Current Board Members
Nicole Colbert-Botchway 111 N. 7th Street St. Louis, MO 63101 Fax: (314) 340-7029
Ms Colbert-Botchway is a lifelong resident of the City of St. Louis and dedicated public servant who graduated from Rosati-Kain High School. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in 1993 and Juris Doctorate Degree in 1996 from St. Louis University and is licensed to practice in Missouri and Illinois. In 1998, Nicole joined the Circuit Attorney’s Office in the City of St. Louis, where she prosecuted criminal non support, civil paternity and contempt actions. She also argued before the Missouri Supreme Court regarding the use of DNA testing and its effects on determinations of non paternity. Nicole earned her Master’s Degree in Business Administration in 2002 from the University of Missouri St. Louis. In January of 2004, she joined The Missouri Attorney General’s Office as a Unit Leader in the Financial Services Division. In this position, she maintained a large caseload, conducted Continued Legal Education seminars, was a member of the recruitment committee and supervised seven attorneys handling child support modifications and other financial cases for the State of Missouri’s Department of Social Service, Family Support Division in the Eastern and Southern Districts of Missouri. Nicole also assisted with the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Division and was part of the trial team that conducted a two week Medicaid price fraud trial in the City of St. Louis. After the trial team established the corporation's liability and received a jury finding that defendant owed $7.3 million in compensatory damages, they obtained a record $31 million settlement for Missouri taxpayers. As of 2009, Nicole manages seventeen attorneys and ten support persons across the State of Missouri handling child support modifications, paternity establishments, petitions for judicial reviews, income maintenance and other financial cases on behalf of the State’s Department of Social Services. Nicole is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and serves on its Professionalism Task Force. She is President Elect of the Women Lawyers' Association of Greater St. Louis and Member at Large over Ten Years of the Mound City Bar Association. Nicole has conducted CLE presentations for the Attorney General’s Office, the Mound City Bar Association and the St. Louis County Bar Association. Nicole sits on the boards of Redevelopment Opportunities for Women (ROW), Covenant House of Missouri and The Archway Chapter of the Links, Inc. She is Coordinator of the Lisa Colbert Memorial Scholarship administered by Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville, which gives scholarships to students majoring in theater/performing arts. In 2007, she became co-sponsor of the FOUNDation Nursery and Preparatory School in Accra Ghana and continues to provide educational tools and financial support for the students. In 2008, Nicole was Named 2008 Up and Coming Lawyer by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly, Appointed to the Missouri Bar’s Task Force on Professionalism, Awarded the 2008 Yes I Can Special Achievement award from The St. Louis Sentinel and received the Outstanding Attorney 2008 award from The Black Law Students Association of Saint Louis University School of Law. In 2009, Nicole received the Women’s Justice Award for Public Service from the St. Louis Daily Record & Missouri Lawyers Weekly. On July 30, 2009 the Supreme Court Of Missouri in conjunction with The Missouri Bar established a council and co-Chairs for the “Joint Committee on Gender and Justice “ and appointed Nicole Colbert a council member. She is married and has one son, Ismail Botchway.
president-elect: Jessica Liss Rabbitt, Pitzer & Snodgrass 100 South Fourth Street, Suite 400 Phone: (314) 335-1336 Fax: (314) 421-3144 E-mail: Liss@rpslaw.com
Ms Liss is a principal at Rabbitt, Pitzer & Snodgrass, P.C. Ms. Liss concentrates her practice on the defense of municipalities and local government, civil rights and constitutional litigation, employment law, personal injury and general tort litigation. Ms. Liss is also the appointed City Attorney for the City of Bella Villa. She has served as Trustee of the Wilson School, where she was chairperson of the Tuition Assistance Committee (2002-2008). She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Wilson School. Ms. Liss is a graduate of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania where she earned her B.A. in Economics and English in 1995. She earned her J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1999. At Saint Louis University, she was Staff Editor for the St. Louis Warsaw Transatlantic Journal. Ms. Liss was admitted to the Missouri Bar in 1999 and to the Kansas Bar in 2006. She is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Missouri, the District Court of Kansas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, the Missouri Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. Prior to joining Rabbitt, Pitzer & Snodgrass, Jessica was an Assistant Public Defender in the City of St. Louis, Trial Division. Ms. Liss is a frequent speaker at seminars and CLE programs. She is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, the Bar Association of Kansas, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Lawyer’s Association of St. Louis, the Defense Research Institute, the Harmonie Group, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the National Association of Insurance Women.
