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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.

Learn More About The Benefits of Membership

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Legal Professionals

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General Public

ADR Finder

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.

Your Community is Waiting

Get Involved With Your KCMBA And Be A Part Of KCMBA’s Future!

Join KCMBA

Law Student Memberships are FREE. Sign up today!

Career Center

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

Get Involved With Your KCMBA And Be A Part Of KCMBA’s Future!

KC Lawyer Finder

Find a Lawyer in the greater Kansas City area through KC Lawyer Finder today.

Advertising Opportunities

Learn about the many opportunities to advertise to the Kansas City Legal Community.

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.

Sponsorship Opportunities

KCMBA offers many events, with varying sponsorship levels.

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Events & Activities

April

The Ethics of AI in Litigation

Kansas City, MO

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Central Standard Time

April

Ks. Probate & Trust Update w/ Jackson Co. Redaction Revisit

Kansas City,

12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Central Standard Time

April

FCAS: Motion Practice in the Western District of Missouri

Kansas City,

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM Central Standard Time

April

KCMBA's April Member Social

Kansas City, MO

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Central Standard Time

April

Practical Use of AI Assisted Tools & Ethical Considerations

Kansas City,

1:00 PM - 3:45 PM Central Standard Time

May

IP Tips for In-House Counsel/Clients & Cannabis Update & Eth

1:30 PM - 4:10 PM Central Standard Time

May

KCMBA's 51st Annual Bench-Bar and Boardroom Conference

Lake Ozark,

12:00 PM - 12:00 PM Central Standard Time

June

YLS Pickleball Event

11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Central Standard Time

July

Kansas City Legal Community Unity Event

Kansas City,

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Central Standard Time

July

20th Annual Heartland Diversity Legal Job Fair

Kansas City, MO

7:30 AM - 4:30 PM Central Standard Time

August

32nd Annual YLS Golf Tournament

Independence, MO

8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Central Standard Time

September

2024-2025 Ross T. Roberts Trial Academy

Kansas City, MO

12:00 AM - 12:00 AM Central Standard Time

September

KCMBA Party-O 2024

Kansas City, MO

4:30 PM - 7:30 PM Central Standard Time

October

KCMBA's October Member's Social

Kansas City, MO

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Central Standard Time

November

KCMBA's November Member Social

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Central Standard Time

All Events

KCMBA News & Announcements

Fellows of the Bar

KCMBA recognizes the 2024 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.

2024 Fellows

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.

Mira Mdivani

Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law, LLC

Mira Mdivani is Managing Partner at Mdivani Corporate Immigration Law Firm. Mira represents employers in complex business immigration matters. She has served as Kansas Bar Association President, President of Kansas Women Attorneys Association, President of Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, President of Earl O’ Connor Inn of Court, and on the Bord of Governors of the Missouri Bar Association and KCMBA. Mdivani teaches in her area of expertise at UMKC School of Law. She has published books on corporate immigration compliance, I-9 audits, and employer-driven business visas for international personnel. She has served as President of CASA of Jackson County, Chair of Harriman Jewel Arti Series, and on the Board of Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

Wm. Dirk Vandever

The Popham Law Firm, P.C.

Dirk Vandever served as the youngest-ever president of KCMBA, then went on to become president of KCMBF and the American Board of Trial Advocacy (KS/MO). He regularly lectures on trial practice at national, state, and local levels. He graduated with honors from the University of Missouri- Columbia (BS) and the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law (J.D.). In 2013 and 2018, he received (plaintiffs) Lawyer of the Year from “The Best Lawyers in America,” as well as regular appearances in Best of the Bar and Super Lawyers. In 2015, he was named Dean of the Trial Bar and in 2016, Reptile Trial Superstar. Dirk was named in the top 30 plaintiffs personal injury lawyers 2020 Missouri Lawyers Weekly. His proudest achievement has been his own two children and his work against domestic violence.

