Sikeston, MO

Joseph C. Blanton, Jr.

Joseph C. Blanton, Jr. specializes in Federal Court, commercial, medical malpractice, product liability, and probate and trust litigation, and transactions. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia, the University of Texas Law School, and the University of Edinburgh (Master of Science in History). He has a CORe Certificate (Economics, Accounting and Data Analytics) and four other certificates from Harvard Business School and a Certificate in Value Investing from Columbia Business School. From 1985-87, he clerked for U. S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Sr. in St. Louis. He joined the law firm in 1987. He is rated AV preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and Superb by AVVO.com. He has been recognized as a Missouri Super Lawyer since 2006. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America for the St. Louis market in commercial litigation, medical malpractice defense, product liability defense, plaintiff’s mass torts and class actions, and probate and trust litigation. He has twice been named the product liability Lawyer of the Year for the St. Louis market and once for medical malpractice defense by Best Lawyers. He is a Senior Fellow in Litigation Counsel of America and a fellow of the Missouri and American Bar Foundations. He has received the Purcell Professionalism Award, the President’s Award, and the Award of Merit from The Missouri Bar. He received the 2023 Ric Gass Trial Presentation Award from Litigation Counsel of America. He has received the Distinguished Service Award, the Armbruster Key Man Award, and the Community Service Award from the Sikeston Jaycees. He was named one of Ten Outstanding Missourians by the Missouri Jaycees and Citizen of the Year by the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce. He has received the Boy Scouts’ Silver Beaver Award.

Bryan E. Nickell

Bryan E. Nickell practices primarily in the areas of litigation, including medical malpractice defense, personal injury, commercial litigation, banking law, and school law. He serves as Secretary and General Counsel of the Sikeston R-6 School Board. Nickell is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell. He is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He serves on the Fee Dispute Resolution Committee for the Missouri Bar and authors Missouri Appellate Practice- Rehearings, Transfers, and Certiorari-Missouri and Federal. From 1994 to 1995, Nickell served as law clerk to the late Honorable Stanley A. Grimm, Judge of the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District. He is admitted to practice in Missouri and Illinois, as well the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Circuit Court of Appeals. Nickell is a member of the Sikeston Jaycees and served as Vice President of Community Development and Comptroller of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo. While in Law School, he was a member of the Board of Advocates, Order of Barristers and Missouri Law Review.

Diedre Peters

Diedre A. Peters concentrates her practice in complex civil litigation. She has experience in all aspects of civil litigation and is particularly adept at analyzing legal issues and brief writing. Her work includes medical malpractice defense, commercial litigation, personal injury, and employment disputes. Diedre is a graduate of Columbia College and a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Illinois School of Law. While in law school, she received the CALI Excellence Award for Legal Writing and was an Associate Editor of the University of Illinois Law Review. Diedre is a native of Bertrand, Missouri and a graduate of Charleston High School. She is a member of the Sikeston Lion’s Club and serves on the Board of Directors of the House of Refuge.

Patrick R. Douglas

Patrick R. Douglas has litigated extensively in both State and Federal Courts in Missouri and across the region. Douglas practices primarily in commercial litigation, agricultural litigation, personal injury, general defense, medical malpractice defense, and products liability defense. Douglas also represents local Levee and Drainage District interests, and has an active transactional practice. Prior to joining the firm, Douglas served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Lewis M. Blanton, United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. Douglas is a member of the Missouri Bar, and is admitted to practice in all Missouri Courts, the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Central District of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and in the Supreme Court of the United States. He graduated Cum Laude from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he earned a B.S.Ed. in 1999. He earned his J.D. from the University of Missouri Columbia in 2002. While in law school, he was Editor-in-Chief of the Missouri Environmental Law and Policy Review, where he was also twice published as an author. Douglas is a former President of the Sikeston Jaycees and is a former President of the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Association Board of Directors. Douglas was named an “Outstanding Young Missourian” by the Missouri Jaycees in 2010. He is a member of the Mississippi Valley Flood Control Association, where he has served on the Nominating Committee since 2018. He is a member of the American Agricultural Law Association.

Shaun D. Hanschen

Shaun D. Hanschen has extensive experience in complex, high stakes litigation. His work includes commercial litigation, insurance coverage litigation, employment litigation, personal injury and agricultural disputes. He represents both defendants and plaintiffs. He has a large appellate practice and has briefed and argued cases at all appellate levels in Missouri. Shaun is able to take any case from filing to completion, whether by settlement, trial or on appeal. He is licensed in Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Hanschen graduated Summa Cum Laude with his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Missouri Columbia. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Hanschen was a member of the Missouri Law Review and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Law as a member of the Order of the Coif. Following law school, he clerked for the Hon. Phillip R. Garrison of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. In 2008, Hanschen was awarded the David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award by the Missouri Bar and named one of 45 up and coming lawyers in Missouri by Missouri Lawyers Media.

Thomas W. Collins, III

Thomas W. Collins III practices primarily in the areas of complex commercial litigation, such as contract disputes between businesses and disputes regarding ownership and control of closely held companies, legal malpractice defense, medical malpractice defense, worker’s compensation and personal injury. Collins has a strong foundation in defense work, but now regularly represents individuals who have been injured. Tom represents individuals in product liability cases, including transvaginal mesh, pharmaceutical cases, faulty hip implants and other dangerous medical devices. Collins is admitted to practice in Missouri State and Federal Courts. While in law school, he was a member of the Journal of Dispute Resolution and the Missouri Environmental Law and Policy Review where he served as Note and Comment Editor. He is a member of The Missouri Bar and the Defense Research Institute. Prior to joining the firm, Collins was a shareholder in the firm of McDowell, Rice, Smith & Buchanan, P. C. in Kansas City, Missouri. Collins is Assistant Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 4041.

J. Michael Ponder’s experience spans a broad spectrum of personal injury and civil litigation. He strives to achieve justice for his clients, handling cases with care and determination in multiple areas of law. J. Michael Ponder’s commitment to serving others extends beyond the courtroom. He has been honored to serve on the Missouri State Board of Education and the University of Missouri Board of Curators, where his contributions benefit countless students, families, and educators.