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Missouri Lawyers Weekly on Friday hosted its annual Up & Coming Awards, which recognize lawyers who are 40 years or younger or within the first 10 years of practice.
This year, the sheer volume of nominations received was the highest in the collective memory of staff at Missouri Lawyers Media, Publisher Liz Irwin told the crowd.
“Make no mistake, to be nominated for our awards means an attorney had a remarkable positive impact,” Irwin said. “To be selected is a testament to outstanding and consistent contribution to Missouri’s legal community.”
A total of 58 attorneys were honored this year at a luncheon at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. Around 300 people attended the event.
The members of this year’s Up & Coming class are:
Melesa Johnson and Shannon Haney talk before the awards program at Up and Coming 2017. Photo by T.L. Witt
Ashley Atwell-Soler, Holman Schiavone, Kansas City
Jeremy Brenner, Armstrong Teasdale, St. Louis
Sarah Burns, Simmons Hanly Conroy, Alton, Illinois
Emily Cantwell, Lathrop Gage, St. Louis
Josh Christensen, Lathrop Gage, Springfield
Matt Crane, Dowd Bennett, St. Louis
Adam Doerr, Jackson Lewis, St. Louis
Julia Drafahl, Ogletree Deakins, St. Louis
Whittney Dunn, The Bar Plan Foundation, St. Louis
Chantal Fink, Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, St. Louis
Kyle Harmon, Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, Springfield
Amanda Hettinger, Thompson Coburn, St. Louis
Shelby Hewerdine, Bryan Cave, St. Louis
Blake Hill, King, Krehbiel & Hellmich, St. Louis
Melesa Johnson, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, Kansas City
Danielle Kincaid, Ozarks Elder Law, Springfield
Jacqueline Kinder, Brown & James, St. Louis
Frank Koranda, Polsinelli, Kansas City
Meghan Litecky, Dysart Taylor, Kansas City
Betsy Lynch, Lynch Sharp & Associates, Kansas City
Michelle Marvel, Bartimus Frickleton Robertson, Leawood, Kansas
Megan McCurdy, Stinson Leonard Street, Kansas City
John McLeod, Brown & James, St. Louis
Greg Meyer, Harness Dickey, St. Louis
Christina Miller, Reproductive Family Law Center, Kansas City
Jehan Moore, Lathrop Gage, Kansas City
Amy Moore Harris, UMB Financial Corporation, Kansas City
Brian Nolan, Carmody MacDonald, St. Louis
Nathan Oleen, Husch Blackwell, Kansas City
Lindsey Phoenix, Whiteaker & Wilson, Springfield
Scott Pummell, Lashly & Baer, St. Louis
Brad Risby, Neale & Newman, Springfield
Jared Rose, Rose Law Firm, Kansas City
Ernesto Segura, Husch Blackwell, St. Louis
John M. Simon, The Simon Law Firm, St. Louis
Alan Simpson, Graves Garrett, Kansas City
Tracy Spradlin, The Gordon Law Firm, Kansas City
Cort VanOstran, Gray, Ritter & Graham, St. Louis
Brian Wacker, Herzog Crebs, St. Louis
Sarah Wade, Thompson Coburn, St. Louis
Nicole Zellweger, Stinson Leonard Street, St. Louis
In addition to the general Up & Coming category, some lawyers are recognized in special categories:
Danielle Kincaid, Tracy Spradlin, and JoEllen Engelbart at the 2017 Up and Coming Awards. Photo by T.L. Witt
Law Firm Leader
Recognizing early-career professionals who hold important leadership positions at their firms.
Jordan Ault, Husch Blackwell, Jefferson City
Casey Crawford, Wallace Saunders, Overland Park, Kansas
Michael Daming, Wasinger Daming, St. Louis
Tiffany McFarland, McDowell Rice Smith & Buchanan, Kansas City
Lori Rook, Ozarks Elder Law, Springfield
Public Service
Recognizing early-career professionals working in the non-profit or government sectors.
JoEllen Engelbart, Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, Kansas City
Jacki Langum, ArchCity Defenders, St. Louis
William Lynch, Jasper County Prosecutor’s Office, Joplin
Steven Ramsey, Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Jefferson City
Nikola Smith, City of Kansas City, Missouri
Kristine Walentik, St. Francis Community Service Catholic Legal Assistance Ministry, St. Louis
Jerri Zhang, Jackson County Circuit Court probate division, Kansas City
Pro Bono
Recognizing an extraordinary pro bono project led by an early-career professional.
Jacqueline Redmond, Herzog Crebs, St. Louis
Mentor
Given to more experienced legal professionals who have played an important role in the development of those starting out in the profession.
Joel Fahnestock, Jackson County Circuit Judge, Kansas City
Shannon Haney, Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, St. Louis
Theresa Levings, Badger & Levings, Kansas City
Michael Noble, St. Louis Circuit Judge, St. Louis
