Welcome to KCMBA

The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA) is the largest and oldest bar association in the Kansas City area.  Founded in 1884, KCMBA utilizes its rich tradition as a platform to provide current, innovative and relevant service to its 5,000 members in its nine-county service territory in Missouri and Kansas.

The mission of KCMBA is to serve its members and its community by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law.

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KCMBA’s proprietary search engine will help you find your next ADR professional.

Courthouse Security Pass

Courthouse Security Passes are available to any attorney who is in good standing with their state Bar.   

CLE Opportunities

KCMBA offers a vast selection of relevant, timely, and informative live seminars annually, in addition to a selection of online programming available 24/7. 

Volunteer Opportunities

KCMBA offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities to engage with the Kansas City community.

 

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KCMBA's Career Center is a free benefit for members and employers posting open positions.  To view the full job listings you must be a current member of KCMBA.

KC Counselor Publication

KC Counselor is the monthly magazine of KCMBA and is a benefit of membership.

Member Socials

KCMBA members are welcome to join us at our monthly members-only socials

 

Your Community is Waiting

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Rent Space at KCMBA

KCMBA has a variety of room sizes, customizable seating arrangements and state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment to make your event a success.

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KCMBA offers many events, with varying sponsorship levels.

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Fellows of the Bar

KCMBA recognizes the 2022 Fellows of the Bar and the Sustaining Members for their generous contributions to the Association. Fellowship is the highest level of membership at KCMBA. Any member who has been in practice for a minimum of eight years and has demonstrated a sustained commitment to the mission and goals of the Association is welcome to become a Fellow of the Bar.

