Armstrong Teasdale on Thursday announced it was adding five lawyers and five professional staffers across four of its offices, including a pair of partners who ran their own Las Vegas boutique together and a small firm partner in New York.

Armstrong Teasdale managing partner David Braswell said the addition of partners Alicia Ashcraft, Jeffrey Barr, Timothy Bergere and Herbert Cohen is part of the firm's broader plan to build out its existing practice areas.

He noted the marijuana practice Ashcraft and Barr had at their Las Vegas boutique, Ashcraft & Barr, complements Armstrong Teasdale's.

"Nevada is a very strong market for that, and we're already very active in that space in Colorado and Missouri, so they'll complement what we do in those jurisdictions," Braswell said. "They're very well-recognized practitioners in Nevada."

Bergere, an environmental lawyer from Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, and Cohen, a cooperative and condominium attorney who was previously a name partner at Stiefel Cohen & Foote, are joining the firm's Philadelphia and New York offices, respectively.

Armstrong Teasdale opened those two locations in 2018 and 2019, respectively, both with Montgomery McCracken hires. Braswell said the office is looking to expand its geographic footprint in 2020.

"You'll see more of the same in 2020 and beyond," Braswell said. "As part of our overall strategy of growing the firm, making it bigger, being able to have a significant presence in markets that will give us a better, stronger client roster … There's more to come."

Armstrong Teasdale's New York office now has 22 lawyers, according to its website. Two years ago, its latest partner, Cohen, represented a condo unit that sued the co-chair of Latham & Watkins' real estate practice for keeping a pit bull in her unit. Latham partner Michelle Kelban's lawyer alleged then that Cohen's client was practicing "dog racism."

Associate John Sun is also joining the firm's Philadelphia office. He was a former law clerk for the U.S. International Trade Commission and has "extensive experience with patents related to electrical technologies," the firm announced.

Five professional staffers are joining Armstrong Teasdale's Las Vegas, New York City and St. Louis offices. The firm said it has more than 520 lawyers and staff across its seven offices.

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