Husch Blackwell announced that 25 attorneys have been elected to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2019. Of those, eight are based in the Midwest and work in the firm’s real estate, development and construction practice. These attorneys include David Carr, Adam Charlsen, Chris Collins, Karin Jacoby, Denyse Jones, Brent Meyer, Ellen Pantaenius and Michael Tolles.
“These 25 attorneys have demonstrated their proactive skills in developing client relationships and are dedicated in their service to our clients.” said chairman Greg Smith and chief executive Paul Eberle. “They have exemplified leadership responsibilities and helped build our growing brand and reputation. We are proud of their accomplishments and welcome with great pleasure to the partnership.”
Based in the firm’s Milwaukee office, the primary focus of David Carr’s practice consists of handling complex commercial litigation matters, including actions involving contract disputes, products liability, foreclosure actions and construction defects for roofing, concrete and HVAC contractors and service providers. He has successfully defended significant damage actions, and tort claims to verdict. Carr’s practice also focuses on counseling, collaborating with and defending Fortune 500 corporations, specifically major retailers and multi-brand restaurant operators, in various matters across the United States. Carr earned his J.D. from Marquette University Law School and his B.B.A from Butler University.
Adam Charlsen, based in Omaha, is a nuts-and-bolts commercial real estate transaction attorney, regularly advising retail, office and industrial clients on site acquisitions and leasing transitions, as well as related due diligence and development matters. He assists lenders and borrowers with negotiating and documenting loans and credit facilities with collateral consisting of personal property and real property. Charlsen also advises local government agencies on the gamut of governance issues and he is active with the firm’s growing Opportunity Zones practice and startup business initiative. Charlsen earned his J.D. from University of Tulsa College of Law and his B.A. from University of Kansas.
Chris Collins is based in Chattanooga and works with clients to help them both avoid unnecessary litigation and to strengthen their pre-litigation position. When litigation proves unavoidable, however, Collins guides the client throughout the litigation process. He has successfully defended and pursued clients’ interests across a wide array of cases, including multimillion-dollar class actions, complex construction cases and cases involving highly specialized trade secrets. Collins earned his J.D. from University of Tennessee College of Law and his B.S. cum laude from University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Based out of Kansas City, Karin Jacoby advances the interests of communities, companies and levee owner/operators facing water and flood protection challenges. She serves on the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies Advisory Board, the Missouri and Associated Rivers Coalition Board, as Vice-Chair of the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association Engineering Committee and was a member of the National Committee on Levee Safety, a post to which she was appointed to by the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. Jacoby is a registered Professional Engineer in Missouri and Illinois, and earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law, her M.P.A. from the University of Missouri–Kansas City and her B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri–Rolla.
Denyse Jones, based in St. Louis, focuses her practice on business litigation for property owners, developers, political subdivisions, title insurers, taxpayers and commercial lenders and lessors. She counsels clients on land use matters, litigating on behalf of projects in danger of losing momentum midstream, as well as conditional use permits, development disputes, title claims, rent disputes, creditors’ rights litigation and premises liability. In addition, Jones represents plaintiffs and defendants in commercial litigation matters, including complex breach of contract, lender liability, fraud and product liability. She earned her J.D. cum laude from Tulane Law School and her B.S.B.A cum laude from Saint Louis University.
Brent Meyer works out of Omaha, where he has extensive experience in construction contract drafting and litigation, having represented government entities, owners, design firms, general contractors, suppliers and subcontractors in civil disputes. He also represents political subdivisions by assisting in a variety of issues including regulatory compliance, contract negotiations, property acquisitions and condemnation. Meyer earned his J.D. with distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law and his B.S.B.A. summa cum laude from Creighton University.
Kansas City’s Ellen Pantaenius is a transactional real estate attorney, guideing individuals, public and private companies and non-profit organizations across a variety of industries with respect to real estate acquisition, sale, leasing and financing transactions. She provides holistic legal counsel to real estate investors in the development and management of successful real estate projects and serves as national and regional commercial mortgage loan counsel for life insurance companies. Pantaenius earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and her B.J. magna cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Michael Tolles, based in St. Louis, represents clients from municipalities and state districts to major corporations. He regularly handles commercial contract and real estate litigation matters involving condemnation, nuisance properties, breach of contract, municipal regulations and other issues. Tolles is experienced in representing clients in a variety of federal cases involving patent, trade dress, trademark and related commercial contract issues in United States Federal District Court located in Missouri, Illinois and multiple other states, as well as before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Tolles earned his J.D. from the Washington University School of Law and his B.A. from Washington University.
