A group of twelve people posing indoors in front of large windows with a view of the St. Louis Gateway Arch. Most are wearing black shirts with "LAW" or "SWIM" printed on them, and some wear green shirts with a lung graphic. Many have medals around their necks and race bibs on their shorts. Two women kneeling in front hold a sign that reads, "I Climbed the Tallest Building in St. Louis!" The group is smiling and some are holding up one finger in a celebratory gesture.
Community EngagementEvents, Awareness & AdvocacyFirm NewsTeam Highlights & Awards
March 31, 2026

SWMW Law Team Conquers the Climb – and the Leaderboard – for the American Lung Association

For the SWMW Law team, the American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb has never been just a stair-climbing event. It’s personal.

On March 28, 13 members of SWMW Law laced up their shoes and made their way up the Metropolitan Square Building in Downtown St. Louis – all 900 steps of it – to raise money and awareness for individuals battling lung disease. This year, the team didn’t just show up. They showed out, earning the title of first-place fundraising team in the region with $9,595.88 raised.

“The energy this year was unlike anything I’ve seen before,” said Partner Sophie Zavaglia, who has spearheaded the firm’s participation in the event since its first year. “Our people came ready to give everything they had – not for recognition, but because they genuinely care about our clients and the cause. That’s what makes this team so special.”

Climbing for Clients

The connection between SWMW Law’s work and the Fight for Air Climb runs deep. As a mesothelioma and asbestos litigation firm, the attorneys and staff at SWMW Law spend every day advocating for clients whose lung disease is the direct result of asbestos exposure – people who know all too well what it means to fight for every breath.

“Our clients were denied the right to clean air, and they suffer in ways most people will never fully understand,” Zavaglia said. “When we climb those stairs, we’re thinking about them. It’s the least we can do to honor what they go through.”

The 2026 Team

This year’s climbers represented the full breadth of the firm, from partners to associates to staff:

Sophie Zavaglia, Caitlynne Dixon, Emma Sikora Paulus, Paige Turner, Stephanie Gold, Jonathon Forbes, Brendan Noble, Daniel Sparks, Amanda Noel, Courtney Gass, Jeremiah “Joe” Morrissey, Ashley Solomon, and Abigail Wells.

Every single one of them completed the climb – cheering each other on the entire way up.

A First-Timer’s Perspective

For some on the team, this year’s climb brought a new kind of clarity. Ashley Solomon was participating for the first time, and the experience left a mark she won’t soon forget.

“Within the first few flights, I could already feel my breathing change, my legs hurt, and my pace start to slow,” Solomon said. “And then it hit me – for millions of people living with lung disease, that feeling of struggling to catch your breath isn’t just during a climb. It’s every day. It’s walking to the mailbox, going up a few stairs, getting through a normal routine. This climb gave me just a small glimpse into that reality and it left a lasting impression. This might have been my first climb, but it will not be my last.”

A Record-Breaking Year

SWMW Law’s first-place finish this year is a reflection of years of commitment, not just to the event, but to the mission behind it. Since 2022, the firm has collectively raised $60,809 for the American Lung Association – a number that speaks volumes about the culture the firm has built.

“I am so proud of this team,” Zavaglia said. “It really struck me this year just how passionate our people are. Everyone completed the climb, cheered each other on, and did this all for our clients. To come out as the highest fundraising team in the region on top of that – it’s really incredible.”

About the Fight for Air Climb

The American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb is St. Louis’s only stair-climbing event dedicated to supporting clean air and lung health. Fund raised support the ALA’s mission of improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy, and research. To learn more or donate, visit lung.org.