Paralegals

Business Practice Group

Janet Crews joined SPvG in February 2005 as a Foreclosure Specialist and supports the firm's foreclosure department. She received her Associates Degree from Sanford Brown College in 1999 and is currently pursuing her B.A. in Business. She brings six years of experience as a paralegal, during which time she became the Senior Lead paralegal for a local law firm that provided bankruptcy, foreclosure and eviction services.

Lori Hanlon, Certified Paralegal, has been a paralegal since 1992, specializing in the areas of landlord-tenant law, creditors rights, judgment enforcement, debt collection, evictions and foreclosures. She has been with SPvG since November, 2000. Lori is a Senior Paralegal supervising the foreclosure/mortgage services team. Lori has her A.A. in Business Administration from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and her paralegal certificate from Mid-America Paralegal Institute. She received her B.A. in Legal Studies from Webster University, graduating with departmental honors. She obtained a supplemental paralegal certificate in paralegal studies from Webster University. In May 2005, Lori became a Certified Paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants. She is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

Therese Owensby joined SPvG in March 2002 and supports the firm's business practice area as a Senior Paralegal handling business, real estate, probate and estate planning work. Therese has twenty-three years of experience in the legal field. She obtained her Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies from Florissant Valley Community College. Therese has attended many educational seminars in the business, probate and estate planning areas. Therese is a member of the St. Louis Association of Legal Assistants.

Tracie A. Vermillion, Certified Paralegal, joined SPvG in January 2005 after relocating from Evansville, Indiana. Tracie earned her B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Illinois and in September 2006 passed the national exam administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants to become a Certified Paralegal. Since November 2006 Tracie has supported the Business Department and specializes in estate planning, probate, real estate, and corporate law. She is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

Kathi Washington joined SPvG in August 2007 as a paralegal and supports the firm's foreclosure department. She received her B.A. in Criminal Justice from Lindenwood University in 2006 where she graduated magna cum laude. Currently Kathi is pursuing her M.A. in Management and Leadership at Webster University. She brings over five years experience as a paralegal at which time she worked as a title examiner.

Business Litigation Practice Group

Mary Begis has six years of paralegal experience specializing in products liability and medical malpractice litigation, while her current focus at SPvG is in health law, products liability and business litigation practice areas. She earned her B.S. in English with a Secondary Education Certification and Speech Endorsement from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Mary has also taken paralegal courses at Southwestern Illinois College and plans to continue her education by attending CLE courses. Prior to joining SPvG, Mary taught English at the high school level for three years.

Susan Horneker is a Senior Paralegal with SPvG. She has been a paralegal for nine years, having received her B.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri - St. Louis and her Paralegal Certification from St. Louis Community College at Meramec. Susan is a member of the Business Litigation Department with her primary focuses being in the areas of employment litigation and the development of Affirmative Action Plans for employers. Susan also handles commercial litigation, insurance law, and class action litigation matters pending in both State and Federal Courts. To further her knowledge and education, she continues to attend various programs and seminars administered by Missouri accredited paralegal associations.

Michele R. Hyatt is a Senior Paralegal with SPvG. She has been a paralegal since 1990, specializing in litigation. Michele joined SPvG in September, 2005 and has legal experience in business litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, FELA, commercial litigation, and insurance law. She has her B.A. in Legal Studies from William Woods University. Michele has been a member of the St. Louis Association of Legal Assistants for over seventeen years and has held the following board positions: Secretary, NALA Liaison, President-Elect and President. She has also held the following chair positions for the organization: Membership Chair, Job Bank Chair, Volunteer Committee Chair, Newsletter Editor, Legal Assistants' Day Chair, and is presently the By-Laws Chair. She has attended over six National Association of Legal Assistants conventions. She continues to educate herself through various CLE programs.

Health Law Practice Group

Robert L. Crowe is a Senior Paralegal with SPvG, assisting in the defense of health law, products liability and business litigation matters. He is a member of the St. Louis Association of Legal Assistants, and serves on the Technology Committee at SPvG. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and received his Certificate of Paralegal Studies with Academic Honors from St. Louis Community College at Meramec. Prior to joining SPvG, Bob worked for more than twenty-five years in the printing and graphic arts industry, and served for ten years as a Trustee of a Taft-Hartley Health and Welfare Fund.

Chelsey Slape has been a paralegal since 2003 and joined SPvG in 2007. She assists in the firm’s healthcare law practice area, specializing in medical malpractice defense. Chelsey obtained her B.A. in Political Science from Benedictine College in 2001 and her Certificate of Proficiency in Paralegal Studies from St. Louis Community College in 2005. She is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and the St. Louis Association of Legal Assistants.

Crystal Van Horn, Certified Paralegal, has worked as a litigation paralegal since 1999 and has been with SPvG since July 2002.   Crystal received her B.A. in Political Science/History from Illinois College and her Paralegal Certification from Southwestern Professional Institute.  In May 2005, Crystal became a Certified Paralegal through the National Association of Legal Assistants.  Crystal has legal experience in personal injury, insurance defense, FELA, and has developed an expertise in working on medical malpractice cases. She is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants.

Amy Neff joined SPvG as a paralegal in 2008. She has experience with personal injury, products liability and medical malpractice suits. Amy assists in the firm’s health law practice group. She obtained her B.A. in Paralegal Studies from the Southern Illinois University - Carbondale in 2006. Amy is a member of St. Louis Association of Legal Assistants.

Products Liability Practice Group

Dawn Autry has been a paralegal since 1996. She joined SPvG in August 2001 and is currently a Senior Litigation Paralegal and Coordinator of all courthouse run procedures.  Dawn received her B.A. in Legal Studies from Webster University along with a Paralegal Certificate and her A.A. in Legal Studies from St. Louis Community College at Meramec. Dawn has experience working in products liability, healthcare law, business litigation, personal injury and workers' compensation claims. She continues to attend legal education courses from the Institute for Paralegal Education, the National Business Institute and SLALA. Dawn has been a member of the St. Louis Association of Legal Assistants since 2005. She is currently a volunteer on the Legal Assistants Day Committee.

Stephen Gilliland is Paralegal Coordinator and has been with SPvG for fourteen years. He has a B.A. in Political Science from Ohio University, a Legal Assistant Certificate from St. Louis Community College and completion of Kroll Ontrack's E-Discovery Certification Course. Additionally, Steve is a Commercial Pilot with an instrument rating and has passed his Flight Instructor written exam. Steve works in the areas of products liability and medical malpractice litigation. Steve has served as Chair of the St. Louis Chapter of the International Paralegal Management Association; he is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators; and he serves on the Legal Studies Advisory Board for Maryville University. Steve has been invited to speak at the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis on the subject of ethics. He has also been published in BAMSL's Law Journal, writing on the topic of Ethics for Paralegals and Their Attorneys.

Andrea Groppe rejoined SPvG in 2007 and supports the firm's products liability and health law practice areas. Andrea has fourteen years of experience in the legal field. Andrea received her Bachelor of Business Administration from Fontbonne College and her Associate of Applied Science Degree - Legal Assistant from St. Louis Community College. For six years Andrea worked at a major agricultural company, her last year as a Business Development Assistant in one of its divisions.

Debbie Lanemann joined SPvG in 2008 and supports the firm's products liability practice area. Debbie has over 21 years of experience in the legal field assisting with complex litigation matters. She received her B.S. from Webster University. Debbie is a member of the International Legal Technology Association and is also a member of the SPvG Technology Committee.