Armstrong Teasdale is pleased to announce the addition of nine first-year associates across practice groups and offices nationwide, including Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Philadelphia and St. Louis. The new class includes Blake A. Chrismer, Sophia Crain, Emmanuel Ihenakwe, Jr., Aswini Madugula, Madeline Mann, Stewart Mayo, Gregory Ruff, Ozoda Saburi and Aimen Salem.

Chrismer (Intellectual Property, St. Louis) is experienced at drafting a variety of motions, including motions to dismiss and for summary judgment; evaluating potential legal positions for client defenses; and preparing discovery requests, pleadings and research. He draws on his past experiences and deep knowledge of intellectual property law to protect and defend clients’ creations, including copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and patents. He graduated from The University of Tulsa College of Law, where he served as the executive articles editor and associate editor of the Tulsa Law Review, and received his B.S. in business administration from the University of Tulsa Collins College of Business. He is admitted to practice in Missouri.

Crain (Litigation, St. Louis) has gained experience through internships with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri as well as the Hon. Stephen Welby and the Hon. John Bodenhausen of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. She has drafted legal memoranda, conducted legal research, and presented arguments in court under Rule 13 certification. Crain earned her J.D. from Washington University School of Law, where she was president of the Women’s Law Caucus and recipient of the Top Oralist Award in the Jessup 2024 Portland Regional Moot Court Competition, and her B.A. in international studies, summa cum laude, from Saint Louis University. She is admitted to practice in Missouri.

Ihenakwe (Intellectual Property, Philadelphia) leverages his training and experience in chemical engineering, including advanced process control, to guide clients in the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and international patent applications. In addition, he has experience calculating and reviewing patent term extensions for small molecule patents and patent term adjustments, preparing responses to USPTO office actions, and conducting freedom-to-operate and patent portfolio analysis. Ihenakwe earned his J.D. from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, where he served as president of the Intellectual Property Law Society, and his B.S. in chemical engineering from Texas Tech University.

Madugula (Intellectual Property, Chicago) leverages her background in computer science to counsel clients on the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications, as well as providing patentability and freedom-to-operate assessments. Madugula graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law where she served as associate editor of the Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property. She earned her B.S. in computer science from the University of Illinois. She is admitted to practice in Illinois.

Mann (Litigation, Kansas City) handles a range of civil matters in state and federal court. She has experience drafting pleadings, conducting legal research and assisting with trial preparation. She also gained valuable experience as an intern for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, as a Douglass Fellow at the Human Trafficking Institute, and as a Rule 13 intern for the Platte County, Missouri and Jackson County, Missouri Prosecutors’ Offices. Mann earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and her B.S. in criminology and criminal justice from Arizona State University. She is admitted to practice in Missouri.

Mayo (Corporate Services, St. Louis) applies his technology background and student fellowship experience at Washington University’s Cordell Institute to provide guidance on data privacy and cybersecurity matters. He also leverages his domestic and international sales and logistics experience in the food and agriculture industries to counsel clients on international trade and associated regulatory matters. He is also a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the United States (CIPP/US). Mayo graduated from Washington University School of Law, where he also completed a certificate in business law, and earned his B.S.B.A. in healthcare administration, summa cum laude, as well as a minor in cybersecurity for business systems, from Southeast Missouri State University. He is admitted to practice in Missouri.

Ruff (Corporate Services, Denver) focuses on corporate securities, M&A and other transactional law. He has helped clients draft operating agreements, independent contractor agreements and membership transfer agreements, among other transactional documents. He is skilled at conducting legal research and also assisted with due diligence on a $300 million transaction. Ruff earned his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School, where he was production editor for the Colorado Technology Law Journal. He earned his master’s in accounting and his B.B.A. in accounting and finance, magna cum laude, from Texas Christian University. He is admitted to practice law in Colorado.

Saburi (Corporate Services, St. Louis) has experience conducting legal research on matters relating to real estate, right-of-way, employment and environmental law. She is skilled at drafting memoranda and pleadings, and preparing for court proceedings, depositions, mediations and negotiations. Saburi earned her J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law, where she served as vice president and then co-president of the Women’s Law Association. She earned her B.A. in political science from Columbia College.

Salem (Corporate Services, St. Louis) focuses on tax law. He advises clients on the tax implications and opportunities relating to a variety of transactions. Salem graduate from Saint Louis University School of Law, where he served as editor of the Saint Louis University Law Journal and was vice president of both the Tax Law Association and the Middle East North African Law Student Association. He earned a B.S. in advertising from the University of Illinois. He is admitted to practice in Missouri.