Jan. 15, 2026

Kirk Stange, ’00, wins MLM Law Firm Leader Award

Kirk Stange, ’00, president and founding partner of Stange Law Firm, PC, has been named one of just five recipients of the Law Firm Leader Award, presented as part of the Missouri Lawyers Awards by Missouri Lawyers Media. This prestigious recognition highlights Mr. Stange’s outstanding leadership, strategic vision, and lasting contributions to the legal profession. Stange was also named to the MLM Top 100 POWER List of Missouri Attorneys. The Top 100 POWER List represents the “cream of the crop” among Missouri attorneys. The annual list highlights lawyers whose influence, leadership, and professional accomplishments distinguish them within the legal community…

Jan. 15, 2026

Ben Hodges, ’09, promoted to Co-Practice Group Leader at Foster Garvey

Foster Garvey is pleased to announce that Ben Hodges, ’09, is now serving as Co-Practice Group Leader of the Litigation practice. Seattle-based partner Tim Filer served as the Litigation Practice Group Leader over the last several years. Hodges is a patent attorney and focuses on guiding clients’ IP portfolios and protecting them through litigation when necessary. His litigation experience includes managing complex civil litigation cases of all types, including post-grant IP matters, patent, unfair competition, trademark and trade dress, copyright, property disputes and breach of contract cases. He also handles litigation related to the Consumer Protection Act, false advertising and defamation claims as…

Jan. 15, 2026

Brianna Hills Simopoulos, ’18, promoted to Counsel at Pallas

Effective Jan. 1, 2026, Brianna Hills Simopoulos, ’18, was promoted to Counsel at Pallas Partners LLP. Based in New York, Simopoulous represents plaintiffs and defendants at all stages of complex commercial litigation. Her experience includes capital markets, antitrust, restructuring, and cross-border litigation, frequently representing institutional investors. Brianna is likewise recognised as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.

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.