2022 Fellows

Thomas J. (T.J.) Preuss
Thomas J. (T.J.) Preuss
Preuss | Foster Law
T.J. is the founding member of Preuss | Foster Law. Early in his career, T.J. defended doctors and hospitals, before his practice evolved into repres- enting plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and wrongful death actions. T.J. spent a decade prosecuting nation-wide complex pharmaceutical and medical device cases, which was the catalyst for opening Preuss | Foster in 2017. There, T.J. turned his focus towards our local community, helping victims of vehicular negligence, professional malpractice and product liability. T.J. has obtained favorable results representing plaintiffs in medi- cal malpractice, civil rights, nursing home negligence, pharmaceutical and medical device liability and individual product liability actions. T.J. has been recognized by Kansas City Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar,” and as a Super Lawyer for over 10 years. Recently, U.S. News & World Report recognized Preuss | Foster as a “Best Law Firm.”
J. Kent Emison
J. Kent Emison
Langdon & Emison, LLC
Kent Emison is a founding partner at Langdon & Emison where he devotes his practice to personal injury litigation. Kent has served as lead trial counsel in many significant cases, including Baker vs. General Motors, a landmark lawsuit that went to the U.S. Supreme Court and resulted in a unanimous opinion for his client. Kent is a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. “The Best Lawyers in America” and U.S. News and World Report named Kent the Lawyer of the Year for personal injury plaintiffs’ litigation for the Kansas City metropolitan area in 2018, 2014, 2011, and 2021.
James M. Humphrey, IV
James M. Humphrey, IV
Berkowitz Oliver LLP
Jim Humphrey is a partner and trial lawyer at Berkowitz Oliver LLP. He started his legal career in Kansas City as a law clerk to The Honorable Gary A. Fenner, United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. In 2000, he joined Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy, P.C. and was for- tunate to work with a number of past KCMBA presidents, including Larry Ward, Tom Kokoruda, and Russ Jones. In 2015, Jim fulfilled a career goal of serving as a lawyer for the federal government as a trial attorney in the enforcement division of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Jim returned to private practice in 2019, joining litigation boutique Berkowitz Oliver. He focuses on commercial litigation and government investigations, and appears in federal and state courts throughout the country.
Jill A. Kanatzar
Jill A. Kanatzar
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC
Jill Kanatzar is a partner with Dollar, Burns & Becker. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame School of Law in 1994, she served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, prosecuting adult sex crimes and crimes perpetrated against children. She now represents victims injured by abuse and neglect in institutional settings including nursing homes, schools, and group homes. The Supreme Court of Missouri has appointed Jill to a Regional Disciplinary Committee and its Advisory Committee. She has served on the Community Advisory Com- mittee of the Health Care Foundation and the Board of the Brain Injury Association. She has been recognized as a Missouri Super Lawyer and received the 2018 Women’s Litigation Practitioner Award.
Terry J. Brady
Terry J. Brady
Lathrop Gage LLP
Terry is a former Senior Counsel at Lathrop Gage, LLC. Terry is a former Secretary-Attorney for the Board of Police Commissioners. In 2005, he was appointed by the Governor of Missouri to a four-year term on the Board of Police Commissioners for the City of Kansas City, Missouri where he served as Treasurer, Vice President and President. He is a former Special Assistant Attorney General and General Counsel of the Office of Attorney General for the State Missouri. He is a Director and Secretary of the Police Foundation of Kansas City.
Patrick Stueve
Patrick Stueve
Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP
Kansas Patrick Stueve has prosecuted claims nationwide against some of the largest companies in the world, including Merck, Formula 1 Racing, ITW, Citigroup, United Healthcare and AIG. He’s secured more than $2 billion in jury verdicts, arbitration awards and settlements. Recognized as a National Law Journal “Elite Boutique Trailblazer” for his work in contingency fee business litigation, he focuses on bet-the-company, antitrust, and food and agriculture matters.Stueve represents entrepreneurs, privately held companies and publicly traded Fortune 500 corporations – often in high-stakes cases. He settled a landmark Sherman Act I antitrust lawsuit brought against the largest managed care organizations and hospital systems in KC. He also served as co-lead counsel for a landmark case against agribusiness giant Syngenta. The resulting $1.51 billion settlement is believed to be the largest agricultural settlement in U.S. history and earned him a spot among Law360’s Food and Beverage MVPs.
Michael C. Rader
Michael C. Rader
Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C.
Mr. Rader specializes in wrongful death claims, professional negligence, trucking accidents, product liability, personal injury, and mass tort/class action litigation. “Clients don’t come to me when times are good. Most often, they turn to me when something tragic has happened or things are at their worst,” said Rader. “I take pride in being able to guide and aid my clients through these troubled times.” Missouri Governor Jay Nixon appointed Rader to the Missouri Brain Injury Advisory Council for his experience representing victims of brain injuries and their families. Rader also serves as a commissioner for the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners that oversees the operation of the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, is a Fellow in ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates and ISOB (International Society of Barristers, is a 2008 recipient of the Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer award, holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and was also named in 2017 Missouri’s Most Influential Lawyers by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.
Tom Hershewe
Tom Hershewe
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC
Tom Hershewe is one of the Midwest’s leading bad faith insurance litigators. Tom represents insureds who have had their insurance companies abandon them after another person sued them. Even in cases where the insurance company defends its insured, Tom often serves as the insured’s personal counsel to ensure that the insurance company takes the correct steps to resolve the case. During his time at Dollar, Burns & Becker, L.C., Tom has recovered more than $130 million against insurance companies for their failure to abide by good faith claims handling. If that weren’t enough, Tom has also handled almost every kind of personal injury case imaginable. He’s been involved with cases pertaining to truck crashes, electrocution, faulty products, and industrial accidents.
Ronald Nguyen
Ronald Nguyen
The Law Office of Ronald Nguyen, LLC
Ronald Nguyen is the owner of The Law Office of Ronald Nguyen, LLC, which focuses on Immigration, Criminal, Family Law, Personal Injury Law, and Missouri Bar (OCDC) Bar Complaint Defense; however, Ron handles a variety of cases within Missouri and Kansas. Ron has and continues to serve on multiple legal and non-legal committees, non-profit boards, and leadership programs in Kansas City. Ron received the KCMBA’s YLS, President’s Award, the Missouri Lawyers Weekly, Up and Coming Award in Public Service, and the KCMBA’s President’s Award on behalf of the Asian American Bar Association of Kansas City, which he served as the President. Ron was selected for Super Lawyer’s Rising Star in 2018- 2021. Ron received his B.A. at the Loyola University of Chicago and his J.D. at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Edward 'Kip' D. Robertson, III
Edward 'Kip' D. Robertson, III
Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C.
Kip Robertson is the managing partner of Bartimus, Frickleton, Robertson, Rader P.C. He focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, including catastrophic personal injury, appeals, insurance litigation and class actions. Kip has served as the chair of the KCMBA Torts Law Committee and is currently the President-Elect of the Civil Litigation Section. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Missouri—Kansas City School of Law (2006) and is the immediate past president of the Law Alumni Association. Kip received the Missouri Lawyers Media 40 under 40 award in 2014, has been recognized annually as a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer and has been selected as one of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators. Each year, Kip organizes the “Litigreat” advocacy symposium with KCMBA, which is a one-day seminar devoted exclusively to litigation for lawyers in practice seven years or less.
James P. Frickleton
James P. Frickleton
Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C.
James P. Frickleton is a shareholder and vice president of Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C. A 1983 graduate of the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law, Jim has been active as a trial attorney, legal educator, and leader in bar activities throughout his practice. Jim has represented plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death actions across a broad range of specializations including class action, medical malpractice, product liability, aviation and railroad accidents and other catastrophic injury cases. Jim has served as an officer in a variety of bar organizations including president of KCMBA and UMKC’s Law Foundation. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers, and various other legal organizations.
W. Perry Brandt
W. Perry Brandt
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
W. Perry Brandt is a Senior Counselor at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner. For many years he has been devoted to civic, charitable, and bar organizations. He is a past president of KCMBA, and a past member of The Missouri Bar Board of Governors. He currently serves on the Board of Trust of Vanderbilt University, and previously served as president of the Vanderbilt Alumni Association. Perry also has served as general counsel to the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, as board chair of Wayside Waifs, and president of DeLaSalle Charter High School. He has been honored as one of Kansas City’s Most Powerful Business Leaders. Meanwhile, Perry is even more devoted to his wife Liz, his daughter Betsy, and his dogs Milly and Molly.
Samuel M. Wendt
Samuel M. Wendt
Wendt Law Firm P.C.
Samuel Wendt is the founder of Wendt Law Firm, P.C. and has dedicated his practice to representing injured people and their families. Mr. Wendt has successfully represented countless people involved in automobile and commercial vehicle accidents, victims of medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, and wrongful death claims. He also has represented thousands of clients injured by defective medical devices and pharmaceuticals, such as Vioxx, Avandia, and Yaz/Yasmin, to name a few. Mr. Wendt received a B.S. in Cellular Biology from the University of Kansas and his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law.
Michael S. Meyer
Michael S. Meyer
Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C.
