ICON Honors 2024: Fred Ricks Jr.

Member, Harris Dowell Fisher & Young, St. Louis

The respect of opposing counsel is perhaps the greatest compliment any attorney can receive and Fred Ricks Jr. gets a good many compliments.

“While Fred is a zealous advocate for his clients,” wrote one opponent, “he always conducts himself in a manner consistent with the highest ideals of our profession. He puts his client’s best interests [first] without sacrificing civility even in situations which can be highly emotionally charged.”

A member of the Labor and Employment Law Committee of the state bar association, Ricks’ employment law practice involves a full range of matters including state and federal discrimination laws, wage-and-hour issues, wrongful discharge accusations and employee benefit claims. In addition to supervising internal investigations, the University of Missouri graduate can also handle planning and consulting work designed to prevent legal issues from arising before they start.

“Fred leads by example in our firm and takes great care with each file on his desk, meticulously reviewing facts and law with consideration,” wrote his nominator, “and taking the time to mentor newer partners and associates in the process.”

In the larger community, Ricks has served as a commissioner for the Central West End North Special Business District of which he has been secretary since 2021.

“In addition to his consistent contributions at the board level,” wrote another endorser, “he has served in the lead role in projects including organizing citizen volunteers to undertake community-based management of two neighborhood parks, and the management of an extensive program of tree maintenance and reforestation in the public realm throughout the SBD.”

Ricks has been at his current firm since 2003. Previously, he worked at McMahon Berger for a decade-and-a-half representing employers after spending several years with Wiley, Craig, Armbruster & Mills taking up the cases of employees and labor unions.

He’s also been Director of Fundraising and Public Relations for the Missouri Division of the American Heart Association and Director of the Missouri Association for Mental Health.