Meet Our Lawyers

Bio

• Right out of law school, Jennifer joined the Sedgwick County Kansas Court Trustee’s Office and established, modified and enforced child support obligations. Being a native to the Kansas City area, Jennifer returned here to practice family law with Richard T Bryant and Associates for seven years. She joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2008 and has remained in the child support modification group of Financial Services.

Practice Areas

• Financial Services
• Criminal Expungements

Admitted to Practice

• Kansas, 1995
• Missouri, 1996
• United States District Court-Western District, 1996

Education

• University of Wisconsin, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 1992

• American Jurisprudence Award in Contracts, 1992

• Intern with the Public Defender Project 1993

• Intern for the Honorable Julie Robinson-United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Kansas

   

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar Association

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Attorney General’s Award for excellence in Litigation, 2017

Bio

• Maleah is an Assistant Attorney General in the Employment Trial section. Maleah was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. Maleah joined the AGO as a summer intern in 2023, initially serving in the Financial Services Section and then the Labor Section. Prior to joining the AGO, Maleah served as a judicial intern for Judge Brent Powell at the Supreme Court of Missouri and for Judge Brian Wimes at the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

  During law school, Maleah was a member of the Journal of Dispute Resolution, an Ambassador for the Office of Admissions, and was involved in leadership in the American Constitution Society and the Student Bar Association.

  Outside of work, Maleah loves cooking, baking, running, volunteering, and gardening.

Education

• University of Missouri Law School, J.D., 2024
  Activities: Member of the Journal of Dispute Resolution; Programming Coordinator for the American Constitution Society; Law School Representative for Graduate and Professional Council within Student Bar Association; Ambassador for Office of Admissions

• Loyola University Chicago, B.A., Honors, Philosophy, 2021
  Honors: Member of Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society), Interdisciplinary Honors Program
  Activities: President of Loyola’s only bipartisan political organization; President of Academics for Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority; Volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago

Bio

• Savannah Austin is an Assistant Attorney General in the Financial Services Recovery section.

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2021

Education

• University of Missouri Law School– Columbia
  J.D. — May 2021
• University of Missouri
  B.S. Hospitality Management; Minor in Business; Minor in English (Writing); May 2018

Bio

• Brad has been an Assistant Attorney General in the Governmental Affairs Division since joining the Office in August of 2021. A lifelong Missourian, Brad was born and raised in south St. Louis County before moving to Cape Girardeau to attend Southeast Missouri State University. After graduating, Brad attended Saint Louis University Law School where he obtained his Juris Doctorate.

Practice Areas

• Governmental Affairs

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2018

Education

• Southeast Missouri State University, Bachelor Degrees in History and Political Science, 2018
• Saint Louis University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2021

Bio

• Abigale Ballard is a Southeast Missouri native. Abigale and her husband, Kodi, were married in 2018. Together, they enjoy traveling and visiting America’s National Parks. Abigale is a proud member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She is an alumna of the ALA Missouri Girls’ State program and continues to volunteer for the program. She enjoys gardening, crafting, and antiquing.

Practice Areas

• Labor

Education

• Missouri State University, B.S. Business – 2020
  Study Away – Business, Technology, and Culture in Ireland
• Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale J.D. in 2024
  President of Christian Legal Society

Bio

• Michael Bang is a graduate of Missouri State University and Creighton University, School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri. Michael has been with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office since March 2018. He started out in the Springfield Office practicing Worker’s Compensation Law in the Labor Division. In August 2022, he transferred to a position in the Financial Division in the Kansas City Office. Prior to working for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Michael worked for the Missouri Department of Social Services where he practiced juvenile and family law.

Practice Areas

• Financial Law
• Real Estate Law
• Worker’s Compensation

Admitted to Practice

• State of Missouri, 2012

Education

• Creighton University, School of Law, 2012
• Missouri State University, 2009
  Cum Laude

Bio

• The son of a career Air Force officer who won the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Missouri Special Education Teacher of the Year, Greg was raised with an ethic of patriotism and service. During his college years, Greg was an intercollegiate debater, did a field term with the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, helped jump-start an anti-apartheid movement, and was twice elected Student Body President. After college, Greg worked for several public interest groups before attending law school.

  During law school, Greg won awards for ranking his classes in Constitutional Law, Mediation, and International Law. After law school, Greg clerked for a judge on the Missouri Court of Appeals and worked for Sandberg, Phoenix, and Von Gontard in St. Louis before joining the AGO in 1996. In his nearly 27 years at the AGO, Greg has been a litigator, a tobacco Master Settlement Agreement enforcer, and a criminal appeals specialist, handling more than 750 cases in the Missouri appellate courts. He has also handled the occasional “Indian” law case.

  Greg is a rabid bridge player, holding the rank of Gold Life Master in the American Contract Bridge league, and acts in community theater productions. He has served on three non-profit boards related to these interests. He has been married to his wife, Renee, for 20 years.

Practice Areas

• Criminal Appeals
• Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement
• “Indian” Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri 1991
• Illinois 1992

Education

• Michigan State University, B.A. with Honors College designation, 1980.
• University of Missouri Law School, J.D., 1991.

Honors & Awards

• Attorney General’s Award for Best Brief

Bio

• Juliana Bartoli grew up in Saint Charles, Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri Columbia (Mizzou) for undergrad, where she received her B.A. in Business Administration and International Relations and a B.S. in Political Science. After graduating from Mizzou, she attended the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law, where she graduated Cum Laude in 2024. She began working in the Civil Litigation Section of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in 2024.

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation

Education

• Graduated Cum Laude from University of Missouri – Columbia
  B.S. Political Science
  B.A. Business administration
  B.A. International Relations

• University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law
  Graduated Cum Laude with J.D.

  Published in the UMKC Law Review
  comment: “Missouri Needs Stricter Koalifications: How Missouri Can Promote Exotic Animal Welfare.”

Professional Affiliations

• KCMBA

Bio

• Jeff joined the AGO in 2003 in the Financial Services Division. In 2005, he transferred to the Criminal Division, then in 2021, he returned to the Financial Services Division, Child Support Section. He has appeared in every appellate court and a majority of the circuit courts in the state.

  Jeff came to Missouri in 1993 after earning his law degree from the University of Arkansas. Jeff began work as an assistant prosecuting attorney in southwest Missouri, focusing on child support enforcement. In 1997, Jeff began work as a staff attorney for the Missouri Division of Child Support Enforcement (later the Family Support Division) in Springfield, and later in Columbia and Jefferson City.

Practice Areas

• Family law
• Criminal law

Admitted to Practice

• Supreme Court of Missouri, 1993
• U.S. Dist. Court, Western Dist. of Missouri (1993, inactive)

Education

• University of Arkansas
  Juris Doctor,1993
  Board of Advocates; W.B. Putnam American Inn of Court; Phi Delta Phi Honorary Legal Fraternity; Dean’s List; Who’s Who in American Law Students
• Eastern New Mexico University
  Bachelor of Science, Communications (honors),1983
  Kappa Sigma fraternity; Phi Eta Sigma freshman honor society; Sigma Mu Phi sophomore honor society

Professional Affiliations

• The Missouri Bar

Bio

• Alex is an assistant attorney general in the criminal appeals section. Alex joined the Attorney General’s Office in August 2022. After his first year of law school, Alex interned at the law firm Barr & Klein, where he conducted research and wrote office memoranda for cases involving First Amendment and election law. After his second year of law school, Alex was a law clerk for two judges on the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court in Springfield, Illinois.