Brian S. Franciskato

Nash & Franciskato Law Firm

Brian Franciskato is a founding member of the Nash & Franciskato Law Firm. Brian graduated from William Jewell College in 1990 and received his J.D. from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 1993. Brian represents individual plaintiffs in serious personal injury, wrongful death, trucking, and medical device litigation cases. Brian is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and has been recognized in the Kansas City Business Journal as Best of the Bar, as well as the Super Lawyers magazine for Missouri and Kansas. He is a member of the board of governors for the American Association of Justice, a member of the board of governors of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association — Top100 Attorneys in Missouri.

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.

Tim E. Dollar

Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC

Tim Dollar is the founding partner of Dollar, Burns, Becker & Hershewe, LC, a Kansas City, Missouri trial practice firm. Tim received his J.D. from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Tim also serves as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Jackson County, Missouri, primarily handling homicide cases. Tim’s civil practice is in the areas of automobile and trucking accidents, bad faith litigation, nursing home negligence, medical malpractice and product liability. Over the course of his career, Tim has participated in over 200 jury trials. Tim has lectured frequently at professional seminars. In 1996, Tim was awarded the Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award, presented by the Missouri Bar Association to the outstanding trial attorney in Missouri. In 1999, Tim was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to the Disciplinary Committee, which oversees the ethical conduct of lawyers in Missouri. In 2005, he was elected by the Jackson County Bar to the 16th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission. The Commission screens and submits candidates for judicial vacancies to the Governor for appointment.

Meagan L. Blackwell-Patterson

Waldeck & Patterson, P.A.

Meagan L. Blackwell-Patterson is a founding member and shareholder of Waldeck & Patterson, P.A. Her civil litigation practice focuses on defending clients against personal injury and property damage claims of all sizes and types, from premises and products liability to wrongful death, civil and constitutional rights, and medical malpractice, plus insurance coverage. Ms. Patterson also represents small businesses in corporate, employment, and risk management matters. Additionally, she defends employers against Title VII claims in the EEOC, state Human Rights Commission and all State and Federal Courts in Kansas and Missouri, including the Eighth and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

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.

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).

Stephen R. Miller

Miller Law Firm

Steve Miller, a founding member of Miller Law Firm, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Sandra L. Schermerhorn

Schermerhorn Law Firm

Sandra is the principal of Schermerhorn Law Firm and emphasizes employment law. She is a past president of KCMBA (1985) and received KCMBA’s Lifetime Achievement award in 2014. She has served the Bar in many ways including as chair of the Missouri Supreme Court Advisory Committee. She has been the board member and president of the Women’s Foundation, director and president of the Board of the Kansas City Free Health Clinic (Kansas City Care Clinic); director and president of Women with One Voice Foundation; trustee of MAST (Metropolitan Ambulance Services Trust); board member and president of the Good Samaritan Project; founding member and vice president of the AIDS Service Foundation of Greater KC; and board member of the Community Housing Network and the Unicorn Theatre. She has been the recipient of the prestigious Spurgeon Smithson Award from the Missouri Bar.

Casey P. Murray

Spencer Fane LLP

Casey Murray helps employers manage difficult situations with their current and former employees. In this capacity, Casey defends employers in discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, and provides guidance and counsel to clients dealing with challenging employment issues, such as terminations or discipline. He also assists businesses dealing with OSHA-related employment investigations—such as whistleblowing allegations—by working with employers to develop effective and efficient responses to any charges. In his litigation work, Casey frequently works with employers to draft and enforce non-compete agreements. In addition, he is an experienced appellate advocate who has argued before the Missouri Supreme Court and the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District.

James A. Breckenridge

Levy Craig Law Firm, A Professional Corporation

Jim Breckenridge joined Levy Craig as an associate in 2016 and became a shareholder in 2020. His practice has developed to specialize in providing support to fidelity and surety carriers with claim investigation and litigation. Active in the community, Jim is a past president of KCMBA’s Diversity Section and the LGBTQ Bar Association of Greater Kansas City. He has also served on the boards of the Jackson County Law Library and The Clinic at Sharma-Crawford, a deportation defense nonprofit. Jim is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a member of the American Bar Association’s Fidelity and Surety Law Committee.

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.

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.

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.

Jonathan Sternberg

Jonathan Sternberg, Attorney, P.C.