Mike Meyer is a partner with Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C. Mike is a trial lawyer representing individuals and families harmed by medical malpractice, car and truck crashes, defective products, and other negligent conduct. In addition, Mike is an active member in a number of legal and civic organizations, including the Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City, the Kansas City Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Hollis H. Hanover
Hollis H. Hanover
Hanover Alternative Dispute Resolution
Hollis graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 1967. He has practiced for 53 years: thirty years as a trial lawyer and for the last twenty years has been a full time mediator/arbitrator.
David M. Skeens
David M. Skeens
Walters Renwick Richards Skeens & Vaughan P.C.
David Skeens is a shareholder with Walters Renwick Richards Skeens & Vaughan, P.C. David is a trial lawyer with a concentration in commercial matters, personal injury, and consumer class actions. During his 30+ year career, David has handled cases in Federal and State Courts throughout the U.S. and has obtained numerous multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for his clients. David is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a member of the ABA, The Missouri Bar, Missouri Association of Trial Lawyers, Kansas Bar, and Kansas Trial Lawyers Association. David currently serves on the MATA Board of Governors, the UMKC Law Foundation board, and is a past president of KCMBF. David is a life-long resident of Kansas City, an alumni and ardent supporter of the University of Missouri, and an Eagle Scout.
Thomas C. Jones
Thomas C. Jones
Davis Bethune & Jones, LLC
Thomas C. Jones is a founding member of the law firm of Davis Bethune & Jones, LLC in Kansas City, Missouri. He concentrates his trial practice in the areas of railroad crossing litigation, automobile/tractor-trailer litigation, product liability, professional negligence, and mass tort litigation. He is consistently considered one of the top railroad litigators in the country. He has been recognized in the Kansas City Business Journal as Best of the Bar by his peers and was named 2014 Lawyer of the Year by “The Best Lawyers in America”. In addition, Mr. Jones has been inducted as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Todd P. Graves
Todd P. Graves
Graves Garrett LLC
Todd Graves is a lawyer in private practice with the law firm of Graves Garrett in Kansas City. He represents clients nationwide before federal and state courts and administrative agencies. His areas of expertise include white collar criminal defense, political speech and election law, internal investigations, regulatory compliance, and complex commercial litigation. Before forming Graves Garrett, Todd served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. He was appointed United States Attorney from his position as Platte County Prosecuting Attorney, an office to which he was elected in 1994 and 1998. At the time of his election in 1994, he was the youngest full-time prosecuting attorney in Missouri.
Peter E. Goss
Peter E. Goss
The Goss Law Firm, PC
Peter Goss is the founding member of The Goss Law Firm, P.C. and has been practicing in the area of personal injury and mass tort litigation his entire career. Peter has represented and obtained favorable results for countless victims of automobile collisions, slip and fall accidents, severe burn injuries, railroad accidents, medical malpractice, and others. Peter has also represented hundreds of clients in mass tort litigation, including those injured by Avandia, Yaz/Yazmin, testosterone drugs, Actos, IVC filters and Attune Knee Replacements, to name a few. In his practice, Peter has maintained a dedication to client interaction and has worked tirelessly to ensure that his clients are fairly compensated for their injuries.
Rachel D. Stahle
Rachel D. Stahle
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC
Rachel Stahle is an accomplished attorney who has significant experience litigating cases involving personal injury, nursing home neglect, medical negligence, and sexual assault and abuse. Since 2015, Rachel has been recognized as a Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer Rising Star by Law & Politics. In 2014, she was recognized as an Up & Coming Lawyer by Missouri Lawyers Media. Rachel also received the Missouri Lawyers Media Women’s Justice Award in 2020 and has been included in the following: America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys – 2019-2020, The National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 – 2017-2019, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 10 Best Female Attorneys in Missouri – 2019, and Outstanding Young Lawyers in Missouri & Kansas, Top Attorneys – 2018.
Nathan A. Orr
Nathan A. Orr
Spencer Fane LLP
Nate serves as general counsel for his clients, connecting them with the very best attorneys available so they can confidently receive unparalleled quality, efficiency, and responsiveness. In managing his clients’ relation- ships with the firm, Nate takes the primary role coordinating litigation and dispute resolution services. He uses his litigation experience to counsel dozens of businesses, providing strategy to restructure credits, protect assets, avoid costly litigation, and create new business relationships. Nate’s litigation experience includes complex commercial disputes and an array of employment matters. He has significant experience and trial work litigating various business disputes, including a $250 million real estate dispute involving complex municipal finance and creative damage theories. Nate serves in numerous community leadership positions and is a past president of KCMBA.
Kelly Campbell
Kelly Campbell
Spencer Fane LLP
Kelly Campbell is a first chair trial attorney and partner at Spencer Fane LLP. Her practice focuses on defense of product liability and toxic tort cases involving serious personal injury and wrongful death. She also represents business clients and banks in commercial disputes and real estate matters. Before joining Spencer Fane, Kelly served in the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps. She gained considerable trial experience prosecuting criminal trials in the Navy and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. Because of Kelly’s extensive trial experience, the JAG Corps selected her to teach at Naval Justice School.
Jay A. Daugherty
Jay A. Daugherty
Jay Daugherty Mediation & Arbitration
Jay currently works as a full-time mediator and arbitrator with one of the busiest mediation practices in the Midwest having conducted over 3,000 mediations in the last eleven years. He is the principal of Jay Daugherty Mediation & Arbitration, a practice limited exclusively to ADR featuring seven (7) of the region’s leading ADR professionals practicing in the premier mediation and arbitration facilities located on the Plaza in Kansas City. Previously, he was a Circuit Judge for 20 years, anAdministrative Law Judge for seven years, and, as the chair of Missouri’s Supreme Court Commission on ADR, is one of Missouri’s leaders in the evolution of alternative dispute resolution. Geographically, he has conducted mediations and arbitrations throughout the Midwest and in most major cities across the country.
Athena M. Dickson
Athena M. Dickson
Siro Smith Dickson PC
Athena M. Dickson has been in private practice in Kansas City since 2003. Athena began practicing with Blumer Nally & Siro. She has continued to practice with Rik Siro and became a partner of Siro Smith Dickson PC in 2010. Licensed in both Missouri and Kansas, Athena handles personal injury, employment discrimination, workers’ compensation, and Social Security disability cases. Athena is a past president of the Association for Women Lawyers (AWL). She is also a past president of KCMBA’s Young Lawyers Section, and served as KCMBA’s 2020 president. In addition, she is immediate past president of the Jackson County Law Library (JCLL).
Leon Versfeld
Leon Versfeld
Versfeld & Hugo, LLC
Leon Versfeld serves as the managing partner of Versfeld & Hugo, LLC. He is licensed to practice law in South Africa, the United States (Missouri), England and Wales. Leon represents a variety of small and Fortune Companies both nationally and internationally on all matters relating to U.S. immigration. He often serves as an expert witness/ consultant in assisting fellow lawyers on immigration employment compliance, hiring practices (including I-9 audits/violations) and on the collateral immigration consequences/impact of certain criminal convictions of foreign nationals. Leon serves as immigration counsel to the Major League Soccer team, Sporting KC and also represents individual athletes, scientists and artists with extraordinary ability. He is the author of “Immigration and Naturalization Practice” published by The Missouri Bar and often speaks at national/international CLE events.
J.J. Burns
J.J. Burns
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC
J.J. Burns practices with Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC. He focuses his practice on personal injury cases and specializes in handling claims against motor carriers. He is a graduate of KCMBA’s Bar Leadership Academy, and is a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. J.J. has written and presented extensively on the issues of truck safety and motor carrier liability. He is a member of both the Missouri and Illinois Bars. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law.
Richard H. Ralston
Richard H. Ralston
The Ralston Law Group, LLC
Hon. Richard H. Ralston is a former United States Magistrate in the Western District of Missouri. Richard graduated from University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law in 1969. He is currently an attorney at The Ralston Law Group, LLC, helping people with Alternative Dispute Resolution issues. Following service on the bench, he also worked with Polsinelli, White, Vardeman & Shalton and Armstrong Teasdale, handling complex and substantial litigation matters. He has been selected to appear in Super Lawyers, an exclusive list of top-rated attorneys in specific practice areas who were chosen after thorough evaluation of numerous criteria.
Tim J. Becker
Tim J. Becker
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC
During his nearly 30-year legal career, Tim Becker has become known and revered as one of this nation’s leading truck crash attorneys. Through his work at Dollar, Burns & Becker, Tim has litigated truck crashes cases in 38 of the 50 states and won millions of dollars in settlements for his clients.
Richard D. Rhyne
Richard D. Rhyne
Lathrop GPM LLP
Dick Rhyne has more than 40 years of experience representing clients in complex commercial law and business litigation matters in state and federal courts around the country and in arbitrations. He has built upon that experience and now focuses a large portion of his practice on alternative dispute resolution, where he has participated in over 150 arbitrations as either counsel or arbitrator and over 150 mediations as mediator. Dick is still deeply entrenched in the construction industry, where he regularly represents owners, general contractors, architects, engineers, sureties, subcontractors, and suppliers in matters involving a wide variety of complex construction, design, and insurance coverage issues.
Michael T. Yonke
Michael T. Yonke
Yonke Law, LLC