Practice Areas

• Criminal Appeals

Admitted to Practice

• USDC, Eastern District of Missouri
• USDC, Western District of Missouri
• Missouri

Education

• School: Saint Louis University School of Law
  Degree: J.D. (May 2022)
  Honors: Academic Achievement Award for highest grade in Seminar: International IP Law, Dean’s List (Spring 2022), Student Note published in Saint Louis University Law Journal, Volume 66
  Activities: International Law Student Association (Treasurer), Saint Louis University Law Journal (Online Editor)
• School: Saint Louis University
  Degree: B.A. in German Studies and History (May 2019)
  Honors: German National Honor Society, Dean’s List all semesters (Fall 2015-Spring 2019)
  Activities: Amicus Curiae Pre-Law Society

Bio

• Scott Bower joined the AGO Litigation Section in August of 2023. Since joining, Scott primarily defends state agencies and officials in lawsuits filed in state and federal court.

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• Employment Law

Admitted to Practice

• The Missouri Bar, 2023

Education

• University of Missouri – Columbia, J.D., 2023 – Veterans Clinic – Missouri Law Review
• Avila University, B.B.A. Management & Marketing, 2020, Magna Cum Laude

Bio

• Prior to his semi-retirement, Ted worked for 33 years in the Public Safety Division of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, as Deputy Chief Counsel. His duties included supervising all civil and criminal litigation in that Division. His duties are divided between special criminal prosecutions throughout the state and defending most of Missouri’s state law enforcement agencies in state and federal court in civil cases. Ted has tried cases in all but two of Missouri’s counties and has over 350 jury trials. Ted has briefed and argued over 500 reported appellate decisions in state and federal court. He also trains extensively in the area or criminal records, expungements, personnel records and the Sunshine Law. Ted also is a certified police instructor, teaching courses in many of the police training academies throughout Missouri, specializing in the area of search and seizure and the use of deadly force by police officers.

Practice Areas

• Criminal Prosecutions
• Civil Rights Defense
• Civil Defense

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 1981
• Tennessee, 1987
• North Carolina, 1987

Education

• Saint Louis University, JD 1981
  Graduated cum laude; member of Bar Journal
• Murray State University, 1978, summa cum laude, BS
  President, Psi Chi Honor Society

Honors & Awards

• Law Enforcement Instructor of the Year, 1990

Bio

• Luke Chapman is a native of Festus, Missouri. After graduating Festus Senior High, Luke joined the Navy and served as a Hospital Corpsman for six years before earning an English degree at Saint Louis University. For law school, he attended the University of Oregon (go Ducks!) and participated in the prosecution clinic with the Lane County DA’s office. In his free time, Luke enjoys fly fishing, reading, trail running, and spending time with family.

Practice Areas

• Medicaid Fraud

Bio

• Andrew Clarke grew up in Harrisonville, Missouri. Prior to joining the office in 2020, Andrew clerked for the Honorable Lisa White Hardwick at the Missouri Court of Appeals in Kansas City. While in law school, Andrew spent time in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, participated in the Innocence Clinic, and served as a research assistant to Dean Lyrissa Lidsky.

Practice Areas

• Habeas Corpus
• Appellate
• Special Prosecutions

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2018
• United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 2020
• United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2020

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law, JD Cum Laude 2018, Order of the Coif, Order of the Barristers
• William Jewell College, BA Psychology, 2011, Four-year letter winner Varsity Football

Honors & Awards

• Excellence in Litigation, March 2022

Bio

• Matt joined the labor team in February of 2023 after working in the insurance defense industry. Matt graduated from the University of Missouri before attending law school at Southern Illinois University. In his free time Matt enjoys spending time with friends and family, golfing, and attending Cardinals, Blues, and St. Louis City games.

Practice Areas

• Workers’ Compensation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2017
• Illinois, 2016

Education

• University of Missouri, B.A in Political Science and Communication, 2012
• Southern Illinois University School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2015

Professional Affiliations

• The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
• The Missouri Bar
• Illinois State Bar Association

Bio

• Priya Cumberbatch-Schut is an Assistant Attorney General in the St. Louis office. Priya joined the Financial Services unit in April 2023. Priya previously represented parents and children in neglect and abuse cases in Family Court in New York for over 12 years.

Practice Areas

• Family Law

Admitted to Practice

• New York, 2010
• Missouri, 2017

Education

• Baruch College, New York, BBA-International Marketing, 2003
• Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, New York,JD, 2009

Bio

• Reed Dempsey joined the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in July 2023 as an Assistant Attorney General in the Special Litigation Unit. Following law school, Reed clerked for the Hon. Maryellen Noreika in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Prior to joining the AGO, Reed worked at a litigation boutique in Washington, D.C.

Practice Areas

• Special Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Connecticut, 2018
• Washington D.C., 2020
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 2023
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2023

Education

• Bucknell University, B.A. International Relations, B.A. Sociology
• London School of Economics, MSc Economy, Risk & Society
• Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.

Bio

• As Solicitor General of Missouri, Josh Divine oversees the office’s appellate and special litigation divisions. Before serving as Solicitor General, Mr. Divine was Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, where he oversaw resolution of legal issues, managed matters related to the Judiciary Committee, and developed tech policy proposals. Mr. Divine also was previously Deputy Solicitor General of Missouri.

  Mr. Divine clerked on the U.S. Supreme Court for Justice Thomas and on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit for Judge William Pryor. His recent legal scholarship has appeared in the Virginia Law Review and the Hastings Law Journal.

Practice Areas

• Appellate
• Special Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2017
• Colorado, 2016
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2021

Education

• Yale Law School, J.D., 2016
  Yale Law Journal, Editor
• University of Northern Colorado, B.S. Mathematics, 2012
  Summa cum laude
  UNC Connection, Editor-in-Chief

Bio

• After a few years in private practice in Southeast Missouri, Emily joined the Litigation Division on February 1, 2006. Emily has defended the State, its laws, state officials and employees in a wide variety of cases. She has argued in the Missouri Supreme Court and the Eighth Circuit.

Practice Areas

• constitutional law
• civil litigation
• appellate practice

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2002
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 2003
• U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 2006

Education

• Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Juris Doctor, 2002, Magna cum Laude
  Southern Illinois University Law Journal Research Editor
  Journal of Legal Medicine staff
• Miami University (Oxford), B.A. in English literature and French, 1999, Magna cum Laude
  Phi Beta Kappa
  Secretary of Pi Delta Phi chapter (French honor society)

Honors & Awards

• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Litigation (2010)
• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Client Service (2017)
• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Written Advocacy (2018)

Bio

• Tim began his legal career serving the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission, and joined the Attorney General’s Office in 1986. Tim primarily represents and advises the Departments of Natural Resources and Agriculture and their related boards and commissions.

  Tim has contributed chapters and updates for Missouri Bar deskbooks related to administrative and environmental law.

Practice Areas

• Administrative Law
• Environmental Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri Bar, 1979
• U.S. District Court for Western and Eastern Districts, 1979
• Eighth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court, 1987

Education

• St. Louis University School of Law, J.D.,1979
• The Colorado College, B.A. (Philosophy), 1976

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2017

Education

• Vanderbilt University, B.A., 2014
• Washington University – St. Louis, J.D., 2017

Bio

• Nicole Follmer joined the Missouri Attorney General’s Office (AGO) in 2013 and currently serves as the Deputy Chief Counsel of the Financial Services Section. Nicole’s entire tenure at the AGO has been with the Financial Services Section, previously serving as an Assistant Attorney General (AAG) in the Child Support Unit, an AAG in the Recovery Unit, and a Unit Leader in the Child Support Unit. Nicole continues to focus on child support, managing the office’s Child Support Unit.

