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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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.

Additional Resources

Events & Activities

April
13

Navigating the Health Insurance Landscape: Legal Considerations Across U65, Medicare, and Employee Benefits

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12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Central Standard Time
April
15

My Neighbor/Friend/Business Partner/Employee Has an Urgent Immigration Need

Kansas City,
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Central Standard Time
April
16

Building a Personal Brand Without Violating Professional Rules

Kansas City,
3:30 PM - 4:20 PM Central Standard Time
April
16

KCMBA's April 2026 Member Social: Meet & Greet with the Judges

Kansas City, MO
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Central Standard Time
April
22

KCMBA's 53rd Bench-Bar and Boardroom Conference Presented by Davis Bethune & Jones, LLC and Ketchmark & McCreight, P.C.

Nebraska City,
12:00 PM - 12:00 PM Central Standard Time
May
1

Common Legal Issues Facing Veterans

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12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Central Standard Time
May
5

Arbitration in Action: What's Changing, What's Working, and What's Next

Kansas City,
1:00 PM - 4:30 PM Central Standard Time
May
7

Business Law 101: Core Concepts for the Next Generation of Attorneys

Kansas City,
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Central Standard Time
May
13

Belonging at Work: Law Firm Diversity Through the Lens of Belonging

Kansas City,
3:30 PM - 4:20 PM Central Standard Time
May
22

Student Law Academy 2026 Sponsorships

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

CLE By The Hour 6/12/26

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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Central Standard Time
June
16

CLE By The Hour 6/16/26

,
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Central Standard Time
June
24

CLE By The Hour 6/24/26

,
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Central Standard Time
June
25

CLE By The Hour 6/25/26

,
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Central Standard Time
June
29

CLE By The Hour 6/29/26

,
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Central Standard Time
June
30

CLE By The Hour 6/30/26

,
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Central Standard Time
August
15

Military Matters VeteRUN 5k 2026 Sponsorships

Kansas City, MO
8:00 AM - 11:59 PM Central Standard Time
August
21

34th Annual YLS Golf Tournament 2026

Independence, MO
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM Central Standard Time

Fellows of the Bar

KCMBA recognizes the 2025 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.

2025 Fellows

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.
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.
Thomas P. Cartmell
Thomas P. Cartmell
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Thomas P. Cartmell is a founding partner of Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP. For more than 25 years, Tom has been trying cases and handling lawsuits for both plaintiffs and defendants throughout the United States. Since co-founding Wagstaff & Cartmell in 1997, Tom has handled cases in a broad range of areas including professional liability, personal injury, product liability, and complex commercial and business disputes. Tom has significant experience in multi-district litigation, including several leadership positions, and has tried cases to verdict in multiple state and federal courts throughout the country. Tom has served as president of the Kansas City Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and International Society of Barristers, and is a member of various other legal organizations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
José M. Bautista
José M. Bautista
Bautista LeRoy, LLC
José M. Bautista is a partner at Bautista LeRoy, LLC. While he spent the early part of his career representing plaintiffs in railroad crossing cases against companies such as Union Pacific Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railway, his current practice extends to different areas of tort litigation including trucking and civil rights. Bautista earned his B.A. at Washington University in St. Louis and his J.D. at St. Louis University School of Law, where he was an editor of the Law Review. Prior to entering the private sector, he served as a prosecutor for the State Attorney’s office in Madison County, Illinois and as a judicial clerk for Hon. Michael W. Manners in Jackson County, Missouri. Bautista is admitted to practice law in Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas, the Federal District Courts in Arkansas and Missouri, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. He is a former section chair of American Association for Justice (AAJ) and a past presi- dent of Asian American Bar Association.
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.
David M. Skeens
Davis, Bethune & Jones
David Skeens comes from a family of lawyers, and so his gifts of persuasion, compassion, and tenacity come naturally.
Before joining Davis, Bethune & Jones in 2025, David practiced first in Big Law but after a few years, following his heart, he moved to a plaintiff’s trial practice. He spent 24 years as a shareholder in a nationally recognized boutique trial law firm, trying and resolving personal injury, class action and commercial cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States, resulting in recoveries for his clients of over $750 million.  
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jonathan Sternberg
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.
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.
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.
Nicholas Hinrichs
Hinrichs & Scott Injury Trial Lawyers
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.
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.
David M. Mayer
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.
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.
Wm. Dirk Vandever
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.
Brandon J.B. Boulware
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.
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.
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.
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.
W. Perry Brandt
Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Stephen R. Miller
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Keith A. Cutler
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.
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.
Tim E. Dollar
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sandra L. Schermerhorn
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thomas V. Bender
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.
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.
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).
Meagan L. Blackwell-Patterson
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.
N. Trey Pettlon, III
N. Trey Pettlon, III
Law Office of Pettlon & Ginie
N. Trey Pettlon, III, is a co-founder of the Law Offices of Pettlon & Ginie, located in Olathe, Kansas. Trey handles criminal defense as well as personal injury and wrongful death cases representing clients throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area and across Kansas and Missouri in State, Municipal and Federal courts. Trey is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Trey graduated from the University of Missouri in 1988 and then Washburn University School of Law in 1991. While in law school, Trey argued before the Honorable Justice Antonin Scalia in the championship round of the Prince Memorial Evidence Moot Court Competition in Manhattan, New York. After spending three years as an Assistant District Attorney with the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office, Trey entered private practice and later formed the “Law Offices of Pettlon & Ginie” with Ryan Ginie, who has also been selected as a Super Lawyer. He is admitted to practice in Kansas and Missouri as well as the U.S. District Courts in Kansas and Missouri and the Supreme Court of the United States.
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.
James R. Hobbs
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.
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.
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.
Robert D. DeWitt
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.
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.
 
