Chambers USA 2017 has ranked Husch Blackwell in nine practice categories and recognized 37 lawyers in eight offices across the firm. The firm earned rankings in the areas of Banking & Finance, Corporate/Commercial, Corporate/M&A, Environment, Healthcare, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial and Real Estate.
The Chambers USA directory highlighted the firm’s work and dedication to client service across multiple practice areas, including:
- Banking & Finance. The team "handles a variety of commercial and public finance matters, ranging from complex financing transactions to tax credit issues, due diligence and intercreditor agreements," with one client noting, "I believe they perform at the highest level. They have been very efficient with their time and the product they produce is very good."
- Corporate/Commercial. Husch Blackwell "offers notable proficiency in M&A, corporate governance and securities matters" and "has commendable experience working with clients from the renewable fuel, energy and agribusiness sectors." Clients recognize the "excellent guidance" and "to the point" advice that the team is able to deliver.
- Corporate/M&A. Chambers said Husch Blackwell is "well versed in a broad array of matters, including M&A, joint ventures, equipment financing and licensing issues." One client said, "In the areas of M&A the work is exceptional - the people I work with have a very deep level of experience, an excellent sense of timing and a strong ability to stay with the strategic focus."
- Environment. The "established team with varied experience in litigation and regulatory compliance" has "built up an impressive client base in the agricultural and chemical manufacturing industries."
- Healthcare. Noting what Chambers calls this "standout" group, one client said, "They have a deep bench of exceptional attorneys at both associate and partner level, with legal expertise in a wide array of important areas." Another client said, "You can go to them as a full-service firm for all of your needs."
- Intellectual Property. Husch Blackwell "enjoys a fine reputation for its defense work and maintains an active presence across the patent space" with a "strong focus on transactional and corporate matters." One client said, "They have an extremely high level of expertise and they are trusted advisers."
- Labor & Employment. This group has "significant litigation expertise and experience in FLSA and wage and hour class actions." One client said that the team is "very knowledgeable and very experienced." A peer noted, "They are really well regarded in this space" and "have maintained a quality reputation."
- Litigation/General Commercial. Chambers said the team “has an impressive record of representing clients in the education, agriculture and chemical industries” with “areas of strength that include class actions, and fraud and insurance-related matters.” One client said, “They are very intellectually engaged, conduct very thorough research and the litigation work is excellent.”
- Real Estate. Chambers said the group has a “strong reputation for representing developers on complex projects involving tax credits and incentives, and has significant experience handling PPP projects.” One client said, “They've done an excellent job. I really appreciate that they'll look at the potential risks of a deal and then provide ways to mitigate those risks. They do a great job of laying everything out and then finding solutions. Their professionalism and knowledge is appreciated on all sides.”
In Chambers’ individual recognitions, David W. Hilgers of the firm’s Austin office received a “Nationwide” ranking in the area of Healthcare: Regulatory & Litigation for the fourth year in a row, winning acclaim from one peer as "the premier Texas physician attorney.” Hilgers and 36 additional Husch Blackwell attorneys also received regional honors:
Colorado:
Jeffrey A. Chase – Litigation: General Commercial – Senior Statesmen
Paul A. Jacobs – Real Estate – Senior Statesmen
Kevin H. Kelley – Real Estate -- Band 2
Joseph Lubinski – Real Estate – Up and Coming
Mary H. Stuart – Labor & Employment -- Band 3
Illinois:
Patrick S. Coffey – Healthcare -- Band 3
Missouri:
Samuel Digirolamo – Intellectual Property -- Band 1
Alan S. Nemes – Intellectual Property -- Band 3
Kansas City:
James M. Ash – Corporate/M&A -- Band 1
David A. Fenley – Real Estate -- Band 2
Paul F. Pautler, Jr. – Labor & Employment -- Band 3
John R. Phillips – Labor & Employment – Eminent Practitioner
Charles Renner – Real Estate -- Band 3
Jason A. Reschly – Corporate/M&A -- Band 3
St. Louis:
Craig S. Biesterfeld – Real Estate -- Band 3
Bradley S. Hiles – Labor & Employment -- Band 3
David A. Linenbroker – Real Estate -- Band 3
Mary Anne O'Connell – Corporate/M&A -- Band 2
Gregory R. Smith – Real Estate -- Band 1
Robert J. Tomaso – Labor & Employment -- Band 1
Amy L. Wachs – Environment -- Band 2
Robert F. Wilkinson – Environment -- Band 2
Nebraska:
David E. Gardels – Corporate/Commercial -- Band 2
Todd A. Richardson – Corporate/Commercial -- Band 3
Tennessee:
Ronald I. Feldman – Real Estate -- Band 3
Texas:
Diane T. Carter – Healthcare -- Band 4
Joseph “Joe” V. Geraci – Healthcare -- Band 2
David W. Hilgers – Healthcare -- Band 1
Hal Katz – Healthcare -- Band 2
Wisconsin:
Eugenia (Gina) Carter – Intellectual Property -- Band 2 and Intellectual Property: Litigation – Spotlight Table
Brad Dallet – Real Estate -- Band 2
John F. Emanuel – Corporate/M&A -- Band 2
Donald P. Gallo – Natural Resources & Environment -- Band 3
Nathaniel A. Hoffman – Real Estate -- Band 3
Hal Karas – Real Estate -- Band 1
Eric E. Lenzen – Corporate M&A -- Band 3
Richard W. Silverthorn – Corporate/M&A -- Band 3
Chambers and Partners develops its rankings by utilizing a team of 150 researchers who conduct thousands of in-depth interviews with lawyers and their clients worldwide. The team identifies and ranks the world’s best lawyers and legal departments according to the criteria most valued by clients: legal knowledge and experience, ability, effectiveness and client service.