Experience matters.
The maritime practice demands a combination of legal and practical knowledge unique to any other field of law. When Fox Smith’s clients need someone on the scene to investigate a marine incident, Stas is at the ready. When a suit is filed, Stas’ years of trial experience enable him to effectively represent our clients through each step of litigation.
Stas, a University of Michigan School of Law graduate, joined the Fox Smith team in 2017 and rejoined the team in 2020. For the first six years of his career, Stas worked for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. As Director of the White Collar and Fraud Unit for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office from August 2016 — February 2017, Stas supervised trial attorneys and paralegals while maintaining his own trial caseload comprised of violent crimes and commercial fraud. He was also a member of the homicide scene response team.
As a prosecutor, Stas 1st chaired twenty one criminal jury trials, one civil commitment jury trial, over twenty bench trials, over fifty civil commitment hearings, and 2nd chaired eight criminal jury trials. Stas also has a deep background in the investigative side of the law, having interviewed hundreds of witnesses, experts and suspects during his time as a prosecutor. For his trial success rate in one of the toughest venues in the country, he was awarded a Trial Star designation by the Circuit Attorney’s Office in recognition of outstanding achievement in the courtroom for both 2015 and 2016.
Since joining the firm, Stas has brought his wealth of investigative and trial experience into every marine investigation and case he’s been a part of. He’s been called to the scene of several marine investigations and has represented Fox Smith’s clients in a variety of Jones Act law suits, in both state and federal court. His wealth of experience and familiarity with one of the most plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions in the country is an asset to any client with a case in the City of St. Louis. Stas also lends his proficiency in criminal law and trial strategy to other ‘practice groups within the firm as needed.
Stas’ extensive courtroom and investigative experience has transitioned well to the Marine Practice at Fox Smith, LLC. Our clients know that they get the benefit of his accomplished background of advocacy and problem solving every time they engage our services.