We are pleased to announce that Principal Attorneys Seth Gausnell, Don O’Keefe, Bill Thomas, and Derek Ruzicka have all been named to the 2025 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers list. We also congratulate Partner Najla Hasic and Associate Attorney Hayley Hughes on being named to the 2025 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Stars list.
Super Lawyers Honorees:
Seth is recognized in the area of Personal Injury General: Defense. With nearly 40 years in the courtroom and more than 100 cases tried to verdict, Seth brings a multitude of experience to his cases and now as a mediator. Seth is a member of several legal and state bar associations and has lectured at seminars on transportation liability, premises liability, and broker/agent liability. Read more about Seth’s background and experience here.
Don was recognized in the area of Transportation/Maritime. Don has almost 35 years of experience as a trial lawyer and has tried more than 100 cases to verdict in state and federal courts in Missouri and Illinois. Don is a member of many prominent legal and state bar organizations and frequently lectures before many legal and industry organizations. Read more about Don here.
Bill was recognized in the area of Construction Litigation. His practice is diverse, with an emphasis on complex litigation. He has tried over 70 cases to verdict in numerous difficult venues, from the City of St. Louis, Missouri, Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois, and Federal Court in East St. Louis and St. Louis. He is a Fellow in the Construction Lawyers Society of America and on the American Arbitration Association’s panel of construction arbitrators. Bill has spoken at numerous conferences and has authored a number of articles for different publications on a number of topics, from product liability to construction law issues. Read more about Bill’s background here.
Derek was recognized in the area of Personal Injury Products: Defense. Derek has over 17 years of experience handling cases involving general liability matters, professional liability, toxic torts, including asbestos, benzene, and other substances, product liability, and environmental claims. Whether through dismissal, favorable trial verdicts, or reasonable case resolutions, he has successfully handled many difficult matters to completion. Read more about Derek here.
Rising Stars Honorees:
Najla has been recognized as a Rising Star in the area of Personal Injury General: Defense. Najla attended Southern Illinois University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude in May of 2020, after attending Webster University, majoring in Legal Studies. Through Webster, she was able to study abroad in Vienna, Austria, where she focused her studies on abnormal psychology and human behavior. During her time in undergrad, she worked as a Bosnian translator for a plaintiff’s firm in St. Louis. Read more about Najla here.
Hayley Hughes was recognized as a Rising Star in the area of Civil Litigation: Defense. Hayley engages in a variety of civil defense litigation, ranging from general liability to professional liability, including complex litigation. Hayley is also involved in a number of professional organizations. Given her business background, Hayley brings an exceptional touch that complements the firm. Read more about Hayley here.
Each year, no more than five percent of attorneys in the state are selected to the Super Lawyers list. Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service that identifies outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have earned strong peer recognition and notable professional achievements. Using a patented multiphase selection process – which includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent research, and peer evaluation within specific practice areas – Super Lawyers compiles a vetted, credible list of attorneys for the legal community and the public.
Congratulations to these remarkable GOT attorneys for their recognition in the 2025 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers List!