Stinson Morrison Hecker Phone: (314) 259-4546 Fax: (314) 259-4499
Ms Boyer is an associate with Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP and practices in a wide variety of fields, including commercial, environmental, employee benefits and education litigation. She graduated from the University of Illinois in 2003, where she was named a Bell, Boyd & Lloyd Best Advocate and earned the Best Oralist and Best Overall Awards in the Frederick Green Moot Court Competition. Ms. Boyer has been a member of WLA since 2000 and has served as co-chair of the Scholarship Committee for the past 4 years and as Secretary since 2007. Ms. Boyer is also a participant in FOCUS St. Louis’ Leadership St. Louis Program, serves on the Board of Directors for CASA St. Louis County and is an attorney coach for the Lindbergh High School mock trial team. In 2008, Ms. Boyer was named one of the St. Louis Business Journal’s “30 Under 30” and she was recently selected by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as an “Up and Coming” attorney. TREASURER: Melanie Knies Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion #1 South Memorial Drive,
Suite 1800
Ms Knies is an associate at Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion in the litigation and workers’ compensation sections. Melanie received her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Law in 2002. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Truman State University in 1998. Melanie is licensed to practice in Missouri. During law school, Ms. Knies was a member and the Design and Layout Editor for the Missouri Environmental Law and Policy Review. Also during law school, she clerked with the Missouri Attorney General’s office in the Consumer Protection Division and at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.
Kristine Bridges Thompson Coburn LLP One US Bank Plaza Phone: (314)552-6559 Fax: (314)552-7559 E-mail: kbridges@thompsoncoburn.com Ms Bridges is an associate with Thompson Coburn, LLP in the Railroad Litigation Department. She also handles motions for protective orders through Legal Advocates for Abused Women. She graduated from St. Louis University Law School in 2000, and while there served as Treasurer of the Women Law Students' Association. She has chaired the WLA Holiday Party/Charity Auction Committee for the last three years. She believes that "the support system offered by [WLA] is important in the legal community" and she is looking forward to serving on the Board. She resides with her husband, Larry, and 22-year-old twins, Corey and Nicole. And, she runs half-marathons!
Ms Susi Ms. Susi practices Family Law at the law firm of Zerman Mogerman, LLC. She graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia, School of Law in 1999. During law school, Ms. Susi was President of the Student Women’s Lawyers Association, and authored an article entitled “The Forgotten Victims of Domestic Violence,” which was published in the Journal of the Missouri Bar. In 2003, she served as Chair of the Family Law Section of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), and in 2004 received the Award of Merit from the Young Lawyers' Division of BAMSL. She currently sits on the Board of Lawyers for Kids. In 2009 Ms. Susi was recognized by Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers, a publication of Law and Politics Magazine, as a "Super Lawyers Rising Star.” She lives in Fenton with her husband Jim, daughter Grace, and their pets, Storm and Xena. MemberS-at-Large:
Fax: (314) 615-4477
Ms DuBois is the Managing Attorney of the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM) Family Court Project, where she represents indigent parents and grandparents in cases involving foster care and state intervention with families. Kathleen received her J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1987. She briefed and argued felony appeals for six years for the alternative public defender in Tucson, Arizona. She represented the state of Arizona in cases involving securities fraud at the Arizona Corporation Commission, and represented financial industry clients at Bryan Cave LLC’s St. Louis office before coming to LSEM in 1999 to spearhead the Family Court Project. A St. Louis native, Ms. DuBois is admitted to practice in the state of Missouri, before the United States Supreme Court and the federal court of the Eastern District of Missouri. This is her sixth year as a member of the Board of Directors of the Women Lawyers Association of St. Louis and she has been a regular participant in the legislative committee since about 1998. Kathleen has memberships in the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the St. Louis Ethical Society, and has participated in various local organizations aimed at supporting the legal needs of domestic violence victims. In 2005 Kathleen received the Women Lawyers Association President’s Award for her advocacy on behalf of indigent and battered women and their children. Kathleen’s special passions are appellate practice and constitutional law. She teaches Legal Research and Legal Writing courses to paralegal students at St. Louis Community College at Meramec. She loves to travel and hike around with her very large dog.