Jonathan Sternberg is an appellate lawyer with his own practice in Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri. In 16 years of practice, he has handled a multitude of civil and criminal appeals and related matters in state and federal courts throughout America covering a wide spectrum of subjects. Listed as counsel of record in more than 200 reported appellate opinions, he has written more than 400 appellate briefs and presented more than 185 appellate oral arguments. Jonathan is admitted before all state and federal courts in Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois, as well as every federal appellate court nationwide.

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.

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.

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.

Thomas V. Bender

Horn Aylward & Bandy, LLC

Tom Bender has been a trial lawyer for almost 40 years, and is a partner at Horn Aylward & Bandy, LLC. He has appeared as lead counsel in numerous State and Federal Courts throughout the nation, including class actions and multi-district litigation matters involving consumer and antitrust matters. In addition to a nationwide trial practice, he is frequently requested as a mediator in complex litigation matters. Tom has served in numerous bar organizations and activities, including KCMBA (president 2010), KCMBF (president 2017) and The Missouri Bar Board of Governors (president 2019), receiving President’s Awards from both KCMBA and KCMBF. He has been selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Best of the Bar by the Kansas City Business Journal and as a Super Lawyer in the Missouri and Kansas editions.

Austin Osborn

McCartney Stucky LLC

Austin Osborn began his practice in Kansas City in 2016 with the law firm Stucky & Fields and is now a partner at the law firm McCartney Stucky. Austin’s practice focuses on representing individuals and families who have suffered devastating injuries or losses due to defective products or the negligence of others. Austin is admitted in Kansas, Missouri and New York courts.
Austin has experience representing individuals in a number of practice areas including defective heavy trucks, commercial product liability, premises liability, medical malpractice, and employment discrimination.

Patrick J. Stueve

Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP

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 highstakes 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.

Stacey L. Janssen

Janssen Estate, Probate and Elder Law

Stacey L. Janssen, returned to her own practice in 2022, founding Janssen Estate, Probate & Elder Law, LLC, practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, and fiduciary litigation, practicing in both Kansas and Missouri. Ms. Janssen has a Bachelor of Arts and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas. Ms. Janssen currently serves as the chair of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association’s Probate Committee and serves as Treasurer to their board of directors. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, Best of the Bar and in 2021 received the KCBMA’s Distinguished Counselor Award.

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.

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 3,500 mediations in the last thirteen years. He is the principal of Jay Daugherty Mediation & Arbitration, a practice limited exclusively to ADR featuring ten (10) 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.

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.

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.

Joseph M. Backer

The Backer Law Firm, LLC

When handling a case involving personal injury, workers’ compensation or car wrecks, trial experience is a valuable asset. Attorney Joseph M. Backer has extensive experience trying cases in state and federal courts throughout Kansas and Missouri. Having taken more than 50 jury trials to verdict and hundreds of bench trials and hearings, Mr. Backer knows how to get results in court. Mr. Backer received his Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

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.

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.

Jasmine J. Abou-Kassem

The Law Office of Jasmine Abou-Kassem, LLC

Jasmine Abou-Kassem began her career in 2009 as a commercial litigation associate at Polsinelli, PC. In 2014, she became in-house legal counsel for Hallmark Cards, Inc. and its subsidiary, Crayola, LLC, where she worked in the areas of personal injury litigation defense, intellectual property licensing, and commercial transactions. In 2018, Jasmine opened her solo practice, The Law Office of Jasmine Abou-Kassem, LLC, where she currently represents plaintiffs in the areas of personal injury, employment discrimination, and civil rights.

Todd P. Graves

Graves Garrett Greim

Todd Graves is a lawyer in private practice with the law firm of Graves Garrett Greim 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.

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, and Personal Injury Law; 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, the KCMBA’s President’s Award on behalf of the Asian American Bar Association of Kansas City, which he served as the President, and the KCMBA's Distinguished Counselor award. Ron was selected for Super Lawyer’s Rising Star in 2018- 2023. Ron received his B.A. at the Loyola University of Chicago and his J.D. at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

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.

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.

