Biography
Untress “Trez” Quinn is a seasoned trial lawyer, focusing his practice on commercial and tort litigation for clients across industry sectors. He has defended multiple complex, high-stakes litigation cases in both state and federal courts.
He also regularly serves as outside corporate counsel, leveraging the business and operational acumen he gained as an executive in the health care industry. His experience extends to human resources and people management, further supporting his clients’ diverse corporate, transactional and policy needs.
Untress has also represented clients under investigation by federal and state agencies, as it relates to regulatory compliance and in the review of internal policies. This includes experience with investigation demands and remediation, peer review hearings, licensure denial or revocation, and administrative actions.
Untress’ experience also includes representing municipalities in a wide array of areas including government contracts and tax increment financing. He also serves as the Municipal Court Judge for a local municipality.
Based on his extensive past experience as a registered nurse and healthcare executive which encompassed both direct patient care and health care administration, Untress skillfully counsels health care clients through disciplinary hearings, investigations, medical malpractice and other catastrophic loss suits. He also has specific experience defending medical professionals in matters alleging federal Section 1983 violations.
Further, Untress is a frequent speaker at industry events across the nation, where he educates his clients and other professionals on various legal topics, and further advocates on their behalf. Active in firm leadership, he is managing attorney of the firm’s Edwardsville office and serves on the Inclusion Committee.
Services and Industries
- Litigation
- Outside Corporate Counsel
- Complex Commercial Litigation
- Fire and Electrical Liability Litigation
- Medical Malpractice
- Mass Tort and Catastrophic Loss
- Product Liability
- Ethics and Professional Responsibility
- Health Care and Life Sciences
- Energy and Utilities
- Internal Investigations and Regulatory Compliance
Background
Prior to joining Armstrong Teasdale, Untress spent roughly 15 years in private practice at St. Louis area law firms. In his most recent role, he served as team leader for his prior firm’s Correctional Medicine industry team where he managed and supervised a team attorneys and paralegals.
Untress was a registered nurse for more than 10 years, and has been involved in the health care industry for over 25 years in total. Untress has extensive experience in both medical and surgical settings, including interventional radiology, ventilator rehabilitation, emergency room and cardiothoracic and neurological intensive care units. In addition to providing direct patient care, he served as a director of medical-surgical services, as well as a supervisor of interventional radiology and health care administrator. Untress also served as an adjunct professor at a local university teaching a class involving the interplay between health care and the law. Untress’ extensive medical knowledge and experience are assets he uses in the successful representation of his clients.
Untress was also a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves for 13 years, where he achieved the rank of first lieutenant and was awarded the Meritorious Service Award. He was an honor graduate at the 3790th Medical Service Squadron for Medical Service Specialists at Sheppard Air Force Base in 1990.
Education
- Saint Louis University School of Law (J.D., 2006)
- Certificate in Health Law
- Health Law Association
- Black Law Student Association
- National Louis University (B.S., 2001)
- Management
- Dean’s List
- Student Body Representative
- Lutheran Medical Center School of Nursing (R.N., 1994)
- Salutatorian
- Dean’s List
- Student Body Representative
- Alumni Academic Scholarship
Admissions
Professional Activities
- Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow (2022)
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL) (Board Secretary, 2021-2022)
- Illinois Association for Defense Trial Lawyers, Diversity Committee Chair
- St. Clair County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- American Health Lawyers Association
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois (Merit Retention Panel, 2012; Magistrate Judge Selection Committee, 2018)
- Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (Hearing Board Member)
Charitable and Civic Involvement
- St. Clair County Child Advocacy Center (Member, Board of Directors)
- Illinois Center for Autism in Fairview Heights, Illinois (Past Member, Board of Directors)
- Student Nurse Achievement Program (SNAP) at Southern Illinois University (Past Member)
- Illinois State Senator James F. Clayborne, Jr., Mentor Program (Past Mentor)
- Office of the Inspector General / Illinois Department of Human Services Quality Care Board (Past Member)
Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Health Care Law (2023); Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2024-present)
- Distinguished Member Award, Illinois Defense Counsel (2022)
- Savoy Magazine’s 2022 Most Influential Black Lawyers
- Selected to The National Black Lawyers Top 100 in 2015
- NAACP’s 54th Freedom Fund Awards for Excellence in Law
- Leading Lawyer in the categories of Employment Law: Management; Medical Malpractice Defense Law; Personal Injury Defense Law: General; and Product Liability Defense
