Charniece Rollie, Baker Sterchi’s Director of Administration, recently completed the Inclusive Leadership Certificate of Mastery and Capstone Program, “Strategies for Promoting and Fostering a World-Class Culture of Inclusion.” Together, Authentico and the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (GKCCC) partnered with Dr. Shirley Davis, president of SDS Global Enterprises, to launch this 16-month certificate of mastery and capstone program. The program included an academic curriculum, individual coaching, a capstone project and roundtable discussions with thought leaders.
Led by Dr. Andrea Hendricks, Chief DEI Officer at Authentico, the program was limited to a cohort of 30 organizational executives focused on creating…
Continue Reading Charniece Rollie Completes Inclusive Leadership Certificate of Mastery and Capstone Program

Baker Sterchi Member Jeanne Loftis has been named executive council class secretary of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA). She previously chaired the ADTA’s National Membership Committee and was recently recognized with the organization’s Presidential Award.
Loftis is an accomplished trial attorney whose practice focuses on complex mass tort, employment, civil rights defense and product liability litigation. She co-chairs Baker Sterchi’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Practice Group. In addition to her involvement with the ADTA, she is active in several other peer-selected organizations, including the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. She…
Continue Reading Jeanne Loftis Named Executive Council Class Secretary of ADTA

Baker Sterchi is pleased to welcome Brandon MacDonald as an associate in the firm’s Kansas City office. His practice focuses on civil defense litigation, representing clients in matters involving personal injury, premises liability, insurance coverage and bad faith claims.
Before joining the firm, MacDonald practiced at a Kansas City-area law firm handling a broad range of civil and commercial litigation matters, including insurance coverage analyses, litigation risk assessment and motion practice.
MacDonald earned his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School, where he served as Executive Articles Editor for the Journal of Legislation. He received his…
Continue Reading Baker Sterchi Welcomes Brandon MacDonald in Kansas City

Baker Sterchi Member Meghan Kane has been named second vice president of the Madison County Bar Association (MCBA) for the 2025-2026 term. She will be introduced in her new role at the organization’s upcoming annual meeting. Kane previously served as MCBA treasurer.
Her civil defense practice focuses on product and premises liability and toxic tort matters. She serves as vice chair of the Illinois Defense Counsel’s Tort Law Committee and co-chairs Baker Sterchi’s Toxic Tort Practice Group. Kane earned her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and is admitted to practice in Illinois and Missouri.
The Madison…
Continue Reading Meghan Kane Named Second Vice President of Madison County Bar Association

Andrew Podjenski joins Baker Sterchi as an associate in the firm’s Kansas City office. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, construction disputes, insurance defense and coverage matters, and appellate work.
Podjenski earned his law degree from Ave Maria School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska. He is licensed to practice in Missouri.
Continue Reading Andrew Podjenski Joins Baker Sterchi in Kansas City

Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley co-presented “Litigation Funding” at the 37th Annual Medmarc Medical Device Seminar on June 13 in Sonoma, California. The session addressed how third-party litigation funding is used by plaintiffs and their counsel, emerging trends and potential implications.
Beasley, a seasoned trial attorney in the firm’s Belleville office, has substantial courtroom experience and a strong record defending civil litigation, including medical device matters. She is a member of the invitation-only Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA), serving on its Executive Council, Class of 2027, and as chair of the Women of the ADTA Committee. She also serves…
Continue Reading Beasley Presents on Litigation Funding at Medmarc Seminar

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice is proud to be a sponsor the 14th Annual Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Alumni Leadership Symposium, taking place June 26–27, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Hosted annually, the LCLD Alumni Leadership Symposium brings together attorneys who have completed either the LCLD Fellows or Pathfinder programs. The event offers a range of professional development opportunities, including educational sessions, career advancement resources and peer networking designed to strengthen leadership in the legal field.
Baker Sterchi Member Gregorio Silva will represent the firm at this year’s event. Silva serves on the Alumni Leadership Symposium Committee, acts as…
Continue Reading Baker Sterchi Sponsors LCLD Alumni Leadership Symposium

Baker Sterchi Member Megan Coluccio served as editor of the June 2025 edition of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel’s (FDCC) Civil Rights and Public Entity Committee newsletter, Civil Writes. This edition of the newsletter highlights the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision Barnes v. Felix, reaffirming the “totality of the circumstances” test for evaluating excessive force claims under the Fourth Amendment.
Coluccio is vice chair of the FDCC’s Civil Rights & Public Entity Liability Committee and a member of its FedLife Committee. She is also a member of several other peer-selected defense organizations, including the Association of…
Continue Reading Megan Coluccio Serves as Editor of FDCC's June Civil Writes Newsletter

Baker Sterchi attorney Lindsey Freihoff has been selected to serve as social chair of the Kansas Bar Association’s (KBA) Young Lawyers Section. In this role, she will lead the planning and coordination of the section’s social events. Freihoff also serves on the KBA’s Board of Editors for the Kansas Bar Journal.
Based in the firm’s Kansas City office, Freihoff focuses her practice insurance defense, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, municipal liability and employment law. She is also a member of the Johnson County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Freihoff earned her law degree from Loyola University New Orleans…
Continue Reading Lindsey Freihoff Selected as Social Chair of KBA Young Lawyers Section

Baker Sterchi Member Heather Shore is serving as the marketing liaison for the Kansas City location of the American Bar Association (ABA) Forum on Construction Law 2025 Regional Program, taking place Nov. 13–14 in cities across the United States. In this role, she coordinates the organization’s marketing efforts for the Kansas City session of the program, titled “Construction Law Foundations: Fundamentals of Construction Law PLUS Sticks & Bricks.”
Based in Kansas City, Shore has nearly 30 years of experience in construction, surety and commercial litigation. She serves on the American Arbitration Association’s Panel of Construction, Commercial and Consumer Arbitrators, is…
Continue Reading Heather Shore Serving as Marketing Liaison for ABA Forum on Construction Law

ABSTRACT: The Eastern District of Texas has set a hearing that will likely result in an order and final judgment vacating the Consumer Financial Services Protection Bureau Rule prohibiting collection and reporting of consumer medical debt information.

The litigation, which has been pending since the beginning of the year filed by Cornerstone Credit Union League (“Cornerstone”) and the Consumer Data Industry Association (“CDIA”) against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) and former Director Rohit Chopra regarding the CFPB’s Rule prohibiting collection and reporting of consumer medical debt information will likely reach its conclusion in the coming weeks.
The Rule…
Continue Reading Consumer Credit Industry can Breathe Easier as CFPB's Medical Debt Rule Likely to be Discharged

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, along with three attorneys, has been recognized as a leader in insurance and general commercial litigation in Missouri and the Kansas City metropolitan region, according to the 2025 edition of Chambers USA.
Firm Recognitions

• Band 2: Insurance, Missouri
• Band 3: General Commercial Litigation, Kansas City & Surrounding Areas

Individual Attorney Recognitions

• Clay Crawford and Scott Hofer – Band 1: Insurance, Missouri
• Scott Kreamer – Band 3: General Commercial Litigation, Kansas City & Surrounding Areas

Chambers USA is a respected guide evaluating top law firms and attorneys across the United States. Its rankings are based on…
Continue Reading Baker Sterchi and Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2025