Armstrong Teasdale elects new partners

St. Louis, MO - Armstrong Teasdale LLP announced that Daniel M. Fitzgerald, Michael S. Jefferies, David B. Jennings, Cynthia A. Petracek and Robert B. Reeser, III have been elected to partnership at the firm's St. Louis office, effective Jan. 1.

"We are very fortunate to have such a talented and diverse team of professionals that provide a high level of attention to every business organization and individual that approaches us for advice or representation," stated Richard B. Scherrer, Armstrong Teasdale's managing partner.

Daniel M. Fitzgerald is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. His practice includes preparing and prosecuting both U.S. and foreign patent applications in the areas of business methods, Internet-related technologies and services, electro-mechanical devices, and paper-based packaging products and services.

Fitzgerald regularly counsels clients on issues relating to patentability, patent infringement, product clearance and patent validity. He has also negotiated license agreements relating to the transfer of technologies. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and is an active member of The Missouri Bar, the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Fitzgerald attended the University of Notre Dame where he received his J.D. degree, with honors, in 1993 and his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering in 1989.

Michael S. Jefferies serves as Armstrong Teasdale's Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Area Leader. He has counseled diverse private and public company clients in the merger, acquisition and disposition of businesses and assets in numerous industries, with deal values ranging from hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions.

Jefferies also has substantial experience in corporate formation and commercial contract, real estate and loan matters, including formation of limited liability entities; review and negotiation of supply, manufacturing and vendor agreements; purchase, sale and due diligence of real estate assets; and documentation and negotiation of commercial credit facilities and real estate development loan transactions.

Jefferies is an active member of The Missouri Bar, the Illinois State Bar Association, the American Bar Association (ABA Section of Business Law, Committee on Negotiated Acquisitions), the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Noonday Club (2005 Board of Governors).

He received his J.D. degree, with honors, from Indiana University in 1997 and his B.A. degree from Miami University (Ohio) in Political Science in 1994.

David B. Jennings is a member of the Corporate Services Group and serves as Practice Area Leader in the field of Technology & Licensing.

His practice includes representation in licensing and intellectual property matters, contracts, private equity funding and other legal issues facing technology-based businesses. Jennings regularly counsels both large and small businesses in connection with collaborative technology development efforts, licensing strategies and the commercialization and protection of technology and intellectual property. In addition, he has substantial experience in general commercial law, mergers and acquisitions and corporate law.

Prior to law school, Jennings worked as an aerospace engineer for the Northrop Corporation. He is an active member of The Missouri Bar, the Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Licensing Executives Society.

Jennings also volunteers his time to the Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts. He received his J.D. degree, with highest honors, from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1997, his M.B.A. from Pepperdine University in 1988 and his B.S. degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1983.

Cynthia A. Petracek is a member of the Litigation Department. She concentrates her practice in the areas of appellate and life, health and disability insurance law. Since 1999, Petracek has played a major role in drafting briefs in over 25 appeals from civil lawsuits in state and federal courts of appeals, and has argued cases in front of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Illinois Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. She has worked on appeals involving a wide variety of claims, including personal injury, medical malpractice, breach of contract, ERISA, product liability, FELA and condemnation.

Petracek is an active member of The Missouri Bar, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers. She received her J.D. degree, with honors, from Saint Louis University School of Law in 1994 and her B.A. degree, with highest honors, from Saint Louis University in 1984.

Robert B. Reeser, III is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. His practice includes preparing and prosecuting both U.S. and foreign patent applications on inventions relating to power generation systems and components, aircraft engines, and electro-mechanical devices.

Reeser has also drafted patentability opinions and infringement opinion letters, cease and desist trademark letters, and researched copyright and trademark infringement issues. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and is an active member of The Missouri Bar, the American Bar Association, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

Reeser also dedicates his time to the Southwestern Illinois College(SWIC), as an adjunct professor. Reeser received his J.D. degree, with honors, from the Saint Louis University School of Law in 1999, his M.A. degree from Webster University in 1990 and his B.S. degree from Parks College of St. Louis University in 1986.