Practice Areas

• Family Law
• Child Support

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2012
• Illinois, 2013

Education

• Oklahoma City University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2012, Cum Laude
  Oklahoma City University Law Review, Resource Editor, 2011-2012
• University of Missouri – St. Louis, B.A. Philosophy, 2009, Magna Cum Laude

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar Association
• Illinois Bar Association

Bio

• Kim Fournier is a 1995 graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. After law school she worked as the law clerk to the Honorable Jack E. Gant of the Jackson County Circuit Court, then worked for the City of Kansas City, Missouri as an Assistant City Attorney. Since 2001 she has been with the AGO. She started as an attorney in the Labor Division, was promoted in 2008 to the Kansas City Labor Unit Leader, then Deputy Chief of the Labor Division in 2014. In 2021 she was named Chief of the Labor Division in which capacity she continues to serve today.

Bio

• AAG Geary-Atkins graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Missouri- Columbia in 2007. She graduated from Saint Louis University in 2010 with a concentration in Criminal Litigation. AAG Geary-Atkins was employed with the 20th Circuit Juvenile Office for seven years, prosecuting juvenile delinquents and representing the State of Missouri in child abuse and neglect cases. AAG Geary-Atkins joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2018. She works in the Public Safety Division, handling special prosecutions and sexually violent predator cases.

Practice Areas

• Criminal Litigation
• Juvenile Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri Bar, 2010

Education

• University of Missouri – Columbia, Magna Cum Laude, Honors College
• Saint Louis University, Concentration in Criminal Litigation

Bio

• John Grantham began his career at the Fulton County Public Defender’s Office in Atlanta, GA. John then practiced criminal defense and public housing advocacy at the Georgia Justice Project. John joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2008 in the Criminal Appeals Section. In 2012, John moved to the Consumer Protection where he brings civil and criminal actions for violations of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, as well bringing actions related to nonprofits and securities fraud prosecutions.

Practice Areas

• Consumer Protection
• Nonprofit Regulation and Charitable Solicitations
• Securities Fraud

Admitted to Practice

• Georgia, 2002
• Missouri, 2008
• Federal District Courts of Missouri, 2020

Education

• Emory University, Bachelor of Arts, 1998
• Georgia State University College of Law, Juris Doctor, 2002

Professional Affiliations

• National Association of State Charity Officials

Honors & Awards

• Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Contribution, Consumer Protection 2019

Bio

• Megan Green joined the Attorney General’s Office in August 2024 as an Assistant Attorney General working with the Labor Division. Megan grew up in Fordland, Missouri and obtained her B.S. in Legal Studies at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri in 2018. After obtaining her B.S. Megan joined the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office in Ozark, Missouri, working as a legal assistant for the property crimes caseload and later as a victim advocate for the domestic violence caseload. Megan returned to school to finish her legal education in August 2021 attending Washburn University School of Law located in Topeka, Kansas. During law school, Megan wrote for the Washburn Law Journal and interned with Legal Services of Southern Missouri and the Attorney General’s Office in Springfield, Missouri. Megan obtained her J.D. in May 2024.

Practice Areas

• Labor

Education

• Culver-Stockton College; 2018; Summa Cum Laude; Chi Omega Fraternity, Mock Trial, Mediation Team.
• Washburn University School of Law; 2024; Dean’s Honors; Women’s Legal Forum, Washburn Law Journal.

Professional Affiliations

• Christian County Prosecutor’s Office
• Legal Services of Southern Missouri
• Missouri Attorney General’s Office

Bio

• I joined the AGO in February 2018 and assigned to the Environmental and Agricultural Unit within the Governmental Affairs (GA) Section. I represent state agencies in various types of civil and administrative actions. But spend most of time representing the Departments of Natural Resources, Agricultural, and Public Safety.

  In June of 2020, I was detached to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri as a Special United States Attorney in support of the Missouri AG’s Safer Street Initiative, US DOJ Project Safe Neighborhoods, Operation Legend, and various other federal strike forces, prosecuting violent crimes.

  Prior to joining the office, I was an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. After completing my academic work for my masters in environmental law, I was selected to clerk for the Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement-General Counsel’s Office of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s, Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics, and Training in Washington D.C..

Practice Areas

• Environmental Law
• Agricultural Law
• General/Administrative Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2005
• US District Court-ED, 2018
• US District Court-WD, 2018

Education

• Saint Louis University School of Law, 2004
• Vermont Law School, 2005, Master in Environmental Law, Magna Cum Laude

Professional Affiliations

• Environmental Law Institute

Bio

• Before joining the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Han gained experience in diverse areas of legal practice, including tax, criminal defense, and electronic discovery. While in law school, he worked as a pro se law clerk at the United States Courts for the Western District of Missouri.

  Mr. Han joined the Attorney General’s Office in February of 2022. He is committed to public service and strives to provide excellent representation on behalf of the State of Missouri and its citizens.

Practice Areas

• Financial Services

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2017

Education

• Westminster College, B.A. Political Science
• University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law, J.D., 2017, cum laude, ABA Negotiations Team, Christian Legal Society

Bio

• David is an Iowa native. He graduated from Central College, in Pella, Iowa, in 1987.
  He attended the University of Kansas School of Law, and earned a J.D. degree in
  1990.
  He joined the AGO upon graduation, starting in the Criminal Appeals Division. David
  then worked in the Habeas Unit, the Governmental Affairs Division, the Sexually Violent
  Predator Unit, and the Public Safety Division, where he served as the Deputy Chief
  Counsel prior to his retirement in 2018. During his AGO tenure, he left the office twice,
  once to serve as General Counsel for the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and later to
  serve as General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections. David spent
  much of his time in the AGO defending the MSHP in state and federal court, and as a
  special prosecutor in felony cases across the state. He has tried more than fifty cases
  to verdict in state and federal court, and represented the state in the Missouri Court of
  Appeals, the Missouri Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the
  Eighth Circuit. David is also a state-certified police instructor.

Practice Areas

• Litigation
• Criminal Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri,1990
• United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1990
• United States District Court for the W.D. of Mo, 1992

Education

• Kansas University School of Law
• Kansas Criminal Procedure Review, Staff
• Central College, Pella, Iowa, Bachelor of Arts

Bio

• Ian grew up in Miami, Florida and came to Missouri for college and then law school. After graduating from law school, Ian worked as an Assistant Public Defender for seven years and then worked as Associate General Counsel for the Board of Nursing for five years. Ian joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2017 and works in the Financial Services Division.

Practice Areas

• Administrative Law
• Estates
• Missouri Incarceration Reimbursement

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2005

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2004
• Washington University, BA-Psychology, Minor-Biology, 1999

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar

Bio

• Luke A. Hawley is an Assistant Attorney General with the Consumer Protection Division. Mr. Hawley’s practice focuses on consumer protection and civil litigation, working to protect Missouri consumers from unfair and deceptive business practices. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Hawley worked in private practice, guiding organizations and individuals through a wide range of disputes including negligence, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract.

  Mr. Hawley is a 2021 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law, where he served as Note and Comment Editor for the Missouri Law Review. Mr. Hawley also served as the Interschool Competition Director for the law school’s Board of Advocates.

