Michel A. Thompson

Tim Davis advises clients on all aspects of the employer/employee relationship, including compliance with the NLRA, FMLA, Title VII, ADA, FLSA, EPA, OSHA, Executive Order 11246, ERISA and state and local employment statutes. He has assisted numerous clients in proactively addressing issues involving complex termination scenarios, the maintenance of union-free operations, the development of non-discrimination policies, investigation procedures and training materials, the development of FMLA an...

Shelley I. Ericsson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Shelley I., who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shelley I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris R. Pace is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Chris R., who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chris R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Katrina Smeltzer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Litigation - Insurance. Katrina, who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katrina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bob Kirkland is a founding partner of Kirkland Hochstetler PLLC and practices in Kansas City, Missouri. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri, Kansas and Florida. Mr. Kirkland represents individuals, families, and fiduciaries in a wide range of trusts and estates matters, including estate planning, trust formation, and estate and trust administration. His work includes the preparation of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, charitable trusts, and trusts fo...

Scott S. Bethune is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Scott S., who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott S. is held by other top lawyers in the sa...

Jeff Kennard chairs SAKG's Construction & Design practice group and is also a member of the firm's Business & Commercial litigation practice group. He has tried or arbitrated more than 20 cases to verdict or award. His clients include publicly-traded companies, several of America's largest private companies, and small businesses. Although Jeff advises clients at all phases of a construction project, the principal focus of his practice is dispute resolution. For more than two decades, ...

Tom Hershewe is one of the Midwest’s leading bad faith insurance litigators. Tom represents insureds who have had their insurance companies abandoned 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 & Hershewe, Tom has recovered more than $130 million agai...

Brandon began his legal career working for judges—first clerking for a Missouri Supreme Court judge and then for a U.S. District Court judge. He then entered the courtroom as a litigator, and over the last 13 years has litigated significant, high stakes cases in courts in Kansas, Missouri, and fourteen other states. Brandon has represented corporate and individual clients in matters ranging from trucking accidents to antitrust monopolies to large breach of contract and business tort mat...

While his current practice extends to different areas of tort litigation, José has represented families and individuals injured in railroad grade crossing collisions for most of his career. Before starting his own firm in 2011, he was an attorney with a renowned Kansas City law firm with a national practice in railroad litigation. Missouri Lawyer's Weekly has highlighted the results of José's work on several occasions, including his $3 million settlement of a private crossing co...