About Us
This is our trial team. We are all about competence and diversity of experience and talent.
Judge Calvin spent 30 years on the bench in the City Circuit Court of St. Louis before joining Spencer Fane.
Milt Spaulding graduated from West Point and served in the Army before joining Spencer Fane.
Deirdre Gallagher was a Registered Nurse prior to practicing law and has tried many cases to verdict in Missouri and Illinois.
Tom Hayde is young and hip.
About Deirdre C. Gallagher
Deirdre C. Gallagher has been a practicing trial attorney for over 20 years, representing companies in complex litigation in both Missouri and Illinois. She has tried over 30 cases to verdict in various state and federal courts, mostly in Madison County, Illinois and the City of St. Louis. Although her practice encompasses the defense of class actions, mass torts and toxic exposure claims, she specializes in the area of pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.
Ms. Gallagher has been an adjunct professor at UM-St. Louis School of Nursing and has spoken to many groups on the topics of medical liability, including lecturing physicians on proper prescribing practices, drug-drug interactions, recognizing, documenting and treating suicidality, and medical ethics. She also published a monthly column in the St. Louis Lawyer for several years. She is currently on the advisory board for Legal Advocates for Abused Women, the Development Board of the APA and the Legislative Committee of the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation. In March of 2003 she was awarded the UM-St. Louis "Trail Blazer" award.
Focus of Practice
- Class Actions
- Mass Torts and Toxic Exposure Claims
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association
- Missouri Bar Association
- Illinois Bar Association
- Metropolitan St Louis Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
- American Association of Nurse Attorneys
About Milton C. Spaulding
Milton Spaulding is a Partner with Spencer Fane. He specializes in the defense of Pharmaceutical/Drug and Medical Device cases; Toxic Torts, to include Asbestos, Silica, and Benzene cases; and Product Liability cases. His Litigation and Trial Practice expertise also extends to Condemnation/Eminent Domain cases and Construction Law cases. Prior to joining Spencer Fane, he was Senior Litigation Counsel/Regional Counsel for the Chief Counsel Office of Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. There, he tried fourteen jury trials in the areas of personal injury, eminent domain/condemnation, and construction contracts; and received the outstanding trial result award in 1999.
Focus of Practice
- Class Actions
- Mass Torts and Toxic Exposure Claims
- Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Defense Research Institute
Bar Admissions
About Michael Calvin
Judge Michael Calvin is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. His main areas of focus are mediation, arbitration, and litigation. In addition, Judge Calvin assists with training and recruiting for the firm.
Before joining Spencer Fane, Judge Calvin sat on the bench of the St. Louis City Circuit Court for 30 years. He was one of the youngest judges ever elected in St. Louis. Prior to becoming a judge, he worked in private practice for three years.
Focus of Practice
About Thomas W. Hayde
Thomas W. Hayde is a litigator in the St. Louis office of Spencer Fane. He practices with the Litigation and Trial Practice, Products Liability and Toxic Torts, and Transportation Law groups. He is admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois state courts, and also federal district courts in both Missouri and Illinois.
He received his Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis, where he was a Scholar in Law and received the honor of Highest Distinction in Public Service. In law school, Tom served as President of the ACLU chapter and was involved with the Environmental Law Society. He received his bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religion from Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri, where he was a President's Honorary Scholar and received the prestigious President's Recognition for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
Focus of Practice
Professional Associations & Memberships
- American Bar Association
- ABA Section of Litigation
- Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Mound City Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
Bar Admissions