Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner fields a multidisciplinary team composed of experts in tax, estate planning, and corporate law, among other disciplines. Working with sporting clients and religious groups represents a particular focus for the team, which counts the United States Olympic Committee among its key clients. Leading the department are Keith Kehrer, who is based in St. Louis and covers matters relating to organization, qualification, and organization, Gino Serra in Kansas City, whose focus is the life sciences industry, and sports law specialist Steve Smith of Colorado Springs. Also based in Colorado Springs is Suzanne Crespo, who shares Smith’s focus on the sports sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The BCLP team has guided us in establishing our organizations, operating, and growing them to greater levels of success. Each corporation faces its own unique set of challenges and demands, yet the BCLP team has the depth of expertise and experience to advise us on how to properly navigate through those circumstances ’

  • ‘Keith Kehrer is amazing. I cannot say enough good things about the excellent counsel he and his team provide. Our companies all operate in light speed business environments, responsiveness is paramount. Keith is astounding.'

  • 'Not only is Keith responsive, his legal advice is always well researched, well reasoned and specifically directed to our needs. The depth of the team available to assist us is impressive and invaluable.’

  • ‘The team provides excellent counsel and guidance on all non-profit-related matters-specifically, structural and governance and tax-related issues/challenges.’

  • ‘Gino Serra, Keith Kehrer, and their teams are very responsive. They provide an open-minded and creative approach to identifying the best solutions and eliminating unnecessary and burdensome constraints. They also provide best practice recommendations to ensure we operate in a manner that is compliant.’

Key clients

  • Stowers Institute for Medical Research
  • Mind Education
  • Health Forward Foundation
  • Build-A-Bear Foundation
  • Anheuser-Busch Foundation
  • Emerson Charitable Trust
  • USA Swimming
  • United States Olympic Committee
  • Marriott Take Care Relief Fund
  • Cornerstones of Care
  • The Harry S. Truman Library Institute
  • Veterans Community Project
  • Christo & Jeanne-Claude Foundation
  • HEC-TV
  • Denver Health and Hospital Authority
  • Missouri Botanical Garden
  • X Prize Foundation
  • Dred Scott Heritage Foundation

Work highlights

  • Advising USA Swimming on team matters, safe sport, governance, television, sponsorship, and licensing matters.
  • Advised a number of members of the Stowers Group of Companies on a range of matters.
  • Acted for the Build-A-Bear Foundation as outside General Counsel on a range of matters, including ongoing advice regarding grant-making, conduct of a disaster relief and hardship program, and governance issues.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Keith Kehrer, Gino Serra, Steve Smith

Other key lawyers

Suzanne Crespo