Thomas V. Bender

Brian F. McCallister is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Legal Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Brian F., who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Melody Rayl is a partner in the Kansas City office. Melody counsels and advocates for private and public-sector employers in all aspects of employment litigation and traditional labor law. Melody regularly advises and counsels her clients through difficult situations with an eye to preventing litigation before it occurs and provides training to supervisory and management level personnel on a variety of employment related topics. When litigation does occur, Melody works with employers in defen...

Trina Ricketts is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Trina, who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Trina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Curtis R. Summers is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Curtis R., who practices law in Kansas City, Missouri, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Curtis R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

It’s no surprise Tim Dollar is considered one of the top trial lawyers in America. He has tried more than 286 jury trials, has won hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients and orchestrated major company and legislative policy changes that make our world safer. Highlights of Tim’s civil practice include Bresette v. Brassfield and Gorre, et. al, a nationally publicized story about the devasting collapse of a flight display board at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airpo...

Sean has extensive trial and litigation experience through his 27 years of civil defense practice. He represents national transportation companies in cases involving personal injury, Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), grade crossing accidents, property damage, cumulative trauma exposure and other accident investigation and defense. His litigation experience includes a record of success in jury verdicts and pre-trial motion practice. He regularly serves on initial response teams fo...

Patrick (“Pat”) Hulla co-leads the firm’s Class Action Defense Group. Since 1993, Pat has represented employers who have been sued by current and former employees. He has led the defense in dozens of class and collective actions. Examples of his recent success include: Denial of class certification in consumer race discrimination action; Denial of national conditional certification of age discrimination claims under the ADEA; Denial of class action certification of off-the-c...

Jill Kanatzar is one of the most respected plaintiff attorneys in the region. Her deep experience in cases related to sexual abuse, child injury and wrongful death, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice spans more than 25 years. Jill’s entire career has been dedicated to helping people who often cannot help themselves. From small children to disabled adults to our elders, she has stood next to and fought for people’s rights. She has also been appointed special prosecutor acro...

Rochelle B. Falk is an attorney with over 25 years’ experience in the Estate Planning & Probate legal industry. Clients rely on Rochelle to have in-depth and meaningful discussions about their personal situation and assets to create individual, comprehensive, and flexible estate plans by utilizing trusts, wills and power of attorney documents. Additionally, Rochelle counsels’ clients as trustees and beneficiaries during the administration of trust and probate estates, as well ...

Daniel P. Wheeler is a partner with the firm of Kembell Woods & Martinsen LLP. Mr. Wheeler focuses his practice on fiduciary litigation, probate administration, adult and minor guardianships, and mediation in cases throughout Missouri and Kansas. Mr. Wheeler served as a Probate Commissioner for the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri for more than fourteen years. As Probate Commissioner, he presided over family and fiduciary disputes in trust and probate matters, including fiduciary...