Chambers USA 2019 ranked Husch Blackwell in 10 practice categories and recognized 33 lawyers in 10 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, Natural Resources & Environment, and Real Estate.
Client comments in the Chambers USA 2019 directory call attention to Husch Blackwell’s focus on solving client problems and providing excellent service:
- Banking & Finance (Wisconsin). The Husch Blackwell team, said Chambers, “handles a variety of commercial and public finance matters, ranging from complex financing transactions to tax credit issues, due diligence and intercreditor agreements,” and is “regularly engaged by lenders and borrowers to provide counsel on construction financing, equipment leasing and EB-5 lending.”
- Corporate/Commercial (Nebraska). Chambers noted Husch Blackwell’s “distinguished corporate and commercial offering with considerable experience across a wide array of sector concerns” and the team’s “expertise in tax credit financing, venture capital and private equity matters.” Clients attest that Husch Blackwell is “a very good firm, with competitive rates and a broad range of experience and capabilities that they can draw upon when needed.”
- Corporate/M&A (Kansas City, St. Louis, Wisconsin). This “sophisticated” team is “well versed in a broad array of matters, including M&A, joint ventures, private equity transactions and licensing issues” and also has “extensive experience in corporate financing matters,” according to Chambers. One client said, "We're with Husch Blackwell because of the depth of the team. I can't imagine a corporate legal matter that would be outside of the scope of its roster of attorneys."
- Environment (St. Louis). Chambers said Husch Blackwell’s “established team with particular experience in litigation and regulatory compliance” has built up an “impressive client base in the agriculture, energy and chemical manufacturing industries.”
- Healthcare (Texas). Chambers said Husch Blackwell offers a “standout healthcare group representing clients in transactional and regulatory matters throughout Texas” with “expertise in healthcare fraud and abuse issues, governance and telemedicine.” Sources name Husch Blackwell “one of the best healthcare firms in the country on transactions involving physicians.”
- Intellectual Property (Missouri). Chambers said the firm “enjoys a fine reputation for its defense work and maintains a highly active presence across the patent space.” One client commented, “The team provides quick and accurate assessments of case issues, allowing us to make informed decisions. What stands out to us is this team puts the client’s interest first and works to get the best outcome possible.”
- Labor & Employment (Kansas City and St. Louis). Husch Blackwell was noted by Chambers for “outstanding labor and employment capabilities” with sources saying that the firm “provides practical business advice for employment law matters.” One client noted, “The firm provides practical advice on how to deal with tough situations.”
- Litigation/General Commercial (Kansas City and St. Louis). Cited as a “distinguished outfit with a noted presence in both St. Louis and Kansas City,” Chambers said the firm “has an impressive record of representing clients across the pharmaceutical, healthcare, transportation and agriculture industries.” Clients said, “The firm has substantial trial experience, which is essential to be effective in litigation, and has the confidence to take matters to trial.”
- Natural Resources and Environment (Wisconsin)
- Real Estate (Colorado, Kansas City, St. Louis, Wisconsin). Chambers said that 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, “Husch Blackwell is a well-oiled machine that maintains the personal touch in each transaction,” adding that its knowledge of real estate laws in different jurisdictions is a particular strength. Another client said, “The team is very well rounded and can handle any needs we have as a company.”
Two Husch Blackwell attorneys received individual “Nationwide” recognition. Linda L. Walsh of the firm's Washington, D.C. office received an individual “Nationwide” ranking in Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) for the second year in a row. Walsh is “extremely knowledgeable, with a wide-ranging depth and breadth of experience. She does a fantastic job in regulatory, finance and business development matters,” said one client.
Steven N. Levine, who is based in the firm’s Denver office, received an individual “Nationwide” ranking in Cannabis Law. This is the first year that Chambers USA has ranked lawyers and firms in the Cannabis Law practice area. “Steve has a good sense of the regulatory environment for transactions,” says a source. “He's a smart attorney offering good responsiveness and work product.”
Colorado
Jeffrey A. Chase – Litigation: General Commercial – Senior Statesmen
Kevin H. Kelley – Real Estate – Band 2
Joseph E. Lubinski – Real Estate – Up and Coming
Illinois
Patrick S. Coffey – Healthcare – Band 3
Missouri
Rudolph Telscher – Intellectual Property – Band 3
Kansas City
James M. Ash – Corporate/M&A – Band 1
Paul F. Pautler Jr. – Labor & Employment – Band 3
Charles Renner – Real Estate – Band 3
Jason A. Reschly – Corporate/M&A – Band 3
Julianne Story – Labor & Employment – Band 3
St. Louis
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 1
Todd A. Richardson – Corporate/Commercial – Band 2
Texas
Diane T. Carter – Healthcare – Band 3
Scott L. Davis – Insurance – Recognised Practitioner<
Joseph V. Geraci – Healthcare – Band 2
David W. Hilgers – Healthcare – Band 1
Hal Katz – Healthcare – Band 2
USA Nationwide
Linda L. Walsh – Energy: Electricity (Regulatory & Litigation) – Band 4
*Steven N. Levine – Cannabis Law – Band 1
Wisconsin
Eugenia (Gina) Carter – Intellectual Property – Band 3 and Intellectual Property: Litigation – Spotlight Table
*Philip R. Bower – Natural Resources & Environment – Up and Coming
Brad Dallet – Real Estate – Band 2
John F. Emanuel – Corporate/M&A – Band 3
*William Gardner – Banking & Finance – Recognised Practitioner
Hal Karas – Real Estate – Band 1
Eric E. Lenzen – Corporate M&A – Band 3
*Chambers USA first-time recognition
Chambers and Partners, which publishes Chambers USA, develops its rankings by utilizing a team of 170 full-time researchers and editors 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.