Newsmakers in Law & Accounting

F. Richard Van Pelt of the law firm Van Pelt & Van Pelt PC, was named in the 2007 edition of the Best Lawyers in America. The list is based on a year-long survey in which attorneys nationwide are asked to rank the top practitioners in their specialties and jurisdictions. Van Pelt, who primarily practices family law, has been listed in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2001.

Attorneys Joseph S. Passanise and Dee Wampler of Law Offices of Dee Wampler also were selected by their peers to the 2007 edition of Best Lawyers of America in the specialties of criminal defense and white-collar criminal defense.

Springfield attorneys John C. Holstein and Thomas J. O’Neal of Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy PC were named to the 2007 edition of Best Lawyers in America for their areas of specialty. Holstein works in commercial litigation and O’Neal works in banking, bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights areas of the law.

Kent O. Hyde, partner with the law firm Hyde, Love & Overby LLP, also was selected for inclusion in the 2007 edition of Best Lawyers in America in the specialties of medical malpractice law and product liability litigation.

E.D. Robinson, a certified public accountant with Elliott, Robinson & Co. LLP, was awarded the Accredited in Business Valuation credential by the American Institute of Public Accountants. To earn the designation, Robinson provided evidence of substantial experience and continuing education in business valuation, and he passed a written exam.

Aaron D. Jones of the law firm Hulston, Jones & Marsh was chosen as the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section’s representative to the Board of Governors of the Missouri Bar.

BKD LLP announced the addition of several staff accountants to its staff. The new hires are Danae E. Bridges, Amber J. Harsha, Erica L. Kessler, Jacklyn M. McCroskey, Peter E. Metzger, Adam M. Nashed, Leigh A. Patterson and Brandon R. Taylor. Bridges is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi-Hattiesburg, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. Harsha holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Missouri State University. Kessler holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from MSU. McCroskey holds a degree in accounting from Drury University. Metzger holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Nashed is a graduate of Drury University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Patterson holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration, and a master’s of business administration from Drury. Taylor holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from Southwest Baptist University. Each of the new staff accountants are assisting with general tax and audit services for BKD.

Attorney Lois M. Zerrer of Zerrer Elder Law Office LLC presented “The Five Mistakes Practitioners Should Avoid in Practice: The New Medicaid Laws,” at the 2006 annual meeting of The Missouri Bar in September. Zerrer, who recently finished a two-year term as chairwoman of The Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee, was chosen as the president-elect of the Missouri Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Jaime Fann joined Preston and Nacy CPAs as office manager. She earned a bachelor’s degree in organizational communications from Missouri State University and was previously employed with Girl Scouts of Dogwood Trails Council Inc.

Daniel P. Molloy joined Hyde, Love & Overby LLP as an associate attorney. Molloy is a graduate of Drury University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

Four Springfield attorneys have been named senior counselors of The Missouri Bar. They are: Hon. David P. Anderson; Hon. Donald L. Clough; Sam F. Hamra and Arthur T. Stephenson. The senior counselor title is given to lawyers who have reached the age of 75 or who have been admitted to The Missouri Bar for 50 years. A total of 117 members of The Missouri Bar were presented with the designation at the bar’s annual meeting in September.

Brian E. Hamburg, a partner with the law firm Hamburg & Lyons LLC, received the Pro Bono Publico Award from The Missouri Bar in recognition of his provision of outstanding pro bono service to indigent or low-income persons who needed legal assistance but were unable to pay for it.

Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin added two attorneys to the firm’s Springfield office. The new hires are Amanda E. Dysart and Kevin A. Meyers. Dysart joined the firm’s corporate department. She earned her law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, where she was an associate member of the “Journal of Dispute Resolution.” She earned her undergraduate degree from MSU. Meyers joined Blackwell Sanders’ litigation department. He also earned his law degree at the University of Missouri at Columbia School of Law, where he was a member of the “University of Missouri Law Review.” He earned his undergraduate degree from Truman State University.

Laura Sides Reinbold joined Schmidt, Kirby & Sullivan PC as an associate attorney. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and her law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. Her practice focuses primarily on workers’ compensation defense and litigation.

Becky Fletcher has passed her Series 6 and Series 63 exams and is now a registered representative with Genworth Financial Securities Corp. Fletcher, an investment assistant with Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller, CPAs, works with clients to complete account paperwork and assists other registered representatives at KPM. Genworth Financial is an insurance holding company that serves the lifestyle protection, retirement income, investment and mortgage insurance needs of more than 15 million customers in 24 countries.