Eric D. Barton

Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP

Eric is a partner at Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP. He represents clients in complex commercial litigation and class actions, including national multidistrict 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.

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, whistleblowing, harassment and retaliation claims, and wage and hour class actions, and personal injury litigation. He serves as a Member-At-Large on the Board of Directors, Chair of the Communications Advisory Committee, and President-Elect of 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. Prior to private practice, Mr. Dake served as law clerk for the Honorable Joel P. Fahnestock at the Jackson County Circuit Court, and for the Honorable James M. Smart Jr. at the Missouri Court of Appeals – Western District. Mr. Dake is also a frequent CLE contributor on various topics of employment law and LGBTQIA+ rights.

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.

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.

Brittany Sanders Robb

Robb & Robb LLC

Brittany joined Robb & Robb LLC in February of 2020. At Robb & Robb LLC, Brittany practices personal injury law, including wrongful death, transportation accidents, hazardous products, and aviation. Brittany is proud to work on behalf of deserving clients and their families to impose responsibility for wrongful conduct, remedy product defects, and—one case at a time—help make the world a better place.

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.

Andrew C. Robb

Robb & Robb LLC

Andrew joined Robb & Robb LLC in February of 2020. At Robb & Robb, Andrew practices personal injury law, including wrongful death, transportation accidents, hazardous products, and aviation. Andrew is proud to work for a firm that can make a real difference in its clients' lives and help prevent others from being injured by hazardous products and irresponsible corporate practices.

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.

Marc K. Erickson

Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP

Marc Erickson is the managing partner of Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP. His civil trial practice emphasizes the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury, mass torts, products liability, and business litigation. Marc has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict in Missouri and Kansas, in both state and federal courts. He has twice had his defense verdicts recognized as some of the top defense verdicts of the year by Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly. Marc is also a member of the Board of Governors for the Missouri Bar and an adjunct professor of Trial Advocacy at Kansas University Law School. He is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the International Society of Barristers.

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.

James R. Bartimus

Bartimus Frickleton Robertson Rader P.C.

James Bartimus founded the firm in 1977 and has devoted the last 45+ years to representing plaintiffs nationwide in complex medical negligence and pharmaceutical cases. Jim is Past President of the International Society of Barrister, Fellow American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Legal Medicine, The Summit Council, National Judicial College, past President KCMBA, Missouri Institute for Justice, Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and UMKC Law Foundation. Jim shares his experience and knowledge by teaching at legal and medical education events in United States, Europe, and Australia.

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.

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.

Timothy W. Monsees

Monsees & Mayer, P.C.

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.

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.

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.

Hon. Charles E. Atwell

Jay Daugherty Mediation & Arbitration

The Hon. Charles Atwell brings 40 years of rich litigation experience to his ADR practice at Jay Daugherty Mediation & Arbitration. Charlie has been actively mediating cases since his days on the bench and has now mediated over 750 cases while in private practice. He is a member of the National Association of Distinguished Neutrals and the International Academy of Mediators. His background includes service as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Jackson County, Missouri, and an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Missouri, followed by private practice for over 15 years with his law partners Jim Wyrsch and JR Hobbs. He has also taught for years in the area of trial advocacy, not only in this area, but in other parts of the country.

Jeffrey Michael Kuntz

Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP

Jeff Kuntz has a broad litigation practice with emphasis in the areas of professional liability, products liability, mass torts, drug and medical device litigation, and personal injury cases. He has significant jury trial experience, including participating in cases with multimillion dollar damage claims for both plaintiffs and defendants. Jeff is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). In addition to being honored as Best of the Bar by Kansas City Business Journal and as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, Jeff was the 2010 recipient of the Thomas J. Conway Award. He was also awarded the William Welliver Award by the Missouri Bar in 2019.

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.

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.

Michael D. Townsend

Townsend Law, LLC

The founder of Townsend Law LLC, Michael D. Townsend focuses his practice exclusively on personal injury, legal malpractice, and wrongful death litigation. Since opening his firm in August 2021, he has assisted people throughout the greater Kansas City metropolitan area who have incurred significant economic and noneconomic losses because of the negligence or recklessness of other parties. Mr. Townsend graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in 2005. Currently located in Overland Park, Kansas, Mr. Townsend is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in both Kansas and Missouri.