Christopher S. Shank
Shank & Heinemann LLC
Chris is the founding member of Shank & Heinemann LLC. He has attained an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He represents corporations and individuals both as plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts throughout the United States. He has significant experience in product liability defense, white collar criminal defense, consumer class actions, real estate disputes, insurance coverage litigation, securities litigation, commercial litigation, and employment claims. He has litigated on behalf of clients in 48 of the 50 states. Chris has been an active civic volunteer at the Kansas City Repertory Theater, where he served for over ten years as trustee, secretary and finance committee member. He resides in Fairway, KS and currently is the Chair of the Fairway Board of Zoning Appeals. Mr. Shank served as judicial law clerk to the Hon. William R. Collinson (U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri). He received his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
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 severe 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.
Vanessa H. Gross
Wagstaff Cartmell LLP
Vanessa Gross routinely handles complex cases in both state and federal courts and has successfully tried both plaintiff and defense cases to verdict. In 2023, 2024, and 2025, she was selected by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Missouri. Vanessa currently focuses her practice on the plaintiff’s side, representing individuals and families of individuals who have suffered personal injuries and/or wrongful death. She has represented hundreds of clients involved in mass tort actions throughout the country, including pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer product actions, and other actions involving toxic torts.
Michael S. Kilgore
Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, PC
Michael Kilgore obtained his law degree from the UMKC School of Law in 1995 and went to work as an Assistant Prosecutor for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. Michael is licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas, and is admitted to practice in United States District Courts in Missouri and Kansas. Michael joined the firm of Humphrey, Farrington & McClain in 2012, bringing with him seventeen years of litigation experience. Michael is a member of the Kansas City Bar Association, The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, The National Trial Lawyers, and the American Association for Justice.
Casey Meek
Joseph, Hollander & Craft LLC
Casey Meek defends individuals facing state and federal criminal charges in Kansas and Missouri. He is an experienced federal criminal defense attorney who represents individuals on a wide range of felony and misdemeanor charges, including federal conspiracy, wire fraud, felon in possession charges, and sex crimes. His practice extends throughout the Kansas City metro area and Northeast Kansas.
Robyn M. Butler
Wallace Saunders
Robyn Butler is an accomplished trial attorney of over 30 years who has spent her legal career focused on civil personal injury defense. She has tried numerous cases to verdict including cases involving auto liability, trucking liability, premises liability, professional liability, and consumer protection liability. Robyn is a tireless advocate who is passionate about defending her clients. She works closely with her clients to ease any concerns they have about the litigation process. Her philosophy is to always be ready for trial while seeking the most favorable early resolution for her client.
Kimberly J. Hatch
Levy Craig
Kim Hatch is a compassionate and empathetic family law attorney whose legal expertise and skilled advocacy has helped many families navigate the legal system during the most trying times in their lives. Having been through a divorce herself, Kim is able to relate to her clients through her own personal experience. Kim strives to promote her client’s interests and achieve long-lasting solutions that are best for the whole family. She focuses on representing clients facing divorce, legal separation, paternity, child custody, modification, child support, and relocation issues. Kim also regularly serves as a Guardian Ad Litem, representing the interests of minor children.
Garrett W. Hunkins
McCarthy, Leonard, Kaemmerer & Miller
Garrett Hunkins’s practice centers on high‑stakes litigation, with substantial experience in business and construction disputes, employment and restrictive‑covenant matters, and white‑collar defense and regulatory investigations. He represents companies, business owners, and individuals in Missouri and Kansas, as well as in courts and arbitrations nationwide. Garrett has first‑chaired trials and arbitrations and regularly advises clients navigating parallel civil, criminal, and administrative matters. He is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch and Super Lawyers Rising Stars. Garrett has been actively involved in the KCMBA and is a graduate of both the Trial Academy and the Bar Leadership Academy. His practice emphasizes disciplined analysis, pragmatic problem‑solving, and clear, effective advocacy.
Kenneth D. Kinney
Ralston Kinney
Kenneth Kinney represents employees alleging discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful discharge. He graduated top of his class at UMKC School of Law in 2014. He has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star annually since 2017. He received the Missouri Lawyers Weekly Up & Coming Award in 2020. In his first ten years of practice, he tried 12 jury trials, handled 14 appeals, and argued at the Missouri Supreme Court three times. When not practicing law, he loves spending time with his wife and four children, exercising, coaching soccer, and serving his local church.
Stephen L. Bishop
Brown & Crouppen
Stephen Bishop is a litigation attorney at Brown & Crouppen, where he represents individuals and their families in complex personal injury cases and at trial. Stephen graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law in 2018. Before joining Brown & Crouppen in 2021, Stephen handled personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and employment retaliation and discrimination cases. Stephen is an active member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, where he currently sits as the Secretary of the Young Lawyers Section. Stephen was recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Kansas and Missouri in 2022-2024.
Steven M, Gorney
Gorny Dandurand, LC
 