Practice Areas

• Consumer Protection
• Civil Litigation
• Criminal Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2021

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law; JD; 2021; The Order of Barristers; Missouri Law Review, Note and Comment Editor; Board of Advocates, Interschool Competition Director
• University of Central Missouri; Bachelor of Science in Political Science; 2018; Cum Laude

Professional Affiliations

• The Missouri Bar Association

Honors & Awards

• The Order of Barristers

Bio

• Tom is Unit Leader in the Governmental Affairs Section. He joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2017, and previously worked with the Department of Social Services, The Department of Health and Senior Services, and the Labor and Industrial Relation Commission.

  His practice areas include a variety of administrative proceedings, professional licensing, and guardianships. He has a particular specialty in the area of parental rights and is a frequent speaker and author on the topic. He lives in Columbia, Missouri with his wife Lillian, their children (James, Thomas, Devon, and Eryn), and a multitude of small animals.

Practice Areas

• Administrative Law
• Professional Licensing
• Parental Rights

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri Bar, 2014
• US District Court Western District of Missouri, 2018
• US District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 2018

Education

• University of Missouri – Columbia, School of Law – 2014
• Baker College – 2011

Bio

• Ms. Heads grew up in Houston, Texas. Prior to her career as an attorney, Ms. Heads worked as a paralegal in in-house and private practice law firms for nearly 10 years. She moved to Missouri after obtaining her law license and shortly thereafter joined the Attorney General’s Office.

  As an Assistant Attorney General in Employment Litigation, Ms. Heads defends state agencies and state employees in lawsuits filed in Missouri’s circuit and appellate courts and in the United States District Courts located in Missouri.

Practice Areas

• Employment Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Supreme Court of Missouri, 2023
• United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 2024
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, 2024

Education

• Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2021, magna cum laude

• Wills, Probate, and Guardianship Legal Clinic, Fall 2021
  Earl Carl Institute-Texas Rent Relief, Fall 2021
  Research Assistant to Professor Erika Kelsaw, Fall 2021
  TexasLawHelp, Summer 2021
  Law Library Research Assistant, Summer 2021
  Mock Trial, 2020-2021

• Texas Southern University, Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice, 2014, magna cum laude

Professional Affiliations

• The Missouri Bar
• American Bar Association

Bio

• After graduating law school, Shelly worked as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable W. Stephen Nixon in Jackson County Circuit Court. She then went on to serve eight years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Clay County Missouri. Shelly has served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri since 2016. She is the Unit Leader for the Labor Division in the Kansas City Attorney General’s Office.

Practice Areas

• Workers Compensation
• Prosecution – Civil and Criminal

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2005

Education

• Park University, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Marketing, 2002.
  Honors: Graduated Summa Cum Laude; Recognition as a Presidential Scholar; Dean’s List
• University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2005.
  Honors/ Activities: Dean’s List; Student Bar Association – Secretary; The Urban Lawyer Legal Journal – Staff Associate; UMKC Law Ireland Study Abroad Program; UMKC Readmissions and Student Affairs Committee – Student Member; International Law Society – Student Member

Bio

• Rachael is the Deputy Chief Counsel for the Labor Division. She originally joined the AG’s Office in 2008 as an intern in Jefferson City. After law school, Rachael started as an AAG in the Labor Division in St. Louis. She became a unit leader in 2015, and Deputy Chief Counsel in 2021. Her area of specialization is workers’ compensation. Rachael is also a Recruitment Director for the AG’s office.

Practice Areas

• Labor – workers’ compensation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri; 2008

Education

• Truman State University; BA in political science; 2005
  Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Fraternity
  President’s Honorary Scholarship; President’s Combined Ability Scholarship; Missouri Bright Flight Scholarship
• Saint Louis University School of Law; JD; 2008
  Dean’s Scholar; SLU Law Mentor; Student Ambassador

Honors & Awards

• AG Award for Excellence in Administration and Management; 2018
• AG Award for Exceptional Service; 2019
• AG Award for Excellence in Administration and Management; 2021

Bio

• Prior to becoming an Assistant Attorney General, Dakkota served the Family Court of Jackson County, MO and the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office. Dakkota began her career in workers’ compensation at MVP Law, but rejoined the public sector in 2024 when joining the Labor Division at the Missouri Attorney General.

  When she is not practicing law with her grandparents and furbabies, Callie and Ranger. When she’s not working, Dakkota enjoys spending time with her young cousins and serving as the Attorney Coach for the Excelsior Springs Mock Trial Team. Dakkota is an avid Harry Potter enthusiast and a licensed foster parent.

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2017
• Kansas, 2021
•  

Education

• University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law
  • Juris Doctor, 2017
  • Judge John W. Oliver Public Service Fellowship, Dillingham Public Service Award, UMKC Law Review
• William Jewell College
  • BA Political Science, minor business administration, 2014
  • Magna Cum Laude

Bio

• Haleigh Karl joined the AG’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General for the Governmental Affairs Section in 2024. Haleigh attended the University of Missouri, where she majored in Environmental Sciences and Political Science and received her B.S. and B.A. in 2021. After graduating from the University of Missouri, she attended Washburn University School of Law. During law school, she was a member of the American Association for Justice Trial Team and a member of Washburn Law’s Moot Court Council.

Bio

• Kevin joined the AGO in 2017, where he represents the state in civil matters and collects funds owed to the state of Missouri. Prior to joining the AGO, Kevin was a solo practitioner, handling estate planning and probate matters and advising businesses and tax-exempt organizations.

Practice Areas

• Estates, Trusts, and Probate
• Civil Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2010

Education

• University of Missouri-Kansas City, J.D., 2010
• Truman State University, B.A., 1997

Bio

• A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Karen Kramer served as a law clerk for Missouri Supreme Court Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. and Missouri Supreme Court Judge Edward D. ‘Chip’ Robertson, Jr. Ms. Kramer then took a position with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office, where she has served as an assistant attorney general in the Criminal Appeals Division since 1997.

Practice Areas

• Criminal Law
• Appellate Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 1995
• Supreme Court of the United States, 2009

Education

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln, B.A. in English, 1987, graduated magna cum laude

• The American University, Washington, DC. M.A. in Public Communications, 1989, graduated cum laude

• Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, MO. J.D., 1995, graduated top 15% in class.

Honors & Awards

• David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award 2001

Bio

• Born and raised in St. Louis, Matthew J. Laudano now lives and works in Mid-Missouri. He served previously with the Attorney General’s Office from 2011–2016, and as in-house counsel to the Office of Administration and the Department of Health and Senior Services. He is a proud alumnus of Drum Corps International, and has worked with the award-winning Jefferson City High School Drumline.

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• Administrative Law

Admitted to Practice

• Supreme Court of Missouri, 2007
• U.S. District Court for Western District of Missouri, 2013
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 2023

Education

• J.D., cum laude, University of Maryland School of Law (2007)
• B.A., English, University of Missouri-Columbia (2002)

Honors & Awards

• Chair, Mo. Bar Administrative Law Cmte. (2016-18)
• AGO Award for Client Service to St. Louis Co. Fam. Ct. (2014)

Bio

• Robert Lass grew up in Saint Charles, Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri Columbia, where he majored in Political Science and received his B.A. in 2013. In May of 2013, he Commissioned as an 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, and served in Okinawa, Japan, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After his time in the Marine Corps, he attended the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. He received his J.D. in 2024, and now works in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in the Employment Litigation section.

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia, Juris Doctorate, 2024

Bio

• Caleb Lewis joined the Attorney General’s Office in August 2009 and currently serves as Chief Counsel for the Financial Services section. Caleb started his AGO career in the Litigation section before transferring to Financial Services in 2013.