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.

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.

Matthew D. Meyerkord

Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott

Matt founded the beginnings of his personal injury law firm, Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott, in 2008. Since then, he has collected over $10,000,000 for his clients, including two cases over $1,000,000 and one $5,000,000 case. Matt has been involved with The Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA) since 2007 where he currently serves on the Board of Governors. From 2014-2018 he served on the American Association of Justice (AAJ) Board of Governors after being selected to represent MATA. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers since 2012 and was named a Top 100 Attorney in Kansas and Missouri in 2017.

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.

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.

Brian J. Murphy

Miller & Company P.C.

Brian J. Murphy is a Partner at Kansas City-based Miller & Company P.C., a law firm serving diverse clientele exclusively in the area of customs, international trade, and foreign-trade zones law. His practice focuses on tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin, special trade programs, trade remedies, customs penalties and prior disclosures, other government agency requirements, foreign trade zones, Census AES, and customs audits. He previously practiced at international trade boutique law firms in Los Angeles and Hong Kong. Mr. Murphy is admitted to practice in Missouri, California, and D.C., and before the U.S. Court of International Trade.

Kirk R. Presley

Presley & Presley LLC

As founder and managing member of Presley & Presley, LLC, Kirk Presley has served the plaintiff in multiple jurisdictions, focusing exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death cases. He has been representing plaintiffs for nearly 35 years, with an emphasis on general aviation and insurance bad faith litigation, with 100 percent of his practice devoted to Plaintiff’s litigation. He is admitted to practice law in Missouri and California, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Missouri. He has been admitted pro hac vice in numerous state and Federal courts including Kansas, Texas, Florida and Iowa.

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.

W. Perry Brandt

W. Perry Brandt is a Senior Counselor at Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C. 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.

John P. O'Connor

Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP

John's practice is focused on criminal law, white collar criminal defense, and complex criminal litigation in both State and Federal Courts. He began his law career as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County, Missouri. He was promoted to trial director where he supervised 40 attorneys and handled a major felony criminal trial docket. In that role, he prosecuted major crimes and oversaw attorneys handling hundreds of criminal cases each year. He is one of Kansas City's top criminal defense attorneys. John has received the Louis Lombardo Prosecutor of the Year award and the Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award for outstanding trial lawyer in Kansas City. John also holds an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale Hubbell.

Andrew B. Protzman

Protzman Law Firm, LLC

Mr. Protzman's practice areas include automotive and heavy equipment product liability, other product liability matters and general personal injury and commercial litigation. He is admitted to practice in federal and state courts in both Missouri and Kansas. Mr. Protzman has served as lead trial counsel and has been involved in the successful defense of significant automotive product liability trials in federal and state court, as well as other multimillion-dollar litigation.

Brandon J.B. Boulware

Boulware Law LLC

Brandon began his career clerking for a Missouri Supreme Court judge followed by a two-year clerkship for a U.S. District Court judge. Over the last 19 years, Brandon has tried high-stakes cases ranging from trucking accidents to antitrust conspiracies. He has obtained more than $2 billion in settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of clients. Best Lawyers in America® has recognized Brandon in the area of Commercial Litigation since 2015, and SuperLawyers includes Brandon in the Top 50 attorneys in Kansas City. In 2023, Best Lawyers named Brandon “Lawyer of the Year” in Kansas City for Antitrust-Litigation.

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.

Gary C. Robb

Robb & Robb LLC

Mr. Robb is a founding partner of Robb & Robb LLC. He has obtained numerous record-breaking results on behalf of past clients, including the two highest jury verdicts in U.S. history for helicopter crash wrongful death, and the largest pre-trial settlement for a single injury in US. history in a personal injury case. Mr. Robb is past President of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA). Mr. Robb has been selected by his peers as one of “The Best Lawyers In America,” He has been a BoardCertified Civil Trial Lawyer since 1994.

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.

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.

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.

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.