Steve Gorny is the founding member of Gorny Dandurand in Kansas City. The firm focuses on catastrophic injury cases with an emphasis on those with health care aspects. Steve has tried dozens of cases to verdict, many resulting in seven and eight figure verdicts. He served as President of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys in 2018 and 2019. In 2023, MATA presented him with the Thomas G. Strong Trial Attorney award, its highest honor, in recognition of his courtroom success and dedication to the organization.
 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.
Hayley E. Hanson
Husch Blackwell
Focused on education law for over 20 years, Hayley guides higher education clients through compliance, governance, and operational issues, including the most complex and sensitive matters of campus life. Her higher education clients include Private and public universities and colleges, major research institutions, and academic medical centers. Hayley understands that rigorous compliance audits, policies, and training are the way forward to meeting and exceeding benchmarks in this highly regulated environment. Hayley ensures that the firm’s Education team stays current on the numerous statutes impacting the complexities of university systems.
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.
Adam S. Davis
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Adam Davis focuses on appellate advocacy, legal analysis, and complex brief writing across various practice areas. Since joining Wagstaff & Cartmell in 2009 after clerking for the Honorable Deanell Reece Tacha on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, he has argued cases before numerous state and federal appellate courts. Recognized as a Super Lawyer in appellate practice, he has expertise in Daubert and summary judgment briefing and has played key roles in major MDLs. A former journalist, Adam earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas, where he was named the top graduate in scholarship, leadership, and service.
J.D. Williamson
Williamson Mediation and Legal Services
J.D. Williamson is Founder and Owner of Williamson Mediation and Legal Services, established in November 2007. Williamson Mediation and Legal Services is focused on mediation and arbitration for general civil disputes, including business, commercial, construction, employment, personal injury, and real estate matters. Prior to launching Williamson Mediation and Legal Services, J.D. Williamson served as a Circuit Judge for the State of Missouri from 1995 to 2007, presiding over civil, criminal, and family law cases. Prior to his judgeship, J.D. Williamson practiced law as a trial attorney for 30 years, in all manner of civil cases for both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury, business, commercial and real estate disputes
Joan D. Toomey
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Joan Toomey joined Wagstaff & Cartmell in 2009 and has worked on high-profile cases, including contract disputes, antitrust class actions, environmental property damage, and mass tort litigation. She continues to advocate for clients in commercial litigation and multi-district cases against medical device manufacturers. Her practice includes legal research, drafting pleadings and motions, taking and defending depositions, managing discovery, and trial preparation.
Britt E. Wicklund
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Britt Wicklund joined Wagstaff & Cartmell in 2016 after earning her law degree from the University of Kansas. She has extensive experience in class actions and multi-district litigation, including National Prescription Opiate Litigation and JUUL Labs MDL No. 2913. Britt focuses on commercial litigation and consumer fraud, handling discovery, depositions, and pleadings. Her background in fine dining instilled a strong commitment to client service, which she applies to her legal practice. While at KU, she represented minors in criminal defense cases and assisted with guardianship matters through legal aid clinics.
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.
Patricia Campbell
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP

