Managing Partner
Location: Clayton (St. Louis), Missouri
Phone: (314) 434-7272
Fax: 314-434-6500
Email: Email Me
Susan K. Roach, now managing partner of The Roach Law Firm in Clayton, Missouri has been serving the “best interests” of her clients throughout Missouri for over thirty-five (35) years. After obtaining her Juris Doctorate, her first client was the State of Missouri whom she served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in St. Louis County. There she zealously prosecuted sex offenders and white-collar criminals, obtaining a 100% trial conviction rate.
After Susan entered private practice, she gained extensive trial experience and notoriety while attaining dramatic results for her clients which she parlayed into a burgeoning civil and criminal trial practice. In 1993 Susan founded The Roach Law Firm which is staffed today by a team of attorneys and legal assistants who share Susan’s passion, commitment and advocacy skills enabling her to continue to represent the “best interests” of her clients in the areas of civil and criminal trial practice.
Susan’s litigation accomplishments include successfully trying over 145 criminal and civil jury cases in State and Federal courts in Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Florida and South Carolina. She has negotiated thousands of settlements and judge tried over 900 cases. Susan has argued cases to the 7th and 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court obtaining reversals for her clients. In the past five years, Susan has obtained numerous acquittals in high profile and landmark criminal cases and favorable verdicts and judgments in civil and criminal cases in Missouri, Illinois, South Carolina and California.
Susan has developed a formidable family law practice which focuses on financially complex divorces, modifications, and contested custody and visitation issues. As these family law matters often involve allegations of criminal activity, including sexual abuse, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and white collar crimes, Susan’s professional training and litigation experience enable her to identify criminal issues and either capably advise or represent the client accordingly.
Susan draws from her extensive legal background, psychological training and life roles as a wife, mother, and step-mother, to artfully assist her family law clients in navigating their paths through the legal process.
Susan describes her firm’s experience with clients as follows:
“Satisfied clients return for our representation decade after decade . . . often two generations of a family or multiple members of the same family become our client.”
“It is not unusual for those whom we have previously opposed to refer clients to my law firm; they acknowledge that their side lost due to our advocacy.” In court I want you working for me, not against me is a common request.
Areas of Practice
- Family Law
- Criminal Defense
- Civil Litigation
- State and Federal Appeals
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Missouri, 1980
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 1990
- U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri, 1992
- U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2000
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1996
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2007
Education
- Saint Louis University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri
Juris Doctorate – 1979 - Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana
B.S. magna cum laude – 1976
Honors: Outstanding Senior
Major: Psychology
Representative Cases
- State ex Rrl Sandra Kemper, Realtor v. The Honorable David Lee Vincent, Respondent, SC87246 (Supreme Court 2006)
- Christopher Morton v. Angelique Pearson, ED94446 (Missouri Court of Appeals 2010)
- John G. Meyer v. Schnucks Markets, Inc and Cy Jansen, 163 F.3d 1048 (8th Circuit Court of Appeals 1998)
- State of Missouri v. Jacob Runge, 09SL-CR04620 (St. Louis County Circuit Court 2010)
- State of South Carolina (County of Darlington) v. Craig Zumwinkel, H-836060 (Darlington County Circuit Court 2010)
- State of Missouri v. Catherine Heminghaus, 06CR-181 (St. Louis County Circuit Court 2008)
- Vacca v. Vacca, 450 S.W. 3d 490 (Missouri Court of Appeals 2014)
- In Re the Marriage of Barbara J. Wilk, Respondent v. Keith Wilke, Appellant, 781 S.W. 2d 17C (Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District 1989)
- David R. Bullock, Movant/Appellant v. State of Missouri, 929 S.W. 2d 942 (Missouri Court of Appeals Southern District * 1996)
- Helen Davis, Respondent v. Gary Davis, Appellant, 107 S.W. 3d 425 (Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District 2003)
- Sharon Bullard, Petitioner/Appellant v. Steven Ballard, Respondent, 929 S.W. 2d 942 (1996)
- Linda Hamilton, Respondent v. Jeffrey Hamilton, Appellant, 255 S.W. 3d 530 (Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern Division Three 2008)
Representative Clients
- Professionals
- Homemakers
- Business Owners
- Professional Athletes
- Teachers
- Firefighters/Police
Classes/Seminars
- Saint Louis Police Academy, Instructor
- BAMSL – Highscool Mock Trial, Judge
Honors and Awards
- Graduate of Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College, 2003 – Present
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Missouri Bar, Member, 1980 – Present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, Member, 1995 – Present
- American Bar Association, 2005 – Present
Past Employment Positions
- St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorneys Office under George R. “Buzz” Westfall , Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
- Missouri Attorney Generals Office, Special Assistant Attorney General
Pro Bono Activities
- The firm selects 2 Cases/Year at Random on Which We Provide Pro Bono Services, 1992 – Present
Languages
- English
