Missouri’s Best Awards

Missouri’s Best is back with a bit of a twist this year. To recognize legal professionals from around Missouri, we’ve decided to break some categories into geographic winners.

Basketball coach extraordinaire John Wooden said, “Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character.” If so, there is quite a lot of character atop the Missouri legal profession.
Our third annual Missouri’s Best Readers’ Poll includes many familiar names.

Among them: Bryan Cave has returned as Best Law Firm, though this year we broke the list into large, medium and small firms. Judge Richard Teitelman nabs his second trophy for Best Supreme Court Judge.

Scott Rosenblum remains the Best Lawyer to Turn to if You Are Accused of Murder. And Alisse Camazine seemingly can’t be beat as Best Divorce Attorney.

But voters from around the state crowned many first-time winners, as well. Michael Greenfield of Washington University takes the honors for Best Law Professor; The Lawyers Association of St. Louis’ Gridiron Show got serious and won Best Law Event; and Jim Lemonds, a solo, won the Best Litigator title.

New this year was regional voting in some categories. So for Best Circuit Judge, you’ll find winners in the Eastern (David Mason), Western (Michael Manners) and Southern (J. Dan Conklin) districts.

We also have new categories, such as Best Associate Court Judge, Best Court Commissioner and Best Lawyer to Get Your Patent Pending.

Three people won without getting a vote. In our drawing for a Flip digital video camera, the winners are Kimberly Overstreet of Kansas City, Debra Gullett of Nixa and David Edmonds of Kirkwood.

Thanks to the more than 600 legal professionals who took the time to vote this year, and congratulations to all of the winners.

Richard Jackoway
Editor, Missouri Lawyers Weekly

Click here to read the complete 2009 List of Winners

Below are profiles of selected winners:

Best Law Firm

Best Court Commissioner

Best-Dressed Lawyer – Woman)

Best-Dressed Lawyer – Man

Best Corporate Attorney

Best Litigator

Best Appeals Court Judge (Western)

Best Appeals Court Judge (Eastern)

Best Appeals Court Judge (Southern)

Best Circuit Court Judge

Best Supreme Court Judge

Best Lawyer If You Fall and Can’t Get Up

Best Paralegal

Best Lawyer to Call if You Want a Divorce and Best Lawyer if the Paternity Test Comes Up a Match

Best Public Defender

Best Lawyer If The Bank Wants Your House

Best Law-Related Web Site

Best Law Professor

Best Appellate Win During the Past 12 Months

Best Associate Circuit Court Judge

Best Bailiff

 

Video from the 2008 Missouri’s Best Awards luncheon

Profiles of the 2008 Missouri’s Best Awards winners

2008 Missouri’s Best profiles:

Bryan Cave is sky-high

Best Law Firm: Bryan Cave

Best Law Firm for Minorities: Bryan Cave

Best Law Firm for Women: Bryan Cave

Best-Dressed Woman: Joyce Capshaw

Best-Dressed Man: Scott Rosenblum

Best Solo Practitioner: David Ransin

Best Supreme Court Judge: Richard Teitelman

Best Circuit Judge: Michael Manners

Best Appeals Court Judge: Ken Romines

Best Lawyer to Call if the Bank Wants Your House: James R. Brown

Best Lawyer if You are Injured at Work: Nancy Mogab

Best Lawyer to Call if You Are in an Accident: Steven B. Garner

Best Lawyer to Call if You’re Accused of Killing Someone: Scott Rosenblum

Best Lawyer to Call if the Surgeon Left a Sponge In You: Jim Bartimus

Best Lawyer to Call if the Photocop Snaps a Picture of Your Plate: Chet Pleban

Best Lawyer-Turned-Politician: Attorney General Jay Nixon

Best Lawyer if the SEC Calls: R. Randall Wang

Best Lawyer to Sit Next to at a Law Event: Terry Crouppen

Best Litigator: Gerard “Jerry” Carmody

Best Managing Partner: Ron Brown

Best Brief Writer: Tom Weaver

Best Paralegal: Connie Walsh

Best Pro Bono Effort: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

Best Law Professor: Ed Hunvald

Best Prosecutor: Bob McCulloch

Best Rainmaker: Herb Kohn