team-member

Debbie Champion

Saint Louis, MO

Licensed for 33 years

Law Degree

Awards

Primary Practice Area

Car Accident

Language

English

About

 Debbie Champion is a founding partner in the firm Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch and Champion.  Ms. Champion actively practices in Missouri and Southern Illinois state and federal courts.  She has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and the Eastern, Western and Southern District Missouri Courts of Appeals, and the Illinois Court of Appeals.  She has also argued in the federal court of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, and the Eighth Circuit and the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. She is a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Champion has been included on the list of the top 100 attorneys in Missouri.  She is honored to be included in the Best Lawyers in America, and she appears on the Best Lawyers list in Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, Insurance Law, and Litigation-Insurance.  She was also selected to be a member of Litigation Counsel of America, an honorary society honoring the top one-half of one percent of American lawyers.  For a number of years, Ms. Champion has been named as one of the top 50 Women Lawyers in Missouri and Kansas by Superlawyers. Champion achieved the most Defense Verdicts in Missouri in 2012 and 2013 and one of the largest Defense Wins in 2011.  She was honored as one of Ten Outstanding Young St. Louisans by the St. Louis Junior Chamber of Commerce. She is rated as Superb on AVVO.com.   In 2013, she received the CLMP certification as a certified litigation management professional from her study at the Columbia School of Law in New York. Ms. Champion received the Lawyer's Lawyer Award by the Women's Justice Awards. She is a recipient of the William McAlpin Pro Bono Award, an Outstanding Volunteer Award from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and the Missouri Pro Bono Publico Award from the Missouri Bar Association. She was recently honored by the Women's Law Caucus of Washington University for her commitment to the advancement of women in the law.  She was selected as an Outstanding Young Alumni of Washington University in 2012. Ms. Champion serves on the Board of Lift for Life Academy, the first charter school in St. Louis. She is also on the Board of Seeds of Blessing, the for-profit arm of the Blessing Basket Project.  In the past, she served on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of Directors of Shelter the Children.  She was an active early member of Kids' Inc., a charitable organization for underprivileged children of East St. Louis, Illinois.  Ms. Champion is founder and president of Tools for Schools, a not for profit corporation which distributes school supplies to needy schools and children.  Ms. Champion has authored several published articles and book chapters.  She often presents educational seminars to clients and to the legal community, including several annual conference presentations to industry groups each year. Ms. Champion is an Advocate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial.  She serves as the Treasurer of the Missouri/Southern Illinois Chapter. She is a member of the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, formerly Council for Litigation Management. She serves as the Secretary of the St. Louis CLM chapter.  She is on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers.  She is a Fellow in the American Bar Foundation. Ms. Champion served on the 21st Judicial Circuit Judicial Commission as part of Missouri's non-partisan court plan for a 6 year term.  Ms. Champion has served for the Supreme Court of Missouri as a member of the Ad Hoc Committee to Study Expert Discovery.  In 2013, she acted as the Chairman of the Steering Committee for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri.  Litigation Practice Areas:      TransportationPremises LiabilityProducts LiabilityPersonal InjuryMunicipal LawEmployment LawFraud and MisrepresentationCorporate & Commercial LitigationSubrogationProbate & Estate PlanningPharmacy LiabilityDomestic Relations  Education: Columbia University, Certified Litigation Management Professional, 2013Washington University School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1988Murray State University, Bachelor of Science, Psychology, 1983,Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, 1983, Psychology Masters Coursework, 1984, 1985  

Practices Areas

Car Accident

Employment and labor

Language

English

Contact

Rynearson Suess Schnurbusch & Champion, LLC500 North BroadwaySuite 1550Saint Louis, MO, 63102-2448500 North BroadwaySuite 1550Suite 1550Saint Louis, MO, 63102-2448

Office: N/A

Website: N/A

Reviews

Marsia
April 17, 2018

Debbie assisted me with corporate and employment contract legal advice. Specifically navigating an employment agreement and business acquisition case. Her legal advice was honest and helped me considerably with a challenging situation. I appreciate her fair minded legal expertise.

anonymous
March 22, 2013

She is very caring and makes you feel safe which is huge when dealing with legal matters, I feel honored to have had her represent me as well as my family.

Bob
March 30, 2011

I have worked with Debbie Champion and her associates of RSS&C for the past 6+ years, in myriad of varying situations for the Company I work, for which I am the Corporate Credit Manager. Issues ranged from simple advise on how to proceed in Construction Business related matters to filing of liens, to filing suit, to pursuing assets of those we received judgments against,to proceeding against Bond Company's, to filing suit against customers for Breach of Contract, to Debbie's conducting classes for our corporate officers. I feel what separates Debbie and her staff apart from others is their willingness to listen, take our perspective and once a course is agreed upon to pursue it with full vigor and the full extent of the law - all the time keeping me informed every step of the way and making every decision to go to the next level as a team. Positive results, full cooperation and the unabashed truth are what I have always received from Debbie. Ms. Debbie Champion and her associates are centered on my concerns and focus on a comprehensive remedy to my Company's issues and concerns. My recommendation could not come any higher.