David M. Mayer

Monsees & Mayer, P.C.

David Mayer is the managing partner of Monsees & Mayer, P.C. David’s practice focuses on representing victims who have suffered from sexual abuse. For these efforts, David has been recognized as a Trial Master, is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, received the top AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, recognized as one of the top 10 lawyers in Missouri by AIPIA and was selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the American Trial Lawyers Association and the American Society of Legal Advocates. David volunteers his time for Legal Aid programs throughout Missouri and Kansas, and has served on boards of various charity organizations.

James R. Hobbs

Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C.

James R. Hobbs is a shareholder at Wyrsch Hobbs & Mirakian, P.C. He has an active practice in the areas of white-collar criminal defense, criminal defense, and commercial litigation. Mr. Hobbs is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, a Fellow in the International Society of Barristers, and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has served on the MO Appellate Judicial Commission and is currently a member of the MO Supreme Court Commission on Race and Ethnic Fairness. He is a co-chair of the MO Supreme Court Task Force on Criminal Justice. Mr. Hobbs is a past recipient of the Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award bestowed by the Missouri Bar Foundation and continues to serve as an Adjunct Professor at UMKC Law School. Mr. Hobbs is listed in the Naifeh & Smith, Best Lawyers in America publication.

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.

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.”

Sean T. Murray

Miller and Company P.C.

Sean practices in the area of Customs and international trade law. He assists clients with establishing and reviewing import and export programs, addressing shipment-specific issues, filing self-disclosures, and penalty mitigation. This work includes tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin marking, special trade programs (including foreign-trade zones), and U.S. export licensing and sanctions programs. He regularly speaks and provides training to clients and international trade associations. He received his B.A. from Grinnell College and his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he served as editorin-chief of the Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems journal. He is currently admitted to practice in Missouri and before the U.S. Court of International Trade.

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.

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.

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.

Anita Porte Robb

Robb & Robb LLC

Anita Porte Robb is a founding partner of Robb & Robb LLC. She has handled many high- profile cases nationwide and has obtained numerous record verdicts and settlements. These include a $350 million jury verdict in an aviation wrongful death case, and a record $100 million pre-trial settlement for a single personal injury involving servere burns. She recently represented Vanessa Bryant, widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, in the helicopter crash lawsuit for the wrongful death of Mrs. Bryant’s husband and their daughter Gianna. The National Law Journal has recognized Anita as one of the Top Ten women trial lawyers in the country.

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.

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.

Keith A. Cutler

Tippin, James W. & Assoc.

Keith Cutler is a trial attorney, practicing in the areas of commercial, construction, general liability, and insurance defense litigation. He is a Lon Hocker Memorial Trial Award winner, and in over 30 years of practice, has first-chaired more than 80 civil trials in State and Federal Court. He is a past President of both the Jackson County Bar Association and the Young Lawyers Section of the KCMBA. Keith serves as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at UMKC School of Law, and as Vice-President of KCMBA. When not practicing law, he appears as co-host (along with his wife, Dana) of the two-time Emmy-nominated, nationally syndicated daytime TV courtroom show Couples Court with the Cutlers. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and his J.D. from UMKC School of Law.

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.

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.

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.

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 thousands of clients in mass tort litigation, including those injured by Avandia, Yaz/Yazmin, testosterone drugs, Actos, IVC filters, Attune Knee Replacements, Taxotere, Infant Baby Formula, Phillips CPAP Machines, 3M earplugs and Camp Lejeune Water Contamination 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.

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.

Robert D. DeWitt

KCMBA Senior Counselor

Robert “Bob” DeWitt has been licensed to practice law since 1954. He received his B.A. from UMKC in 1952 and J.D. in 1954. After serving two years in the United States Army, he began his practice in the Kansas City Area, first in the partnership of DeWitt, Nigro, Wilson & Dakopolos. In 1966, he formed a partnership with Stanford Zeldin which lasted forty-six years, during which he was engaged in the general practice of law while serving on many Bar Association committees. Bob has remained active with KCMBA and its Foundation. He also holds a Missouri Real Estate Brokers License.

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.

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