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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Justin L. Assouad

Partner

About

Justin Assouad is a litigator who defends attorneys and law firms in malpractice actions and related proceedings. He has also successfully defended educational, religious, and youth-serving organizations in tort claims brought against them, including sexual misconduct claims.

Practice Areas

Education

  • University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, J.D., 1999
  • University of Missouri-Columbia, B.A. in Philosophy, 1996

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the
    • Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri


Professional Associations

  • Defense Research Institute
  • Illinois Bar Association
  • Missouri Bar
  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
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Alemayehu A. Ayanaw

Partner

About

Alemayehu (Ali) Ayanaw specializes in complex business litigation, with a focus on asbestos, talc, and mass toxic tort matters as well as premises, retailer, and product liabilities cases. He has a proven track record of effectively advocating for manufacturers, retailers, and premises owners in large-scale toxic tort litigation, securing favorable results via motion practice and settlement negotiations. He is experienced in preparing for and defending clients in trials concerning lawsuits alleging asbestos exposure, whether as manufacturers of products or owners of premises.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Washington University School of Law, J.D., 2012
  • University of Kansas, M.S. in Higher Education Administration, 2009
  • University of Missouri-Columbia, B.A. in Psychology, 2006

 

    Law School Honors/Involvement

  • Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Microsoft Corporation Fellow
  • Wiley Rutledge Moot Court Board
  • Faculty Appointments Committee

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Illinois
  • Missouri

    Professional Associations

  • Defense Research Institute
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
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Tammera E. Banasek

Partner

About

Tammy Banasek is a dedicated litigator who has developed a special focus in defending medical and dental professionals, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. She also counsels physicians and dentists in professional licensing matters.

Practice Areas

Education

  • University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1993
  • Roosevelt University Certificate in Paralegal Studies, 1985
  • Northern Illinois University, B.A. in Communication Studies, 1985

 

Law School Honors/Involvement

  • Moot Court Team

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Illinois
  • Illinois Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

 

Professional Associations

  • Chicagoland Healthcare Risk Management Society
    • Peggy Cwik Lifetime Achievement Award (2025)
    • Board of Directors (2022-present)
  • Defense Research Institute
    • Senior Living and Long-Term Care Planning Committee (2019-present)
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
  • Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys
  • Illinois Healthcare Risk Management Society
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Mallory R. Barrett

Associate

About

Mallory R. Barrett is a dedicated litigator who focuses her practice on insurance defense. She works closely with clients and claims professionals to craft effective, results-driven approaches tailored to each matter, including personal injury, premises liability, medical negligence, insurance coverage disputes, and insurance fraud.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. and Certificate in Public Interest Law, 2018
  • Indiana University Bloomington, B.S. in Public Affairs, 2015

 

    Law School Honors/Involvement

  • CALI award for highest grade in Legal Writing II
  • Community Law Clinic
  • Dean’s List
  • Loyola Public Interest Law Reporter
    • Executive Editor
    • Article Editor
  • Merit Scholarship Recipient

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
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Beth A. Bauer

Partner

About

Whether representing Fortune 50 companies in high-stakes class or mass actions or a local non-profit needing help, Beth A. Bauer balances creative, tenacious advocacy with a calm, commanding demeanor. Clients benefit from her experience as an appellate clerk and practitioner as she strategizes from a broad perspective and gains intricate understanding of the details that make the difference.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Saint Louis University Law School, J.D., cum laude, 2000
  • Washington University-St. Louis, B.A. in English Literature and Secondary Education, 1997

Law School Honors & Involvement

  • Member and Notes and Comments Editor, St. Louis University Public Law Review (1998-2000)
  • Student Editor, Fidelity and Surety News (1998-2000)
  • Law School Leadership Council (1999-2000)
  • Christian Legal Society
    • President (1998-2000)

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the
    • 7th Circuit
    • 8th Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the
    • Southern, Central, and Northern Districts of Illinois
    • Eastern District of Missouri

Professional Associations

  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC)
    • Generative AI Committee (2024-2025)
    • Corporate Counsel Symposium Planning Committee (2023-2024)
    • Products Liability
      • Section Chair (2019-2021)
    • Toxic Tort Environmental
      • Section Chair (2016-2018)
      • Vice-Chair (2014-2016)
    • FDCC Advance Committee to improve diversity of membership (2015-2016)
    • Litigation Management College Faculty (2014-2016)
  • Illinois Supreme Court Character and Fitness Committee (2016-2024)
    • Vice Chair, 5th District (2021-2023)
  • Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association
    • Director, 5th District (2015-2017)
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
    • Editor-in-Chief, IDC Quarterly (2014-2015)
    • Supreme Court Watch columnist, IDC Quarterly (2002-2014)
  • Madison County (Illinois) Bar Association

Other Professional/Civic Involvement

  • Collinsville Area Meals on Wheels
    • Chair (2022-2024)
    • Board Member (2014-2022)
  • American Heritage Girls Troop IL 2911
    • Troop Shepherd (2024 to present)
    • Unit Leader (2016-2024)
  • Madison County Pro Bono Legal Clinic, Volunteer (since 2012)
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Brenda G. Baum

Partner

About

Brenda G. Baum focuses her practice on mass tort lawsuits involving products liability. Since 2001, she has represented product manufacturers, sellers, and premises defendants in thousands of cases pending in some of the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions in Illinois and Missouri, in addition to overseeing cases filed in other plaintiff-oriented jurisdictions such as California, Louisiana, New York, and others.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Washington University School of Law-St. Louis, J.D., 1988
  • Grinnell (IA) College, B.A. in English, 1985

