matters, and property tax law.
Mr. Regan has dealt with asset acquisitions, stock sales and corporate acquisitions involving the purchase of multiple business operations. He represents lending institutions in connection with documentation of loans of all types.
Mr. Regan represents clients in all aspects of real estate transactions and real estate development. He played a significant role in the acquisition of land for the St. Louis area mass transit system. In addition to handling mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganizations, he counsels business and individual clients on business issues such as employment and non-compete matters, corporate governance and corporate finance matters. He also represents nonprofit organizations in obtaining charitable exemptions from property tax, and represents property owners challenging their property tax assessments.
Nelson H. Howe, II is a transactional and real estate attorney with more than 25 years of experience in corporate mergers and acquisitions, as well as commercial real estate financing. He has also represented grantors, trusts, guardianships and conservatorships concerning investments and other trust administration matters.
Mr. Howe handles probate administration and advises clients on estate planning, asset protection and family succession planning. He has served as in-house counsel for a regional banking institution handling matters related to deposits, collections, and consumer and commercial loans, concentrating primarily on commercial lending for secured and unsecured real estate, construction, and commercial and subdivision development loans.
Mr. Howe has also served as counsel to many profit and nonprofit corporations, both publicly and privately held, in the health care, manufacturing, retail, wholesale, buildings products, petroleum distribution and insurance services industries. In that realm, he engaged in general corporate and contracting work and a variety of commercial and real estate transactions.
Nelson earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Patrick E. Foppe practices in civil litigation and represents businesses and insurance companies throughout Illinois and Missouri in both state and federal court. Patrick has successfully tried many cases and favorably resolved hundreds of matters. He has the capability to address an extensive array of claims and legal issues. He frequently handles wrongful death and negligence claims involving: complex commercial motor vehicle accidents; negligent hiring, training and supervision; negligent entrustment; contribution and indemnity; punitive damages; class-actions; spoliation; premises/retail liability; products liability; excessive force; personal injury; uninsured and underinsured motorist; subrogation; toxic torts involving asbestos, benzene, and welding fumes. Also, he advises insurance companies on a wide variety of insurance coverage issues and handles declaratory judgment and bad faith actions. In addition, he advises transportation companies regarding compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. He frequently handles cargo disputes and transportation-related contract disputes.
Further, he conducts immediate response to serious accidents as part of Lashly & Baer's Rapid Response Team, which helps to achieve early evaluation of serious accidents and ensure the preservation of evidence. He keeps apprised of the fast changing technology involved in vehicular accidents and advises how to properly secure and collect this important data.
Patrick currently is the Education Coordinator for the USLAW Transportation and Logistics Practice Group. He also serves on the Defense Research Institute, Inc.'s (DRI) Trucking Committee's Steering Committee and is Chair of Regulatory/Governmental Special Litigation Group. In addition, Patrick serves as Co-Chair of the Transportation Lawyers Association's (TLA) Membership and Recruiting Committee and Co-Chair of Regulatory Committee. Moreover, he is an active member of the USLAW Retail Practice Group.
Patrick has an AV Preeminent™ Peer Rating with Martindale-Hubbell®. Each year since 2010, Patrick has been selected through peer recognition and professional achievements for inclusion in the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers, as published by Super Lawyers magazine. In 2021, he received TLA's "Distinguished Service Award." He has been recognized by the Missouri Bar for his pro bono work in the community numerous times. Patrick is also a regular author on transportation and retail industry issues and is an invited speaker by many industry groups. Patrick and his wife Kate have seven children.
Job Titles:
- United States Representative