Mike Yonke is the attorney and founder of Yonke Law, LLC. In college, Mike was an intern at the Missouri Attorney General Capital Case Division where he was able to lend a hand in investigating and preparing murder cases while participating in some notorious murder trials. He then worked for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s gaining invaluable trial experience. Once receiving his J.D., Mike joined his father, Albert Yonke’s law firm, working on tort litigation and federal criminal cases. In 2001, Mike broke away from his father’s firm and opened Yonke Law, LLC. He focuses on medical malpractice cases as well as other personal injury and wrongful death cases.
Nathalie C. Elliott
Nathalie C. Elliott
Levy Craig Law Firm, A Professional Corporation
Nathalie Elliott joined Levy Craig in 1994 as an associate. She was later named shareholder and served as the firm’s president from 2003-2009. With more than 20 years of family law, mediation, and collaborative divorce experience, her expertise includes complex divorce cases, child custody cases in the context of a divorce, and prenuptial or postnuptial agreements. She received her J.D. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. She has been a member of KCMBA since 1990. Nathalie was awarded the KCMBA Congenial Counselor Award in 2009 and has been named a Super Lawyer since 2006, Best of the Bar 2014, Top 50 Female Attorneys in the Missouri/Kansas region 2014 and is a fellow of the American Bar Association.
Russell S. Jones, Jr.
Russell S. Jones, Jr.
Polsinelli PC
Russell S. Jones, Jr. is a shareholder in Polsinelli’s Commercial and Intellectual Property Litigation practice groups. Russ serves clients in industries including telecommunications, software and technology, consumer products, government, franchising, sports licensing, financial institutions, and the legal and accounting professions. Russ handles trials, appeals, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings involving class actions; securities; directors’ and officers’ liability; contracts; business torts; patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property; and antitrust. Russ was President of KCMBA in 2016 and is currently Treasurer of the KCMBF. Russ is also a member of the Executive Council of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, and the American Board of Trial Advocates.
James A. Waits
James A. Waits
Waits & Brownlee
James A. Waits is a partner at Waits & Brownlee, where he focuses his practice exclusively on handling foster and private adoptions and guardianships throughout western Missouri. He has handled in excess of 2,500 adoptions, including scores of contested termination of parental rights and adoption cases at the trial level, in the Court of Appeals and Missouri Supreme Court. He is regularly involved in speaking to foster parent training groups. He previously served as a municipal judge for the City of Independence, Missouri.
Brett A. Emison
Brett A. Emison
Langdon & Emison, LLC
Brett’s practice focuses on catastrophic injury and death cases, and other complex tort cases, including automobile defects, railroad crossing accidents, trucking accidents, dangerous or defective drugs. He regularly pre- sents at seminars and other educational events teaching other attorneys the strategies learned in trials and cases across the country. For his successful representations of people injured in train accidents, Brett has been selected the “Lawyer of the Year” for the Kansas City metro area by Best Lawyers in America, in the category of railroad law for plaintiffs.
Gregory M. Bentz
Gregory M. Bentz
Sharp Law LLP
For over 35 years, Greg Bentz has advised and advocated for his clients. He is equally at home in the courtroom and the boardroom. Greg has a strong substantive knowledge of the antitrust laws and all types of business disputes. His understanding of legal, business, and financial principles allows him to efficiently assist clients in reaching their business objectives. Greg has been included in “The Best Lawyers in America,” Antitrust Lawyer of the Year by “Best Lawyers,” the Kansas City Business Journal Best of the Bar, and Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers. Greg is a past president of both KCMBA and KCMBF.
Eric Barton
Eric Barton
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Eric is a partner at Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP. He represents clients in complex commercial litigation and class actions, including national multi- district litigation, often involving antitrust, contract issues, or defective products. Before starting his private practice in 1995, Eric clerked for Judge Stephen H. Anderson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and Justice Fred N. Six of the Kansas Supreme Court. Eric has been repeatedly named in Super Lawyers for Business Anti-trust Litigation in Missouri and Kansas. He served as a merit selection panelist for the United States District Court of Kansas in evaluating applicants for a federal magistrate position. He co-founded the Lawyer’s Association of Kansas City’s annual Run for Justice 5K, which has raised money since 2005 for Legal Aid of Western Missouri. He currently serves on the board of the Midwest Music Foundation, a non-profit organization providing health care and educational assistance to Kansas City area musicians.
Tim E. Dollar
Tim E. Dollar
Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC
Tim Dollar is considered one of the top trial lawyers in America. He has tried more than 286 jury trials, has won hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients, and orchestrated major company and legislative policy changes that make our world safer. Highlights of Tim’s civil practice include Bresette v. Brassfield and Gorre, et. al, a nationally publicized story about the devastating collapse of a flight display board at Birmingham- Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham, Alabama. Additionally, Tim represented KC Wolf (Dan Meers), the longtime mascot for the Kansas City Chiefs. Meers was seriously injured, while performing a stunt at Arrowhead Stadium using a bungee cord and a zip line. His many jury trials include those he has conducted while serving as a special homicide prosecutor for Jackson County, Missouri. Jackson County has continued to work with Tim over the past 30 years on important homicide cases.
John F. Edgar
John F. Edgar
Edgar Law Firm LLC
John F. Edgar is a founding partner of Edgar Law Firm LLC (2002). John focuses his practice on representing plaintiffs in the areas of commercial litigation, fraud/misrepresentation, breach of contract, legal malpractice, securities, and other business torts. He has also prosecuted hundreds of class actions in the areas of consumer protection, product liability, environmental contamination, securities, wage/overtime, antitrust, and ERISA/employee benefits. John serves in key leadership roles throughout the legal and business communities and serves on the Board of Governors for the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. He is a former Board member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.
James R. Wyrsch
James R. Wyrsch
Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C.
James R. Wyrsch received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, his J.D. from Georgetown University Law School, and his LL.M. from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. He is a Phi Delta Phi, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and senior counsel of the College of Master Advocates and Barristers. He was named Dean of the Trial Bar, KCMBA, 2002; received the Lifetime Achievement Award, KCMBA, 2004; and the Liberty and Justice Legacy Award, KCMBF, 2007.
Jonathan P. Kieffer
Jonathan P. Kieffer
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Jon Kieffer is a Partner with Wagstaff & Cartmell, where he has practiced since 1998. Jon represents individuals and businesses as plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of litigation matters in state and federal trial and appellate courts nationwide. His practice includes products liability, professional liability, insurance bad faith litigation and commercial litigation including business torts. Much of Jon’s current practice focuses on automotive, drug and medical device defect litigation, including multidistrict or “mass tort” complex litigation. Jon is a Fellow in the International Society of Barristers (ISOB). Jon also was selected by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 25 Product Liability Lawyers in Missouri and he has been named to the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list of litigation attorneys every year since 2009.
John J. Schirger
John J. Schirger
Miller Schirger, LLC
John J. Schirger is a founding member of the law firm of Miller Schirger, LLC in Kansas City, Missouri. He maintains a nationwide practice in the areas of business and commercial litigation, plaintiff class action, and securities litigation. John obtained his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1988, and his J.D. from Creighton University School of Law in 1992. John is known for his disciplined and thorough approach in cases, and also for being practical and creative in resolving disputes. He maintains an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recognized as a Top 100 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer and Best of the Bar by the Kansas City Business Journal.
John P. O'Connor
John P. O'Connor
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
John P. O’Connor joined the firm of Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP in April of 2006. John practices primarily in the area of general criminal law, white- collar crime, and complex criminal litigation. During his career he has tried over 165 criminal jury trials. John has been recognized as one of Kansas City’s outstanding trial lawyers on multiple occasions. He has been awarded the Louis Lombardo Prosecutor of the Year Award, as well as the Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award. John is a member of The Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the American Trial Lawyers Association, The Missouri Bar, and KCMBA.
Andrew G. Colombo
Andrew G. Colombo
Hovey Williams LLP
Andrew joined Hovey Williams in 1994. He specializes in preparation and prosecution of domestic and foreign patent applications, particularly in the areas of medical and other complex mechanical technologies. Andrew also specializes in trademark application preparation and prosecution, as well as licensing and dispute resolution in all areas of intellectual property. After earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Andrew worked with a local manufacturing company while attending law school. He began clerking for Hovey Williams in 1994 and has continuously worked for the firm since then. Andrew chose the practice of law after watching his father, also an attorney, help others with legal issues.
Brenda Hamilton
Brenda Hamilton
Seigfreid Bingham, PC
Brenda G. Hamilton, a Seigfreid Bingham shareholder, represents busi- nesses in courts nationwide in a broad variety of complex commercial litigation. She has extensive experience handling high-stakes litigation in- volving business torts, contract disputes, consumer fraud, trade secret theft, breach of noncompetition agreements, employment discrimination, FLSA/wage and hour violations, and insurance coverage disputes. She has successfully handled many class action lawsuits involving consumer fraud and FLSA/wage and hour claims. She is Chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and eDiscovery Committee. She serves on KCMBA’s Board as a Member-at-Large. She received a Women’s Justice Award- Litigation Practitioner from Missouri Lawyers Media in 2021.
