ACC STL Congratulates 2026 St. Louis Business Journal Corporate Counsel Award Winners

St. Louis (July 7, 2026) – The Association of Corporate Counsel St. Louis Chapter congratulates the recipients of the 2026 St. Louis Business Journal Corporate Counsel Awards. This prestigious accolade recognizes the exceptional legal talent and impactful contributions of in-house counsel within the St. Louis metropolitan area.

The St. Louis Business Journal Corporate Counsel Awards annually shine a spotlight on the best and brightest legal minds working within corporations, non-profit organizations, and public and private companies of all sizes. The awards celebrate individuals across all levels of corporate legal departments—from in-house generalists and specialists to chief legal officers and general counsel—who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and significant value to their organizations' overall success. The selection process involves a close collaboration between the St. Louis Business Journal's editorial team and a group of the Chapter’s members.

"The Chapter is incredibly proud to partner with the St. Louis Business Journal in honoring these outstanding legal professionals," said Vikas Sunkari, 2026 Chapter President and SSM Health Assistant General Counsel. "The 2026 award winners exemplify the dedication, strategic thinking, and profound impact that in-house counsel have on their organizations and the broader St. Louis business community. Their work goes far beyond traditional legal boundaries, touching upon critical areas like mergers and acquisitions, compliance, human resources, and overall business strategy."

Following are the 2026 St. Louis Business Journal Corporate Counsel Award Winners:

• General Counsel of the Year: Howl Bean II, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, General Counsel
• Brad Bakker, Rabobank and Rabo AgriFinance, Vice President, Associate General Counsel*
• Mark Falkowski, Lindenwood Education System, Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
• Jennifer Haynes, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary*
• Russ Mitten, Central States Water Resources, General Counsel
• Asim Raza, Arcadian Infracom, Vice President and General Counsel*
• Adam Schneider, Navvis, General Counsel, Senior Vice President, and Chief Legal Office; and Surround Care Chief Legal Officer
• Katie Wong, Mercy Vice President and Assistant General Counsel

*Current ACC St. Louis member

The Chapter commends the eight individuals for their unwavering commitment to legal excellence and their vital role in driving the success of their respective organizations. Their achievements serve as an inspiration to the entire legal community across St. Louis.

The 2026 Corporate Counsel Award nominees and recipients were recognized at an awards ceremony on June 11, 2026, and featured in a special awards section of the St. Louis Business Journal on June 12, 2026.

About the Association of Corporate Counsel – St. Louis Chapter:

The Association of Corporate Counsel - St. Louis Chapter, the premier bar association for in-house counsel, was founded in 1987. The Chapter has more than 680 members who represent over 175 organizations. The Chapter’s commitment to its members and community has earned it an impressive list of accolades as a leader in the global network of chapters:

• Chapter of the Year 1995, 2012 and 2015,
• Chapter Challenge Award 2009,
• Legal Service of Eastern Missouri Richard B. Teitelman Distinguished Service Award for pro bono efforts 2014,
• Best Membership Strategy 2018,
• Gold Chapter of Distinction designation 2019-25,
• Best Diversity Initiative Award 2020, 2022 and 2024,
• Innovative Programming Effort Award 2023 and 2025
• Best Partnership Program Award 2023.

To learn more, please visit, https://www.acc.com/chapters/stlouis/.