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• Estates and Probate
• Administrative Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2009

Education

• University of Missouri, J.D. & MBA, 2009
• University of Missouri, B.S. Business Administration, 2005

Bio

• Victoria Lowell joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2024 as an Assistant Attorney General in the Special Litigation Division. Previously, Victoria clerked on the Indiana Supreme Court for the Honorable Chief Justice Loretta H. Rush. She also worked for the Indiana General Assembly in policy for five years before and during law school.

Practice Areas

• Special Litigation
• Constitutional Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2024
• Indiana, 2022

Education

• Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, JD, 2021, summa cum laude
  Indiana International and Comparative Law Review, Associate Note Editor and Student Note Candidate (note selected for publication)

• University of Dayton, BA in Political Science and Spanish, 2017, summa cum laude

  Awarded Outstanding Senior in Spanish and Outstanding Junior in Political Science

  Activities: University Hearing Board Student Board member, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Optimist Club member

Bio

• John Lynch is an assistant attorney general. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, he practiced in insurance defense, and pension law.

  He came to the office in 1990. Starting out, he served in the Litigation Division, trying cases in federal and state courts. In the 2000’s, he moved to the Financial Services Division where he represents the Department of Social Services in child support-related litigation. He has waged appeals in federal and state courts. He has been an instructor in office CLE.

  He has represented the Departments of Corrections, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Social Services. He has also represented state juvenile officers, and the Highway Patrol.

Practice Areas

• Expungements, state court
• Child support litigation, state court
• Civil rights defense, federal court

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 1986
• Illinois, 1979
• U.S. Dist. Court, E.D. Mo., 1990
• U.S. Dist. Court, W.D. Mo., 1986
• U.S. Dist. Court, S.D. Ill., 1987
• U.S. Dist. Court, N.D. Ill., 1979
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit, 1987
• U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, 1979

Education

• Harvard College, A.B., cum laude, 1976
• Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 1979

   

Professional Affiliations

• St. Louis County Bar Association
• Federalist Society
• Toastmasters, Kirkwood, Missouri chapter

Bio

• Sean McDowell is an Assistant Attorney General in the Governmental Affairs section. Sean joined the office right out of law school in 2024, and he specializes in professional licensing and administrative law.

Practice Areas

• Professional Licensing
• Administrative Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2024

Education

• Saint Louis University, Bachelor of Arts Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, 2021

• University of Missouri, Columbia School of Law, 2024

  Cali Awards: Sports Law

  Journal of Dispute Resolution, Published June 2023

Bio

• Dan McPherson joined the AGO in March 2013. He attended law school following a 13 year career as a broadcast journalist in Iowa and Missouri. Dan spent seven years in the private practice of law in Jefferson City before joining the AGO. He initially worked in the Governmental Affairs Unit, representing medical licensing boards, before joining the Criminal Appeals Unit in August 2004.

  Dan has handled more than 900 appeals in the Missouri Supreme Court and in all three districts of the Missouri Court of Appeals. He has authored or co-authored articles appearing in the Drake Law Review, Creighton Law Review, and Journal of the Missouri Bar.

Practice Areas

• Appellate Practice
• Criminal Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 1996
• United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, 1998
• Supreme Court of the United States, 2000

Education

• University of Missouri, BJ, 1980
• Drake University, JD with Honors, 1996
  Academic Achievement Award for top grade in Evidence class
  Associate Editor, Drake Law Review

Professional Affiliations

• Jefferson City Breakfast Rotary
• Elwood L. Thomas Inn of Court, Past Member
• Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity

Honors & Awards

• AGO Guardian of Justice Award, 2019
• AGO Best Brief Award, 2010; 2013

Bio

• Adam Merello joined the AGO Litigation Section in November of 2021. Since joining, Adam regularly defends state agencies and officials in lawsuits filed in both state and federal court.

Practice Areas

• Civil Rights Defense
• Employment Defense
• Tort Defense

Admitted to Practice

• USDC, Eastern District of Missouri
• USDC, Western District of Missouri
• Missouri

Education

• University of Kansas, J.D., 2019
• United States Air Force Academy, B.S., 2007

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar Association

Bio

• Justin Mettlen joined the Attorney General’s Child Support Unit in September 2006. While with the Child Support Unit, Mr. Mettlen appeared for Missouri Department of Social Services in the circuit courts of 32 Missouri Counties as well as argued cases in the Western and Eastern Districts of the Missouri Court of Appeals. Mr. Mettlen served as a Unit Leader for the Child Support Unit between 2017 and 2022 managing attorneys and staff across the AGO’s Jefferson City, Kansas City, and Springfield Offices. Having developed an expertise in the areas of child support law and administrative law, Mr. Mettlen is regularly invited to speak at the Missouri Bar Association’s Family Law Conference and the Missouri Child Support Enforcement Association’s annual conference. Mr. Mettlen transferred to the AGO’s Litigation Section in 2022, where he serves as senior counsel representing various state agencies.

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2005

Education

• Washburn University School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2005
• University of Kansas, B.A., History and Political Science, 2002

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Child Support Enforcement Association

Bio

• Born and raised in Kansas City. A Chiefs fan long before being a Chiefs fan was cool.
  Also was an Assistant General Counsel at the Department of Health and Senior Services, attorney for Missouri State Parks at the Department of Natural Resources, and attorney for the Missouri Medicaid Audit & Compliance Unit at the Department of Social Services.
  Enjoy traveling.

Practice Areas

• Governmental Affairs

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri 1993

Education

• University of Missouri – Columbia, BS, 1985
• University of Missouri – Columbia – JD, 1993

Bio

• Drake grew up in Bentonville Arkansas and lived there until he graduated from Bentonville High School in 2014. After high school, Drake attended Missouri State University to study Finance. After graduating, he went back to Arkansas where he graduated from Arkansas School of Law in 2022, after which he came to work at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. Throughout law school Drake worked for several criminal defense firms, including the Criminal Clinic as a student practice attorney. In his free time Drake enjoys spending time outdoors, watching all things Razorback, and traveling.

Practice Areas

• Estate Recovery
• Civil Litigation
• Medicaid

Admitted to Practice

• Colorado, 2022
• Missouri, 2023

Education

• University of Arkansas School of Law (2019-2022) – J.D.
  -Phi Alpha Delta: Treasurer
  -Sports & Entertainment Law Society: President
  -Board of Advocates: Associate
• Missouri State University (2016-2019) – Bachelor’s of Finance

Bio

• Ryan Murray joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2022 after 4 years in private practice for civil litigation. He concurrently serves in the Missouri Army National Guard as a Judge Advocate. Ryan resides in Columbia, Illinois with his wife and dog where he is also a firefighter for the Columbia Fire Protection District.

Practice Areas

• Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2018
• Illinois, 2022
• Federal District Courts

Education

• Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, Bachelor of Business Administration, 2015, Student Senator, President Sigma Phi Epsilon
• Southern Illinois University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, Moot Court Board

Bio

• Sara’s early career was spent in communications, with a focus on government and nonprofit entities. In 2019, she accepted a position at the University of Missouri School of Law Veterans Clinic, handling client intake and working with the University’s Extension Office to reach veterans in rural Missouri.

  During law school, Sara interned with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of General Counsel Appeals Litigation Group. In that role, she worked with outside counsel to help veterans find the best path forward for their benefits claims when they had been denied. Sara also was a 2023 Public Health Law Fellow with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a Health Law Fellow, Sara trained with the CDC in legal epidemiology and worked with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on improving and standardizing practices for the recording of vital records.

