Two from BCLP Recognized by ‘Missouri Lawyers Weekly’ as Top Employment Lawyers

BCLP Partner Elaine Koch and Senior Counsel Jerry Hunter are among Missouri’s “Power List” employment lawyers for the third year in a row, as named by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

“Our editorial team interviewed attorneys and other leaders around the state, reviewed records of verdicts and settlements, and consulted Missouri Lawyers Weekly’s archives to arrive at a list of what we believe are the 35 most powerful employment attorneys in Missouri,” Missouri Lawyers Weekly stated.

Elaine formerly served as the global leader of BCLP’s Labor & Employment Group, and she has over 30 years’ experience as a trial lawyer. She is a national speaker on litigation techniques and employment law, served on the editorial board of the Practical Litigator, and has been an active member of the American Bar Association, serving in a number of national leadership roles in the Labor & Employment Section and frequently speaking at national meetings. She was awarded the David Dixon Award for outstanding achievement in appellate advocacy, the KCMBA President’s Award for founding an internship program for inner city youth, the Hon. H. Michael Coburn Community Service Award by Legal Aid of Western Missouri, the Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly and was inducted as a fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Elaine is a  Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, was honored by the Kansas City Business Journal as a Woman Who Means Business, and was named by Ingraham’s Magazine as one of 50 Missourians to Know. Elaine also serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

Jerry was general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in Washington, D.C., from 1989 until 1993. Prior to that appointment, Jerry served as the director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations from 1986 until 1989. He also was employed as labor counsel by the Kellwood Company, as a field attorney by the St. Louis Regional Office of the NLRB and as a senior trial attorney by the St. Louis District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Jerry has been a regular speaker and presenter at national labor and employment law conferences, including the American Employment Law Council conference, the National Employment Law Council conference, the American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, the National Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section, and various other legal and business organizations. Jerry is a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and was recently presented with the Icon Award by Missouri Lawyers Media. Jerry also currently serves as chairman of the Board of Directors of Associated Industries of Missouri. His practice involves representing management in all phases of labor and employment law, including preventative labor relations and supervisory training, labor arbitrations, handling charges filed with the NLRB, the EEOC, U.S. Department of Labor, and cases filed in both federal and state courts.

All of this year’s honorees were noted in a special section published July 25 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.