Local Counsel with Wendi S. Alper-Pressman

Best Place to Take a New Client  –  Tony’s or Sidney Street Café.

Favorite Historical Site   –  World’s Fair Pavilion at Forest Park.

Best Place to Reflect   –  Grand Basin in Forest Park.

Best Place for a Stroll   –  St. Louis Zoo.

Favorite City Event ​​​​​​​  –  The Great Forest Park Balloon Race is the oldest and most well-attended free hot-air-balloon event in the world.

Best Arts Venue ​​​​​​​  –  Not a fair question, as St. Louis has some really wonderful venues: the Peabody Opera House and Fox Theatre are old, ornate, large venues that host concerts and Broadway musicals; the region’s best live professional theatre is at The St. Louis Repertory Theatre in Webster.

Best Cup of Joe ​​​​​​​  –  Kaldi’s, which specializes in sustainably sourcing and roasting great coffees.

Best Judge to Argue Before ​​​​​​​  –  This could really get me in trouble, so let’s just say that the best judge to argue in front of is the one who has read the briefs, is prepared with questions and is attentive to your arguments.  

Best Town Factoid ​​​​​​​  –  St. Louis was the site of the infamous Dred Scott case, which ran from 1846 to 1857.

Favorite Historical Resident ​​​​​​​  –  There are many musicians, actors and actresses with roots in St. Louis. However, the one constant is Chuck Berry—the father of rock ’n’ roll. Chuck played in the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill over 200 times, giving his last performance in 2014 at 88 years old.      

Best Slice ​​​​​​​  –  Katie’s Pizza.

Worst City Law on the Books ​​​​​​​  –  You cannot hail a cab in downtown St. Louis. Either walk to a nearby hotel, go to a cab stand or call one. 

Best Thing about Your Office ​​​​​​​  –  We’re like a family. We work hard and play hard.

Best Local Artist ​​​​​​​  –  Billy Peek, lead guitarist for Rod Stewart for more than five years, who has also toured with Chuck Berry. 

Best Charity Event ​​​​​​​  –  Pedal the Cause, which provides funding for cancer research at Siteman Cancer Center and St. Louis Children’s Hospital through an annual bike ride. 

Favorite Watering Hole ​​​​​​​  –  Bar Napoli, as it’s close to the office … and has a great wine list.

Most Beautiful Spot ​​​​​​​  –  Mount Pleasant Winery, overlooking the vineyards.

Favorite Local Shop ​​​​​​​  –  Vie on Clayton Road for women’s accessories and clothing.

Best Courthouse Perk ​​​​​​​  –  ELMO—a nifty gadget that allows attorneys to display physical evidence onto a TV monitor or projection screen. 

Best Personal Factoid​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​  –  My husband and I both have had bankruptcy cases argued at the Supreme Court—his, Kawaauhau v. Geiger; and mine, Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co. v. Union Planters Bank. In the latter case opinion, Scalia noted “achieving a better policy outcome is a task of congress, not the courts.” Also, my husband proposed to me at a Chapter 11 confirmation hearing.