 

Tricia Campbell specializes in complex mass tort litigation, managing all stages from discovery through trial. She serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in In Re: Acetaminophen – ASD–ADHD Litigation (MDL 3043) and as Chair of the Plaintiffs’ Settlement Committee in In Re: Smitty’s 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid Litigation (MDL 2936). Tricia has played key roles in MDLs, including C.R. Bard Pelvic Repair System Litigation, handling Daubert briefings and expert depositions. She has also successfully argued appeals, including before the Missouri Supreme Court, securing a verdict in her client’s favor.
Sarah S. Ruane
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Sarah was appointed Co-Lead Counsel of the Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3094 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in front of the Honorable Gene E.K. Pratter. Successfully argued before the Missouri Supreme Court in Wanda Mayes, et al., v. Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City, et al. Case No. SC93012. She has extensive trial experience and has tried a number of cases to verdict in Missouri and Kansas.
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. 
Thomas J. Bath, Jr.
Bath & Edmonds, P.A.
Tom Bath is a trial lawyer who practices criminal defense primarily in Kansas and Missouri. Tom began his career as a prosecutor in 1986 and began criminal defense work in 1992. Bath & Edmonds handles everything from allegations of driving under the influence to White-Collar fraud cases. Tom has tried over one-hundred and fifty jury trials that range from a one day municipal court appeal to a six-week trial involving federal fraud allegations in the Southern District of New York.
Daryl J. Douglas
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Daryl Douglas specializes in mass tort litigation, securing recoveries for individuals injured by defective drugs and medical devices. With over 30 years of experience, he has negotiated high-value settlements and structured mass tort settlement processes. Before 2016, he managed medical malpractice and liability claims as Senior Vice President at national and international insurers. He has litigated product liability and personal injury cases, tried multiple cases to verdict, and successfully argued appeals. Daryl frequently speaks on jury trends, settlements, and insurance coverage and is retained as an expert witness in bad faith litigation.
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.
Diane K. Watkins
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Diane Watkins represents injured plaintiffs in complex litigation against pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer product manufacturers. She has significant experience in multi-district litigation, serving in leadership roles in cases involving infant formulas, hair relaxers, pelvic mesh, JUUL, and 3M earplugs. Beyond product liability, she has handled consumer protection, medical malpractice, business litigation, and environmental cases. Diane is skilled in motion practice, legal writing, and appellate advocacy. Committed to pro bono service, she has represented indigent clients in family court. She is a member of the ABA, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Association for Women Lawyers.
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. 
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.
Eric D. Barton
Wagstaff & Cartmell, LLP
Eric Barton has nearly 30 years of experience in complex commercial litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation, often handling antitrust, contract disputes, and defective product cases. He also represents public entities, including state and local governments. In addition to practicing law, Eric has taught trial advocacy at the University of Kansas School of Law. He co-founded the Run for Justice 5K, benefiting Legal Aid of Western Missouri, and serves on the board of the Midwest Music Foundation, a nonprofit supporting Kansas City musicians with healthcare and education assistance. 
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.
Jack T. Hyde
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Jack Hyde represents plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, and professional liability cases. In 2024, he received the Thomas J. Conway Award from the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association for his dedication to clients and collegiality among peers. A Springfield, Missouri native, Jack earned his B.A. from Drury University and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. After clerking at Wagstaff & Cartmell during law school, he joined the firm as an attorney upon graduation.
Michael P. Cutler
