Baker Sterchi is pleased to welcome its 2025 class of summer law clerks in the Kansas City office.
Charlie Ketchum, a rising 3L student at the University of Kansas School of Law, where he serves as staff editor of the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy and as a member of the Traffic Court; Business and Tax Law Society; and International Law Society. He is a recipient of the Jayhawk Scholarship as well as the Payne & Jones Lawyering Award for Outstanding Oral Advocacy and Professionalism. Ketchum previously served as a law clerk at the Kansas Department of…
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Scott Kreamer, managing member of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, has been elected president of Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ). His election took place during LCJ’s recent spring membership meeting in Washington, D.C.
Lawyers for Civil Justice is a national coalition of companies, law firms and defense bar organizations that advocate for reform of procedural litigation rules to promote the just, speedy and inexpensive resolution of civil claims. LCJ’s recent focus areas include multidistrict litigation, expert evidence standards, discovery cost allocation, third-party litigation funding disclosure, and privacy and cybersecurity.
In remarks during the meeting, Kreamer outlined his priorities for the…
Continue Reading Scott Kreamer Elected President of Lawyers for Civil Justice

On May 29, Baker Sterchi Member Megan Stumph-Turner will speak at the ALFA International (ALFA) Business Litigation Practice Group Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee. Her session, “Robopocalypse or Singularity? A Discussion on AI and Its Impact on In-House Counsel and Legal Practice,” will explore the legal, ethical and strategic implications of artificial intelligence.

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Baker Sterchi Members Heather Shore and John Watt have been named co-chairs of the firm’s Construction Trial & Litigation Practice Group. The group represents general contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in complex construction disputes involving delay and interruption claims, scope of work issues, unforeseen conditions, federal contract matters, professional negligence, surety bond claims and more, serving clients across the United States.
Shore, based in Kansas City, brings 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. She is president of the Kansas Bar Association’s…
Continue Reading Shore and Watt Appointed Co-Chairs of Construction Trial & Litigation Practice Group

For the fifth year in a row, Baker Sterchi Managing Member Scott Kreamer has earned recognition on Missouri Lawyers Media’s Business Defense POWER List.
The Business Defense POWER List features the 34 most powerful business defense attorneys in Missouri as identified by Missouri Lawyers Media’s editorial team after reviewing records of verdicts and settlements, interviewing attorneys and other leaders around the state, and examining Missouri Lawyers Weekly archives.
Kreamer is an experienced trial attorney, trying a wide variety of commercial, construction, financial services, insurance and product liability cases in state and federal courts. He has also served as national counsel…
Continue Reading Scott Kreamer Named to 2025 Missouri Lawyers Media Business Defense POWER List

On May 7, Baker Sterchi members Bob Christie and Megan Coluccio co-presented “The AI Advantage: Optimizing Trial Prep and Litigation” at the 36th Annual Hilton Head Client Retreat in South Carolina. The session focused on how AI tools are being integrated to enhance trial preparation and streamline litigation in the legal industry.
Christie, based in the firm’s Seattle office, is a seasoned trial attorney whose practice focuses on defending professionals, companies, governmental entities, law enforcement officers and individuals in high exposure matters. He is a member of several peer-selected defense organizations, including the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys, International Association…
Continue Reading Bob Christie and Megan Coluccio Co-Present at 36th Annual Hilton Head Client Retreat

Megan Coluccio and David Schneidewind have been named co-chairs of the firm’s recently formed Governmental Agencies Practice Group, which defends public entities and related agencies in civil litigation, inquest hearings and other legal matters.
Coluccio, a trial lawyer in the firm’s Seattle office, focuses on claims related to catastrophic injury, Section 1983 civil rights, professional liability and municipal liability. She is an active member of three prestigious defense organizations: the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. Coluccio serves as vice chair of the Federation of Defense &…
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ABSTRACT: Numerous structural and policy-related changes have occurred to the CFPB since the new administration took office in January 2025. We are following the ever-changing landscape of the CFPB, and an overview of the first 100 days of Trump’s second term follows.

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Continue Reading 180 Degree Turn in 100 days: The CFPB Under Trump's Second Term

On May 3, Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice proudly sponsored the 22nd Annual Law Day Run held in Belleville, Illinois.
Co-hosted by the St. Clair County Bar Association and the Belleville Running Club, the Law Day Run event is held annually to raise proceeds for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc., and other legal aid organizations, who provide low income and senior residents of southern and central Illinois with high quality civil litigation services to obtain and maintain their basic human needs.
Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley represented the firm as a race participant. Beasley is a current…
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Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice was pleased to support the 23rd Annual Unity Dinner, held May 1 at Wei Hong Restaurant in St. Louis. Hosted by the Missouri Asian American Bar Association and co-sponsored by South Asian Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Mound City Bar Association, Hispanic Bar Association of St. Louis and Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis, the long-running event celebrates diversity in the legal profession and fosters stronger connections among St. Louis’ diversity bar associations. Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour followed by a family-style, nine-course Chinese dinner.
Baker Sterchi attorneys Manni Jandernoa Watson, Jennifer Maloney,…
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ABSTRACT: In a recent opinion, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, was faced with social media posts which seemed to clearly cross the line from providing information to acting as a deliberate attempt to influence juror sentiment and decision-making.

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Continue Reading Plaintiff's Illinois Appellate Court Rules Plaintiff's Attorneys Tried to Influence Jury Through Social Media

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice participated in Law Day 2025 at events in both Missouri and Kansas.
On May 1, the firm proudly sponsored the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) Law Day celebration at the Saint Louis Club. The annual event features an awards ceremony, the swearing in of the incoming Board of Governors and a keynote luncheon. Baker Sterchi attorney Paul Venker attended on the firm’s behalf. BAMSL supports legal professionals in the St. Louis region through community service, education and networking.
The following day, Member Heather Shore volunteered as a Law Day speaker at Mission Trail…
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On May 14, Baker Sterchi attorney Michelle Meloche will serve as a faculty member for the National Business Institute (NBI) continuing legal education course, “Getting Started in Medical Malpractice Law.”
Meloche will co-present two sessions during the course:

• “Case Evaluation and Intake Process for Plaintiff and Defense Counsel,” which addresses key considerations for initial case review and client intake; and
• “Ethical and Professional Considerations in Medical Malpractice,” which focuses on the distinct professional responsibilities involved in this area of litigation.

A member of the firm’s Healthcare Practice Group, Meloche represents hospitals, physicians and other health care providers in medical malpractice…
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