Simon Passanante, PC 701 Market St.,
Suite 1450 Phone: (314) 241-2929 Fax: (314) 241-2029 E-mail: AGunn@simonpassanante.com Ms Collignon Gunn works with Simon Passanante, PC as well as being an adjunct professor with Washington University School of Law teaching pre-trial litigation. Her practice concentrates on personal injury and medical malpractice cases. She graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 1996 cum laude, and while there served as Managing Editor of the St. Louis University Law Journal. In 2006 she received BAMSL's John C. Shepard Professionalism Award and in 2007 she received the Missouri Bar's Lon Hocker Award for her excellence as a young trial attorney. She is happily married and the mother of 2 sons, Connor & Nathan.
Bridget Hoy Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, LC 500 North Broadway, Suite 2000
Ms Hoy is a Litigation Partner at Lewis, Rice. She focuses her practice on trademark, patent and other intellectual property disputes. She also has significant experience in commercial litigation in both federal and state courts. Ms. Hoy is a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee. A past chair of the Professionalism and Ethics Committee of BAMSL, Ms. Hoy has written several articles and given numerous presentations on ethics and professionalism issues. In 2006, Ms. Hoy was awarded the President’s Service Award by BAMSL for her work addressing substance abuse, depression, and other impairments that translate into ethics and professionalism violations. Ms. Hoy has taught both Criminal Law and Legal, Research and Writing courses at Webster University and Maryville University in St. Louis. She has volunteered with the Ready Readers program in St. Louis. She also volunteers with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri in its Volunteer Lawyers’ Program.
Jessica Kennedy Carmody MacDonald, PC 120 S. Central Ave., Ste. 1800 Phone: (314) 854-8600 Fax: (314) 854-8660 E-mail: jwk@carmodymacdonald.com
Ms Kennedy practices in the area of general commercial litigation for Carmody MacDonald following seven years as a trial attorney with the Office of the Circuit Attorney for the City of St. Louis. As a member of the felony trial staff at the Circuit Attorney's Office, Jessica gained extensive first-chair experience in both jury and bench trials. In addition, she initiated and implemented the Circuit Attorney's Community Education Program, a 10-week education course for City residents. In fall 2004, Jessica served as the acting chief warrant officer for the City of St. Louis. Previously, she was an assistant prosecuting attorney in the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for St. Charles County. Jessica also interned at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. She is a member of the Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis (Board member since 2008), the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Missouri Bar. She volunteers for Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement and for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri with the Volunteer Lawyer's Program.
Christallyn E. McCloud Bryan Cave LLP 211 N. Broadway, Suite 3600 St. Louis, MO 63102 Phone: (314) 259.2510 (direct) Fax: (314) 552.8510 E-Mail: christallyn.mccloud@bryancave.com
Ms McCloud practices in the corporate area with Bryan Cave LLP. Her practice focuses on domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, securities, corporate governance and related matters. Christallyn is a member of the 2009-2010 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy. She serves on the Board of Directors of Wesley House Association and on the Steering Committee of the Regional Business Council’s Young Professionals Network. She also volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate with Voices for Children and as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Since joining Bryan Cave in 2006, Ms. McCloud was recognized as a "Young Lawyer You Should Know" by The Missouri Bar Young Lawyer Newsletter and as "30 Under 30" outstanding St. Louis area business leaders by the St. Louis Business Journal. Christallyn is a proud Washington University School of Law graduate. She was named Public Service Law Student of the Year in 2006 and she is now an adjunct professor.
City of St. Louis 314 City Hall Phone: (314) 657-1836 E-mail: mcmahonm@stlouiscity.com
Ms McMahon has worked in the St. Louis City Counselor's Office for 13 years, working with a variety of cases ranging from employment litigation to juvenile law. Prior to that she worked with the St. Louis County Public Defender. She holds a bachelor's degree in social work and her law degree both from St. Louis University. She served on the WLA Board as a Member at Large during 2003. She is currently on the Board of the Flora Conservancy. She loves living in Soulard, yoga and singing. |
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President:
VICE-PRESIDENT:
SECRETARY: 
Kathleen DuBois
Maribeth McMahon