Experience

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  Mc farland law office

  Jan 2004 - Mar 2006

  Law clerk
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  Pickerington local school district

  Oct 2006 - May 2007

  Substitute teacher

  Planned daily lessons and managed classroom as long-term substitute typing/computer teacher at Harmon Middle School while working with teachers and students to meet class and individual performance goals.

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  University of missouri school of law

  Jan 2008 - May 2010

  Teaching and research assistant

  Teaching Assistant for Professor Melody Daily (2009 – 2010); Research Assistant for Criminal Law Professor Frank Bowman (2008 – 2010).

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  Gibbs pool & turner, p.c

  Oct 2010 - Sept 2017

  Attorney

  Practice focused on civil litigation, including insurance defense, medical malpractice, workers’ compensation, employment law, and contract litigation. Practiced in administrative, state, and federal trial courts. Assisted clients in drafting and reviewing contracts and proposed legislation.Appellate litigation in administrative, state, and federal courts of appeal. Briefed multiple cases in the Missouri Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Authored pleadings and briefing on extraordinary writ action in the Supreme Court of Missouri. Briefed a Motion for Certification for Interlocutory Appeal in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Successfully argued multiple cases before the Missouri Court of Appeals.Drafted and negotiated contracts for corporate clients and health care providers, including employment agreements, shareholder agreements, business associate agreements, research agreements, and medical-space leases. Advised health care providers, including one of Missouri’s largest multi-specialty groups, on risk-management and compliance with state and federal health care law. Show less

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  The henderson firm, llc

  Oct 2017 - now

  Owner/attorney

  General practice law firm focused on providing quality work-product, value, and results for clients. Representative matters include advising on contractual and employment law issues, civil litigation, and workers’ compensation.

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  Missouri division of workers' compensation

  Jan 2018 - May 2020

  Legal counsel

  Provide general counsel legal services and support to the Division and 28 administrative law judges. Address legal issues at the request of the Director and Division units, including the Second Injury Fund, Fraud and Noncompliance Unit, and Self-Insurance Unit. Assist in overseeing and administering Division statutory programs such as the Line of Duty Compensation Fund.Draft and review proposed legislation and regulations on behalf of the Division. Analyze fiscal impact of proposed legislation and draft fiscal notes. Interface with interested stakeholders on Division programs, including proposed legislation and the Division’s application of statutory provisions. Process requests under the Missouri Sunshine Law and prepare responses thereto.Assist Division and DOLIR in managing litigation and administrative matters in which the Division is a party. Prepare referrals of various matters to the Attorney General’s Office as necessary and communicate with Attorney General’s Office regarding pending and on-going litigation. Assist with early dispute resolution and administrative determinations issued by the Division. Show less

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  Missouri insurance coalition

  May 2020 - Nov 2024

  General counsel and government affairs director

  Lead the lobbying efforts of the Missouri Insurance Coalition (MIC), Missouri’s premier insurance trade association with more than eighty insurance companies and affiliated organizations. Coordinate MIC’s lobbying team of five independent contractor lobbyists to meet MIC objectives. During the 2021-2024 legislative sessions, oversaw the successful passage of MIC’s legislative priorities and successfully defended against all significant adverse legislative and regulatory issues. Litigation and insurance law background was instrumental in spearheading the 2021 passage of the insurance industry’s top tort reform priority, section 537.065 reform. Additional priorities passed include: COVID-19 liability protections, credit for reinsurance, group capital calculations, group personal lines, affiliate new business, valued policy law reform, minor settlements reform, work comp e-pay, funding agreements, web-based insurance verification with IICMVA language, electronic delivery of insurance documents, travel insurance model act, hands-free law, and § 612 insurer receivership model act. Serve as General Counsel to MIC. Work with Executive Director, Executive Committee, and Board to ensure legal health of organization. Direct all legal responses of MIC, including the successful opposition of adverse regulatory amendments relating to the use of not-at-fault accidents in underwriting and workers’ compensation presumptions related to COVID-19. Show less

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  Clarkston nelson llc

  Dec 2024 - now

  Principal