Armstrong Teasdale announced that effective January 1, 2024, Richard (Rick) W. Engel, Jr. has been elected managing partner. Engel, who has worked closely with outgoing Managing Partner Patrick Rasche over the years in various leadership positions, has been at the firm for 36 years. Rasche will return to the practice of Intellectual Property law at Armstrong Teasdale.
“I am confident that Rick will be a strong leader for the firm,” said Rasche. “We have worked closely for several decades during which time he has impressed me with his visionary approach. Rick has great relationships with our people and is well respected within the broader legal community. I am looking forward to returning to my patent practice, and continuing to grow with the firm well into the future.”
Engel most recently served as the firm’s general counsel and as a partner and former practice group leader of the Financial and Real Estate Services group. He sits on the firm’s Executive Committee, and previously served as a member of the firm’s Compensation Committee, Hiring Committee and as chair of the Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy practice.
“I am honored that my peers have entrusted me with this tremendous responsibility,” said Engel. “In my role as general counsel, I was responsible for protecting the firm’s legal interests, maintaining its operations and providing guidance on risk management and related liability issues. I bring that careful attention to my new role and am humbled to have the opportunity to continue serving the firm, our people and our clients.”
In his legal practice, Engel has represented the interests of local, regional, national and international corporations and financial institutions in all aspects of corporate and financial counseling. He has advised high-profile organizations, primarily in the energy, retail and transportation sectors, such as Abengoa Bioenergy, Foresight Energy, Armstrong Energy and Payless ShoeSource through Chapter 11 proceedings and restructuring.
Engel also counsels clients on a variety of corporate matters, and through mergers and acquisitions, often serving as an outside corporate counsel. He has long served in that capacity for one of the largest Great Clips franchisees in the U.S., and in that role, has handled all aspects of representation, including franchise agreement issues, employment, landlord tenant and other contractual and legal issues.
“Rick’s broad-ranging skill set combines a number of complementary disciplines that will lend to his role as managing partner,” said Partner and longstanding Executive Committee member Martha Hereford. “I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Rick and I am confident in the strengths that he brings to the table as a leader and steward of the firm.”
Active in the professional community, Engel is a member of The Missouri Bar, Illinois State Bar Association, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He also serves as co-chair of the Asset Distribution Subcommittee of the Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. He is a proponent of several area philanthropic organizations, including the United Way, Independence Center, Mental Health America and St. Louis Arc.
Engel has been recognized by industry organizations for his work in bankruptcy and creditor rights. He is among The Best Lawyers in America® for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law; was recognized at the 2017 M&A Advisor Turnaround Awards for “Sec. 363 Sale of the Year” in the $250-500 million category; Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers® (2010-present); and is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.