Paul
January 20, 2011

Debbie was my adversary in a very big case. Her skill and professionalism were truly exceptional.

Ronnett
January 19, 2011

I would highly recommend Debbie as a trial lawyer. She is very detailed minded and highly organized. She is a great communicator. Debbie is a very likable person and this quality comes across at trial. She has an ability to connect with the jury. She also has a very good ability to read the jury panel. All of the qualities makes her an excellent trial lawyer. She would be a great assest to anyones team.

Laura
January 16, 2011

Debbie has helped our family for the last 18 years for various reasons. She has always been accessible, professional, and has given us outstanding advise. She is a wonderful person, as well as lawyer.

mike
January 14, 2011

I have known Debbie for over 20 years and she is an outstanding trial lawyer and is very compassionate

Marsia
April 17, 2018

Debbie assisted me with corporate and employment contract legal advice. Specifically navigating an employment agreement and business acquisition case. Her legal advice was honest and helped me considerably with a challenging situation. I appreciate her fair minded legal expertise.

anonymous
March 22, 2013

She is very caring and makes you feel safe which is huge when dealing with legal matters, I feel honored to have had her represent me as well as my family.

Bob
March 30, 2011

I have worked with Debbie Champion and her associates of RSS&C for the past 6+ years, in myriad of varying situations for the Company I work, for which I am the Corporate Credit Manager. Issues ranged from simple advise on how to proceed in Construction Business related matters to filing of liens, to filing suit, to pursuing assets of those we received judgments against,to proceeding against Bond Company's, to filing suit against customers for Breach of Contract, to Debbie's conducting classes for our corporate officers. I feel what separates Debbie and her staff apart from others is their willingness to listen, take our perspective and once a course is agreed upon to pursue it with full vigor and the full extent of the law - all the time keeping me informed every step of the way and making every decision to go to the next level as a team. Positive results, full cooperation and the unabashed truth are what I have always received from Debbie. Ms. Debbie Champion and her associates are centered on my concerns and focus on a comprehensive remedy to my Company's issues and concerns. My recommendation could not come any higher.

Paul
January 20, 2011

Debbie was my adversary in a very big case. Her skill and professionalism were truly exceptional.

Ronnett
January 19, 2011

I would highly recommend Debbie as a trial lawyer. She is very detailed minded and highly organized. She is a great communicator. Debbie is a very likable person and this quality comes across at trial. She has an ability to connect with the jury. She also has a very good ability to read the jury panel. All of the qualities makes her an excellent trial lawyer. She would be a great assest to anyones team.

Laura
January 16, 2011

Debbie has helped our family for the last 18 years for various reasons. She has always been accessible, professional, and has given us outstanding advise. She is a wonderful person, as well as lawyer.

mike
January 14, 2011

I have known Debbie for over 20 years and she is an outstanding trial lawyer and is very compassionate

Marsia
April 17, 2018

Debbie assisted me with corporate and employment contract legal advice. Specifically navigating an employment agreement and business acquisition case. Her legal advice was honest and helped me considerably with a challenging situation. I appreciate her fair minded legal expertise.

anonymous
March 22, 2013

She is very caring and makes you feel safe which is huge when dealing with legal matters, I feel honored to have had her represent me as well as my family.

Bob
March 30, 2011

I have worked with Debbie Champion and her associates of RSS&C for the past 6+ years, in myriad of varying situations for the Company I work, for which I am the Corporate Credit Manager. Issues ranged from simple advise on how to proceed in Construction Business related matters to filing of liens, to filing suit, to pursuing assets of those we received judgments against,to proceeding against Bond Company's, to filing suit against customers for Breach of Contract, to Debbie's conducting classes for our corporate officers. I feel what separates Debbie and her staff apart from others is their willingness to listen, take our perspective and once a course is agreed upon to pursue it with full vigor and the full extent of the law - all the time keeping me informed every step of the way and making every decision to go to the next level as a team. Positive results, full cooperation and the unabashed truth are what I have always received from Debbie. Ms. Debbie Champion and her associates are centered on my concerns and focus on a comprehensive remedy to my Company's issues and concerns. My recommendation could not come any higher.

Paul
January 20, 2011

Debbie was my adversary in a very big case. Her skill and professionalism were truly exceptional.

Ronnett
January 19, 2011

I would highly recommend Debbie as a trial lawyer. She is very detailed minded and highly organized. She is a great communicator. Debbie is a very likable person and this quality comes across at trial. She has an ability to connect with the jury. She also has a very good ability to read the jury panel. All of the qualities makes her an excellent trial lawyer. She would be a great assest to anyones team.

Laura
January 16, 2011

Debbie has helped our family for the last 18 years for various reasons. She has always been accessible, professional, and has given us outstanding advise. She is a wonderful person, as well as lawyer.

mike
January 14, 2011

I have known Debbie for over 20 years and she is an outstanding trial lawyer and is very compassionate