Laura Beasley is an effective litigation attorney successfully representing individuals, institutions, and corporate clients for 20 years. She has undertaken more than 45 jury trials in state and federal courts and has represented clients at all phases of litigation, from pre-suit assessment and negotiation to ADR, trial, and appellate level work.
Laura has earned the loyalty of her clients in the manufacturing, insurance, transportation, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries. She also represents clients in employment and environmental matters.
When not in the office, Laura spends her time with her husband and is her children’s biggest fan. She also enjoys running, yoga, golf, and cooking for family and friends.
Admissions
- Illinois
- Missouri
- USDC, Southern District of Illinois
- USDC, Northern District of Illinois
- USDC, Central District of Illinois
- USDC, Eastern District of Missouri
Education
- Southern Illinois University School of Law, J.D., 2001
- Austin Peay State University, B.S. Environmental Geography/Geology, 1996
News & Events
05.17.22 | Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice was a proud sponsor of the 19th Annual Law Day Run held in Belleville, Illinois in April.
04.14.22 | In her role as president of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC), Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley recently presented IDC's 2022 Distinguished Service Award to 20th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Andrew J. Gleeson and Circuit Judge Richard Brown in recognition of their service to the citizens of Illinois.
01.28.22 | Illinois Super Lawyers 2022 has named Member Laura Beasley to its list of Super Lawyers and Members Greg Odom and Meghan Kane to its list of Rising Stars.
01.27.22 | Law Bulletin Media has recognized Baker Sterchi Members Laura Beasley and Greg Odom as top attorneys in Illinois - Beasley as a Leading Lawyer and Odom as an Emerging Lawyer. Both are in the firm's Belleville office.
11.22.21 | Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley joins the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA) as a prime member, a designation awarded to only one defense trial attorney per one million population for each city, town, or municipality.
07.07.21 | Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley will serve as the 2021-2022 president of the Illinois Defense Counsel (IDC). Founded in 1964, IDC is a premier association of attorneys in Illinois who devote a substantial portion of their practice to the representation of business, corporate, insurance, professional, and other individual defendants in civil litigation.
02.17.21 | On Friday, February 26, Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley will present at the Illinois Defense Counsel (IDC) webinar "Trial Dockets and Settlement Conferences in Asbestos Litigation Hotspots: What to Know and How to Prepare."
01.28.21 | Law Bulletin Media has recognized Baker Sterchi Members Laura Beasley and Greg Odom as top attorneys in Illinois - Beasley as a Leading Lawyer and Odom as an Emerging Lawyer. Both are in the firm's Belleville office.
10.21.20 | Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley will serve as a panelist for a webinar entitled "Diverse Thoughts on Diversity" from 12-1:30 PM CST on Thursday, October 29. The 90-minute program, sponsored by the Illinois Defense Counsel (IDC), will explore ...
10.05.20 | Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley joins numerous other attorneys as faculty of the 2020 Illinois Defense Counsel (IDC) Trial Academy and Virtual Trial Tactics program, which will include lectures from Trial Academy faculty members on topics ranging from pre-trial/post-trial and evidentiary motions and jury instructions to cross examination and technology.
09.24.20 | Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley will present a virtual program entitled "Let's Be Blunt: What You Need To Know About the Legalization of Marijuana" to members of the Greater Belleville Chamber of Commerce today, September 24.
06.24.20 | Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC attorney Laura Beasley will serve as the 2020-2021 President Elect of the Illinois Defense Counsel (IDC). Founded in 1964, IDC is a premier association of attorneys in Illinois who...
04.02.20 | Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley will be presenting on hot topics related to the legalization of marijuana on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CST.
09.16.19 | Baker Sterchi Member Laura Beasley joins nine other Illinois attorneys as faculty of the 2019 Illinois Defense Counsel (IDC) Deposition Academy, a program designed specifically for Illinois Defense counsel providing an immersive experience for both lawyers with limited deposition experience, and those looking to refine their deposition skills. Academy participants team up in groups with...
05.06.19 | 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
Blog Posts
02.07.22 | Madison County State's Attorney, Thomas Haine, is successful at stalling Illinois Judicial Circuit redistricting as political parties navigate for position in the forthcoming Judicial election.
12.28.21 | To no one's surprise, three Illinois Counties (Cook, Madison and St. Clair) and the City of St. Louis are again included in the 2021/2022 American Tort Reform Foundation's "Judicial Hellholes Report."
08.31.21 | The Eighth Circuit holds that temporary cessation of non-emergency procedures due to COVID-19 government restrictions does not constitute ‘direct physical losses' under insurance policy.
06.03.21 | Governor Pritzker has signed into law SB72 (PA102-0006), which imposes a 6% prejudgment interest on personal injury and wrongful death actions effective July 1, 2021.
03.26.21 | Governor Pritzker vetoed amended HB 3360 which would have imposed a 9% prejudgment interest. Unfortunately, HA2 is already in front of the Senate and is a modified version of HB 3360 with a 6% per annum interest on personal injury and wrongful death actions.
01.25.21 | If signed by Governor Pritzker, amended HB 3360 would impose a "litigation penalty" on civil defendants who chose to litigate a case through trial by taxing them with a 9% per annum interest which accrues from notice of injury.
06.09.20 | As employees slowly begin to return to work in "the new normal" following mandatory stay-at-home orders across the country, employers in Illinois and Missouri are busy establishing policies in compliance with opening orders and guidelines. To mitigate the risk of potential workers' compensation claims, employers should be aware of possible changes to workers' compensation laws due to COVID-19 exposure in the workplace.
06.09.20 | As employees slowly begin to return to work in "the new normal" following mandatory stay-at-home orders across the country, employers in Illinois and Missouri are busy establishing policies in compliance with opening orders and guidelines. To mitigate the risk of potential workers' compensation claims, employers should be aware of possible changes to workers' compensation laws due to COVID-19 exposure in the workplace.
05.27.20 | The Eighth Circuit reversed class certification of a claim under the Americans with Disabilities Act that challenged a railroad's "fitness-for-duty" policy, holding the district court abused its discretion in finding that plaintiffs met the cohesiveness, predominance and superiority requirements.
02.12.20 | City of St. Louis has seen a steady decline on the judicial hellhole rankings with modest reforms but the Illinois counties of Madison and St. Clair remain hotspots for asbestos litigation and "no-injury" BIPA lawsuits according to the 2019/2020 American Tort Reform Foundation Judicial Hellholes Report.
02.12.20 | City of St. Louis has seen a steady decline on the judicial hellhole rankings with modest reforms but the Illinois counties of Madison and St. Clair remain hotspots for asbestos litigation and "no-injury" BIPA lawsuits according to the 2019/2020 American Tort Reform Foundation Judicial Hellholes Report.
02.06.20 | The new rule governing special interrogatories gives the trial court power to prevent confusing special interrogatories, as the one in Doe v. Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hosp., but it also rips away an important tool for the defense. 735 ILCS 5/2-1108.
12.26.19 | Illinois Appellate Court rejected plaintiff's claim that expert testimony is required only to establish applicable standard of care upholding directed verdict in plaintiff's medical malpractice informed consent claim.
07.08.19 | Even with asbestos litigation on the slow decline, Madison County and St. Clair County, Illinois remain the top venues for asbestos litigation.
05.16.19 | In response to the Illinois Supreme Court's Rosenbach decision, the Illinois Senate introduced SB2134 as a proposed amendment to the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The amendment would delete language allowing a private right of action and change the definition of biometric identifiers to add electrocardiography results from wearable devices.
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