Husch Blackwell is pleased to announce leaders for its Real Estate, Development and Construction business unit and its Tax and Commercial Litigation practice groups.
Jon Giokas will head up the firm’s Real Estate, Development and Construction business unit. Michael Hargens has been named as the leader of the Commercial Litigation team, and Robert Romashko has been named the practice leader of the firm’s Tax group. These changes are effective January 1, 2023.
Giokas, based in the firm’s St. Louis office, has been with Husch Blackwell since 2003 and counsels investors, institutions, companies and public entities with respect to real estate and finance matters, with a particular focus on transactions utilizing public and private capital sources. He succeeds Carrie Hermeling, who served as the head of the firm’s Real Estate, Development and Construction business unit for the past 10 years.
“Our real estate practice has grown tremendously over the past decade, earning national rankings and expanding our depth in key markets across our footprint,” said Giokas. “I look forward to capitalizing on all of the positive momentum that Carrie’s leadership has generated and to continue building on the esteem our lawyers have earned in the marketplace.”
Based in the firm’s Kansas City office, Hargens has served as the co-lead of Husch Blackwell’s Commercial Litigation practice group since 2020 and will take over the leadership of the team as JoAnn Sandifer steps down after 10 years leading or co-leading the group.
Romashko takes over leadership of the firm’s Tax group, succeeding Joe Pickart, who had led the team since 2017. He recently relocated to the firm’s Washington office from Chicago.
“Each of these partners has been promoted to their new roles because they share a set of core values that match our firm’s strategic vision when it comes to our clients and our colleagues,” said Paul Eberle, Husch Blackwell’s Chief Executive. “These individuals successfully collaborate with and develop those around them, support and share our One Firm Vision, and are stalwart champions in our desire to integrate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into everything we do here.”