Practice Areas

Business Litigation
Our People

Business Litigation

Business litigation requires a unique blend of business-specific knowledge and litigation experience. Wallace Saunders has both the knowledge and the experience to protect and move your business forward. Our Business Litigation attorneys handle litigation matters across a broad spectrum of professions and industries.

We understand that the “bottom line” for businesses is quick, efficient and successful resolution of business disputes. Our success in the courtroom can be leveraged in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes, such as mediation and arbitration, which provide you with quicker and more efficient results.

When litigation is inevitable, our most experienced courtroom litigators are capable of strategically and persuasively presenting your business’s claims and defenses to protect your company and secure the best possible outcome.

Wallace Saunders’ Business Litigation attorneys offer business-specific knowledge and litigation experience in the following areas:

Accounting litigation
Accounting malpractice
Advertising injuries
Agency issues
Alternative dispute resolution processes (mediation, arbitration, settlement conferences)
Architect malpractice
Business interruption
Business torts
Complex litigation
Computer fraud and abuse
Construction litigation
Consumer protection/fraud
Contract and UCC disputes
Corporate directors and officers litigation
Declaratory judgments
Dental malpractice
Employment law
Engineer malpractice
Environmental
Errors and omissions
Estate, trust, and fiduciary litigation
Financial advisor malpractice

First-party claims
Fraud
Fraudulent transfers
Insurance matters
Intellectual property disputes
Land use
Landlord-tenant
Legal malpractice
Medical malpractice
Mold
Nuisance
Nursing home
OSHA compliance/investigations
Piercing the corporate veil
Premises liability
Product liability
Real estate disputes
Reinsurance
Subrogation
Surety and bond litigation
Theft
Toxic torts
Trucking and transportation

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Our People | Business Litigation

Michael L. Brown

Mike Brown is a rare breed of attorney. He is the firm’s main contact with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Services, which keeps him busy when he attends national conferences. Mike provides continuing education services to the firm’s architecture and engineering clients. He’s involved in the local AIA Kansas City chapter.

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James G. Butler

In more than 40 years of service at Wallace Saunders, James Butler has done it all – from winning awards like the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory’s highest “AV” rating for lawyers, to helping us shape and refine the firm into the office it is today. He was a founding member of the Business Practice Group, and he continues to guide the firm’s direction as a member of the Management Committee.

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Jonathan M. Craig

Jonathan is a dedicated, effective attorney. Prior to joining Wallace Saunders, Jonathan worked for a boutique construction and business law practice where he represented businesses, general contractors, and subcontractors. He leverages his litigation and trial experience to efficiently resolve legal problems, and always strives to achieve the best outcome for his clients.

Jonathan’s practice focuses on construction law, business law, professional liability, and litigation.

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Kelvin J. Fisher

Kelvin Fisher joined Wallace Saunders in 2016. He is an experienced litigator who has represented clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 500 companies and from banks and credit unions to global insurers. Kelvin has tried numerous cases to verdict in both jury trials and bench trials.

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Marty T. Jackson

Marty Jackson is known for his endless wealth of knowledge. Which is perhaps why clients and partners alike turn to him for advice. If he doesn’t know the answer (which he usually does), he knows how to find it. That’s the kind of resourcefulness Marty brings to every case and client relationship at Wallace Saunders.

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Schalie A. Johnson

Schalie Johnson embodies the definition of hard work. She keeps busy as a Partner at Wallace Saunders – but she does not stop there. She is also a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Missouri Bar Association, the Johnson County Bar Association and the Kansas Bar Association. Pushing her knowledge and the field forward is one of her biggest goals. It makes her a better attorney and positively influences our entire firm.

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Theodore A. Kardis

Tad Kardis has handled high risk, high stakes personal injury and property damage cases for nearly 20 years. His practice emphasizes general tort litigation, propane defense, professional liability, construction litigation, insurance bad faith, telecommunications, and complex class action litigation.

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Bryan R. Kelly

Bryan is passionate about defending people and businesses. He is a key member of Wallace Saunders’ Design Professionals and Construction and Design practice groups. A versatile attorney, Bryan also has a track record of successfully representing clients in civil litigation in a wide range of practice areas from employment to personal injury defense. He has the right mix of skills to “Partner with You.”

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Karl Kuckelman

Karl Kuckelman is all business. He truly enjoys serving the business community, and goes to great lengths for his clients. Karl has been with Wallace Saunders for more than two decades.

