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Ira has been practicing law in the St. Louis area for over thirty-five years. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, labor and employment relations, and business litigation. Ira’s litigation experience includes both jury and non-jury trials in the state and federal courts and representing clients before the National Labor Relations Board and various federal and state agencies.
In addition, Ira has extensive experience advising clients on a variety of corporate matters including labor and employment issues, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, and business planning. Ira has handled matters before various arbitration panels in the securities industry representing both financial advisors and individual investors.
Ira received his B.A. from Brown University in 1978 and his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1981. Ira is licensed to practice in Missouri and is a Founding Member of Affinity Law Group, LLC.
Ira was selected for inclusion in Missouri Superlawyers 2015-2021 and was named a Best Lawyer in 2018.
Ira is a member of the Missouri Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, and the American Bar Association. Ira volunteers his time on the Local Board of the National Kidney Foundation.
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I am thrilled to announce Affinity Law Group, LLC has combined with Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C., effective Monday February 19, 2024.
Why Sandberg Phoenix? In my months of discussions with Sandberg Phoenix, it became crystal clear the combination provided immediate demonstrable benefits for our clients. With multiple offices in Missouri, Illinois, and Florida, and attorneys licensed in additional states, we will provide Affinity clients unparalleled support and bench strength in the practice areas in which Affinity historically excels such as corporate law (including mergers & acquisitions), employment law, and wealth transfer planning. As a result, Affinity clients will receive more proactive communication, improved responsiveness, and faster turnaround times on legal projects. In addition, because Sanberg Phoenix is a full-service law firm, Affinity clients will gain access to additional practice areas including intellectual property, tax advice and controversy, as well as fiduciary/trust, employment, and commercial litigation. Affinity clients will enjoy the opportunity to have one firm to address their needs across all practice areas and across the country.
In addition, the values of Sandberg Phoenix and Affinity align. For example, “We Put People First”. The Affinity team will be joining Sandberg Phoenix – my colleague, Jason Kinser, my Executive Assistant, Angie Brandt, and my Trusts and Estates Paralegal, Sienna Johnson, will all join Sandberg Phoenix, ensuring that Affinity clients experience a smooth transition and consistent staffing on their matters. Janet Arrow, our Accounts Manager, will remain with Affinity during the transition period before exploring opportunities with Sandberg Phoenix.
For me personally, the combination with Sandberg Phoenix means I will have a full administrative team to support me, allowing me to forego many administrative responsibilities and spend my professional time doing what I love – partnering with my clients to navigate life’s transitions; developing innovative approaches to the issues, opportunities, and challenges that impact clients daily; mentoring and coaching attorneys and staff; and delving into the emerging technologies which will allow us to provide more efficient legal services to our clients now and in the future.
What do you, an Affinity client, need to do in the Affinity/Sandberg Phoenix combination? Nothing! Because of the transaction structure, all Affinity clients and matters automatically transfer to Sandberg Phoenix effective February 19, 2024. If you have active matters with money deposited in Affinity’s trust account, the deposits will automatically move to Sandberg Phoenix’s trust account during the transition. Your billing rates will not change because of the combination. I will be personally overseeing the transition and your matters going forward. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact me on my mobile phone at 314-608-9165.
My new contact information effective February 19th is:
E-mail: kbilderback@sandbergphoenix.com
Direct Dial: 314-425-6933
Mailing Address: 120 South Central Avenue, Suite 1600, Clayton, Missouri 63105
We will maintain our Des Peres office during the transition. Previously scheduled meetings will take place at the Des Peres location unless you prefer to meet in Clayton.
Please note: if you have active matters, you will receive a final invoice from Affinity for work performed on or before February 18, 2024, payable to Affinity Law Group, LLC under our customary terms and conditions. Legal work performed on or after February 19, 2024, will be billed by and owed to Sandberg Phoenix. To learn more about Sandberg Phoenix, visit www.sandbergphoenix.com.
One of Sandberg Phoenix’s values is “We Wow Our Clients Everyday”. With the best wishes of Affinity’s Emeritus Members Bob Guest and Ira Potter, Jason, Angie, Sienna, and I, along with the Sandberg Phoenix team, anticipate the opportunity to “Wow” you in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Thank you for your business, friendship, and support over the years. I look forward to serving you at Sandberg Phoenix for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Bilderback, JD, LLM
