Christopher C. Confer

Christopher C. Confer

Chris Confer is a seasoned litigator, having handled and tried to verdict many cases. His trial skills have protected numerous railroads from potential multi-million dollar liability stemming from Federal Employer Liability Act (“FELA”) claims and grade crossing accidents. In addition, Chris has defended several railroads in multiple Federal Railroad Safety Act (“FRSA”) employment law / “whistleblower” actions. Beyond such high-exposure, high-risk cases, Chris has extensive experience with cases involving trucking and transportation, premises liability, property damage, and other torts.

Chris has represented one of the world’s largest fast-food franchises, and one of the country’s largest Short Line railroads. He is also highly regarded by his peers, particularly in matters involving alleged professional liability. He has provided counsel to attorneys, accountants, appraisers, abstractors, corporate directors and officers, and insurance agents and brokers. His work with such professionals has included representing them before professional licensing boards.

Whether he’s representing a Fortune 500 company, an individual or a small company, Chris brings his tireless drive and solid work ethic to get the best possible results. And, above all, Chris values the close relationships he has built with clients over the years, and the opportunity to protect them, whether in the courtroom or boardroom.

Practice Groups

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.

Corporate

The Wallace Saunders Corporate Practice group focuses on three primary areas: entity formation, operations guidance and contracts.

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.

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.

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.

Mergers & Acquisitions

The Wallace Saunders Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group advises companies and firms in connection with a wide variety of mergers and acquisitions transactions. We serve as counsel on virtually any type of purchase and sale transaction involving our business clients. Our lawyers have facilitated mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of assets and ownership interests, and a variety of asset combinations, across a wide array of industries. We strive to understand our clients’ financial and operational dynamics, focusing on both the legal and business aspects of a transaction to ensure that the deal structure and terms reflect our clients’ business goals. Our lawyers are skilled at drafting effective representations, warranties, and covenants. The Wallace Saunders Corporate Practice Group assists our Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group clients with entity formation, operations guidance and contracts.

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.

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.

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.

Personal

Chris enjoys travel, likes being outdoors and playing golf, loves attending sporting events with his wife and two young daughters, and is an avid backyard cook.

Knowledgeable • Persistent • Thorough

Education

The University of Kansas School of Law, Juris Doctor
The University of Kansas, B.A., Political Science

Professional Practice

2019-Present: Wallace Saunders

2021-Present: Partner
2019-2020: Of Counsel

2019-2020: Wallace Saunders

Of Counsel

2006-2019: Yeretsky & Maher, LLC

2014-2019: Partner and Shareholder
2006-2013: Associate Attorney

2004-2005: Fairchild & Buck, P.A.

Associate Attorney

Professional Licensure

All trial and appellate courts in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Illinois
U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri

Professional Accomplishments

Successfully tried numerous jury trials and bench trials throughout Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma
Successfully completed the College of Railroad Trial Advocacy conducted by the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel

Civic Activities

Kansas Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Johnson County Bar Association
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
American Short Line Railroad Association
Kansas Association of Defense Counsel
Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City
Calvary Lutheran Church - Board of Elders and Board of Ushers, 2009-2013

News + Events + Alerts

Schalie Johnson elected to KU Endowment Board of Trustees

https://news.ku.edu/2023/10/30/ku-endowment-board-elects-6-new-trustees

Attorneys Chris Confer and Stephanie Blaylock return to present at AAR “Claims School”

The American Association of Railroads (“AAR”) recently held its annual “Claims School” – a training and education opportunity the AAR provides to claims representatives of various railroads. Last year, Mr. Confer and Ms. Blaylock presented at the Claims School, and because that presentation was so successful, the AAR invited Mr. Confer and Ms. Blaylock to give this presentation again to a new group of attendees.