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Leo L. Logan

Leo brings over 41 years of of experience in civil litigation to the practice. Leo has represented many insurers and their policyholders in his career, but he also represents victims of personal, commercial and professional negligence. Ever keeping current, Leo regularly shares his legal knowledge at professional seminars, and is often asked by other lawyers to provide expert opinion evidence in insurance related matters. Leo is AV rated and consistently earns the “Super Lawyer” designation for business litigation.

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Mary T. Malicoat

Mary grew up in a military family that relocated many times over the years. Wichita, Kansas was the family’s last stop. Today she is proud to be a self-proclaimed ambassador of good will for the State of Kansas and, in particular, her adopted hometown of Wichita. Mary has years of experience in defending personal injury lawsuits including deposing expert witnesses across the nation in complex neonatal cases. As a result, she has been admitted pro hoc vice to practice in numerous states. She also has deep experience in the defense of inmate civil rights matters and high-risk, high-exposure entertainment venues and sports teams. Whether the case involves an issue arising in Kansas or across the nation, she is committed to zealously serve her client’s interests with integrity.

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Mark McKinzie

Mark McKinzie is a partner at Wallace Saunders. He is managing director of the firm. He continues to lead the firm as a member of the management committee and chairman of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group. For 10-plus years, he has earned the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory's highest “AV” rating and continues to be honored by KC Business Magazine as a Five Star Professional in estate planning.

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Jeffrey S. Nichols

Jeff Nichols is a partner at Wallace Saunders, having been with the firm since finishing law school in 1999. He leverages his deep experience and knowledge every day to deliver the kind of litigation results you deserve. With a knack for solving issues quickly, he seeks early resolution when appropriate and takes matters to trial for vigorous representation when required. He works with numerous clients, both corporate and insurance-based, throughout all phases of the litigation process, from pre-suit investigations and scene inspections to all appellate processes.

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John Ross

John Ross is a partner of Wallace Saunders. He is Chairman of the Professional Liability Practice Group and Co-Chairman of the Transportation and Trucking Practice Group. His practice concentrates in the area of general civil litigation, trucking litigation, business litigation, and professional liability.

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Dan A. Saathoff

Dan was General Counsel for a Kansas City-based restaurant group, with over 15 locations across six states, before joining our Team. There, he gained deep experience in complex transactional matters and, when necessary, protected his clients through litigation.

A skilled negotiator, Dan has helped numerous clients close on critical business agreements, enabling them to succeed and grow moving forward. Dan also understands the economic considerations businesses face and he strives to deliver exceptional value to his clients. He stays on top of all things Hospitality so that clients can secure necessary licenses and permits. And if the other side won’t be reasonable, Dan is prepared to get things done elsewhere, whether in the courtroom or arbitration or mediation.

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Eric A. Van Beber

Few attorneys can match the range and scope of experience held by Eric Van Beber. For more than a decade, he has been a partner at Wallace Saunders. A natural leader, Eric helps make key decisions as the firm’s Co-Chair of the Construction Law Practice Group.

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Practice Areas | Banking and Financial Services

The Banking and Financial Services group believes the simple edict that “time is money and money is time.” This concept drives our responsive, practical counsel in all matters of financing. We are dedicated to resolving our clients’ disputes in a no-nonsense manner.

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Practice Areas | Business Litigation

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Practice Areas | Construction and Design

The world of construction is comprehensive, collaborative and highly detailed. The same can be said of our approach to construction law. Legal regulations, city and state codes, federal guidelines, environmental issues – there’s a litany of laws and parameters that seems never-ending.

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Practice Areas | Corporate

The Wallace Saunders Corporate Practice group focuses on three primary areas: entity formation, operations guidance and assisting in the sale of your business.

Accurate entity formation can have a major impact on your liability exposure as well as substantial tax consequences. It’s important to have appropriate control features in the establishing documents for your entity to ensure your ability to run your company in the manner you see fit.

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Practice Areas | Criminal Litigation

Everyone knows someone who has encountered law enforcement. Criminal charges and investigations often bring anxiety and uncertainty to the accused and his or her family. For this reason, it is essential to promptly find an experienced partner who can guide you through the legal process. The attorneys of Wallace Saunders’ Criminal Litigation Group are here to help. We provide our clients with the clarity needed to understand the criminal law processes and protect our clients by finding the best solutions based on their needs.

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Practice Areas | Design Professionals

Architects, engineers, construction managers, licensed site professionals and their firms have long relied on the Design Professionals Group at Wallace Saunders for comprehensive legal services. Our experienced team can handle any legal need that may arise, including regulatory and professional liability claims, advice concerning professional liability insurance, and representation in fee and contractual disputes with clients. Our highly experienced trial lawyers have represented clients in jury and nonjury cases, in both state and federal courts across the country.