 Practice Areas:

• Administrative Law

 Admitted to Practice:

• Missouri, 2024
• US District Court Western District of Missouri, 2024

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia, Juris Doctorate, 2024
  University of Missouri-Columbia, Master of Arts, 2024
• University of Missouri-Columbia, Master of Public Affairs, 2018
  University of Central Florida, Bachelor of Arts, 2004

Honors & Awards

• Mizzou Law Bar Grant Award Recipient, 2024
• Mizzou Law Women’s Law Association Annual Scholarship Recipient, 2023
• Mizzou Law Edna Nelson 1L Top Achiever Award for Pro Bono Work, 2022

Bio

• Kyle O’Driscoll joined the Attorney General’s Office in April 2024. He currently serves as an Assistant Attorney General in the Child Support Unit of the Financial Services section where he represents the Missouri Department of Social Service, Family Support Division in cases involving paternity, child support, and other administrative law issues. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Kyle worked for the St. Louis County Juvenile Office and Missouri Department of Social Services where he practiced juvenile law.

Practice Areas

• Family Law
• Juvenile Law
• Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2013

Education

• Saint Louis University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2013
• Saint Louis University, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 2010

Bio

• As a Deputy Solicitor General, Michael Patton’s practice focuses on appeals and high-stakes litigation in state and federal court. Michael earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as an Articles Editor on the Virginia Law Review and won the 93rd William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition. Before joining the Solicitor General’s Office, Michael clerked for Judge Barbara Lagoa on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Practice Areas

• Appellate
• Special Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri

Education

• University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 2022
• Patrick Henry College, B.A. Government, 2018

Bio

• Arvids “Arv” started his career by serving in the United States Army after high school. Subsequent to his honorable discharge, he graduated from The Ohio State University. He then earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Tulsa College of Law and Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from University of Tulsa. Arv recently held the designations of Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE) and Certified Professional in Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM).

  Arv’s background includes personnel management consulting, counseling/therapy, practicing law in the private sector with Shook, Hardy and Bacon on product liability litigation, and public service with Missouri State Government. He has served as General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, dealing with healthcare facility regulation and licensure, public health and senior/disability issues, and as Deputy Director of the MFCU.

  Prior to returning the AGO, Arv served as Vice-President of Risk Management and Patient Safety at Healthcare Services Group (HSG), professional liability insurance provider. During his tenure at HSG, he also served as HSG’s compliance officer, executive director of the Hospital Association Team and the Hospital Self-Insurance Fund of Missouri, both workers compensation trust funds. Arv provided educational seminars and medical-legal advice to physicians, hospitals, practice administrators and other healthcare professionals.

  Arv is active in professional and community organizations. He currently is a mediator/arbitrator for the Missouri Bar Fee Dispute Resolution Program and the Missouri Bar Complaint Resolution Program. Previously, he served as the Vice-Chair of the Missouri Bar’s Health and Hospital Law Committee.

  Currently, he is serving his fourth term as the Board President for Mid-Missouri Legal Services (MMLS) which provides free civil legal services to low income individuals and veterans in 11 counties in central Missouri. He also served as the Board Chairman for the Jefferson City Rape and Abuse Crisis Services (RACS) for 3 years and was on the board for 10 years. He is also past president of the Rotary Club of Jefferson City and has served as the Club’s Youth Exchange Officer for more than 10 years.

Practice Areas

• Healthcare Fraud

Education

• University of Tulsa, JD, College of Law, 1993
• University of Tulsa, Masters of Arts, Clinical Psychology, 1994

Bio

• Rebecca Pinto joined the Attorney General’s Office in 2019 after working for nearly ten years as an in-house attorney for a large nursing home chain. Prior to that, she worked as an associate at Thompson Coburn LLP and as a judicial clerk for Judge Catherine D. Perry of the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri.

Practice Areas

• Consumer Protection
• Complex Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2000
• Illinois, 2002

Education

• Washington University School of Law (2000); Order of the Coif; Articles Editor, Washington University Law Review
• Smith College (1996), Dean’s List, Sigma Xi

Bio

• Emily K. Price grew up on a 110-acre farm in Rosebud, Missouri. She went to private school from Pre-K through high school, but switched gears for college and attended University of Missouri – Columbia (Mizzou) beginning in 2014. In May of 2018, Emily graduated magna cum laude from Mizzou with two Bachelor of Arts degrees – one in Sociology with a Criminal Justice emphasis, and one in English with a Creative Writing – Fiction emphasis. After graduating Mizzou, Emily was awarded the St. Thomas More Honors Scholars Full Tuition Scholarship to cover the cost of her attending St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, NY, beginning in August 2018. Emily then moved to Queens and began law school at St. John’s, where she got experience working for the New York State Division of Human Rights, the Domestic Violence unit of the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, an employment law firm, and an insurance law firm. Emily received her J.D. in June of 2021, and took and passed the July 2021 Uniform Bar Examination.

  Following the Bar, Emily began searching for a full-time prosecutorial position where she could put her knowledge, passions, and talents to good use helping others, and that was when that she was fortunate enough to get an offer to come back home to Missouri AND fulfill her dreams, working as an Assistant Attorney General for the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit here at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. Emily has been a part of the team on June 13, 2022.

  In her free time, Emily likes reading, writing, drawing, running, swimming, cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals, and caring for her two kittens, Sherlock & Watson.

Practice Areas

• Medicaid Fraud
• Domestic Violence
• Employment Discrimination & Labor Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri Supreme Court, 2022

Education

• St. John’s University School of Law – Queens, NY – J.D., June 2021.
  Recipient – St. Thomas More Honors Scholars Full-Tuition Scholarship
  Associate Articles Editor – Journal of Civil Rights & Economic Development (JCRED)
  Senior Advocate – Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute Mock Trial Team
  Secretary – Children’s Rights Society
  Member – Student Bar Association; Women’s Law Society; Criminal Law Society; Public Interest Center; International Law Society Labor Relations & Employment Law Society.

• University of Missouri – Columbia, MO – B.A. in English; B.A. in Sociology; Multicultural Certificate, May 2018.
  Magna Cum Laude in Sociology, Magna Cum Laude with University Honors in English.
  Recipient – Dean’s List Honors, eight of eight semesters
  Member – Mizzou Mock Trial Team, Honors College

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar

Honors & Awards

• St. Thomas More Honors Scholars Full-Tuition Scholarship

Bio

• After graduation from law school, Steven worked for a law firm in Kansas City and eventually entered the solo practice of law for several years. He served with the Public Defender’s Office before joining the AGO’s Public Safety Section in 2000 where he handled sexually violent predator and special prosecution cases. From there he served as General Counsel for a state agency, Director of Enforcement for the Securities Commission and joined the AGO’s Consumer Protection Section in 2016. In 2020, he became Deputy Chief and now serves as Chief Counsel since 2022.

Practice Areas

• Civil litigation
• Criminal prosecution
• Consumer Protection

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 1992
• Kansas, 1993
• USDC, WDMO, 1992

Education

• William Jewell College, BA, 1986
• UMKC Law School, JD, 1992

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar
• Kansas Bar

Bio

• Caleb Rutledge is a born and raised Missourian. Caleb Rutledge is, and has been since beginning with the Office in August 2023, an Assistant Attorney General proudly serving (and learning) in the Attorney General’s Special Litigation division. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Caleb served as judicial law clerk for the Honorable Cristian M. Stevens on Missouri’s Court of Appeals, Eastern District.