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Michael P. Cutler Mike Cutler represents individuals and businesses in litigation nationwide, resolving cases through settlement, motions, mediation, arbitration, and trial. He has tried cases in California, Missouri, and Kansas in both state and federal courts. Before joining Wagstaff & Cartmell, he spent nearly 15 years at Polsinelli, practicing in Kansas City and Los Angeles. A military brat, Mike grew up across the U.S. before earning his law degree in Missouri. Now based in Kansas City, he lives with his wife and four children and is active in the Hispanic Bar Association of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association.
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.  
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.
Brian Russell
Brian C. Russell
Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott.
Brian is passionate about leveling the playing field and forcing companies to take responsibility for the harm they cause. He loves finding new ways to get better results and making sure that people are treated fairly by insurance companies. He provides straightforward and honest advice that helps clients make the best of their situation. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Brian and partner Matt Meyerkord went to high school together. After graduating from Mizzou in 2002, he was motivated by the events of September 11th to enlist in the U.S. Army. He attended basic training and then went to Officer Candidate School, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the infantry. He deployed to Iraq for 14 months during Operation Iraqi Freedom and served as a rifle platoon leader. After nearly four years in the military, Brian was honorably discharged and attended law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He fell in love with Kansas City and chose to make it his home after graduating in 2010. He partnered with his lifelong friend, Matt Meyerkord, in early 2012. Two years later, they partnered with Nick Hergott to form Meyerkord, Russell & Hergott.
Daniel T. DeFoe
The DeFoe Law Firm
Daniel DeFeo is a passionate attorney advocating for the injured, especially those hurt or killed due to defective automobiles. Thanks to this dedication, he has successfully taken on cases involving General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Volvo, Chrysler, and many other top companies to recover needed damages for his clients. He also has pursued claims related to agricultural and industrial vehicles against some of the largest names, including Crown, Mitsubishi, Gehi, Caterpillar, and Yale. Dan is an AV® Rating attorney who prides himself most on the positive reviews his past clients given him after he successfully handled their cases. Dan is also a peer-reviewed editor for Trial Magazine.
Daniel Thomas
Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, PC
Danny Thomas dedicates his practice exclusively to representing victims of catastrophic injuries and wrongful death involving trucking accidents, motor vehicle accidents, product defects, nursing home litigation and medical malpractice. At Humphrey, Farrington & McClain, P.C. in Independence, Missouri, he continues that firm’s national reputation of aggressive representation of those most horrifically harmed. In 2008, Danny was ranked by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as the 5th Top plaintiffs’ lawyer in Missouri with over $19.34 million obtained by verdicts and settlements and for obtaining the top settlement in Missouri for the families of three elderly women killed in a tractor-trailer collision. Danny was also recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly for obtaining the top Missouri product liability verdict in 2009 on behalf of a woman whose husband died due to exposure to asbestos.
David DeGreeff
The Nail Law Firm, LLC
Dave DeGreeff focuses his practice on civil litigation with an emphasis on medical negligence, nursing home litigation, complex pharmaceutical and/or medical device actions and catastrophic personal injury. Dave has successfully represented clients in all aspects of litigation, up to and through trial, including serving as primary counsel on numerous cases resulting in multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements.
Eric Dirks
Williams Dirks Dameron LLC
Eric is a partner at Williams Dirks Dameron LLC, where he represents businesses, individuals, and classes in high stakes litigation and personal injury. Eric was part of the team obtaining a $1.8 Billion class action antitrust verdict in 2023 and has prosecuted numerous class actions. Eric has also served his community, previously serving on the Missouri Ethics Commission and as a medic in the Army.
Eric E. Vernon
Baldwin & Vernon, Attorneys at Law
