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Debbie S. Champion

Lawsuits and disputes Attorney at Saint Louis, MO

5.0   7 reviews
  • State Years
    Illinois - IL 34 years
    Missouri - MO 34 years
  • Licensed for 34 years
    State IL
    Acquired 1989
    Status
    Active and Authorized to Practice Law No misconduct found
  • Licensed for 34 years
    State MO
    Acquired 1988
    Status
    Good Standing, Active No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Debbie

Learn Debbie’s areas of practice.

4
Practice areas
  1. Lawsuits and disputes
    50%
    see description under Litigation

    35 years, 12,500 cases

  2. Car accident
    20%
    see description under Litigation

    35 years, 12,000 cases

  3. Transportation
    20%

    35 years, 11,500 cases

  4. Employment and labor
    10%
    Ms. Champion focuses on wrongful termination matters within the employment area.

    35 years, 800 cases

 

Debbie Champion is a founding partner in the firm Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch and Champion.  Ms. Champion actively practices in Missouri and Southern Illinois state and federal courts.  She has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and the Eastern, Western and Southern District Missouri Courts of Appeals, and the Illinois Court of Appeals.  She has also argued in the federal court of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, and the Eighth Circuit and the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. She is a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court.

 

Ms. Champion has been included on the list of the top 100 attorneys in Missouri.  She is honored to be included in the Best Lawyers in America, and she appears on the Best Lawyers list in Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, Insurance Law, and Litigation-Insurance.  She was also selected to be a member of Litigation Counsel of America, an honorary society honoring the top one-half of one percent of American lawyers.  For a number of years, Ms. Champion has been named as one of the top 50 Women Lawyers in Missouri and Kansas by Superlawyers. Champion achieved the most Defense Verdicts in Missouri in 2012 and 2013 and one of the largest Defense Wins in 2011.  She was honored as one of Ten Outstanding Young St. Louisans by the St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce. She is rated as Superb on .   In 2013, she received the CLMP certification as a certified litigation management professional from her study at the Columbia School of Law in New York.

 

Ms. Champion received the Lawyer's Lawyer Award by the Women's Justice Awards. She is a recipient of the William McAlpin Pro Bono Award, an Outstanding Volunteer Award from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and the Missouri Pro Bono Publico Award from the Missouri Bar Association. She was recently honored by the Women's Law Caucus of Washington University for her commitment to the advancement of women in the law.  She was selected as an Outstanding Young Alumni of Washington University in 2012.

 

Ms. Champion serves on the Board of Lift for Life Academy, the first charter school in St. Louis. She is also on the Board of Seeds of Blessing, the for-profit arm of the Blessing Basket Project.  In the past, she served on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Directors of Shelter the Children.  She was an active early member of Kids' Inc., a charitable organization for underprivileged children of East St. Louis, Illinois.  Ms. Champion is founder and president of Tools for Schools, a not for profit corporation which distributes school supplies to needy schools and children. 

 

Ms. Champion has authored several published articles and book chapters.  She often presents educational seminars to clients and to the legal community, including several annual conference presentations to industry groups each year.

 

Ms. Champion is an Advocate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial.  She serves as the Treasurer of the Missouri/Southern Illinois Chapter. She is a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, formerly Council for Litigation Management. She serves as the Secretary of the St. Louis CLM chapter.  She is on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers.  She is a Fellow in the American Bar Foundation.

 

Ms. Champion served on the 21st Judicial Circuit Judicial Commission as part of Missouri's non-partisan court plan for a 6 year term.  Ms. Champion has served for the Supreme Court of Missouri as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee to Study Expert Discovery.  In 2013, she acted as the Chairman of the Steering Committee for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.

 

 

Litigation Practice Areas:    

 

Transportation

Premises Liability

Products Liability

Personal Injury

Municipal Law

Employment Law

Fraud and Misrepresentation

Corporate & Commercial Litigation

Subrogation

Probate & Estate Planning

Pharmacy Liability

Domestic Relations

 

 

Education:

 

Columbia University, Certified Litigation Management Professional, 2013

Washington University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1988

Murray State University, Bachelor of Science, Psychology, 1983,

Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, 1983, Psychology Masters Coursework, 1984, 1985

 

 

Photos and videos

Contact Debbie

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Rynearson Suess Schnurbusch & Champion, LLC
500 North Broadway
Suite 1550
Saint Louis, MO, 63102-2448

