The Legal 500 United States 2022 recommends Husch Blackwell as a “Top Tier Firm” in Education and has recommended the firm in eight other practice areas:
- Cannabis
- Energy: Renewable/Alternative Power
- Government Contracts
- Healthcare: Service Providers
- Labor and Employment/Immigration
- M&A: Middle-Market (Sub-$500 million)
- Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort
- Real Estate
In addition, the firm earned “Firms to Watch” distinctions in Intellectual Property/Patents: Litigation (International Trade Commission) and Labor and Employment Disputes (including Collective Actions): Defense.
Partners Lisa Parker, Steve Levine and Marshall Custer were recognized as “Leading Lawyers” in Education (Parker) and Cannabis (Levine and Custer).
Of the firm’s Education practice, The Legal 500 notes, “Fielding a coast-to-coast presence, Husch Blackwell LLP continues to be a market leader in education with demonstrable strength in Title IX independence reviews and investigations.” The ranking also notes the contributions of Parker as well as partners Hayley Hanson, Derek Teeter, Scott Schneider, Julie Miceli and Richard Goldstein. Husch Blackwell is one of only three law firms to garner a 2022 ranking for its Education practice in Legal 500’s highest tier.
The firm’s Cannabis practice “is very knowledgeable in the world of cannabis and handles cannabis and industrial hemp regulatory matters across all 50 states and Washington DC.” In addition to Levine and Custer, the ranking also mentions the work of Alyssa Samuel and Lowell Pearson.
Husch Blackwell’s “‘responsive and competent‘ Renewable Energy group handles an impressive volume of mandates, bringing together multi-disciplinary expertise across project finance, tax equity finance, corporate deals, energy regulations, real estate and construction issues. The ranking mentions practice co-lead Cacki Jewart as well as Steve Carman and Chris Reeder.
The firm’s Government Contracts group “represents contractors across the range on public procurement matters, particularly bid protests, claims, and contentious issues. Uniquely experienced in both the federal construction government healthcare spheres, the group advises on all phases of the contracting process.” Practice heads Hal Perloff and Brian Waagner, as well as Steven Neeley and Michael Schrier, were noted.
Husch Blackwell’s Healthcare Providers practice “offers strong legal services to providers out of its office bases in Boston, Austin and the Midwest. Transactions are where the team’s strength lies, advising on large scale national transactions such as Talkspace’s SPAC listing, and smaller transactions focused on care centers.” The ranking noted Healthcare team lead Curt Chase as well as Hal Katz and Ellee Cochran.
Husch Blackwell's Immigration practice “has a national scope of matters including immigration-related investigations, audits, and visa work. The group is jointly managed by Kelli Meilink and Christine Fabin, and is highlighted for its national interest exemptions work, which has seen an increase of activity during the Covid-19 pandemic.” Counsel Toni Blackwood also received mention.
Husch Blackwell’s Mergers & Acquisitions group was cited for middle-market (sub-$500 million) M&A work. ”Hailed for its ‘deep bench of expertise,’ The Legal 500 notes the firm’s “significant exposure to both inbound and outbound M&A, including SPAC and deSPAC transactions.” Practice lead Kirstin Salzman, Mary Anne O’Connell and Steve Carman were cited as key lawyers.
The Legal 500 notes that the firm’s Real Estate practice, led by Carrie Hermeling, was cited by one client as “’a true business partner. They not only deliver tremendous legal service, but also are eager to work with us on alternative billing, diversity and technology.’”
The firm’s Toxic Tort team “has a strong reputation for representing clients in the defense of a range of toxic tort matters and has gained plaudits for its effective use of legal technology to streamline often resource intensive matters. The rankings call out practice head Joseph Orlet, Jennifer Dlugosz, Brandan Mueller, J.Y. Miller and Lisa Oberg.
The Legal 500 is also keeping tabs on two Husch Blackwell practices that received “Firms to Watch” designations:
- The Section 337 practice "is led by dual-officed attorney (Kansas City and Washington DC) Beau Jackson. The group operates as part and parcel of the firm´s larger international trade team, and spans a variety of industries and a diversity of company sizes.”
- The Employment Litigation Defense team “has significant experience in class and collective actions, discrimination cases, wrongful termination, trade secrets and non-compete matters; Milwaukee-based Erik Eisenmann is a key contact.”
The Legal 500 United States assesses and ranks the capabilities of law firms around the world in over 150 jurisdictions with a comprehensive research program. The rankings highlight practice area teams that provide “the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel.” Research is based on feedback from 300,000 law firm clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.