Practice Areas

• Special Litigation
• Constitutional Law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2022
• Federal Eastern District of Missouri, 2023
• Federal Western District of Missouri, 2023

Education

• University of Missouri–Columbia School of Law (2022), magna cum laude; Board of Advocates 2020-2022; Mock Trial 2019-2022; Journal of Dispute Resolution 2020-2022; Shook, Hardy & Bacon Teaching Fellow 2020-2022; Student Ambassador 2020-2022; Crahan Professionalism Program 2021-2022
• Southwest Baptist University (2018), summa cum laude

Professional Affiliations

• Inns of Court 2021-2022

Honors & Awards

• Order of the Coif
• Order of Barristers
• Deans List 2019-2022

Bio

• I grew up in St. Louis with many friends and extended family close by. I was active in sports as well as Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. I was active in track, basketball, and football, and even won the Class 2A Football State Championship in 2001. While in high school I also went on several adventure hikes in Colorado and New Mexico, ranging from 1 to 3 weeks at a time, as well as week-long bike trips and canoeing in the Canadian Boundary waters.

  Presently, I spend time with my wife attending the many sporting events of our son. Since 2022 I have been active starting a chess team at Forsyth School. We have lived in University City since 2013.

Practice Areas

• Workers Compensation
• Fraud and Noncompliance
• Appeals

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2009

Education

• New City School, elementary school, 1997
  John Burroughs School, 2003
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2006
  Bachelor of Science in Physics – Science & Letters
  Minor in Philosophy
• University of Missouri School of Law, Columbia, Missouri, 2009

Bio

• Sheila joined the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in May 2019. She currently serves as an Assistant Attorney General in the Labor Division, where she represents the Second Injury Fund and the State of Missouri in workers’ compensation claims. She also prosecutes cases of workers’ compensation fraud and noncompliance. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s Office, Sheila clerked for the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. Sheila has been licensed as an attorney in Missouri since 2015.

Practice Areas

• Workers’ Compensation
• Appellate

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2015
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 2018
• U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 2018

Education

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Political Science and Spanish, 2011
• Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2015

Professional Affiliations

• Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association

Honors & Awards

• Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Litigation, June 2021
• State of Missouri Leadership Academy, Class 11

Bio

• Mr. Spillane is the deputy unit leader of the habeas unit. He joined Office of the Attorney General in July 1992. Mr. Spillane’s work generally deals with civil challenges to the fact or duration of confinement. This includes habeas petitions, declaratory judgment actions, civil rights litigation, and other writ litigation. His practice has included the state and federal trial courts, the Missouri Court of Appeals, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States and Missouri Supreme Courts.

Practice Areas

• Federal and State habeas corpus litigation
• Federal and State civil litigation
• Federal and state appellate practice

Admitted to Practice

• 1992 Missouri Supreme Court , U.S. Western District of Missouri
• 1994 United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• 1996 Supreme Court of the United States

Education

• 1992 UMKC School of Law J.D. Comment Editor UMKC Law Review. Assistant Editor The Urban Lawyer (an ABA section journal on urban law and land use). One comment published in the UMKC Law Review. Three case digests and one book review published in the Urban Lawyer. Highest grades in Labor Law, Securities Regulation, and Problems and Issues in the Death Penalty. Research assistant to a professor.
• 1988 Creighton University M.A. International Relations. 1984 Webster University Graduate School studied management. 1982 Rockhurst University B.A. political science.

Honors & Awards

• 2019 shared NAAG award for best U.S. Supreme Court brief of term
• 2017 Missouri Attorney General Award best brief; 2014 Attorney General’s Award for extraordinary contribution; 2013 Attorney General’s award for client service.
• 1985 Army Commendation Medal

Bio

• Benton Strong grew up in Branson, Missouri. After graduating from high school, Benton attended Missouri State University to study Criminology. After graduating, he went to the University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Law where he graduated in 2024. During his time in law school Benton had the opportunity to intern at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri under the Honorable Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr., and for the the City Attorney’s Office of Kansas City.

  Benton joined the Attorney General’s Office in August, 2024 in the Governmental Affairs division. In his free time Benton enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, reading about history, and traveling.

Practice Areas

• Governmental Affairs

Education

• University of Missouri- Kansas City – JD, 2024;
  Pro Bono/Public Service Honors;
  UMKC Law Review- Staff Member 2022, Board Member 2023;
  Phi Delta Phi Honor’s Fraternity- Vice President,
  Business Law Association- President,
  Honor Court Justice
• Missouri State University- Bachelor of Science in Criminology, 2021

Bio

• I am an experienced trial lawyer who has defended state agencies throughout Missouri courts and private clients in a variety of industries throughout the United States. I have extensive, in-depth experience in cases involving complex scientific, engineering, and financial issues. My work has spanned from products liability, construction, personal injury, and commercial cases to insurance, anti-trust, appellate, employment, and civil rights actions.

  I am currently Chief Counsel of the Litigation Section at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. I manage a group of Assistant Attorneys General, paralegals,and staff, and provide strategic guidance on their cases and develop policies and overall strategies for Litigation Section work.

Practice Areas

• Trial Practice
• Toxic Tort Litigation
• Product Liability Litigation

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri Bar, 1994
• Kansas Bar, 1995 (currently inactive)
• Missouri and Kansas federal district and appellate courts

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, J.D. cum laude, 1994
  Editor-in-Chief Missouri Law Review
  Order of the Coif
• Drury College, A.B., 1991
  CPA Certificate, Missouri, 1991

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar Association

Bio

• Nicolas Taulbee joined the Missouri Attorney General’s Office in January 2009 in the Financial Services Division where he represented the Missouri Department of Social Services in state and federal court in cases involving paternity, child support, state debt, and other administrative law issues. In May 2016, he transferred to the Litigation Division where he defends agencies and individuals in state and federal court.

Practice Areas

• Constitutional law
• Employment law
• Tort law

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2008
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2010
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit, 2012; U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 2015

Education

• University of Iowa College of Law, Juris Doctor, 2008, Phi Delta Phi, Student Externship with Chief Judge Robert Pratt, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa (January 2007-May 2007), Bordeaux Law Program (Summer 2006), Summer Institute in International and Comparative Law (Summer 2006)
• University of Central Missouri, Bachelor of Science in Political Science, 2005, Magna Cum Laude, Honors College, Student Government Association (2004-2005), Wrestling (2001-2002)

Honors & Awards

• 2013 Missouri Attorney General’s Excellence in Litigation Award

Bio

• Matthew Tkachuk joined the Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General in July of 2022. A native of central New Jersey, he taught in the humanities and coached competitive speech and debate for a number of years before attending law school. Before moving to Missouri, he interned in the judiciary and in legal services, serving individuals with disabilities and low-income clients facing health, housing, and other challenges. As part of the Government Affairs section, Matthew defends Missouri’s statutes against constitutional challenges and represents state agencies in licensing, expungement, and other civil matters.

Practice Areas

• Government Affairs

Admitted to Practice

• Supreme Court of Missouri, 2022
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of MO, 2023
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of MO, 2023

Education

• Rutgers Law School, J.D., 2022. Articles Editor for Rutgers International Law and Human Rights Journal, Civil Justice Clinic.

• Rutgers Graduate School of Education, Ed.M., 2012.

  Rutgers College, B.A., English & History, 2011. Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society), Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society).

Honors & Awards

• Deborah T. Poritz Public Interest Fellow

Bio

• Laura received a degree in Political Science from Truman State university and graduated from the University of Kansas Law School in 2005. She moved to Wisconsin following law school and practiced in a small financial law firm until returning to Kansas City to work for the Missouri Attorney General’s office in 2009 to 2016. Laura worked for several years in private practice before returning to the Attorney General’s office in 2024.

  Laura’s interests include Down syndrome and special education advocacy, volunteering, and crafting. She lives in Kansas City with her husband, son, and two dogs.