Reviews

5.0 / 5.0
  7 customer reviews
5 Star
 
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Posted by Marsia | April 17, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
COO
Debbie assisted me with corporate and employment contract legal advice. Specifically navigating an employment agreement and business acquisition case. Her legal advice was honest and helped me considerably with a challenging situation. I appreciate her fair minded legal expertise.
Posted by anonymous | March 22, 2013
Very capable and competent in all matters. Someone you can trust and that has your best interest at heart, whole heartily.
She is very caring and makes you feel safe which is huge when dealing with legal matters, I feel honored to have had her represent me as well as my family.
Posted by Bob | March 30, 2011
Experience with Ms. Debbie Champion and Staff of RSS&C
I have worked with Debbie Champion and her associates of RSS&C for the past 6+ years, in myriad of varying situations for the Company I work, for which I am the Corporate Credit Manager. Issues ranged from simple advise on how to proceed in Construction Business related matters to filing of liens, to filing suit, to pursuing assets of those we received judgments against,to proceeding against Bond Company's, to filing suit against customers for Breach of Contract, to Debbie's conducting classes for our corporate officers. I feel what separates Debbie and her staff apart from others is their willingness to listen, take our perspective and once a course is agreed upon to pursue it with full vigor and the full extent of the law - all the time keeping me informed every step of the way and making every decision to go to the next level as a team. Positive results, full cooperation and the unabashed truth are what I have always received from Debbie. Ms. Debbie Champion and her associates are centered on my concerns and focus on a comprehensive remedy to my Company's issues and concerns. My recommendation could not come any higher.
Read less
Posted by Paul | January 20, 2011
Debbie Champion is an excellent lawyer.
Debbie was my adversary in a very big case. Her skill and professionalism were truly exceptional.
Posted by Ronnett | January 19, 2011
Review
I would highly recommend Debbie as a trial lawyer. She is very detailed minded and highly organized. She is a great communicator. Debbie is a very likable person and this quality comes across at trial. She has an ability to connect with the jury. She also has a very good ability to read the jury panel. All of the qualities makes her an excellent trial lawyer. She would be a great assest to anyones team.
Read less
Posted by Laura | January 16, 2011
Champion review
Debbie has helped our family for the last 18 years for various reasons. She has always been accessible, professional, and has given us outstanding advise. She is a wonderful person, as well as lawyer.
Posted by mike | January 14, 2011
recommedation for debbie champion
I have known Debbie for over 20 years and she is an outstanding trial lawyer and is very compassionate
View less reviews

Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 195-250 per hour
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 10.0 (Superb)

Work Experience

  • Partner
  • Rynearson Suess Schnurbusch & Champion LLC
  • 2000 - Present
  • Partner
  • Evans and Dixon
  • 1998 - 2000
  • Associate
  • Evans and Dixon
  • 1988 - 1998

Education

  • Washington University School of Law
  • J.D.
  • 1988
  • Murray State University
  • B. S.
  • 1983

Legal Cases

  • Monnye Gross v. SNR, Manning, Theil, and Bracht
  • Case settled after 5 days of trial with individual Defendant and Plaintiff dismissed case against all other defendants after 7 days of trial
  • Amanda Simmons et al v Heartland Wood Products
  • Won-Defendant Verdict
  • Barbara Laber v. Dierbergs Markets, LLC
  • Won--Defendant Verdict

Associations

  • Theodore McMillian American Inn of Court
  • Master
  • 2010 - Present
  • Lift for Life Academy
  • Board Member
  • 2009 - Present
  • National Association of Professional Women
  • Member
  • 2009 - Present
  • National Restaurant and Retail Defense Association
  • Member
  • 2009 - Present
  • Tools 4 Schools
  • President
  • 2008 - Present
  • Council for Litigation Management
  • Attorney Member
  • 2007 - Present
  • Litigation Counsel of America
  • Fellow
  • 2007 - Present
  • Lawyer's Association of St. Louis
  • Member
  • 2000 - Present
  • Defense Research Institute, Insurance Law Committee
  • Member
  • 2000 - Present
  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
  • Member
  • 1995 - Present
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Member
  • 1989 - Present
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • William McAlpin Pro Bono Award
  • Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
  • 2011
  • Top 10 Defense Verdicts
  • Missouri Lawyers Weekly
  • 2010
  • Women in Law Award
  • Women's Law Caucus Washington University School of Law
  • 2009
  • Lawyer's Lawyer
  • Women Justice Awards
  • 2008
  • Fellow
  • Litigation Counsel of America
  • 2007
  • 10 Outstanding Young St Louisans
  • St Louis Junior of Commerce
  • 1995
  • Pro Bono Publico Award
  • The Missouri Bar
  • N/A
  • Volunteer Lawyer Award
  • Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
  • N/A
View all awards

Publications

  • Public Risk Magazine
  • Workers’ Comp Top Ten: How to Cut Costs in 2011
  • 2011
  • Missouri Practice Guide
  • Subrogation Chapter in Workers' Compensation Volume
  • 2004

