Wealth firm chief says law firm botched pre-nup, shortchanging him on modern art collection

Don Bryant, chairman and chief executive officer of Bryant Group, Inc., has filed a lawsuit against Bryan Cave LLP, a leading St. Louis law firm, and Lawrence Brody, a partner in the firm, contesting the way a pre-nuptial agreement with Mr. Bryant's former wife was negotiated and drafted. Mr. Bryant is seeking an award that could total more than $10 million and is alleging that Bryant Cave failed to properly take into account the effect of capital gains taxes on the value of the marital estate, according to Matthew Donohue, an attorney for Markowitz Herbold Glade & Melham PC of Portland, Ore., who is representing Mr. Bryant. Mr. Bryant's abstract art collection, which also includes works by Willem de Kooning, makes up a large portion of that estate. Bryant Group specializes in executive benefits plans and wealth management. A spokesperson for Mr. Bryant said he had no comment. Mr. Brody did not return calls for comment. The lawsuit was filed July 24 in St. Louis County Circuit Court.