BSCR Firm News/Blogs Feed

Bob Christie Elected Secretary of Lawyers for Civil Justice

04 Jun 2026

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.

Lawyers for Civil Justice is a national coalition of companies, law firms and defense bar organizations that advocates for reform of procedural litigation rules to promote the just, speedy and inexpensive resolution of civil claims. LCJ’s advocacy focuses on class actions, multidistrict litigation, expert evidence standards, cost allocation, discovery and third-party litigation funding.

At Baker Sterchi, Christie co-chairs the firm’s Trial & Appellate Practice Group and is a member of the Public-Sector Risk Management & Consulting group. He defends professionals, businesses, governmental entities, law enforcement officers and individuals in high-exposure matters.

Christie is active in several peer-selected legal organizations. He serves as chair of the International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee, is a member and past president of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and is a member of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys.

Christie earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law and is admitted to practice in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Baker Sterchi Welcomes Attorney Olive Smith

03 Jun 2026

Baker Sterchi welcomes Olive Smith as an associate in the firm’s Portland office. Smith is a civil defense litigator who helps clients navigate contested matters involving government liability defense, law enforcement and civil rights defense and professional and management liability.

Prior to joining the firm, Smith defended the Texas Comptroller in multimillion-dollar tax suits and appeals, represented oil-and-gas operators in administrative hearings involving complex geological fact finding and represented citizen advocacy groups in proceedings involving environmental permitting.

Smith earned her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and her undergraduate degrees summa cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin. She is licensed to practice in Oregon and Texas.

Baker Sterchi Welcomes Attorney Ariel Rhines

01 Jun 2026

Baker Sterchi welcomes Ariel Rhines as an associate in the firm’s Kansas City office. Rhines defends clients in civil and commercial litigation, including personal injury and premises liability matters.

Rhines is a member of the Missouri Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. She earned her law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law, where she served as managing editor of the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy, and her undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas. She is licensed to practice in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

Baker Sterchi Welcomes 2026 Class of Summer Law Clerks

28 May 2026

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

Belleville

Landon Deaton, a rising 2L student at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School. Before law school, Deaton was a weather forecaster for the United States Air Force. He previously served as a court clerk at the 22nd Circuit Court and earned his undergraduate degree in finance from the University of Maryland Global Campus.
Aman Siddiqui a rising 2L transfer student at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Siddiqui completed his first year of law school at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School, where he participated in mock trial competitions. He earned his undergraduate degree in neuroscience, with minors in economics and chemistry, from the University of Illinois Chicago.

Kansas City

Addison Farley, a rising 3L student at the University of Kansas School of Law, where she serves on the board for Volume XXXVI of the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy. Farley has volunteered with the Douglas County Legal Self-Help Office and Natural Ties. She earned her undergraduate degree in English and political science from the University of Kansas.
Blake Millman, a rising 3L student at the University of Kansas School of Law, where he serves as a dean’s fellow and member of the KU Law Traffic Court. He also served as a legal research assistant for Professor Stephen Ware. Millman earned his undergraduate degree from the Kansas State University College of Business.
Madeline VanCompernolle, a rising 3L student at the University of Kansas School of Law. She previously served as a judicial intern at the Johnson County Courthouse and earned her undergraduate degree in biology, with a minor in political science, from the University of Kansas. VanCompernolle also has volunteered with the Ballard Community Center and Natural Ties.

Madison

Ryan Arlandson, a rising 3L student at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he serves as an articles editor on the Wisconsin Law Review and member of the mock trial team. He earned his undergraduate degree in history from Creighton University.

Jessica Diebold, a rising 3L student at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where she serves as a member of the Journal of Gender, Law and Society and the Women’s Law Student Association. She previously served as a student analyst at the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office, student advisory board leader at the Milwaukee Justice Center and part-time law clerk at Baker Sterchi. Diebold earned her undergraduate degrees in criminology and law studies and English from Marquette University.

Baker Sterchi’s summer law clerk program provides law students with hands-on experience through hearings, depositions, legal research, writing projects and opportunities to connect with attorneys across the firm.