Scott S. Bethune
Scott S. Bethune
Davis Bethune & Jones, LLC
Scott Bethune is a founding member of Davis Bethune & Jones, LLC. Scott concentrates his trial practice in the areas of complex litigation, railroad litigation, product liability and mass tort litigation. He’s listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” was named Lawyer of the Year for Mass Torts Litigation for 2017 and 2021, Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation in 2018, Lawyer of the Year Product Liability 2020, and Lawyer of the Year Medical Malpractice 2022. He’s been recognized in the Kansas City Business Journal as Best of the Bar, as well as a Super Lawyer by the Super Lawyers magazine for both MO and KS. He’s been inducted as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, serving as president of the Western MO/Eastern KS Chapter. He’s served as a commissioner on Missouri’s Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission and 16th Circuit Judicial Commission. Scott is a past president of KCMBA, is on the board of KCMBF, and is the President of UMKC’s Law Foundation Board of Trustees.
Lynn R. Johnson
Lynn R. Johnson
Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chartered
Lynn has been with Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chartered since 1970. He has become nationally recognized as a trial attorney for his life-long devotion to the protection of individual rights and the enforcement of individual and corporate responsibility. Lynn has been recognized for many years by his peers in Kansas, Missouri, and the United States as one of the best trial attorneys in the country. Lynn is currently rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and has been rated AV by Martindale- Hubbell since 1976. Lynn shares his expertise by being a frequent lecturer/ presenter at trial attorney continuing legal education events throughout the country. Over his career he has made more than 100 CLE presentations.
Dana Tippin Cutler
Dana Tippin Cutler
James W. Tippin & Assoc.
With more than 30 years in the practice of law, Dana has served in several positions of bar leadership during her career, including being the first woman of color elected as President of The Missouri Bar, in 2016. Dana has tried more than twenty bench and jury trials. Dana also serves as the Chief Diversity Officer for Holistic Industries but serves as a consultant and speaker on DEI issues nationally for the public and private sector. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with honors, from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and her J.D. degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
Nicholas Hinrichs
Nicholas Hinrichs
Hinrichs Law Firm, LLC
Hinrichs received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas, and his law degree from St. Mary’s University. He joined the Platte County Prosecutor’s Office as an assistant prosecuting attorney in 2012. For three years, he prosecuted felony criminal cases ranging from involuntary manslaughter to crimes against children. Hinrichs has tried more than 30 trials to verdict which has allowed him to hone his courtroom skills. Hinrichs represents plaintiffs in catastrophic injury cases.
Kevin J. Berger
Kevin J. Berger
Berger & Vogini, LLC
Kevin earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Kansas City Art Institute in 1982 and his J.D. at UMKC School of Law in 1991, graduating near the top of his class. Kevin has experience in a variety of legal specialties, including Personal Injury and Insurance Claims, Probate, Wills and Trusts, Medicaid Planning, Traffic, and Workers’ Compensation. He and his partner have litigated and recovered tens of millions of dollars since 1991 for their clients. His greatest achievement in life has been winning the hand of his wife Sarah since 1989 and raising their seven children. Kevin also helps pastor a church in midtown Kansas City and is a longtime supporter of the arts community in the crossroads district. He is an avid tennis player, although routinely beaten, and teaches Political Science, Constitutional law and Debate at Whitefield Academy, a local high school.
Kirk J. Goza
Kirk J. Goza
Goza & Honnold, LLC
Kirk Goza is a founding partner of Goza & Honnold, LLC. He has over 25 years of experience trying lawsuits and managing significant pieces of litigation, including class action consumer fraud, pharmaceutical, and other mass tort product liability, professional negligence claims and general business litigation. Mr. Goza has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, including some of the largest corporations in America. However, his primary focus now is representing plaintiffs in personal injury and mass tort claims. Mr. Goza is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers, and International Academy of Trial lawyers.
Casey P. Murray
Casey P. Murray
Spencer Fane LLP
Tim Monsees is a shareholder and director with the firm of Monsees & Mayer, P.C. He graduated with honors from the University of Missouri Columbia School of Law in 1981. He is admitted to practice in Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Colorado. Mr. Monsees restricts his practice to representation of injured parties in litigation of product liability, particularly cases related to defective firearms and hunting tree stands. Mr. Monsees’ firm has received national recognition for litigation related to injuries from defective sporting equipment and from defective firearms. Mr. Monsees is recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Missouri Super Lawyers, Kansas City Business Journal “Best of the Bar”, and for many years has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell with an “A/V” rating.
James R. Bartimus
James R. Bartimus
Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C.
James Bartimus has more than 40 years of trial experience representing plaintiffs nationwide in complex medical negligence and pharmaceutical cases. Jim is listed in “The Best Lawyers of America,” Top 3 by Super Lawyers for Kansas and Missouri, and voted Best Medical Negligence Lawyer in Missouri. Jim is a fellow of The International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Legal Medicine, and American College of Trial Lawyers. He has served as president of International Society of Barristers, Civil Justice Foundation, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, KCMBA, KCMBF, Missouri Institute for Justice, regional chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and UMKC’s Law Foundation. He is a speaker both nationally and internationally.
Grant L. Davis
Grant L. Davis
Davis Bethune & Jones, LLC
Grant L. Davis is a founding member of the law firm of Davis, Bethune & Jones, LLC in Kansas City, Missouri. He has devoted his career to representing individuals who were injured through the negligence of others. His practice includes the fields of personal injury, products liability, medical negligence, and commercial cases. He was named Lawyer of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018 by “The Best Lawyers in America” and received the Tom Strong Award in 2012. Grant is also an invited member of the Inner Circle of Advocates.
J.D. Williamson
J.D. Williamson
Bar Association in 1992. He was engaged in the private practice of law from 1965 until his appointment as Circuit Judge in 1995 by Governor Mel Carnahan. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 2007. He served as Assistant City Counselor for the City of Independence from 1965- 66, and as an Assistant Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney from 1970- 1977. He received his education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he obtained a Business Administration degree in 1963, a J.D. degree in 1965 and an L.L.M. degree in trial practice in 1972.
Robert A. Henderson
Robert A. Henderson
Polsinelli PC
Bob began his trial practice in 1978, representing industry, financial institutions, government, national not for profits and individuals in litigation across the US. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, The International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American Bar Foundation. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has served as a National Board Member. Since his appointment by the Missouri Supreme Court in 2003, Bob has continuously served on the MAI Committee on civil jury instructions. Bob was a Dean of the Trial Bar recipient from the KCMBA in 2016. He has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America from 2003-2021, and has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as one of “America’s Leading Litigation Attorneys” and “Local Litigation Star” from 2009-2021. Bob has also served many charitable boards throughout his legal career.
Daniel L. McClain
Daniel L. McClain
Seigfried Bingham, P.C.
Dan McClain is an attorney at Seigfreid Bingham, P.C., specializing in contract, construction, lending, real estate, shareholder disputes and other business litigation. He has tried and argued cases in state and federal court and arbitration, including multimillion dollar complex construction disputes and class actions. Honored as one of the Best Lawyers in America and a Super Lawyer, Dan obtained his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Iowa. Dan started his career as a law clerk to the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri before entering private practice, including running his own law firm for five years. Dan is president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association’s civil litigation section, chaired Business Litigation Committee, and serves on the board of Heart to Heart International. Dan lives in Leawood with his wife (Michele) and their five children.
Robert M. Thompson
Robert M. Thompson
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Robert (Bob) Thompson focuses his practice in the area of complex commercial business litigation and class actions in State and Federal Courts throughout the United States. Bob graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law in 1990 and began his practice with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. He served as the managing partner of the Kansas City office from 2006 to 2012 and was a member of the firm’s executive committee from 2012 to 2018. He has been recognized in recent editions of “The Best Lawyers in America,” Best of the Bar, and Super Lawyers. He has also been the recipient of a KCMBA President’s Award and has served on various bar committees.
Mira Mdivani
Mira Mdivani
Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm
Mira Mdivani practices business immigration law with Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm. Her areas of expertise are corporate immigration compliance and international personnel visas. Ms. Mdivani has served as chair of The Missouri Bar Immigration Law Committee and president of the Kansas Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section. She serves on the board of governors of the Missouri and Kansas Bar Associations. She has received President’s Awards from The Missouri Bar and Association for Women Lawyers; KBA Outstanding Achievement Award; Kansas City Business Journal Best of the Bar; Robert Gernon Award; and pro bono awards from UMKC Law Foundation and the KBA.
Timothy L. Sifers
Timothy L. Sifers
The Potts Law Firm, LLP