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Practice Areas | Employment

The ever-changing landscape of human resources law is dizzying. It can be difficult for any HR team or business owner to keep pace. Whether your HR department is small, large or transitioning, the Employment Practice Group at Wallace Saunders works in tight cooperation with you. We take pride in partnership, collaborating closely to provide legal representation and counsel in a capacity that best serves your needs.

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Practice Areas | Healthcare

Quick advisers and zealous defenders for healthcare-based institutions and individuals, the Healthcare Group at Wallace Saunders offers something few healthcare groups can – all of our lawyers have been with the group for an average of 20 years. So you know you’re getting experienced healthcare counsel with long-standing client relationships.

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Practice Areas | Insurance

Insurance issues can escalate from simple to complex quickly, and you need attorneys able to handle it all. With Wallace Saunders, you can rest assured the attorneys in our Insurance Practice Group have a command of insurance law and litigation. In fact, the firm was founded more than 50 years ago with insurance at the core of our practice.

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Practice Areas | Litigation

Founded as a litigation firm in 1963, our attorneys carry on our tradition of substantial deposition and courtroom experience, with hands-on training that begins early in every attorney’s career. The litigation department is the largest practice area at Wallace Saunders, with more than half of our attorneys working under the Litigation Practice Area umbrella.

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Practice Areas | Product Liability

Understanding the nuances of Product Liability law and the significant exposure for clients involved in product litigation is a service not every firm can offer. Our experience representing manufacturers, distributors and retailers gives you the advantage of leveraging strategic planning with trial skills in this complex and dynamic area of law.

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Practice Areas | Professional Liability

Most professionals regularly handle situations where they cannot guarantee specific results for their clients or patients. This makes them vulnerable to professional liability lawsuits. Choosing the right attorney to defend such lawsuits is critical. Additionally, the best defense against professional liability claims begins before a claim ever gets filed.

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Practice Areas | Real Estate

Companies, municipalities, real estate developers and individuals have all called on Wallace Saunders for assistance with various types of commercial, residential, multifamily and land development projects.

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Practice Areas | Transportation: Railroad and Trucking

When it comes to trucking and railroading, our attorneys are with you from the start, emphasizing early response to losses. Our transportation attorneys are on call 24/7 to respond to serious accidents and emergencies by visiting accident scenes to gather and preserve evidence. This helps lay the groundwork for a careful investigation and vigorous claim defense. We have an established emergency response protocol, and will work with a team of accident reconstructionists, field investigators, and criminal defense attorneys, when needed, to immediately respond to trucking, railroading, and other transportation accidents and emergencies.

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Practice Areas | Wills, Trusts and Estates

Preservation and protection. The premises are simple. Navigating them can be complex. At Wallace Saunders, we focus on details, turning every stone to preserve your hard-earned wealth. We protect you, your family and your business. To us, it’s more than a job – it’s a duty we take to heart.

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Practice Areas | Workers' Compensation

Backed by 50 years of successfully defending the largest insurance companies in the country, the Workers’ Compensation Group at Wallace Saunders prides itself on personal service – when you hire a partner in the group, you get that partner. And you get a no-nonsense approach to defending employers in the area of workers’ compensation.

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News + Events + Alerts

Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Recognizes Eight Wallace Saunders Attorneys

Together with Thomson Reuters—a global analyst of legal talent—we congratulate eight of our lawyers selected for inclusion in 2019 Missouri-Kansas Super Lawyers: James Sanders, Brian Boos, Tim Finnerty, Schalie Johnson, Bryan Kelly, Rod Richardson, Mark Ware, and Ryan Weltz. We especially recognize Mr. Sanders, Mr. Finnerty, and Mr. Richardson, each of whom has received this honor for 10 or more consecutive years.

Wallace Saunders Honors KC’s Best at the AIA Design Excellence Awards #DEKC2019

Wallace Saunders attorneys Mike Brown and Bryan Kelly recently attended the AIA Design Excellence Awards Ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri. Wallace Saunders is an AIA Cornerstone Partner, and our attorneys represent architects, engineers, and other design professionals from the corporate formation process, through contracts and project planning, and in any litigation which may arise in the construction and design fields. We were delighted to celebrate the best the Kansas City area design community had to offer in 2019, in categories spanning interior design, engineering, and architecture projects in commercial, public, and residential spaces.