Armstrong Teasdale Announces 2 New Equity Partners, 8 New Partners

Armstrong Teasdale announces that A. Valerie Mirko and Joseph D. Rossi have been elected to the firm’s equity partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2025. In addition, eight lawyers—Rachel Bennett, Charles M. Caltagirone, Michael K. Grigsby, Julie Johnston-Ahlen, Amy L. Merideth, Serena G. Rabie, Maggie Szewczyk and Pamela J. Winter—have been named new partners of the firm.

“Achieving partner status at Armstrong Teasdale is a remarkable accomplishment,” said Managing Partner Richard W. Engel, Jr. “It requires tremendous legal skill, dedication, and commitment. Each of these lawyers is highly deserving, and we are confident they are well positioned to drive the firm forward in the years to come.

A. Valerie Mirko (Washington, D.C.) is leader of Armstrong Teasdale’s Securities Regulation and Litigation practice. She represents asset managers ─ including retail and wealth management firms ─ and private fund advisers in U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement matters as well as in connection with examinations and regulatory matters. Mirko’s practice focuses on issues related to conflicts of interest, distribution channels and marketing, safeguards and custody, and cybersecurity.

Joe Rossi (Philadelphia) is a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group focusing on matters relating to the chemical, pharmaceutical and medical arts, with particular emphasis in patent preparation and prosecution. Rossi also advises clients on international patent portfolio management, patent validity and infringement studies, post-issuance proceedings, freedom-to-operate studies and patent litigation.

Rachel Bennett, Ph.D. (St. Louis) focuses her practice on patent preparation and prosecution, IP licensing and litigation. With a Ph.D. in Biophysics and advanced technical knowledge in medical imaging and engineering, she is particularly adept at handling patent matters for clients related to medical imaging systems (e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT)), bioengineering, medical devices, electrical technologies, semiconductor, mechanical devices, telecommunication, internet and computer software technologies.

Charles Caltagirone (St. Louis) handles matters related to tort defense, commercial disputes and real estate. From small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, he manages complex litigation cases involving product and premises liability, asbestos, construction, property disputes and general business.

Michael Grigsby (Denver) focuses his practice primarily on commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions and venture capital financings. Counseling both public and private companies of all sizes, he has wide experience drafting and negotiating documents at all stages of a transaction and regularly oversees due diligence reviews for his clients.

Julie Johnston-Ahlen (Chicago) has represented a wide range of corporations, partnerships and individuals in litigation matters. She has significant experience in state and federal courts, including federal bankruptcy courts. Julie’s broad litigation practice has most recently focused on antitrust, bankruptcy, technology, real estate and class action defense.

Amy Merideth (St. Louis) works primarily on defending matters that allege personal injury and wrongful death. A key area of her practice involves defending large companies, manufacturers, utilities and their insureds against asbestos exposure claims. She has assisted in handling and negotiating hundreds of asbestos exposure lawsuits in various courtrooms throughout Missouri and Illinois.

Serena Rabie (Chicago) is a litigator who represents clients in various complex business disputes involving banking and financial services, antitrust, commercial and constitutional law. She also has significant appellate experience and has successfully handled state, federal and administrative appeals.

Maggie Szewczyk (St. Louis) is a litigator in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group, representing clients in complex intellectual property matters in federal and appellate courts throughout the United States and at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She also has experience representing clients in matters before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).

Pam Winter (Kansas City) handles a variety of civil litigation defense matters, including catastrophic and personal injury, medical malpractice, transportation, premises and retail liability, and construction defects. Winter is a skillful advocate for her clients practicing in both state and federal court. She has extensive experience representing a variety of companies at all stages of litigation from case inception to trial.