Tim Sifers is the managing partner at the Kansas City office of The Potts Law Firm, LLP. Tim is listed as Best of the Bar in the Kansas City Business Journal, and he has been a Super Lawyer in Missouri and Kansas since 2012. Tim works on all plaintiff cases in the area of medical malpractice locally and mass torts nationally. Tim commonly speaks at CLE seminars. His proudest achievement is marrying Allie Sifers and having his two sons, Jackson and Connor.
Christopher J. Lawler
Christopher J. Lawler
The Lawler Firm, LLC
Chris is the founder of The Lawler Firm, LLC. He received his bachelor’s degree from Rockhurst College in 1998 and attended law school at UMKC School of Law where he graduated in 2002. Chris clerked for Hon. C. William Kramer and Hon. Jack Grate in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. Following his clerkship, Chris began working at a small Kansas City civil litigation firm. Chris has been recognized by the Kansas City Business Journal as one of the “Best of Bar” in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. He was selected as one of Kansas and Missouri’s “Super Lawyers” by Law and Politics in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2014 and 2015, Chris was also named as one of the Top 40 Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association for the state of Missouri. In 2011, Chris was also nominated for the Lon O. Hocker Award. Chris is also involved in MOBAR, KBA, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Bar Association, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, ABA, American Association of Justice, National Trial Lawyers Association, and KCMBA (2006 President’s Award; 2012 YLS President; CLE Speaker).
Bradley D. Honnold
Bradley D. Honnold
Goza & Honnold, LLC
Brad Honnold is a founding member of Goza & Honnold, LLC and has been practicing law in Kansas City since 1989. His practice focuses on representing individuals, families, and small businesses that have been harmed by the fault or carelessness of others. Mr. Honnold has particular expertise in the preparation and trial of cases involving medical malpractice and defective pharmaceutical products and medical devices. He is currently a member of court-appointed plaintiffs’ leadership committees in the federal multi district litigations for Proton Pump Inhibitors, 3M Combat Arms Earplugs and JUUL E-cigarettes. Mr. Honnold frequently speaks at local and national continuing legal education events and has presented most recently on the topics of opioid litigation, electronic medical records and federal multi district litigation.
Julie Frickleton
Julie Frickleton
Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C.
Julie C. Frickleton is of counsel to the firm of Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader, PC. She graduated from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law in 1983, with distinction, where she served as Comment Editor of the Law Review and a member of the school’s Trial Competition team. She holds a BA in History and Political Science from Drake University (cum laude, 1978). Her litigation experience includes the representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in the areas of medicine, product liability and business. She is a longtime member of the Kansas and Missouri Bars, and has been admitted to numerous federal courts. Julie is an active member of the KCMBA, and various other civic and legal organizations.
William C. Martucci
William C. Martucci
Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
Bill Martucci is a national litigator and strategist for a number of Fortune 500 companies. Chambers USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business notes: Bill Martucci garnered overwhelming feedback for “his great knowledge, his ability to relate well to clients, and winning personality in the courtroom.” Clients say: “His trial skills and work ethic are second to none. His vigorous and passionate defense of clients and creative utilization of innovative strategies earns this national practitioner star status.” “A phenomenal litigator and a great lawyer... lauded for his comprehensive knowledge of business law and expertise in class action litigation. Bill Martucci is worth having on any dream team.” A graduate of Georgetown University, he is included in “The Best Lawyers in America” for business and employment litigation.
Shawn G. Foster
Shawn G. Foster
Preuss Foster Law
Mr. Foster is a founding member, shareholder, and attorney at Preuss | Foster Law in Kansas City. He serves as an adjunct professor at UMKC teaching courses in Trial Advocacy and Constitutional Law. Mr. Foster represents clients that have been injured by no fault of their own and has devoted his career to giving a voice to those that have no voice after being injured. He is professionally affiliated and serves as a board member and legal counsel with MATA, KCMBA and Lee’s Summit Soccer Association. Mr. Foster was appointed to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority by Governor Parson in 2020. Mr. Foster has been honored as Litigator of the Year by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers by the Association of America’s Lawyers, and the Best of the Bar by the Kansas City Business Journal. Mr. Foster holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Central Missouri State University and a Juris Doctor from UMKC.
T. Bradley Manson
T. Bradley Manson
Manson Karbank McClaflin
Brad Manson’s practice focuses on valuation issues in divorce, estates and commercial disputes. He has been nationally recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America since 1989. Brad has been included in Best of the Bar in the Business Journal for many years, and included in Super Lawyers for Kansas and Missouri since its inception. Brad represents many local businesses and is admitted to practice in all courts in Kansas and Missouri, the U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Tax Court.
Brandon J.B. Boulware
Brandon J.B. Boulware
Boulware Law LLC
After clerking for federal and state court judges, Brandon Boulware has represented individual and corporate clients for 15 years in matters ranging from trucking accidents to antitrust monopolies to large breach of contract and business tort matters. Brandon has litigated in more than 20 states and tried cases in state and federal courts across the country. Brandon has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Commercial Litigation since 2015, and in 2019 was named Lawyer of the Year for Kansas City, Missouri for Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement. In 2020, Super Lawyers named Brandon one of the Top 100 lawyers in Missouri and Kansas. Boulware Law focuses on representing plaintiffs in complex personal injury and business litigation.
Lauren Perkins Allen
Lauren Perkins Allen
Lauren Allen, LLC
Lauren Perkins Allen is the sole owner of her law firm, Lauren Allen, LLC. Her firm handles complex litigation matters, including high stakes personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and discrimination cases. Lauren has her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and law degree from University of Missouri. She serves as the President of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation and has been a member of KCMBA for over 20 years. In the community, Lauren sits on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA), a Member of the Society of Fellows at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and former Board of Governor of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.
Shirley E. Goza
Shirley E. Goza
QTS Realty Trust, Inc.
Shirley was named QTS’ general counsel in 2006. Shirley has more than 38 years of experience as a practicing attorney and law professor. Prior to joining QTS, Shirley co-owned and operated Focus Trial Solutions and served as managing partner from 2004-2006. Shirley was a partner with the law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. from 2000-2004. Shirley has an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has received several awards, including KCMBA’s Baron of the Boardroom Award, Who’s Who of American Women, Outstanding Women of America, the Kansas City Business Journal award for Women Who Mean Business, and the Kansas City Magazine’s Super Lawyer award.
Jonathan Whitehead
Jonathan Whitehead
Law Offices of Jonathan R. Whitehead LLC
Jonathan R. Whitehead practices civil litigation, including deep experience representing charities and religious nonprofits. He returned to the Kansas City area after graduating from Harvard Law School in 2004 and he started his own firm in 2008. Jon has represented charities locally and nationally, in trial and on appeal, on matters of nonprofit governance and First Amendment freedoms. He also represents small business organizations in ownership disputes and insurance coverage matters. In 2018, Missouri Lawyers’ Weekly named Jon an Influential Appellate Advocate for his work on Trinity Lutheran v. Comer, 582 U.S. He was also on the briefs for petitioners in this term’s Carson v. Makin, along with his father, Michael Whitehead. For the past eight years, he has been on the steering committee of UMKC’s annual Law and Religious Freedom Conference. He has held roles in the Kansas City chapters of the Christian Legal Society and the Federalist Society.
Hon. Ann Mesle
Hon. Ann Mesle
Hon. Ann Mesle was appointed to the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County in 2000 and retired in 2013. Throughout her career, Judge Mesle has been active in the community, focusing much of her attention on higher education, health care for the underserved, and organized Bar Activities. She was President of KCMBA in 1996, Chair of the Board of Park University from 2013 to 2015, served as a UMKC Trustee from 1996 to 2012, and served on the Board of Health Care/Forward Foundation from 2014 through 2018. She currently Chairs the board of Children’s Services Fund, serves in the Board of Diastole which she previously chaired, serves as a Missouri Disciplinary Hearing Officer, serves as Co-Chair of the UMKC Starr Education Fund, and serves as a member of the TMC Self-Insurance Trust Management Committee.
John J. Gates
John J. Gates
Gates Westering, LLC
John has over 20 years of experience trying cases and representing clients in nearly every claim imaginable, including business disputes, personal injuries, non-competes, defective construction, insurance coverage, school liability, trucking accidents, and real estate disclosures. He has tried several high-exposure jury trials in Missouri and Kansas, including three of the largest defense verdicts in Missouri and Kansas in the last fifteen years. John earned his degree in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University, and he received his JD from the University of Kansas. John is AV-rated, and he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America and Super Lawyers.
Tom Wagstaff, Jr.
Tom Wagstaff, Jr.
Law Office of Tom Wagstaff Jr., LLC
Wagstaff, Jr. has been handling cases for injured parties for nearly 25 years. His primary focus involves families with loved ones that have been injured from the neglect of nursing homes. Tom has been recognized by his peers by inclusion in the Kansas City Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar” and he has been named a “Super Lawyer” by Kansas & Missouri Super Lawyers every year since 2008. Tom is a past recipient of the Thomas J. Conway award, which is presented annually by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association to a trial lawyer who “represents his/ her clients with zeal.” Tom is also a select member to The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100. Tom’s primary practice is based in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas in both state and federal court.