Speaking Engagements

  • Adjuster Training
  • Missouri First Party and Third Party Bad Faith Claims
  • 2011
  • Quarterly Meeting
  • Negotiation 101
  • 2010
  • Missouri Legal Update
  • Voir Dire
  • 2010
View all speaking engagements

Attorney endorsements

Received (18)
Given (24)
Endorse Debbie
Lawsuits and disputes Attorney | Sep 12
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. She is a skilled and diligent trial lawyer, as well as a tenacious and talented negotiator."
Unknown Attorney | Oct 16
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"Debbie excels in understanding the nuances of a case and developing a strategy that gives her client the clear advantage. If she is on your side, you have the gold standard in an advocate; if you are her opponent, you better keep on your toes."
Car accident Attorney | Apr 08
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I highly recommend Debbie Champion. She has been my opposing counsel on multiple cases over the course of the last 23 years. In my opinion, she is one of the most skilled trial lawyers in St. Louis. She is is honest, ethical and -- as an added bonus -- an exceptional human being."
Car accident Attorney | Aug 06
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I have known Debbie for years. She is always prepared and represents her clients very effectively."
Unknown Attorney | May 01
Relationship: Co-worker
"I endorse this lawyer."
Personal injury Attorney | Apr 30
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I know Debbie from law school, and I was also on the opposite side of a few cases with her. Debbie could charm a grizzly bear, which is why she is such a good trial lawyer. I would heartily endorse Debbie for any personal injury matter."
Lawsuits and disputes Attorney | Aug 29
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I think it would be fair to say that I have never met an attorney who had something bad to say about Debbie Champion. I have had 4 or 5 cases against her and her office. Without exception, Debbie is one of the nicest, most professional and upstanding attorneys that I know. Litigation can get mean and nasty sometimes. Opposing counsel might not be trusted in certain cases. I have experienced none of that when dealing with Debbie. I trust her implicitly and would be happy to litigate against her in the future. I can see why juries love her. She's a wonderful person."
Lawsuits and disputes Attorney | Jul 30
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Debbie is not just a good lawyer, she is a genuinely good person! She knows the law and is a tough advocate for her clients. Her reputation is outstanding, and well deserved."
Unknown Attorney | Mar 01
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I endorse this lawyer. Debbie is a remarkable lawyer whose professionalism is unparalleled."
Litigation Attorney | Aug 03
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Debbie is a highly effective trial attorney and has an excellent demeanor with the jury."
Divorce and separation Attorney | Jul 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Divorce and separation Attorney | May 27
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. She is well known in legal circles for excellent care and professionalism"
Litigation Attorney | Jul 04
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Litigation Attorney | Jan 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Ms. Champion for over 20 years, and I am familiar with her qualities as a person and lawyer by virtue of the fact that we worked together for several years, and have continued as friends and colleagues ever since. Ms. Chamption is a terrific and fearless litigator who is willing to take on difficult cases and handle them with success. She has a great work ethic and tends to all of the details involved in her cases. The combination of her work ethic, her attention to detail and her talent make her one of the best civil litigation attorneys in the Greater St. Louis area. I would not hesitate to hire her if I was in need of legal represenation, and I have referred her to several friends, clients and family members through the years, all of whom have been completely satisfied with the quality of work."
Litigation Attorney | Jan 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I cannot say enough good things about this lawyer. She is a brilliant litigator who will fights hard and gets the best possible result for her client. To say I endorse her is an understatement. She is highly professional, extremely courteous and always prepared. Although she is a tough litigator, she is compassionate toward her clients and truly cares about them. She is highly respected in the legal community. She has an engaging personality that helps resolve many cases with other lawyers."
Personal injury Attorney | Jan 20
Relationship: Worked for lawyer
"Debbie is a fabulous lawyer. She has a way of charming witnesses and juries that I have not seen equaled. Moreover, behind the charm is a first class mind that doesn't miss a thing. She just makes things look effortless."
Litigation Attorney | Jan 11
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"Debbie is one of the best insurance defense attorneys in St. Louis. She is very reasonable and professional, but also a fantastic advocate when trying a jury case. If I am ever sued for causing a serious car accident, I want Debbie to represent me!"
Personal injury Attorney | Dec 01
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"Debbie is an excellent and highly respected lawyer in the St. Louis legal community. I highly endorse her litigation skills in personal injury and domestic cases."
View more endorsements
Criminal defense
Personal injury
Personal injury
Personal injury
Divorce and separation
Personal injury
Criminal defense
Personal injury
Bankruptcy and debt
Litigation
Personal injury
Litigation
Personal injury
Divorce and separation