Dec. 3, 2025

Jen Znosko, ’04, named Co-Chair of Littler Women’s Leadership Initiative

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has appointed Shareholder Jen Chierek Znosko (St. Louis) as the new co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI), joining Shareholder Margaret Parnell Hogan (Denver). Znosko succeeds Jennifer A. Youpa (Dallas) who will be retiring this year. Formed in 2008, WLI is one of Littler’s signature programs dedicated to developing and retaining women leaders. Through this initiative, attorneys share their experiences, prepare for leadership opportunities, learn how to promote their successes, and identify the skills needed to advance. “Jen’s appointment as co-chair reflects her unwavering leadership, passion and commitment…

Oct. 13, 2025

David Townsend, ’00, elected president of the American Land Title Association

Washington, D.C., Oct. 9, 2025 — The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association of the land title insurance industry, is proud to announce that David A. Townsend Esq., NTP has been inducted as ALTA president for the 2025-2026 association year. With more than 20 years of experience in the title insurance industry, Townsend brings proven expertise and a track record of service to the position. After founding Agents National Title Insurance Co. in 2005, he served much of his career as its president and CEO until it was acquired by Essent Group Ltd. in 2023. Since then, Townsend…

Oct. 8, 2025

David Wallis, ’06, joins Baker Sterchi in KC

David Wallis, ’06, recently joined Baker Sterchi’s Kansas City office as a senior attorney. His practice focuses on defending the propane, natural gas and transportation industries in product liability, premises and personal injury matters. Before joining the firm, Wallis defended individuals who could not afford legal representation in Missouri state court and during that time, he tried more than 40 jury trials along with numerous bench trials and motion hearings, achieving favorable results for many clients. Wallis earned his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law, holds an undergraduate degree from National University and graduated with a…

Oct. 6, 2025

Matt Belz, ’08, joins NCLS part time

Matt Belz, ’08 has joined New Covenant Legal Services part-time as a volunteer to help provide pro bono legal services. Read more here.

Sep. 9, 2025

Brett Emison, ’02, named KC Metro Lawyer of the Year

Brett Emison (JD ’02), has been named by Best Lawyers in America as the “Lawyer of the Year” for the Kansas City metro area in the category of product liability litigation for plaintiffs.  Brett has been previously recognized by Best Lawyers for the past ten years in the categories of personal injury litigation for plaintiffs, products liability, and railroad. Brett’s Lawyer of the Year honor will be announced in the 2026 edition, which comes out at the end of this year. Brett’s legal practice focuses almost exclusively on catastrophic injury and death cases, as well as mass torts and other…

Sep. 2, 2025

Darrion Walker, 14, defends dissertation

Darrion Walker, ’14, successfully defended his dissertation, “The Mythic Underpinnings of Originalism: A Rhetorical and Legal Analysis,” completing his Ph.D. in Communication Studies (emphasis: Legal Rhetoric and Political Communication) at the University of Kansas. This project has been years in the making—born out of Walker’s love for law, rhetoric, and storytelling. It interrogates how U.S. Supreme Court opinions are not only persuasive tools of legal argument but also vehicles of myth (sacred narratives treated as true), shaping our collective imagination of justice.

Sep. 2, 2025

Kristen Evans, ’22, Adunni Gueye, ’23, named “Ones to Watch”

Kristen Evans, ’22 and Adunni Gueye, ’23, both associates at Spencer Fane, named “Ones to Watch” on the 2026 Best Lawyers in America list.

June 12, 2025

Kathryn Bakich, ’85, given the Peggy Browning Award

Kathryn Bakich, ’85, Senior Vice President of The Segal Group, Inc., was given the Peggy Browning Award at their recent awards ceremony.  The award is to recognize those who advance the protection of workers and their families, and help to encourage young lawyer to enter the field of labor relations.

June 10, 2025

Melissa Cullman Cosgrove ,’13, named U.S. Supreme Court Fellow

Melissa Cullman Cosgrove, ’13, was named a 2025-2026 U.S. Supreme Court Fellow assigned to the Federal Judicial Center, the education and research agency for the federal courts. Cosgrove joins the Supreme Court Fellows Program from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, where she was a career law clerk for the Honorable Stephen R. Welby. She previously clerked for the Honorable Stephen R. Clark and the Honorable E. Richard Webber of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. She was also an Assistant Attorney General in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. Cosgrove…

May 12, 2025

Jessica Norris, ’02, named partner at Fox Rothschild

Jessica M. Norris has joined Fox Rothschild in Kansas City as Partner in the Corporate Department.