Brooke Parsons is a litigator with experience in a broad range of matters such as commercial contractual disputes, Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) litigation, employment litigation, election challenges and § 1983 litigation.

Brooke is experienced in all stages of litigation, from drafting initial and responsive pleadings to managing written discovery, handling discovery disputes and conducting depositions. She is also deeply involved in preparing and arguing dispositive motions and representing clients at trial and on appeal. Brooke’s trial experience is substantial, having served as first or second chair in multiple bench and jury trials.

In the media and entertainment area, Brooke has experience representing and advising media clients on the subjects of defamation, open records and open meetings requests. She also has experience litigating the protection of First Amendment rights pursuant to § 1983. Brooke regularly contributes to the Media Law Resource Center’s annual libel and privacy surveys, capturing important updates and changes in Missouri law. 

In addition to serving her clients, Brooke devotes time to coaching high school girls’ basketball, traveling to national parks, playing in recreational sports leagues, and competitive running.

Areas of Focus

Experience

  • Miller and Camden Counties, Missouri. Representation of Missouri lodging resort owners in challenge to state statutorily established political subdivisions, known as Business Districts. Served as second chair during the four-day preliminary injunction hearing and four-day bench trial. Won preliminary injunction hearing and partially prevailed at bench trial. Primarily responsible for drafting briefs in the Missouri Supreme Court requesting a declaration the statutes creating the lodging tax were unconstitutional. Prevailed at the Missouri Supreme Court where the Court held the four Missouri statutes at issue were unconstitutional and enjoined any further action in accordance with the same.
  • Western District of Missouri. Represented construction company involved in transaction with a $20 million standby letter of credit under Article 5 of the UCC. Both parties to the lawsuit brought claims related to the letter of credit. Was awarded full summary judgment on client’s affirmative claims as well as opposing party’s claims.
  • Cole County, Missouri. Represented newspaper reporter seeking disclosure of vital record under the Missouri Sunshine Law. Prevailed on summary judgment, and state department was ordered to disclose the record requested.
  • United States Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (65 F.4th 378). Represented an individual on an interlocutory appeal in a § 1983 First Amendment Rights case. Drafted response brief and conducted oral argument. Prevailed on the issue of qualified immunity brought forth by defendants.
  • St. Louis County, Missouri. Successfully represented an individual homeowner in obtaining judgment of ownership in a nearly year-long quiet title lawsuit. Then prevailed in first solo bench trial awarding client possession of property and monetary damages.
  • St. Louis County, Missouri. Completed a three-day arbitration hearing, conducted completely via Zoom, during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The matter involved a stock purchase agreement dispute following the sale of a closely held business, with a defense verdict being entered for Lathrop GPM's client.
  • Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District (618 S.W.3d 701)Represented a chemical industry client on appeal in a dispute concerning the trial court's judgment finding client's former employee in contempt of an injunction order, also obtained by Lathrop GPM. The court affirmed the judgment finding the former employee in contempt of the injunction order and affirmed the related grant of attorneys' fees to Lathrop GPM's client.

Credentials

Education

  • University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2017)
  • Coe College (B.A., Business Administration, cum laude, 2014)

Clerkship

  • Judicial clerk to the Honorable Paul C. Wilson, Supreme Court of Missouri in Jefferson City, 2017-2019

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Missouri

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Recognitions

  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers Trial Academy Student Award Winner, 2023
  • "Up & Coming Award," Missouri Lawyers Media, 2022

Publications

  • Co-author, "Tips for Conducting a Virtual Arbitration Hearing," Bloomberg Law, September 21, 2021
  • Author, "Instilling Hope: Suggested Legislative Reform for Missouri Regarding Juvenile Sentencing Pursuant to Supreme Court Decisions in Miller and Montgomery," 82 Missouri Law Review., 2017
  • Co-author, "A Primer on the Missouri Business Judgment Rule - A Powerful Protection for Business Decisions," St. Louis ACC In-House, October 4, 2016

Professional Activities

  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions
  • St. Louis Sports Commission Young Professionals Board
  • The Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis

Community Involvement

  • Girls on the Run Young Professionals Group, Member, 2022-present
  • Clayton Chamber of Commerce, Young Friends of the Chamber, Co-Chair, 2021 - 2023
  • Hickman High School Girls’ Basketball Coach, Columbia, Missouri, 2017- 2019