Eric Vernon has been focused on criminal law since 1997. For several years, he worked as a public defender in Missouri. He had special assignment to juvenile court, and was part of the committee that established Clay County’s Drug Court. A 1995 graduate of St. Louis University School of Law, he is licensed in Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. In 1986, he graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy and spent eight years of commissioned service afloat and ashore. He is also a previously licensed merchant mariner: Master of Oceans (steam or motor vessels not greater than 1600 GT).
Eryn M. Peddicord
Peddicord Law, LLC
Heather J. Hardinger
The Meyers Law Firm, LLC
Joe McGreevy
McGreevy Law, LLC
Joe McGreevy is a passionate litigator who enjoys making a positive impact on his clients' lives. When he's not serving his clients, Joe spends time mentoring students from high school through law school. Joe also enjoys being a father and spending time with his family and dog, Bruce.
Kevin Baldwin
Baldwin & Vernon
Kevin Baldwin is a litigation attorney in his firm, Baldwin & Vernon, specializing in employment discrimination, traffic law, and juvenile law, assisting in criminal and civil law cases in state and federal courts. He is an experienced litigator with extensive experience in jury trial, litigation, mediation, and deposition from his prior positions as a prosecutor and plaintiff’s employment law attorney. Baldwin has represented employee plaintiffs against the world’s largest multinational corporations and successfully resolved the vast majority of those cases in favor of his clients as well as won multiple awards for his work as an attorney.
Kirk Goza
Goza & Honnold, LLC
Kirk’s practice focuses on representing plaintiffs in products liability, medical malpractice and pharmaceutical/medical device litigation. Kirk has over 35 years of experience trying lawsuits and managing significant pieces of litigation playing key roles in national litigations such as Xarelto, Power Morcellator and JUUL. During his career, Kirk represented some of the largest corporations in America and now uses that experience in seeking justice for people who have been injured or lost a loved one due to the negligence of others. Recognition: Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, Member International Academy of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers and American Board of Trial Advocates.
Matthew Dameron
Williams Dirks Dameron LLC
Matt Dameron is a partner at Williams Dirks Dameron LLC, where he represents businesses, individuals, and classes in complex litigation. Before joining Williams Dirks Dameron, Matt served as Chief of Staff for the Missouri Attorney General’s office and served on the Executive Team that managed significant litigation on behalf of the State of Missouri. Matt has been selected by the Western District of Missouri to serve on the Merit Selection Panel for multiple Magistrate Judge positions, the Civil Practice Committee, and the ESI Principles Committee.
Matthew McCoy
Presley & Presley LLC
Melinda (Mindy) Ward
Spencer Fane LLP
Melinda (Mindy) Ward provides clients with a high level of efficient service and expertise in complex estate, business, and gift and tax planning issues. She is well-versed in handling wills and trusts, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, S-corporations, irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts, and other sophisticated estate and business planning devices. In addition, Mindy advises clients in all types of fiduciary controversies, administers estates and trusts, and prepares federal and state individual, estate, gift, corporate, and generation-skipping tax returns, as well as fiduciary income tax returns for estates and trusts.
Melody R. Dickson
Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP
Melody Dickson is a skilled litigator specializing in complex commercial litigation, catastrophic personal injury, and wrongful death cases. She helped secure an $84 million settlement in a nationwide RICO class action involving credit card overbilling and has achieved multiple eight-figure settlements for victims of tractor-trailer crashes. She serves on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Steering Committee in the Insulin Pricing Litigation MDL. Recognized in Ingram’s Top 40 Under 40, she has been named to Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars since 2016 for her work in business litigation, personal injury, and transportation law.
Michael P. Healy
Healy Law Firm, LLC
Stephen G. Sanders
Sanders Law
William "Bud" Reynolds
Reynolds Law Firm, LLC
 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.
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.
Michael Waddell
Injury Law Associates
