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Robert Grant Pennell

Robert Grant Pennell

Straight-Up, Straight-Forward Business Legal Advice is how gets BUSINESS Done!
  • Business Law, Employment Law, Communications & Internet Law
  • Missouri
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Client Reviews
M. Myers August 2, 2024
Exceptional Legal Assistance Robert Pennell was incredibly knowledgeable, timely, and professional in helping me set up my single-member LLC for my Chiropractic business. His expertise made the process seamless and stress-free. Highly recommend his services especially when it comes to creating a small business!
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Biography

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!

Practice Areas
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
Additional Practice Area
  • Unemployment Claims & Appeals
Video Conferencing
  • Zoom
Fees
  • 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
  • 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.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Missouri
The Missouri Bar
ID Number: 43014
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Professional Experience
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
-
Senior Associate
Landau, Omahana & Kopka, Ltd.
-
Associate
Moser & Marsalek, PC
-
Antitrust Faculty Research Assistant
St. Louis University School Of Law
-
Judicial Intern
U.S. District Court - Southern District Illinois
-
Engineering Planner
McDonnell Douglas Corporation
-
Education
Saint Louis University School of Law
J.D. (1993) | Business Associations, Tax, Antitrust
Saint Louis University School of Law Logo
Washington University in St. Louis
B.S.B.A. (1985) | Business Administration, Accounting, Finance & Operations
Washington University in St. Louis Logo
Awards
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
Best Business Attorneys
St. Louis Small Business Monthly
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
Peer rated for the highest level of professional excellence.
Inducted to Membership
Association for Legal Excellence
Pro Bono Award
American Bar Association
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated
Martindale-Hubbell
Peer rated for the highest level of professional excellence.
Best Business Attorneys
St. Louis Small Business Monthly
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Defense Trial Academy Graduate
International Association of Defense Counsel
Professional Associations
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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Speaking Engagements
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)
Controlling Unemployment Compensation Costs, Human Resource Law from A to Z
National Business Institute
Business Law Update, Annual Law Update
Missouri Bar Association
Legal Entity Selection, Licensing & Taxes, and Accounting & Finance (Monthly), Starting and Managing the Small Business Workshop (Monthly)
Service Corps of Retired & Working Executives (SCORE)
Advising the Growing Small Business Owner, Solo and Small Firm Conference
Missouri Bar Association
Legal Entity Selection, Licensing & Taxes, and Accounting & Finance (Monthly), Starting and Managing the Small Business Workshop (Monthly)
Service Corps of Retired & Working Executives (SCORE)
Legal Entity Selection, Licensing & Taxes, and Accounting & Finance (Monthly), Starting and Managing the Small Business Workshop (Monthly)
Service Corps of Retired & Working Executives (SCORE)
Business Smart Toolkit - Module 1: Ready, Saint Louis
U.S. Small Business Administration
Look Out Claimants – Beware Significant Statutory Changes to Unemployment!, Solo and Small Firm Conference, Lake of the Ozarks
Missouri Bar, Solo and Small Firm Committee
Legal Structures Selection, Boots to Business: Reboot Training for Veterans, Fenton
U.S. Small Business Administration
Legal Entity Selection, Licensing & Taxes, and Accounting & Finance (Monthly), Starting and Managing the Small Business Workshop (Monthly)
Service Corps of Retired & Working Executives (SCORE)
Advising the Small Business Client, Solo and Small Firm Conference, Branson
Missouri Bar, Solo and Small Firm Committee
Representing Clients in Employment Hearings, Solo and Small Firm Conference, Branson
Missouri Bar, Solo and Small Firm Committee
How to Run for Office from Those Who’ve Learned from the School of Hard Knocks, Solo and Small Firm Conference, Lake of the Ozarks
Missouri Bar, Solo and Small Firm Committee
Websites & Blogs
Website
Legal Answers
31 Questions Answered
Q. If your employer fires you for something you are accused of, without proof you did anything wrong, can you sue?
A: Unless you are a union employee, you are an at will employee, and as such can be fired at any time and for any reason, or even no reason at all. Accordingly, what you describe is not a wrongful termination. I recognize that to most laypeople the term wrongful termination would apply to any case where an employee is terminated based on incorrect information. But the term “wrongful termination” is a legal term of art which means the person was either terminated as a result of illegal discrimination or in retaliation for asserting a legal right or being a whistleblower (reporting the employer to the authorities for illegal conduct).
Q. I am employed at a daycare and am being asked to attend a mandatory training with no pay. Is this legal?
A: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandates that all hours worked are paid. Accordingly, the daycare may not require employees attend training offered without pay. However, the daycare could get around this by making CPR Certification a requirement of the job, with the training class an optional means of getting the required certification. If employees don’t want to go through the offered training, they can get certified elsewhere at their own expense, with employees who don’t get certified being let go.
Q. During job interview, I was promised to work from home. Now they want me in house. Is this legal?
A: You can ask, but as an at-will employee, either party can change the terms of employment at any time. The other party can then accept or reject those terms. In other words, the employer doesn't have to agree to let you work from home.
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Contact & Map
PO Box 726
Manchester, MO 63011
Telephone: (314) 863-1555