Robert Grant Pennell
Straight-Up, Straight-Forward Business Legal Advice is how gets BUSINESS Done!
Although not born in Saint Louis, I’ve lived here for forty years, and consider myself a Saint Louisan. I’m a graduate of Washington University–Olin School of Business, and Saint Louis University – School of Law. And in case you, too, are a Saint Louisan, I graduated from Parkway Central Senior High School.
Unlike most of my contemporaries, I did not go directly to law school upon graduating from college. I spent five years as an Engineer Planner at McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), managing multimillion-dollar engineering development programs for the United States military and its allies. Complying with the demanding requirements of government requests for proposals and contractual reporting more than prepared me for the rigors of the law. It helped me to hone the business sense to not merely identify potential problems/roadblocks, but to actually craft effective solutions, which is precisely how BUSINESS gets done.
I began my legal career as a trial attorney at sizable firms, including one of the oldest insurance defense firms in Saint Louis, as well as the local office of a large international firm out of Chicago. While there, I engaged in every aspect of litigation, from Pre-Trial Discovery and Dispositive Motion practice up to and including First Chair Jury Trials and Appellate Argument before the Missouri and Federal Courts of Appeal.
While initially a litigator, I have spent most of my twenty-five plus years practicing law representing businesses, large and small. Due to my business background, I deliberately transitioned to representing businesses, particularly in regard to employment and contractual matters. In so doing, I’ve assisted businesses from small start-ups to large regional enterprises and Fortune 500 companies including.
Through Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating™ my fellow lawyers have assigned me a 5.0 out of 5.0 AV Preeminent Rating – the highest rating available. After all, that is how BUSINESS gets done!
- Business Law
- Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
- Employment Law
- Employment Contracts, Overtime & Unpaid Wages
- Communications & Internet Law
- Internet Law, Telecommunications Law
- Unemployment Claims & Appeals
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Free Consultation
Note that a free consultation is merely an opportunity to discuss your issue to determine if this firm can be of assistance. - Credit Cards Accepted
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Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
I prefer to charge on a flat fee basis whenever feasible to provide some level of certainty over what your financial obligations will be.
- Missouri
- The Missouri Bar
- ID Number: 43014
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- Owner
- Law Offices of Robert Grant Pennell, LLC
- - Current
- Focusing on assisting small business owners start and develop their businesses.
- General Counsel
- DCSC, Inc.
- - Current
- Senior Associate
- Steven Schumaier & Associates, PC
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- Senior Associate
- Landau, Omahana & Kopka, Ltd.
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- Associate
- Moser & Marsalek, PC
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- Antitrust Faculty Research Assistant
- St. Louis University School Of Law
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- Judicial Intern
- U.S. District Court - Southern District Illinois
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- Engineering Planner
- McDonnell Douglas Corporation
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- Saint Louis University School of Law
- J.D. (1993) | Business Associations, Tax, Antitrust
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- Washington University in St. Louis
- B.S.B.A. (1985) | Business Administration, Accounting, Finance & Operations
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- AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Peer rated for the highest level of professional excellence.
- AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated
- Martindale-Hubbell
- Peer rated for the highest level of professional excellence.
- Pro Bono Award
- American Bar Association
- Best Business Attorneys
- St. Louis Small Business Monthly
- Pro Bono Award
- American Bar Association
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Missouri
- Board Member
- - Current
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- Service Corps of Retired & Working Executives (SCORE)
- Auxiliary Member
- - Current
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- American Bar Association, Business Law Section
- Member
- - Current
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- American Bar Association, Business Law Section, LLCs, Partnerships and Unincorporated Business Entities Committee
- Member
- - Current
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- Missouri Bar, Solo and Small Firm Planning Committee
- Member
- - Current
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- Missouri Bar, Solo and Small Firm Committee
- Member
- - Current
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- The Missouri Bar
- Attorney Member
- - Current
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- American Bar Association
- Attorney Member
- - Current
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- Legal Entity Selection, and Licensing & Taxes (Monthly), Starting and Managing the Small Business Workshop (Monthly)
- Service Corps of Retired & Working Executives (SCORE)
- Employee Performance, Discipline, and Discharge, Missouri Human Resource Law: What You Need to Know Now
- National Business Institute
- Legal Entity Selection, Licensing & Taxes, and Accounting & Finance (Monthly), Starting and Managing the Small Business Workshop (Monthly)
- Service Corps of Retired & Working Executives (SCORE)
- Controlling Unemployment Compensation Costs, Mini Law School for HR Professionals
- National Business Institute
- Legal Entity Selection, Licensing & Taxes, and Accounting & Finance (Monthly), Starting and Managing the Small Business Workshop (Monthly)
- Service Corps of Retired & Working Executives (SCORE)
- Q. Can a government contractor require shoe removal and pat-down in a drug test?
- A: Some people try to beat a drug test by using someone else’s urine, and will even go so far as to use something in their pants to make it appear they are urinating into the specimen cup. It may be necessary to pat you down to ensure you are not utilizing such methods to avoid a positive result.
You asked if your rights were violated. How have you been injured or damaged? Every claim must include damages to be viable. If you haven’t been damaged there is no claim to pursue.
- Q. Can I quit my job due to lack of support for medical needs and receive unemployment benefits in Missouri?
- A: You can certainly quit your job, but it is rather difficult to get benefits if you resign. You must prove that you “quit for good cause attributable to the work or employer.” This is an objective standard, meaning that you must be treated so poorly that anyone would have quit under the circumstances. Furthermore, Missouri courts have held that you must prove you acted in “good faith” which means you took reasonable steps to preserve your job. The courts require you to raise your issues with management and/or Human Resources before quitting. You must also give the employer time to investigate your allegations and (if supported) make attempts to resolve the issue. Failure to do any of the ... Read More
- Q. Can I use my father's money to pay utilities in his home where I live?
- A: Is your father benefiting from your use of those utilities in his home while he lives elsewhere? No, so you shouldn’t be using his money to pay for them. Incidentally, are you paying rent for your use of your father’s home? If not, then you are depriving your father from the rental income he should be earning from his home. As POA you are obligated to act in his best interests, not yours. Consequently, your brother may have a valid basis for trying to remove you as POA.