David A. Lunceford
David A. Lunceford
Lunceford Law Firm
Mr. Lunceford has been practicing law in Missouri since 1995. He has tried over 35 jury trials and 100 bench trials. Mr. Lunceford has obtained over $12 million on behalf of his clients either by trial, or by settlements. Some of his notable jury trials include: Norwood vs City of Independence—West District Federal Court, $670,000 jury verdict – ADA case; Debra Hervey vs DOC—16th Circuit of MO, $2.6 million jury Verdict – disability case; Debra Hesse vs DOC—16th Circuit of MO, $1.5 million jury verdict -gender/ retaliation; Nunley vs City of KCMO – 16th Circuit of MO, $25,000 actual plus $125,000 punitive and $225,279 in attorney fees – gender discrimination; McKinney vs City of KCMO—16th Circuit of MO, $62,000 actual plus $152,310 in attorney fees – race/retaliation; and Richard Dixson vs DOC— 16th Circuit, $280,000 actual $1.2 million punitives and attorney fees – retaliation.
Donovan Bradley Dodrill
Donovan Bradley Dodrill
Plaza Injury Law
Unlike other attorneys, I actually answer the phone when you call. You’ll always speak directly with me, and not with a junior-level staffer unfamiliar with your case. I deliver highly personalized attention to every client and every case. I am an experienced litigator and negotiator and am always ready to go to bat for you.
Brendan J. Donelon
Brendan J. Donelon
Donelon, P.C.
Brendan’s nationwide practice of law focuses primarily on class action litigation including wage and hour and consumer fraud cases. He has resolved in excess of $110 million in wage and hour class claims. He is licensed in several Federal District Courts, Federal Courts of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has had numerous jury trials in State and Federal Courts and extensive practice before State and Federal Appellate Courts, including briefing matters before the U.S. Supreme Court. He is also a member of the National Employment Lawyers Associate and Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. He graduated from Truman State University in 1992 with a B.S. in economics and is a 1995 graduate of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law.
Scott C. Gyllenborg
Scott C. Gyllenborg
Gyllenborg & Brown, P.A.
Scott Gyllenborg is a partner at Gyllenborg & Brown, P.A., a criminal defense law firm in Olathe, Kansas. He is KCMBA’s Treasurer, past president of KCMBF, and served as chairman of KCMBF’s 2020 Strategic Planning Committee. Scott is a former assistant district attorney for Johnson County, KS, and past presi- dent of the Johnson County Bar Association. He’s been selected “Best of the Bar” in Criminal Defense by the Kansas City Business Journal and has been listed in Super Lawyers/ Criminal Defense for KS/ MO every year since 2005. Scott holds an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He received the President’s Award from the Johnson County Bar Association in 2013 for distinguished ser- vice to the association. He’s a Life Member of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Scott was an adjunct professor at the University of Kansas School of Law from 2005-2012, teaching Trial Advocacy to second and third-year law students. Scott is married to the Hon. Christina Dunn Gyllenborg, a district judge in Johnson County, KS. They live in Leawood and have four children in high school and college.
Tyler William Hudson
Tyler William Hudson
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Ty Hudson is a Partner at Wagstaff & Cartmell. He represents clients in high-stakes business disputes and class action matters. He has particular experience handling antitrust litigation and financial and investment fraud matters. He has tried cases in state and federal courts, as well as JAMS, AAA, and FINRA arbitration. His successful representation of clients has earned him recognition as “Best of the Bar” by the Kansas City Business Journal. For the last seven years in a row, he has been selected to Kansas and Missouri Super Lawyers for Business Litigation.
Daniel E. Blegen
Daniel E. Blegen
Spencer Fane LLP
Daniel Blegen is a Partner at Spencer Fane LLP, where his nationwide litigation practice focuses on his clients’ most important legal matters, including breaches of contract, business torts, trade secrets, and intellectual property disputes. He has a track record of success in courts throughout Missouri and across the country. In addition, Dan has proven experience representing executives, officers, and directors in internal investigations, shareholder disputes, and governmental investigation and enforcement actions. Prior to private practice, Dan served as law clerk for the Hon. Scott O. Wright in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He served as president of the KCMBA in 2017.
Paul L. Redfearn
Paul L. Redfearn
The Redfearn Law Firm, PC
Paul Redfearn is the owner of The Redfearn Law Firm, P.C., founded in 1984. Graduating from Missouri State University in 1973, he then earned his J.D. from Oklahoma City University in 1976. Paul devotes his practice to representing individuals who have been injured or lost loved ones as a result of medical negligence, defective/dangerous products, motor vehicle collisions, or dangerous conditions of property. Paul is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Paul maintains an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, is recognized by Best Lawyers in America and has been named to the Super Lawyers list for 15 consecutive years. He is past president of MATA, an Advocate of ABOTA and is past president of its Western MO/Eastern KS chapter. He is a sustaining member of AAJ, a fellow of the Public Justice Foundation, and a member of the ABA. Paul has served as treasurer for LEAP and is now a proud life member.
Nancy E. Kenner
Nancy E. Kenner
The Kenner Law Firm P.C.
Nancy Kenner focuses her practice on plaintiff’s personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Nancy also handles mediations and arbitrations, with an emphasis on employment matters. Nancy was the 2012 KCMBA president, and is a member of Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, The Missouri Bar and Association of Missouri Mediators. Additionally, she is a member of the Association for Women Lawyers and was president in 2000. She is on The Missouri Bar Board of Trustees.
Patricia Scaglia
Patricia Scaglia
Scaglia Law Firm, LLC
Patricia “Tricia” M. Scaglia, received her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Ms. Scaglia received a Bachelor of Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She served as law clerk to the late Honorable Kelly J. Moorhouse, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit of Missouri and to the Honorable Robert E. Larsen, United States District Court Western District of Missouri. Ms. Scaglia practices primarily in the area of Family Law, frequently serving as a Guardian Ad Litem and mediator. She also handles family law appeals. Ms. Scaglia is an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri School of Law- Kansas City. She has appeared before the Western District of Missouri, Eastern District of Missouri and the Missouri Supreme Court. Ms. Scaglia is licensed in Missouri and Kansas.
Bradford C. Kendall
Kendall Law Group LLC
Brad graduated from law school in 1990, passed the Bar and received his Missouri license in September of 1990. He is also licensed to practice law in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska. Brad has successfully handled numerous serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, ranging from semi-truck accidents to apartment fires, defective products, electrocutions, slips and falls, among others. Brad has developed specialized knowledge and experience that primarily relates to injuries and deaths arising out of transportation-related accidents, medical malpractice and nursing home neglect/elder abuse. These accidents include car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, ATV accidents and railroad injuries. Brad has received an AV rating by Martindale Hubbell Peer Review, the highest possible rating of both competence and ethics. He has tried cases in many different jurisdictions, including Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Arkansas and South Dakota.
Thomas W. Wagstaff
Thomas W. Wagstaff
Wagstaff Mediations and Arbitrations, LLC
In 1997, after spending 25 years at Blackwell Sanders, Matheny, Weary & Lombardi, Tom Wagstaff and Tom Cartmell formed the firm of Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP. Tom has practiced in the area of civil trial work, having tried close to 100 cases to a verdict. In recent years, Tom has served as a mediator in both tort and business law disputes. Tom is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Tom has also served on the board of directors of KCMBA. He is currently chair of the board of directors of Saint Luke’s Health System.
Shawn Lee
Shawn Lee
Spectrum Law Office
Shawn M. Lee has experience with a variety of civil litigation and criminal defense cases. He is licensed in Missouri, Western District of Missouri, Kansas, District of Kansas and the Board of Veteran Claims and Appeals. He has defended individuals and companies in litigation from claims in- volving personal injury and corporate disputes. He has also won multiple verdicts on behalf of plaintiffs. Shawn has extensive experience in crim- inal defense. Shawn works diligently to develop a case for trial while ad- vising a client on their risks and strengths. If no settlement can be found, he is prepared to go to trial. Shawn has tried and won several first-chair trials over the course of his career.
Lisa A. Hansen
Lisa A. Hansen
Law Office of Lisa A. Hansen, LLC
Lisa A. Hansen has been practicing law since 2006 and has had her own firm since January 2012 located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She graduated in 1999 with her Masters in Social Welfare from the University of Kansas and with her Juris Doctorate from University of Missouri Kansas City in 2005. Her practice focuses on family law including dissolutions, paternity and Orders of Protection. She also does guardianships for both minors as well as adults. She has been actively involved in the KCMBA through her leadership roles in the Domestic Law Section as well as President of the Family and the Law Section in 2020. She also takes cases through Military Matters for veterans going through Family Court.
Brian J. Madden
Brian J. Madden
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Brian Madden is a partner at Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP. Brian has tried numerous, complex, and serious cases involving business disputes, personal injury, and wrongful death. In 2012, Brian reached a $10 million class action settlement with an engineering firm on behalf of a class of Missouri landowners. Brian has represented banks involved in commercial disputes in MO and KS. In personal injury matters, Brian has represented burn victims who were killed or injured by such things as anhydrous ammonia, electricity, scalding water, and fuel-fed auto fires. Brian has also prosecuted cases against pharmaceutical makers for injury and death. In addition to trial work, Brian practices in the appellate arena. Some of his reported cases have, for example, successfully reversed a $5 million verdict, an adverse judgment against clients in trust litigation and protected a $1 million insurance coverage judgment for clients.
Roger D. Nail