Practice Areas

• Labor

Education

•  Truman State University, Political Science
• University of Kansas Law School

Bio

• Keith joined the Missouri Attorney General’s office in July 2023 as an Assistant Attorney General assigned to the Consumer Protection section. Keith has extensive experience in corporate law, commercial real estate and is an Air Force veteran where he served as an Airborne Cryptologic Linguist and Intelligence Officer. Keith enjoys a number of outdoor pursuits in his free time, including golf, tennis and pickle ball; hiking with his three Belgian Malinois dogs and experiencing new places and cultures across the world with his wife, Jessie.

Practice Areas

• Consumer Protection
• Business Law
• Real Estate

Admitted to Practice

• Supreme Court of Missouri, 2022

Education

• University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
  Juris Doctorate
  2015
• University of Utah
  BA Political Science
  2005

Bio

• Jessica L. Ward returned to the Attorney General’s Office in Springfield from private practice in December 2022. Jessica previously worked in the Attorney General’s Kansas City office as a Unit Manager in Financial Services, overseeing the Kansas City and Springfield Recovery teams. She has worked for the State of Missouri for over 10 years, having served as an Assistant Attorney General and an Assistant Public Defender II.

  After law school, Jessica served as an Assistant Public Defender II at the Lake of the Ozarks. She then joined the Attorney General’s office in Springfield in Financial Services. After this, she practiced in a class action litigation firm, before joining a firm specializing in personal injury, workers’ compensation and Social Security disability law. Jessica later opened Ward Law Office, LLC and enjoyed running her own firm before returning to the Attorney General’s Office in Financial Services, Recovery. Jessica moved to the Kansas City office and served as Unit Manager in Recovery from 2015 until 2022, when she left to enter private practice with a firm in Ozark, Missouri to serve on their litigation team before returning to the Attorney General’s Office to join their litigation division as Senior Counsel. In her free time, Jessica enjoys spending time with her son, and her large dogs, hiking, reading, and traveling.

Practice Areas

• Litigation
• Administrative Law
• General Practice

Admitted to Practice

• Missouri, 2005
• United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Admitted 2008
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, Admitted 2023

Education

• University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law, Juris Doctor with Electronic Commercial & Intellectual Property Law Certificate, 2005; University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law Dean’s List
• University of Missouri Science and Technology, Bachelor of Science in Psychology with emphasis in Neuroscience, Minors in Biological Sciences and English Literature; 2002;                                                                                                                         ▪ Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society Vice President and Member, University of Missouri – Rolla;
  ▪ Managed University of Missouri – Rolla Psi Chi chapter website, planned and coordinated activities, and assisted in acquiring funding for chapter;
  ▪ University of Missouri – Rolla Psychology Department Annual Leadership Award 2001 – 2002;
  ▪ University of Missouri – Rolla Dean’s List;
  ▪ University of Missouri – Rolla Distinguished Scholars Scholarship;
  ▪ University of Missouri – Rolla University Scholarship;
  ▪ Robert C. Byrd Scholarship for Academic Excellence

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar
• Springfield Metropolitan Bar

Honors & Awards

• The American Society of Legal Advocates, Top 40 Under 40 Litigation Lawyers 2016
• The National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2014 – 2017
• The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys: 10 Best 2014

Bio

• Chris Wendelbo is a practicing lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri. He has been employed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office since April 2023. He is in the Government Affairs section and has a particular emphasis in environmental law, litigation and appellate law.

  Prior to that, he practiced law as a Commissioned Officer with the U.S. Army and in private law firms in Washington, D.C., McLean Virginia and Kansas City, Missouri for more than 30 years. In that role, he assisted individuals, business owners, large corporations, local law firms, the United States and Missouri governmental organizations with environmental law, general corporate law, mergers & acquisitions, special security company operations, appellate law, business succession issues, litigation and risk management services.

Practice Areas

• Agriculture & Environmental
• Litigation & Appellate
• Business & Procurement

Admitted to Practice

• Oklahoma Supreme Court , 1990
• Virgina Supreme Court, 1998
• Missouri Supreme Court, 2002

Education

• Oklahoma State University, BS – Agricultural Economics 1986
  Farmhouse Fraternity
• University of Oklahoma College of Law, JD 1990
  American Indian Law Review

  The George Washington University College of Law LLM – Environmental Law
  Graduated with Highest Honors

Professional Affiliations

• Missouri Bar Association, Missouri Solo & Small Firm Committee, Former Committee Chair
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association; Member, Former Committee Chair
• United States Army Command & General Staff College Foundation; Trustee / Board of Directors

Bio

• Morgan Westhues, a proud native of Fayette, MO, graduated magna cum laude from William Woods University in 2015 with a degree in Political/Legal Studies. Morgan was actively involved in many organizations in college, including mock trial team, University Ambassadors, President’s Twenty, and Chi Omega Sorority. Morgan began her legal education at the University of Missouri School of Law in 2015, where she enjoyed serving as Managing Editor of the Business Entrepreneurship & Tax Law Review and studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. After graduating law school in 2018, Morgan worked as an associate attorney at Schreimann, Rackers & Francka, L.L.C. in Jefferson City, MO for the next five years, where she specialized in civil defense litigation and insurance coverage. Morgan began working as an Assistant Attorney General in July 2023 where she currently serves as the Unit Leader of the Labor Division in the Jefferson City office. While Morgan has had many accomplishments throughout her lifetime thus far, her biggest accomplishment is the numerous, close friendships she’s made along the way.

Practice Areas

• Workers’ Compensation Defense

Admitted to Practice:

• Court, Year: Missouri, 2018
• Court, Year: S. District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2021

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law, Columbia, MO

  Juris Doctor, May 2018

  Honors: Morgan B. Westhues, Comment, Overtime Overruled: Why the New Department of Labor Overtime Regulations Should Not Go Into Effect, 2 Bus., Entrepreneurship, & Tax L. Rev. 227 (2018); 2016 Client Counseling Competition Champion; 2016 Spring Moot Court Top 10 Oral Advocate

  Activities: Study Abroad: Cape Town, South Africa; Managing Editor of the Business Entrepreneurship & Tax Law Review; Women’s Law Association; Black Law Students Association; Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society; School of Law Ambassador

• William Woods University, Fulton, MO

  Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude, May 2015

  Major: Political/Legal Studies Minor: English

  Honors: Dean’s List (4 semesters), Who’s Who Among Students; Political/Legal Studies Distinguished Scholar; Outstanding Greek Freshman of the Year; Chi Omega Model Initiate

  Activities: Phi Alpha Delta; Mock Trial Team Member; University Ambassador, President’s Twenty; Omicron Delta Kappa; National Society of Leadership and Success (Sigma Alpha Pi); Students Today Alumni Tomorrow; Chi Omega Sorority

Professional Affiliations

• The Missouri Bar, Member (September 2018)
• Cole County Bar Association, Member (September 2018)

Bio

• Ashley Wicks grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended the University of Arkansas where she graduated with an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Anthropology. In 2023, Ashley graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law with her Juris Doctorate. After graduation, she joined the Litigation Section of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office as an Assistant Attorney General.

  Ashley enjoys spending time with her family and puppy, Theo. She also coaches baton twirling in her free time, an activity she can do with her entire family. Additionally, she enjoys music, the holiday seasons, and spending time with loved ones.

Practice Areas

• Litigation

Admitted to Practice:

• Missouri, 2023

Education

• Saint Louis University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, May 2023
• University of Arkansas, Honors Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Anthropology, May 2020