Michael graduated from Kearney State College in 1984. He graduated from University of Kansas School of Laws in 1987. He began his legal career in Wichita, Kansas. He moved to Kansas City in 1990 where he worked as a trial lawyer for an insurance defense firm for 3 years. Michael spent nearly 25 years as an in-house attorney for 2 separate insurance companies. He is a partner at Injury Law Associates where he has represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and uninsured and underinsured motorists claims since 2017.
Lawrence Flick
Flick Truck Accident Law
Lawrence Flick has more than 40 years of legal experience and is the founder of Flick Truck Accident Law. His firm represents people injured in semi-truck and other commercial vehicle crashes. He has successfully represented clients in cases against some of the biggest trucking companies in the country and has recovered millions of dollars for people injured in truck crashes. Lawrence has been recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer by the Trucking Trial Lawyers Association, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers and is rated 10/10 by AVVO.
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 Crayola, LLC, working primarily in intellectual property litigation, licensing, and commercial transactions. In 2018, Jasmine left the corporate world to open her solo practice, The Law Office of Jasmine Abou-Kassem, LLC, where she currently represents plaintiffs in employment law, labor law, civil rights, and personal injury. She is licensed to practice law in the States of Kansas and Missouri and the U.S. District Courts for the District of Kansas and the Western District of Missouri. Jasmine is a former Missouri Bar–-Young Lawyers Section Council member and a KCMBA Leadership Academy graduate. Jasmine gives back to the community by serving as a commissioner on the Kansas City, Missouri, Human Rights Commission and sits on the fundraising board for Operation Breakthrough. Jasmine is also a member of K360, an initiative of the community-based nonprofit KC Common Good committed to reducing gun violence for safer, more prosperous Kansas City neighborhoods. She has been a member of KCMBA for 15 years. With her considerable former experience as a defense attorney and unwavering dedication to the people, Jasmine is a trusted, zealous advocate for those who have been wronged.
Andy Russell
Law Office of C. Anderson Russell
Bradley D. Honnold
Goza & Honnold, LLC
Brad Honnold has more than 30 years of experience trying lawsuits and managing high stake litigation throughout the country. Brad has been recognized by his peers and clients for his outstanding work ethic and everlasting advocacy on behalf of his clients. When he takes on a case, Brad’s clients acquire the benefit of his seasoned legal experience, and extensive knowledge of the law, as well as his ready sense of humor.
Lindsey N. Scarcello
Wagstaff Cartmell LLP
Lindsey Scarcello represents injured individuals in complex litigation against pharmaceutical companies and consumer product manufacturers. She serves on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in In Re: Acetaminophen – ASD–ADHD Litigation (MDL 3043) and was a key trial team member in the 3M Combat Arms Earplug MDL, the largest mass tort in U.S. history. Lindsey has secured significant verdicts, including one of the Top 100 Car Accident Verdicts in the U.S. (2018). Recognized in National Trial Lawyers: Top 40 Under 40 since 2018, she has also been a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2021.
Lynne Bratcher
Bratcher Gockel Law, L.C.
Lynne Jaben Bratcher has been a plaintiffs’ trial lawyer for over 40 years. In 1995, she, along with her classmate Marie Gockel, opened their own practice representing plaintiffs in discrimination and civil rights cases. Through the years, Lynne has tried many jury trials as first chair. Although she failed to keep track of the number of trials, she estimates the number is over 100. She has also participated in scores of mediations as an advocate. In 2014, Lynne received the KCMBA Dean of the Trial Bar award.
Mandee Rowen Pingel
Pingel Family Law, LLC
Mandee Rowen Pingel is a trial attorney and partner in the Kansas City family law firm of Pingel Family Law. Ms. Pingel is proud to serve families and clients in both, Missouri and Kansas. Her practice focuses exclusively in the areas of matrimonial and family law, including high conflict divorce, post-divorce modification, paternity, adoption, child custody and visitation, child support, domestic violence, juvenile abuse and neglect, guardianship and conservatorship, and grandparents’ rights. Ms. Pingel is often referred cases from other lawyers, medical providers, therapists or other professionals where there are unusual of complicated issues for the needs of the children or in addressing asset division and financial issues.

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