Roger D. Nail
The Nail Law Firm, LLC
Roger D. Nail is a graduate of Westminster College and received his J.D. from the University of Missouri – Columbia. He has served as a felony prosecutor in the Circuit Attorney’s Office in St. Louis and has over 15 years’ experience in the areas of product liability, professional malpractice, personal injury, and wrongful death. In 2014 Roger opened his own law firm, focusing his practice on representing those injured by the negligence or intentional acts of others. Roger received the 2011 KCMBA Thomas J. Conway Young Trial Lawyer Award and has been recognized by Ingram’s Magazine in their 40 Under Forty publication. Roger has been recognized as one of Super Lawyers Top 50 attorneys in KC and one of the Top 100 attorneys in the states of MO and KS.
Nick Hillyard
Nick Hillyard
Wendt Law Firm P.C.
Nick Hillyard is a personal injury attorney at Wendt Law Firm dedicated to fighting for the best possible results for his clients. During the first 15 years of his career, Nick primarily defended claims. He now uses that background to ensure a full and timely recovery for accident victims. When that requires trial, Mr. Hillyard is an aggressive advocate in the courtroom. He has tried cases to favorable jury verdicts for his clients in courts across the states of Missouri and Kansas and successfully argued before the Court of Appeals. Nick earned his JD from UMKC, magna cum laude.
Brandon D. Henry
Brandon D. Henry
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Brandon Henry is a partner and trial lawyer at Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP. He has extensive jury trial experience, which includes numerous trials involving multimillion-dollar damage claims in multiple state and federal jurisdictions. Brandon’s local practice is focused on the representation of health care providers and other professionals. He also spends considerable time, nationwide, representing plaintiffs pursuing claims of personal injury, product liability and wrongful death. Brandon consistently has been recognized for excellence in the practice of law, receiving awards such as the Thomas J. Conway Young Trial Lawyer Award. Brandon also is a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Kansas School of Law, where he teaches a course in trial advocacy.
Michelle L. Marvel
Michelle L. Marvel
Cannezzaro Marvel LLC
Michelle Marvel is a partner with Cannezzaro Marvel LLC where she represents individuals who have suffered serious injury or wrongful death in a variety of practice areas including dangerous products, dangerous property and dangerous drivers. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for KCMBA, Lawyers Encouraging Academic Progress and the Greater Kansas City Association for Women Lawyers. She received the Missouri Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Award, KCMBA President’s Award, Kansas City Business Journal 40 under 40 and Best of the Bar recognitions and is a top-rated personal injury attorney by Super Lawyers.
Thomas A. Rottinghaus
Thomas A. Rottinghaus
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Tom is a partner with Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP. For over 15 years, Tom has focused his practice on professional liability, health care, and commercial litigation. He has tried cases in Missouri and Kansas, state and federal courts on behalf of corporations, physicians, individuals, and hospitals. Tom has been consistently selected by his peers in the Missouri and Kansas Bar for inclusion in the Kansas City Business Journal ‘s “Best of the Bar” publication and in the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers publication, Benchmark Litigation, and Best Lawyers in America. Tom has an AV rating, which he received his first year of eligibility. Tom serves on the Missouri State Bar Disciplinary Committee. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Lawyers Association of Kansas City.
Marilyn B. Keller
Marilyn B. Keller
Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C.
Marilyn Keller is a shareholder at Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C. and has continuously been with the firm since graduating from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law in 1991. Ms. Keller received her undergraduate degree in Accounting from William Jewell College in 1986. Before going to law school, Ms. Keller worked as an accountant and financial analyst. Ms. Keller has represented individuals and corporations in a wide variety of criminal and civil litigation matters in State and Federal Courts in Missouri, Kansas, and across the country. Ms. Keller is a Top 100 Trial Lawyer as recognized by the American Trial Lawyers Association and has been consistently recognized by MO and KS Super Lawyers Magazine. She has been involved in committee and leadership positions with KCMBA, and is a past president of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Maria M. Theoharidis
Maria M. Theoharidis
Mid-America Law Firm, LLC
Maria M. Theoharidis is the founding member of Mid-America Law Firm, LLC. A practice encompassing probate law, specifically including adult and minor guardianships and conservatorships; Social Security disability; ERISA, criminal law; juvenile law; family law; and certified by the Supreme Court of Missouri for Guardians Ad Litem in Missouri Juvenile and Family Court Matters. In October 2019 mediation became a part of the practice. Admitted to practice before the U.S. District, Western District of Missouri; U.S. District, Eastern District of Missouri; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and all other courts in the State of Missouri. Maria has authored “Taking Control: A Guide to Guardianship and Conservatorship in Missouri.” She also authored “Solving the Social Security Disability Puzzle: How to Get the Benefits You Need.” She has been a Missouri CLE presenter on legal ethics, guardianships and conservatorships, and disability. She is the 2020 president of the Platte County Bar Association and serves on Tri-county Mental Health Board of Directors for Platte County.
Andrew S. LeRoy
Andrew S. LeRoy
Bautista LeRoy, LLC
Andrew LeRoy is a partner at Bautista LeRoy, LLC. Andrew’s practice concentrates on products liability, auto and farming accidents, and nursing home negligence cases. He has handled complex product liability cases involving ATVs, Remington Model 700 rifles, tree stands, and farming equipment. His products liability work has allowed him to develop a national practice handling cases in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Tennessee. He received his law degree in 2005 from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Andrew was recognized as KCMBA Young Lawyer of the Year in 2014. This award is given to a young attorney who exhibits significant community, civic and professional work through his/her practice.
Spencer Eisenmenger
Spencer Eisenmenger
Fowler Pickert Eisenmenger Norfleet
Since receiving his law degree, Spencer Eisenmenger has investigated, developed and prosecuted medical malpractice, birth injury, nursing home, product liability, car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liability, personal injury, wrongful death, trust and estate, uninsured/under-insured, equitable garnishment, life insurance and breach of contract claims on behalf of his clients. Spencer is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named by the Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyer magazine in the area of plaintiff’s medical malpractice from 2013– 2016. He earned both his J.D. and his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Missouri – Columbia and is licensed in both Missouri and Kansas.
Greg G. Hough
Greg G. Hough
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Greg is an Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Kansas, Criminal Division, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (32 years), handling primarily firearms, drug and violent crime offenses. He has received the Lifetime Achievement Award and multiple Meritorious Achievement Awards, including one for the largest supply-side reduction in controlled substances in the history of the “War on Drugs,” which reduced the domestic supply of LSD in the U.S. by 98%. Greg is the past president of the Judge Hugh Means Inns of court, and a member in good standing with the Kansas and Missouri bars, 10th Circuit, United States Supreme Court, and the U.S. District Courts.
Samantha L. Shepherd
Samantha L. Shepherd
Shepherd Elder Law Group, LLC / Assured Trust Company
For over 15 years, Samantha has served the elder care, special needs, and disabled communities. Samantha holds a Bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and began her legal career upon graduation from Boston College School of Law. Her professional work experience includes positions in both the public and private sectors across the states of Massachusetts, Maine, Florida, Missouri, and Kansas. She has completed an LLM in Estate Planning from the University of Missouri. In 2011, Samantha started Shepherd Elder Law Group which since its opening has helped over 5,200 KC and Hutchinson, KS families. Samantha started Assured Trust Company in June of 2020 which offers independent professional trustee administration services. Samantha is an elected member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and currently serves on the board of Kansas Advocates for Better Care.
Raymond A. Dake
Raymond A. Dake
Siro Smith Dickson PC
Raymond Dake is a partner at the law firm of Siro Smith Dickson PC and represents plaintiffs in employment litigation matters, including age, race, sex, sexual orientation, and disability discrimination matters, whistle-blowing, harassment and retaliation claims, and wage and hour class actions, and personal injury litigation. He serves as Chair of the Communications Committee for KCMBA and as Co-Chair of the Labor and Employment Law committee and Senior Member At-Large for the Civil Litigation section. Mr. Dake received his B.A., magna cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law.
Stephen R. Miller
Stephen R. Miller
Miller Schirger, LLC
Steve Miller, a founding member of Miller Schirger, LLC, focuses much of his practice on the construction industry, but he is first and foremost a trial lawyer. He represents individuals and businesses nationwide in disputes involving not only construction but also financial institutions, general business, intellectual property, executive employment, real estate, legal and accountancy malpractice, products liability, personal injury, and trust and estates. Steve received his undergraduate, law, and graduate degrees from the University of Notre Dame. He maintains an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized as a top 100 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer and Best of the Bar by the Kansas City Business Journal for over a decade. Steve has served multiple terms as the chair of the Construction Law Committee of KCMBA and has recently received the KCMBA President’s Award.

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Founded in 1979, The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation (KCMBF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It was first founded as the charitable arm of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA).

The mission of the Foundation is to serve the community by creating and supporting public service or educational programs which promote the administration of justice, delivery of legal services, professional development or respect for the law.