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James Scott Kreamer, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Staff Report//August 15, 2025//

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James Scott Kreamer, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice

Staff Report//August 15, 2025//

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Managing Member, Kansas City

Under Scott Kreamer, many of the top defense trial firms in the state have come together under a single banner.

Kreamer, who has served as Baker Sterchi’s managing member since 2015 and has been with the firm his entire legal career, helped engineer his firm’s 2018 merger with Williams Venker & Sanders and its 2022 combination with Foland, Wickens, Roper, Hofer & Crawford. The firm now has about 92 civil litigation defense attorneys.

Kreamer, whose practice focuses on commercial, construction, financial services, insurance and product liability matters, serves as vice president of Lawyers for Civil Justice, a coalition of defense bar organizations, law firms and corporations that advocates for reform of the civil justice system.

He also was recently inducted as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Missouri Lawyers Media named him a Law Firm Leader at the 2020 Missouri Lawyers Awards.

Kreamer earned his law degree in 1989 from the University of Kansas.

Vincent D. Reese, Mickes O’Toole

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Bhavik Patel, Sandberg Phoenix

Bhavik Patel serves as chief executive officer of Sandberg Phoenix in St. Louis, bringing over 20 years of legal practice experience to his leadership role.

Larry David Fields, Kutak Rock

Larry David Fields serves as regional managing partner of Kutak Rock in Kansas City, with 34 years of legal practice experience.

Wesley O. Fields, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Wesley Fields became office managing partner of BCLP’s second-largest office in Missouri in 2019, becoming just the sixth partner to lead the Kansas City office since it opened more than 30 years ago.

Lisa Krigsten, Dentons US

In 2019, Lisa Krigsten was named the managing partner of the Kansas City office of Dentons, the massive global law firm.

Allison Murdock, Stinson

Allison Murdock serves as managing partner of Stinson in Kansas City, leading the firm where she began her career 37 years ago.

Byron A. Bowles, MVP Law Firm

Byron A. Bowles serves as president and chief executive officer of MVP Law Firm in Kansas City, bringing 31 years of legal practice experience to his leadership role.

Ruben K. Chuquimia, Polsinelli

Ruben Chuquimia was named the new office managing partner of Polsinelli’s third largest office in 2023, following former office leader Jane Arnold’s appointment as co-chair of Polsinelli’s business department.

Chris Hohn, Thompson Coburn

Chris Hohn serves as firm chair of Thompson Coburn, an 800-person law firm based in St. Louis. With 30 years of legal practice, Hohn transitioned to firm leadership one year ago after scaling back his active litigation practice.

T. Michael Ward, Brown & James

T. Michael Ward serves as managing principal of Brown & James, a prominent law firm with offices in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Missouri, and Belleville, Illinois.

James Bennett, Dowd Bennett

Clients across the nation consult Jim Bennett on their important cases. He has been recognized three times by Missouri Lawyers Media for having the largest defense or plaintiff verdict.

Richard B. Walsh Jr., Lewis Rice

Richard B. Walsh Jr. serves as firm chairman of Lewis Rice in St. Louis, bringing 40 years of legal practice experience to his leadership role.

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