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the
    • Southern and Northern Districts of Illinois
    • Eastern District of Missouri

 

Professional Associations

  • Council for Litigation Management
    • Diversity & Inclusion Committee
  • Illinois Bar Association
  • The Missouri Bar
  • Madison County (Illinois) Bar Association

 

Other Professional/Civic Involvement

  • Arbitrator, Madison County (Illinois) Court
  • Volunteer, Madison County (Illinois) Bar Association Pro Bono Clinic
  • Volunteer Attorney, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation
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Alex Belotserkovsky

Associate

About

Alex Belotserkovsky focuses his practice on trials involving complex litigation matters, including asbestos cases and toxic tort issues. He has decades of civil litigation experience.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Washington University School of Law, J.D. 2001
  • Washington University, B.A. in Political Science and History, cum laude, 1998

 

Law School Honors/Involvement

  • Dean’s List of Honor Students
  • United States Attorney’s Office (St. Louis MO)
    • Summer intern
  • Washington University Scholarship (merit based)

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Illinois
  • Missouri
  • U.S. District Courts for the
    • Southern District of Illinois
    • Eastern District of Missouri

 

Professional Associations

  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
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LaDonna Boeckman

Partner

About

Making the complex simple and understandable drives the way LaDonna L. Boeckman works with medical professionals and other clients in the healthcare industry. It’s also how she explains complex medical concepts to juries of lay people at trial. Drawing on her keen appreciation for research and leaving no stone unturned, she uses the information uncovered to shape the defense of hospitals, long-term care facilities, and medical providers and to craft a message to the triers of fact and law.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Drake University Law School, J.D., with honors, 1998
  • Drake University, B.A. in English & History with Cultural Studies Concentration, magna cum laude,1995

 

Law School Honors/Involvement

  • Drake Law Review
    • Notes Editor (1997-1998)
    • Moot Court Board (1996-1998)
  • Drake Law Women
    • Vice President (1997-1998)
    • Executive Board (1996-1997)
  • Drake Art Law Society (1997-1998)
    • Founding member
  • Extern Law Clerk, Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer, Southern District of Iowa
  • Phi Alpha Delta
    • Executive Board (1996-1997)

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Courts for the
    • Northern District of Illinois
    • Central District of Illinois
    • Southern District of Illinois

 

Professional Associations

  • Illinois Association of Defense Counsel
    • IDC Quarterly Columnist for Medical Malpractice/Healthcare Law
    • Monograph Committee for Tort Law
    • Medical Malpractice Committee
      • Social Media Chair
  • Defense Research Institute
    • Medical Liability Steering Committee
      • Publications Subcommittee
    • Senior and Long-Term Care Conference Planning Committee
      • Social Media Chair, 2025 Conference (Atlanta)
      • Networking Chair, 2024 Conference (Chicago)
  • Chicago Healthcare and Risk Management Society
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Patrick A. Bousquet

Partner

About

Patrick A. Bousquet is an experienced litigator and go-to appellate attorney for clients in must-win cases. His over 20 years of experience in complex litigation, insurance coverage, bad faith matters, and appellate work give him an unmatched ability to analyze complex and novel legal issues, litigation risks, reasonableness of settlements, and odds of success on appeal. Utilizing this combination of skills and experience has enabled him to secure client victories in important issues of first impression for his corporate and individual clients.

Practice Areas

Education

  • University of Missouri School of Law, J.D., 2005
  • Drake University, B.S. in Business Management and B.A. in Music, 2002

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Missouri
  • Illinois
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the
    • 3rd Circuit
    • 7th Circuit
    • 8th Circuit
    • 10th Circuit
  • Missouri Supreme Court
  • Illinois Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Courts for the
    • Eastern District of Missouri
    • Southern District of Missouri
    • Western District of Missouri
    • Southern District of Illinois
    • District of Kansas

 

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Claims and Litigation Management
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
  • St. Louis Bar Association

 

Other Professional/Civic Involvement

  • Master Gardener
  • Master Naturalist
  • Missouri Botanical Garden Corporate Council (2016-present)
  • Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (2015-present)
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Troy A. Bozarth

Partner

About

Mr. Bozarth focuses his practice on trials involving complex commercial litigation matters, including Antitrust Law, Banking, Class Actions, Jones Act, Maritime Law, Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, and Products & Agriculture.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Drake University School of Law, J.D., with Honors, 1996
  • Drake University School of Business, M.B.A., 1996
  • Illinois Wesleyan University, B.A. in Business Administration, 1992

Admissions & Affiliations

  • Illinois
  • United States Supreme Court
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the
    • 7th Circuit
    • 8th Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the
    • Northern District of Illinois
    • Central District of Illinois
    • Southern District of Illinois
    • Eastern District of Missouri

 

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
    • Executive Committee
  • Bar Association of Central and Southern Illinois
  • Defense Research Institute
    • DRI Law & Public Policy Class Action Task Force
  • East St. Louis Bar Association
    • Board of Directors
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
    • President (2015-2016)
    • President Elect (2014-2015)
    • First Vice President (2013-2014)
    • Second Vice President (2012-2013)
    • Secretary/Treasurer (2011-2012)
    • Board of Directors (2004-2011)
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • Madison County (Illinois) Bar Association
  • Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar
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