Paul Venker to Speak on the Topic of Freedom Suits at KCALA Chapter Meeting

On September 21, Baker Sterchi attorney Paul Venker will speak alongside Judge David Mason on the topic of Freedom Suits at the Kansas City Association of Legal Administrators (KCALA) Chapter Meeting.

The program will delve into the pre-Civil War lawsuits filed in St. Louis, famously referred to as freedom suits, in which enslaved Black individuals sought their independence. Additionally, the discussion will shed light on not only the courage of these earliest of civil rights plaintiffs and their supporters, but also on the significance of these mostly ignored efforts and cases throughout American history.

Venker is active in the St. Louis legal community, currently serving as President of the Freedom Suits Memorial Foundation, an organization that played a pivotal role in orchestrating the construction of the Freedom Suits Memorial unveiled on the eastern plaza of the Civil Courts Building in June 2022. Additionally, he has served as President of the St. Louis Bar Foundation in the past and remains a member of its Board of Directors.

Throughout his career, Venker’s practice has been focused on trials and appeals. He has successfully taken dozens of trials to verdict in a variety of cases ranging from employment discrimination and medical malpractice to product liability and other serious personal injury and general liability matters. He has been an active appellate lawyer since clerking at the Missouri Supreme Court.