Dowd & Dowd Welcomes Former Prosecutor and Appellate Leader Jessica Hathaway
Dowd & Dowd is pleased to announce that Jessica M. Hathaway has joined the firm, bringing more than two decades of distinguished experience in complex criminal litigation, appellate advocacy, and public integrity investigations.
Hathaway joins Dowd & Dowd following leadership roles at the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where she served as both Director of Conviction Integrity and Chief of the Conviction and Incident Review Units. In those roles she maintained an active felony trial practice, as well as leading high-profile investigations and prosecutions involving allegations of police misconduct, excessive force, wrongful convictions, and public corruption.
“Dowd & Dowd has built a reputation for excellence in high-stakes litigation and trial work,” Hathaway said. “I am excited to join a team of accomplished trial lawyers and contribute to the firm’s continued success representing clients in their important matters.”
Before her work in public service leadership, Hathaway managed the appellate and post-conviction practice at Rosenblum Schwartz Fry & Johnson, where she handled complex appeals and supported the litigation of serious criminal matters through trial and sentencing. Her practice also included civil, administrative, and family law matters in both state and federal courts.
Hathaway began her career as an assistant public defender in St. Louis, where she spent more than a decade representing clients at every stage from trial through appeal. She has briefed and argued eleven cases before the Supreme Court of Missouri and handled hundreds of appeals statewide. Her particular expertise in appellate advocacy has been recognized with the David J. Dixon Appellate Advocacy Award from the Missouri Bar Foundation, and the Duncan Award from the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Earlier in her career, Hathaway served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable John C. Holstein of the Supreme Court of Missouri, and worked as a conflicts and ethics attorney at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, advising on professional responsibility matters across a global law firm.
“Jessica’s depth of courtroom experience and her leadership in complex investigations make her an exceptional addition to our firm,” said William Dowd, Principal and Partner at Dowd & Dowd. “Her background handling high-stakes criminal matters and appellate work strengthens our ability to serve clients facing their legal challenges.”
Dowd & Dowd is known for its commitment to trial excellence and its focus on delivering results in complex litigation. The addition of Hathaway reflects the firm’s continued investment in top-tier legal talent with extensive courtroom experience and a proven track record of success.
Hathaway earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree in English, cum laude, from the University of Missouri.