New Partners

Kansas City, MO—Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. recently announced 15 new Partners, effective January 1, 2004. The firm will have nine new Partners in the Kansas City, Missouri office; two in Overland Park, Kansas; and one each in London, Miami, New Orleans and San Francisco.

Kansas City

Eric M. Anielak is a member of the firm’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation Division. He represents pharmaceutical clients in product liability actions filed in federal and state courts throughout the country. Anielak received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.  

James E. Berger concentrates his practice in the defense of individual product liability claims. His experience includes coordinating litigation and litigating in state and federal courts across the country. Berger has been involved in all phases of trial litigation. He has a strong background in appellate practice, having served as a clerk at the Eighth Circuit. He has also litigated appellate cases while in practice. Berger received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law.

Andrew D. Carpenter focuses his practice on products liability defense. He has extensive experience in complex mass tort litigation. He has successfully defended smoking and health cases in jurisdictions across the United States, as well as cost recovery class actions and consolidated claims against the tobacco industry brought by individual smokers, attorneys general of the 50 states, union health and benefit trusts and asbestos personal injury settlement trusts. Carpenter received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law.

 
Nicola R. Heskett  focuses her practice on products liability defense, primarily in the areas of tobacco and pharmaceutical litigation. She has successfully defended smoking and health cases in jurisdictions  throughout the United States, as well as ignition propensity claims brought against the tobacco industry. Heskett received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Kirk Marty is a member of the firm’s Environmental Law Section. His primary practice focus is environmental and toxic tort litigation. He also advises clients on environmental compliance issues, as well as the environmental aspects of corporate and real estate trans­actions. Marty received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Vermont Law School.

Carol A. Poindexter is a member of the firm’s Health Law Practice Group and focuses on the areas of health care fraud and abuse defense and regulatory compliance counseling. She lectures nationally on health care compliance, fraud and abuse and HIPAA Privacy issues. She represents a variety of health care providers, including the following: hospitals, physicians and physicians groups, clinical laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, medical device distributors, ambulatory surgery centers, managed care companies, home health agencies and long-term care facilities. Poindexter received her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

Terrence J. Sexton focuses his practice on products liability and has represented clients in high-profile cases before federal and state courts across the United States. He has an extensive background in complex litigation including mass torts, products liability, professional liability, RICO, fraud, class action and cost-recovery cases. Sexton’s experience runs the gamut from pre-trial litigation and discovery through motion practice and appearing as trial and appellate counsel. He also has considerable experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. Sexton received his J.D., cum laude, from the St. Louis University School of Law.

Paul A. Williams is a member of the firm’s Tort Section. He focuses his practice on products liability and has represented clients in cases before federal and state courts across the United States. He has extensive experience in complex products liability litigation for many types of product manufacturers, including manufacturers of motor vehicles, combustible fuels, and petroleum transportation and leak detection equipment. He also has experience in class actions, environmental/toxic tort and medical malpractice cases. Williams periodically teaches introductory law classes and regularly coordinates a mock trial program for pre-law students at Park University. He received his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.

Overland Park

Celia K. Garrett practices with the firm’s Business Litigation Section and is experienced in complex litigation, including class actions, construction disputes, lender liability cases, and insurance coverage disputes. She was the recipient of the William G. Zimmerman Pro Bono Award in 2002. Garrett received her J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Gregory T. Wolf is a commercial litigation attorney with significant experience in complex civil litigation, including complex commercial litigation, business torts, insurance defense, insurance coverage and alternative dispute resolution. His practice is focused on business and tort litigation as well as providing day-to-day legal advice to privately held businesses. Wolf received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law.

London

Mary Katherine Brink is a products liability litigation attorney. She is a member of the Society of English and American Lawyers, the American Women Lawyers of London, the Houston Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association. Brink received her J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law.

Miami

Sherril M. Colombo focuses her practice on employment and commercial litigation. She has an extensive background representing employers in various aspects of employment litigation and in representing businesses in complex litigation, including class actions. Colombo served as a law clerk to the Honorable Barry L. Garber, U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1992-93. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Nova University, where she was executive editor of the Nova Law Review.

San Francisco

Tammy B. Webb focuses her practice on products liability defense. She has extensive practice in complex mass tort litigation. She has coordinated and successfully defended personal injury, medical monitoring and cost recovery class action lawsuits in federal and state courts throughout the country. Webb has served as national counsel for several tobacco companies in lawsuits brought by individual smokers in jurisdictions across the United States. She received her J.D., with highest honors, from the University of Oklahoma School of Law.