PERSONAL INFORMATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law
- Chairman of the General Laws Committee
Curtis Trent graduated Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2006 and St. Louis University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 2009. In addition to the practice of law, Trent is a Member of the Missouri General Assembly representing a district in his native Southwest Missouri.
First elected in 2016, Trent currently serves as Chairman of the General Laws Committee and as a member of the Committees on Financial Institutions, Litigation Reform, and Economic Development. He has worked on legislation including judicial issues, civil service reform, education, and personal privacy protections.
Curtis is active in his community as a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and in the Church of Christ.
Dawn is the Director of Operations. She has an undergraduate from Bradley University, Peoria IL in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from Saint Louis University.
She is the face of Markell Estate Planning and Elder Law to our community partners. Dawn organizes lectures, multidisciplinary panel discussions and other events that educate and inform the community on the importance of estate planning.
In her free time, Dawn is a volunteer for SSM Hospice and enjoys summer weekends with her family on their boat. Dawn has an award-winning 20-year background in healthcare, event planning and sales/marketing. She resides in St Charles MO.
Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science degree from Webster University with an emphasis in Paralegal Studies.
Prior to coming to our team, she had 17 years of experience working as a receptionist, legal secretary, and a paralegal in the medical malpractice/litigation defense field.
Her favorite activity is spending time with her family. She also enjoys candy making, baking, and shopping.
Joseph M. Markell has been practicing Estate Planning & Elder Law since 2014.
His practice is dedicated to estate planning, Medicaid planning, probate administration, trust
Phil Christofanelli is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2011 and a Juris Doctorate in 2021. In addition to the practice of law, Christofanelli serves as a Member of the Missouri General Assembly where he represents part of Saint Charles county.
First elected at age 26 in 2016, Christofanelli was at one time the youngest member of the Missouri State House. He now serves as the Chairman of the Committee on Rules - Legislative Oversight and as a member of the Committees on Education and Litigation Reform.
He has authorized and enacted numerous pieces of legislation, including HB 349, a landmark education reform bill providing scholarships for low-income and learning disabled K-12 students.
Outside of work, Phil serves on the Advisory Board of the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise at Lindenwood University and on the Board of the Saint Clair Hearts Foundation, a local charity for veterans.