Baker Sterchi Adds Laura Beasley as Member in Belleville, IL Office

Baker Sterchi has added Laura K. Beasley to the firm’s Belleville, Illinois office.

Beasley, who joined the firm as a Member, practices in the areas of civil litigation defense, general liability, class action/mass torts, insurance coverage, personal injury, and product liability. She brings to the firm clients in the medical device and other manufacturing sectors.

“We have looked at lateral candidates for the firm’s Belleville office since our merger with St. Louis based Williams Venker & Sanders last year,” said James Scott Kreamer, managing partner of Baker Sterchi. “Laura really stood out to us, and we are thrilled to have her join our growing team of talented trial lawyers.”

Beasley is a board member of both the St. Clair County Bar Association and the State and Local Defense Organizations (SLDO) section of the Defense Research Institute. She is also second vice president of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, a hearing officer for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, and a member of the Illinois Supreme Courts Committee on Character and Fitness for the Fifth Judicial District. Beasley is a past president of both the St. Clair County and East St. Louis Bar Associations, serving as the first woman president of the latter. 

In addition to her strong commitment to the legal community, Beasley is active in her community, serving as a board member for both Koerner House and the Belleville Cultural Enrichment Organization, treasurer of The Heritage Society, and co-chair of the St. Clair County Bar Association’s 5K Law Day Run.

Beasley has been recognized as a top rated personal injury attorney in Belleville, IL by Super Lawyers since 2016 and earned Top Attorneys in Illinois, Chicago magazine, February 2016.

“I am excited to join Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice,” said Beasley. “Originally drawn to the firm for its similar practice, larger footprint, and lawyer reputations, I am looking forward to helping grow the firm’s Illinois presence, specifically, in Madison and St. Clair Counties, as well as taking advantage of the firm’s support and development opportunities.”

Beasley earned her J.D. from Southern Illinois University School of Law at Carbondale, and her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Geography and Geology from Austin Peay University in Tennessee. 

Prior to law school, Beasley was a licensed Environmental Specialist in Tennessee, working on several environmentally sensitive sites such as Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) and Superfund sites throughout the state. After law school, she served several years as an Assistant St. Clair County State’s Attorney where she developed extensive trial skills.

Beasley was a named partner in the Illinois law firm Joley, Oliver & Beasley, P.C. for nearly ten years before joining Baker Sterchi. She is licensed to practice in Illinois and Missouri.