Quincy University will induct four individuals into the Legal Hall of Fame at the 2023 induction ceremony on Saturday, April 15.

The 2023 inductees:

Michael Bickhaus ’90, JD, is managing partner of Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu & Mitchell LLP law firm. He focuses his practice primarily on estate planning, business, real estate, agricultural, and banking law. Bickhaus has assisted clients with the purchase, sale, and succession planning for a variety of businesses. He has also assisted clients with forming and implementing estate plans to pass significant assets to their beneficiaries. Bickhaus earned his bachelor’s degree in Accounting at Quincy College in 1990, and his law degree from University of Missouri School of Law in 1994. Bickhaus is licensed to practice in Illinois, Missouri, Arizona, Texas, and the United States Supreme Court.  Along with his successful law practice, he has also been on the board of many local charities and organizations over the years including co-chair with his wife, Kristine, of the 2018-2019 Annual QU Fund Drive.

William “Bill” Davis ’04, JD, is a partner at Brown, Hay & Stephens LLP. His current practice is primarily in the area of medical malpractice defense in Sangamon, Logan, Macon, and Christian Counties. Davis began his legal career serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney at the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office in Springfield, Illinois. He prosecuted 20 jury trials and dozens of bench trials to verdict including broad range of cases from traffic, misdemeanor, DUI, domestic violence, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and first-degree murder. In 2011, Davis became an Assistant Attorney General in the Sexual Violent Person’s Bureau.  He prosecuted the civil commitment of sexually violent persons throughout the state south of I-80. Davis left the Attorney General’s Office to work with Brown, Hay & Stephens. Davis earned his bachelor’s in history from QU in 2004 and his legal degree from SIU Carbondale.

Melissa Pratt Lore ’97, JD, is the Chief Compliance Officer at FFF Enterprises, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical distributor specializing in plasma products, rare and orphan drugs, and vaccines.  She has over 20 years of legal and compliance experience, including over a decade in the pharmaceutical industry. Lore’s career began as she practiced complex commercial litigation at large law firms in Chicago and Philadelphia before joining pharmaceutical giant Merck in 2010.  Merck decided to spin-off some of its business lines into a new publicly-traded, global healthcare company focused on improving women’s health, and Lore was offered the opportunity to lead the compliance function at the new company, Organon.  Her success in setting up the compliance program at Organon led to her current role with FFF Enterprises. Lore received her BA in Political Science from Quincy University and her JD from Northwestern University School of Law.

Mark Mantovani ’76, JD, served as Chairman, President and CEO of Ansira, a St. Louis based diversified marketing services business, where he managed all company operations. Under his leadership, the company expanded from a small, family-owned company to a highly regarded industry leader. Before his time with Ansira, Mantovani was co-founder and principal in the St. Louis law firm of Behr, Mantovani, McCarter & Potter, P.C. During his private law practice, Mantovano advised and represented clients on legal matters involving general corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, taxation, succession and estate planning and related issues. Mantovani was also a Fellow in residence at the Harvard University Advanced Leadership Initiative for two years. In addition, Mantovani has been actively engaged in civic and charitable activities. He was listed in the St. Louis Business Journal as one of the most influential citizens in St. Louis. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from QU and his law degree from University of Missouri.