Gausnell, O’Keefe & Thomas welcomes three new associates to the firm, reflecting the momentum of our practice and our continued investment in the people who power it. As we continue to grow our team with talented attorneys, we remain focused on what matters most: delivering responsive, efficient, and effective representation while reinforcing the team that makes it possible. Their experience and drive help position our firm for the next chapter of smart, sustainable growth.
Steve Ahillen is a seasoned trial attorney with extensive experience representing businesses, professionals, and individuals in complex litigation. He is known for his practical, results-oriented approach and his ability to guide clients through disputes both in and out of the courtroom.
In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Ahillen advises clients on corporate governance, transactional matters, and risk management. His background includes significant in-house experience in the healthcare industry, where he worked closely with executive leadership on regulatory compliance, contracting and licensing, and operational issues involving federal and state healthcare laws. This combination of trial advocacy and in-house perspective allows him to provide clients with pragmatic, business-focused counsel grounded in real-world decision-making.
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Joel Beckwith is an experienced jury trial lawyer and has practiced in the areas of personal injury, insurance defense, class actions, and BIPA privacy law. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he studied philosophy and political science. He later attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he obtained his law degree. As a student in his third year of law school, his legal commentary was selected and published in the Journal of Legal Medicine. Mr. Beckwith is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Missouri.
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Melissa Mann earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology from Marquette University, where she worked at Marquette University Law School and was first exposed to the legal field. After graduating, she gained practical experience as a paralegal in patent prosecution for both design and biotechnology utility patents. Melissa received her J.D., with concentrations in Health Law and International Law, from Saint Louis University School of Law. During law school, she served as Staff Editor and Communications Editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal and worked as a Faculty Fellow to Dr. Michael Sinha, M.D., J.D., Ph.D., researching the intersection of FDA regulation, patent law, and public health, co-authoring work published in the Harvard Bill of Health.
She developed broad legal experience, clerking for the general counsel of a nonprofit health corporation and a medical device company, as well as at firms handling personal injury, workers’ compensation, criminal defense, immigration law, product liability defense, and toxic torts defense. Melissa now focuses her practice on civil litigation defense, including personal injury and trucking matters, leveraging her experience and diverse background to advocate strategically and effectively for clients.
Outside of work, Melissa serves on the Girls on the Run St. Louis Young Professionals Board and enjoys live music, exploring St. Louis, and trying new hobbies.
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