Husch Blackwell

At Husch Blackwell, we provide our people with the support they need to grow the careers they want. For Kansas City Partner Michael Raupp, this means excelling in a practice typically dominated by veteran lawyers from coastal firms. He is developing a powerhouse appellate practice in the Midwest and has argued more than 20 appeals in state and federal courts nationwide—with arguments in four different federal circuits in 2024 alone. His achievements have earned him recognition from The American Lawyer as a finalist for Young Lawyer of the Year. Our congratulations to Michael and all the finalists for breaking the mold in the legal industry. #appellatelaw #litigationattorney #TeamHB

Husch Blackwell's Kansas City team celebrated the completion of Phase I of our office remodel with a ribbon-cutting event! The 10th floor’s fresh new ambiance—complete with a modern café, terrace, and inviting lounge—was the perfect space as Office Managing Partner Jeff Simon kicked off the celebration. With stunning views of the Kansas City Plaza, #TeamHB is excited to watch even more of our space transform in the phases to come! #LawFirmLife #OfficeRemodel #KansasCityMO

So proud of this #ClientSuccess! 🌟 Husch Blackwell successfully represented CBC Bancorp in its strategic acquisition of Bay Community Bancorp, the holding company for Community Bank of the Bay. This significant transaction unites two powerhouse institutions from California's largest banking markets, resulting in a combined financial institution with approximately $3.5 billion in assets. This acquisition was made possible by #TeamHB, led by Arthur Coren and including Steven Sweeney, Andrew Spector, Brian Wetzstein, Scott LeBlanc, David Eckhardt, Tommy Benson, Charles Martin, Christopher Friedman, and Molly Callender Hobbs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gXbs7kf9 #MergersAndAcquisitions #CaliforniaBanking

#DYK? According to the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)'s 2023 Report of the Economic Survey, just 28.5% of the 706 IP attorneys and patent agents surveyed were women. Today, we’re excited to spotlight one of our trailblazers in #IPLaw, Partner Kara Fussner. Since joining #TeamHB in 2017, Kara has been an integral part of our the Husch Blackwell Technology, Manufacturing & Transportation group and Intellectual Property practice area. Get to know St. Louis-based IP litigator, Kara Fussner... ⚖️Why did you choose intellectual property as your practice focus?  I did not set out to practice intellectual properly law. I started my career in takeover related litigation (e.g., shareholder derivative suits and securities litigation), and sort of fell into IP after a more junior associate colleague moved to an intellectual property boutique and sought me out when that firm needed a more senior associate that could run intellectual property litigations. My background in large civil litigation was well suited to patent litigation, but of course intellectual property was still a steep learning curve. I found I loved the area and have been doing it for almost 20 years now. Life is full of surprises and sometimes takes you in unexpected directions. ⚖️What professional accomplishment you are most proud of?  Our victory in the Octane Fitness case. In Octane Fitness, #SCOTUS changed the legal standard for awarding fees to a prevailing accused infringer in patent cases. I took a leading role in formulating the question presented in the petition for certiorari review, briefing the case to the Supreme Court, and I had the privilege to second chair the oral argument in the U.S. Supreme Court, which was the experience of a lifetime. After we prevailed in the Supreme Court, we ultimately won in securing a fee award for our client, which had been wrongly accused of patent infringement by a much larger competitor. ⚖️What’s a fact that most people don’t know about you? I have my pilot’s license and used to own a Piper Archer airplane. I found a passion for aviation when my childhood friend’s dad (who owned a crop-dusting business) took us flying as kids. I still fly occasionally. My kids loved the “pumpkin drop” last October at St. Charles Muni Airport, where they got to drop pumpkins from the little Cessna I was flying at a target on the ground. ⚖️What is your hidden talent? We spend a lot of time boating, including wakeboarding and wake surfing behind the boat. This is a great family activity for us, because my son, who has Down syndrome and can’t do lots of other activities, LOVES riding in the front of the boat. In terms of hidden talent, I can catch a drink—no problem—while wake surfing behind the boat. #womeninlaw

Halloween vibes are in full swing at Husch Blackwell! Our St. Louis, Washington, DC, and Austin offices embraced the spooky spirit with festive gatherings, costumes, and treats! Wishing everyone a fun and safe Halloween from all of us on #TeamHB! 🧡👻 #HappyHalloween #LifeAtHB

Before AI was everywhere, it was at Husch Blackwell. On November 18, join Husch Blackwell Artificial Intelligence attorneys and data scientists for an exclusive seminar in our St. Louis office designed to navigate your business through the complexities of AI. Megan Scheiderer, Rudy Telscher, Blake Rooney, MBA, Erik Dullea, Nicole Bashor, Laura Malugade, and Thom Hutchison will discuss the diverse types of AI, best practices for crafting an AI policy, and key regulations and legal challenges impacting your business. Request your invitation today and stay ahead in the ever-evolving AI landscape: https://lnkd.in/gGRaU9am #HuschBlackwellAI #AILeadership #InnovationInAction

Wishing everyone a bright and joyous #Diwali! May this Festival of Lights bring happiness, prosperity, and the warmth of togetherness to those who celebrate. 🪔✨ #HappyDiwali2024

Before AI was everywhere, it was at Husch Blackwell. We established our in-house data science team in 2019 and have been invested in both technology and the talent that drives it ever since. Our use of AI technology benefits not only our firm’s operations but also our client service. Thank you to The American Lawyer for recognizing both our team and our cutting-edge tools by naming us a finalist for its Legal Service Information award, and to the Financial Times for shortlisting us for Innovation in Generative AI Strategy: Artificial Intelligence in their Innovative Lawyers Awards North America. We are looking forward to the awards galas in December!✨ #HuschBlackwellAI

In honor of Filipino American History Month in October, we're reflecting on memorable moments from our DEI Summit in Los Angeles earlier this year. Many of our Filipino attorneys came together, sharing professional insights as well as personal updates and recipe swaps! #DYK? Husch Blackwell has an Employee Resource Group dedicated to Asian, Pacific Islander, Southwest Asian, and North African (APISWANA) attorneys and business professionals. #FilipinoPride #HBDEI

Data centers form the backbone of digital services across industries, and at Husch Blackwell, our multidisciplinary team offers comprehensive legal solutions for every facet of data center development and operations, including real estate and project finance, as well as the federal, state, and local tax incentives crucial to development. 🗺️Stay informed of this central component of business infrastructure—fill out a short form today to access our exclusive 50-state survey on tax incentives for data centers: https://lnkd.in/gY49Zu55 #TeamHB #datacenterprojects #infrastructuredevelopment