Charniece Rollie Appointed to IFMA Professional Development Committee

21 May 2026

Charniece Rollie, Baker Sterchi’s Director of Administration, has been appointed to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) Professional Development Committee.

The committee supports IFMA’s educational programs, training initiatives and professional standards for facility management practitioners worldwide. Rollie’s appointment reflects her experience in administration and facility management, as well as her commitment to continued professional development.

At Baker Sterchi, Rollie oversees firmwide conflicts and resolution, as well as records management, facilities, reception and office services for the firm’s Kansas City office.

The International Facilities Management Association is a global association for facilities management professionals, providing education, credentials, resources and networking opportunities to support the profession.

Clay Crawford Appointed Co-Chair of ACCC Extracontractual and Bad Faith Claims Litigation Committee

13 May 2026

Baker Sterchi Member Clay Crawford has been appointed co-chair of the American College of Coverage Counsel (ACCC) Extracontractual and Bad Faith Claims Litigation Committee for the 2026-2027 term.

Crawford focuses his practice on insurance coverage, bad faith and catastrophic injury defense. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel. He also serves as co-chair of Baker Sterchi’s Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Practice Group and is a frequent speaker on insurance coverage topics. He has received recognition for his insurance work in Missouri from legal industry ranking and peer-review organizations over a number of years. He earned his law degree from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law and is admitted to practice in Missouri.

The ACCC Extracontractual and Bad Faith Claims Litigation Committee provides the highest level of continuing education specific to the practice area and promotes professionalism and fellowship among both policyholder and insurer attorneys.

Baker Sterchi Welcomes Attorney Joshua Topel

07 May 2026

Baker Sterchi welcomes Joshua Topel as an associate, based in the firm’s Madison office. Topel represents clients in a variety of civil defense matters, focusing on insurance defense and personal injury litigation.

Topel earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is licensed to practice in Wisconsin.

Baker Sterchi Welcomes Attorney Hayden Searcy

05 May 2026

Baker Sterchi welcomes Hayden Searcy as an associate, based in the firm’s Madison office. Searcy focuses his practice on medical malpractice and personal injury matters.

Searcy earned his law degree cum laude from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, holds a master’s degree from The University of Arizona Global Campus and earned his undergraduate degree cum laude from The University of Akron. He is licensed to practice in Wisconsin.

Baker Sterchi Welcomes Amber Nations as Director of Accounting

01 May 2026

Baker Sterchi welcomes Amber Nations as the firm’s Director of Accounting, based in the Kansas City office. In her role, she provides firmwide leadership over accounting operations, financial reporting and compliance.

Nations has nearly 20 years of finance experience, including approximately 13 years in a law firm setting. She is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators and International Legal Technology Association. Nations earned her undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Jim Maloney Appointed Co-Chair of Baker Sterchi Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Practice Group

30 Apr 2026

Baker Sterchi Member Jim Maloney has been named co-chair of the firm’s Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Practice Group, succeeding Michael Shunk and joining Clay Crawford, who continues to serve as co-chair. The group represents national and international insurers in complex coverage analysis and opinions, declaratory judgment actions and bad faith and extra-contractual claims.

Based in Kansas City, Maloney focuses his practice on insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, as well as appellate work and civil and insurance defense litigation. He has secured decisions that have helped shape the law and has testified in legislative hearings on tort reform measures affecting insurers. He has also contributed to the development of legal theories and defenses in bad faith and related litigation and has guided insurers through multimillion-dollar coverage and bad faith matters, as well as complex pre-litigation analysis and strategy planning.

Maloney is a member of the American College of Coverage Counsel and the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance. He also serves on the steering committee of ALFA International’s Insurance Practice Group and is a member of DRI’s Insurance Law Committee. A frequent speaker on issues affecting insurers in first- and third-party coverage matters, he is admitted to practice in Missouri and Kansas, as well as before the Supreme Court of the United States.

In his role as co-chair, Maloney will help lead the group’s continued work advising insurers on complex coverage and bad faith issues.