Mark McKinzie

Mark McKinzie

Mark W. McKinzie is a partner at Wallace Saunders. He was the managing partner of the firm for 16 years. 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.

Mark’s areas of practice include business and commercial law with emphasis on real estate, probate, estate planning, trusts and estates, business organizations, debtor/creditor law and business representation. His professional memberships include the Kansas, Missouri, Johnson County and Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Associations.

Practice Groups

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Personal

Mark is a family man with a great sense of humor. When he’s not playing with his grandkids, he’s on the golf course or his family’s farm.

Thoughtful • Loyal • Personable

Education

Creighton University School of Law, Juris Doctor
Creighton University, B.S., Accounting and Finance

Professional Practice

1981-present: Wallace Saunders

1998-2018: Member, Management Committee
1998-2010, 2014-2018: Managing Partner
1986-present: Partner
Chairman, Corporate Practice Group
Chairman, Wills, Trusts and Estates Practice Group

Professional Licensure

Trial and appellate courts of Kansas and Missouri
U.S. District Court of Kansas
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Tax Court

Professional Accomplishments

AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®, 10-plus years
Five Star professional in estate planning, KC Business Magazine
Recognized by US News, "Best Lawyers in America" for Real Estate Law 2019-2021

Civic Activities

Overland Park Chamber Foundation

2007-2019: President
1998-2019: Board of Directors

Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas

2000-2008: Board of Directors
2005-2006: President

Overland Park Chamber of Commerce

1997: Chairman of the Board of Directors
1994-1998: Board of Directors

Villa St. Francis

2019-present: Board of Directors

Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Planned Giving Advisory Council

2019-present

Leadership Overland Park, Graduate, 1993
Kansas Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Johnson County Bar Association
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association

News + Events + Alerts

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.

Greg Bentz makes presentation at the American Hospital Association Annual Meeting in Washington D.C.

Greg Bentz made a presentation at the American Hospital Association Annual Meeting in Washington D.C. on April 23rd, 2023. The presentation was jointly made by Dr. Jonathan B. Perlin, The President and CEO of the Joint Commission, and Mr. Bentz. The topic was “Revitalize Your Board’s Focus on Quality and Patient Safety.”