Kessler Williams

Attorney Bradford Kessler

Since 1983, Bradford Kessler has passionately defended each and every client against criminal charges in numerous state and federal jurisdictions.

Never known to shy away from trial under even the most challenging of facts, Mr. Kessler has defended complex, multi-million-dollar white collar federal cases and over two dozen state cases involving the death penalty which he tried to verdict, as well as hundreds of other serious felony trials.

Mr. Kessler takes pride in mentoring young attorneys as well as kids in trouble and, along with his brother, trains some of the best young judo fighters in the country.

Whether participating in international rule of law programs in Mexico, Russia, and the Czech Republic, or teaching trial advocacy courses in universities across the country, Mr. Kessler always finds a chance to continue his own education through the wonderful opportunities the practice of law presents.

Attorney Nicholas Williams

Everyone is entitled to a fair trial and a vigorous defense. That is the basis of our justice system. It is also why Nicholas Williams became a lawyer.

Mr. Williams is a trial attorney who loves the challenge of solving problems that seemingly do not have an easy answer. He has won both criminal and civil trials. He has also successfully defended death eligible defendants on the federal and state levels. Additionally, with his background in finance, Mr. Williams has extensive experience defending clients accused of wire fraud, bank fraud, insurance fraud, and embezzlement.

Mr. Williams’ cases have been covered by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and Dateline NBC. In his time with KesslerWilliams, the firm has taken on some of the most high-profile cases in the St. Louis area, ranging from the white-collar defense of a sports executive to those accused of violence and sex crimes. During that same time, the firm has also taken on countless matters about which you will never read or hear.

Further, Mr. Williams is a teacher. He is passionate about teaching young lawyers and law students and serving as a resource for colleagues in his field. As a program director for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), Mr. Williams travels the country teaching trial skills and deposition skills. He regularly lectures on jury selection and cross examination, among other areas of trial practice.

Mr. Williams is an adjunct faculty member at Emory University School of Law, and he has been invited to become an adjunct faculty member at Saint Louis University School of Law.

In addition to his work with NITA, Mr. Williams is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL), and The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL).

Mr. Williams is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Saint Louis University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in the states of Missouri and Illinois, as well as the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Attorney John Davis

John Davis joined KesslerWilliams in 2020 after serving as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, for more than twenty-three years. As an Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Davis was assigned to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. He supervised and assisted investigations of major narcotic conspiracies, money laundering, asset forfeiture, federal firearm offenses, and federal bomb and arson offenses. These investigations involved the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and numerous other federal and state agencies. As a result, Mr. Davis is very experienced in global positioning system (GPS) tracking, wiretaps, and other electronic means of investigation. His post-investigation courtroom experience includes federal grand jury practice, extensive federal jury and bench trials, and appellate matters before the United States 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Prior to becoming an Assistant United States Attorney, Mr. Davis was elected Associate Circuit Judge of the 11th Circuit in St. Charles County, Missouri. Before taking the bench, Mr. Davis’ litigation career began as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where he gained extensive trial experience in felony, misdemeanor, and traffic matters on the state level. He also practiced before the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District.

Mr. Davis has over 20 years of experience as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Lindenwood University. His teaching experience includes Constitutional Law, Criminal Investigations, Criminal Justice, and the Law of Evidence.

A native of Peoria, Illinois, he graduated from Bradley University, with a B.S. in Administration of Criminal Justice, and Saint Louis University School of Law.

Attorney Thomas Dudash

Thomas Dudash is a criminal defense attorney who excels in the courtroom. Mr. Dudash has tried more than twenty-five felony cases to jury-verdict. He was also honored with a nomination for the Lon O. Hocker award, which recognizes ethical and exemplary trial work among members of the bar. Mr. Dudash defends his clients in the most serious criminal matters in state courts throughout Missouri and in federal courts in Missouri and Illinois.

As a former prosecutor, Mr. Dudash has prosecuted hundreds of felony cases from inception to disposition. He provides the firm’s clients with an insider’s perspective on the inner-workings of a prosecutor’s office – from investigations and charging decisions to grand jury presentations and trial strategies – and incomparable insight into the strengths and weaknesses of a prosecutor’s case.

Mr. Dudash also has experience representing clients in civil litigation and has presented to other lawyers on the art of jury selection. Mr. Dudash holds degrees from the University of Florida and Notre Dame Law School.