in and out of the courtroom

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice has been recognized with three national practice area rankings in the 2026 edition of The Legal 500, a guide used by buyers of legal services to evaluate law firms by practice area.

Paul N. Venker314.345.5001

Baker Sterchi attorney Paul Venker will present as part of the New Philadelphia Association's 22nd Annual Likes Lecture Series on June 9.

Clay Crawford816.460.2831

Scott D. Hofer816.471.4489

James Scott Kreamer816.471.2121

Jennifer L. Maloney314.345.5076

John A. Watt816.471.2121

Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice and five attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Chambers USA for insurance, general commercial litigation and product liability litigation in Missouri and the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Robert L. Christie206.979.3859

Baker Sterchi Member Bob Christie has been elected secretary of Lawyers for Civil Justice (LCJ) and will continue his servicing on the organization's board of directors and Executive Committee.

Olive A. Smith971.374.5585

Baker Sterchi welcomes Olive Smith as an associate in the firm's Portland office.

Katherine Cortesy608.662.1159

Baker Sterchi obtained judgment for the defense on behalf of a physician in a small claims trial in Marathon County, WI.

Ariel M. Rhines816.460.2829

Baker Sterchi welcomes Ariel Rhines as an associate in the firm's Kansas City office.

Jacqueline M. Longfellow816.472.7474

The Missouri Court of Appeals (Eastern District) affirmed the trial court's denial of a motion to compel arbitration, where the arbitration agreement chose to apply Missouri's Uniform Arbitration Act ("MUAA") but omitted the statute's mandatory boldface notice on the signature page about binding arbitration.

Baker Sterchi welcomes its 2026 class of summer law clerks in the firm's Belleville, Kansas City and Madison offices.

Justin L. Meyer971.374.5569

Washington Supreme Court holds that installation of asbestos-containing insulation constituted construction of an improvement on real property, and insulation was integral to the refinery's intended function. Claims arising from that construction are barred by Washington's construction statute of repose under RCW 4.16.300-.310.