Armstrong Teasdale is proud to announce that Chairman Emeritus Michael Chivell has been recognized with a Missouri Lawyers Weekly ICON Award. Now in their fourth year, the awards honor 25 attorneys over the age of 60 for their distinguished careers and notable contributions to the Missouri legal community. This year’s list of honorees includes founding partners, firm leaders and former public officials.

“Mike’s service to Armstrong Teasdale over the years has had a profound and lasting impact,” said Chairman David Braswell. “During his tenure in various leadership positions, we have grown from a regional firm to one having an international profile, with offices in some of the largest, most sophisticated markets in the world. Mike has always been a tremendous ambassador for the firm and has been a pillar in the St. Louis business community. Through it all, Mike has maintained his humility and compassion toward others regardless of position or rank. He has set a great example for all of us to follow.”

Chivell has truly climbed the ladder at the firm, starting in 1983 as an associate and spending the next 23 years focused on the practice of corporate law. He served as leader of the then-named Business Services practice group (today known as Corporate Services), was a member of various firm management committees including the Executive Committee, and has served in various capacities for the U.S. Law Firm Group, including as trustee, president, executive committee member and currently executive director. In 2007, Chivell was named Managing Partner of Armstrong Teasdale, and he served for multiple terms, stepping into the role of Chairman in 2016. He was named Chairman Emeritus in June 2021.

During his tenure, Chivell built consensus for the firm’s move from its offices in downtown St. Louis to its current, state-of-the-art space in the Centene Plaza in Clayton. He also oversaw the expansion of the firm into Colorado by combining with a large group of attorneys practicing in the Denver market. Further, while managing partner, his vision for the future of the firm resulted in hiring our first-ever director of client relations to develop a formalized client feedback program and establish client teams to work with key accounts. Chivell continues to focus on client relations and strategic planning today, working alongside the firm’s Chief Marketing Officer.

In addition, Missouri Lawyers Weekly has recognized former Armstrong Teasdale Partner Steven Cousins with an ICON award. Cousins is President and CEO of Cousins Allied Strategic Advisors, LLC, which provides high-level strategic advice to companies doing business across the country. He spent more than 38 years as an attorney at Armstrong Teasdale and founded the firm’s Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy practice, becoming the first associate to lead a practice area.

Chivell and Cousins will be honored at an awards luncheon Aug. 24 at the Missouri Athletic Club in St. Louis. Honorees also will be profiled in print and online in a special section of Missouri Lawyers Weekly.