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Supreme Court selects St. Louis attorney as state's new chief disciplinary counsel

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Supreme Court of Missouri has selected St. Louis attorney Alan D. Pratzel to serve as the state's chief disciplinary counsel, a position responsible for managing Missouri's lawyer disciplinary system. Pratzel is expected to begin working in his new position April 2, 2007.

"I am pleased that Alan Pratzel has accepted the Court's offer to become chief disciplinary counsel," Chief Justice Michael A. Wolff said. "He has been a long-time special representative for the office of chief disciplinary counsel with great rapport among his colleagues. I believe his vast experience in the lawyer disciplinary system will enable him to serve Missouri's citizens and legal community well."

Pratzel, who has worked in Missouri's disciplinary system since 1985, currently serves as the special representative for the disciplinary committees in Region X (St. Louis County) and Region XI (city of St. Louis) as well as the division special representative for Division 2 of the Region XI disciplinary committee. In these capacities, he provides primary administrative oversight for the attorney disciplinary processes in the St. Louis area and actively litigates individual disciplinary cases. In addition, he has lectured at various seminars about Missouri's rules of professional conduct for attorneys and the attorney disciplinary process.

"I am honored to have been selected by the Supreme Court to serve as chief disciplinary counsel," Pratzel said. "The position carries with it much responsibility but also much opportunity to work with the Court, the Advisory Committee and the organized Bar to protect the public interest and to bolster the integrity of the profession. I look forward to the challenge."

Pratzel earned his bachelor's degree in history, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in 1975 and his law degree in 1978, both from Washington University in St. Louis. Following his graduation from law school, he worked as an associate at the St. Louis law firm of Lashly & Baer, P.C., ultimately becoming a partner and member of the firm. In 2000, he became a member and partner at the St. Louis law firm of Crotzer and Ford. Since 2002, Pratzel has maintained a solo law practice in St. Louis emphasizing the representation of governmental and public institutions.

In addition, Pratzel has been involved in several civic and professional organizations. He was a trustee of the United Hebrew Temple in St. Louis from 1994 to 1996; a member of the University of Missouri-St. Louis Center for Economic Education advisory committee from 1993 to 1999; and a member of the Chesterfield, Mo., chamber of commerce from 1993 to 2000. He is a member of The Missouri Bar and has been admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. A St. Louis native, Pratzel is married and has three adult children.

Wolff said that Sam Phillips, who has been serving as acting chief disciplinary counsel since September 2006, will continue as the deputy chief disciplinary counsel.

"Alan and Sam know each other well, and they have a great deal of mutual respect," Wolff said. "They will be a great team."