Solo & Small Firm Conference Faculty

Transcription

1 Solo & Small Firm Conference Faculty Sue Baker has spent 36 years at REJIS (Regional Justice Information Service) and has held a variety of positions within the organization. Currently Sue serves as a Client Representative, and in this capacity she is responsible for the sales, customer support, training and coordination of REJIS' private sector activities. These include information services to Missouri attorneys, corporate and private security organizations, and non-criminal justice government agencies. REJIS was established through a joint city/county ordinance and provides information and facilities management services to criminal justice and government agencies in the St. Louis area. REJIS became The Missouri Bar's technical partner for The Missouri Bar's computer network project (MoBar Net) approximately 18 years ago and provides programming, technical, billing, security, training and help desk support for the project. Sue has been project manager for MoBar Net for the past 13 years. Judge Douglas R. Beach was appointed Associate Circuit Court Judge for St. Louis County Missouri in 2005 and appointed to the Circuit Court by Governor Jay Nixon in Judge Beach as been assigned to the Family Court since he was appointed in He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a frequent lecturer on Family law and other legal topics. He was in the private practice law in St. Louis being named in the Best Lawyers of America publication for 10 consecutive years. Was an incorporator of the City of Chesterfield in 1988 and served as the City Attorney for 17 ½ years before his appointment to the bench. Judge Beach graduated from Central Conn. State University in 1970, and received his law degree from New England School of Law (Cum Laude) in He retired from the United States Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel were he served as Judge Advocate. Rick Bernauer has worked in the legal technology field for 28 years. He is a Kansas City native, graduated from Southwest High School and then attended Baker University where he received his degree in English Literature and History. In 1982 he started a company to provide custom software and services for the legal and medical markets. Mr. Bernauer has become a recognized authority and speaker on law office technology; including practice management, billing systems and document management. He is President of CyTek Corporation and consults with law firms and corporate legal departments in the Midwest on technology issues. Outside of work, Rick may be recognized as lead guitarist for the band SunDog. 1--1

2 Zach Bickel is a partner at The Robertson Law Group in Kansas City, Missouri. His practice focuses on identifying, protecting, and preserving issues prior to, during trial, and on appeal. The firm assists in research, reviewing and drafting pleadings and jury instructions, attending trial conferences and trial, drafting posttrial motions, and presenting appellate writs, briefs, and oral arguments. Mr. Bickel is a 2006 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, where he graduated with honors (Order of the Barrister) and served as a Chairperson on the Executive Board of the Board of Advocates. He also received the Roscoe Anderson Award for Excellence in Advocacy. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri, and is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Boone County Bar Association, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. Kathleen H. Bird received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University (1973) and her juris doctor degree from Southern Methodist University (1980). She is licensed in the states of Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. In 1986 she became a certified Family Law Specialist, Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She has lectured for the Arkansas and Missouri Bar organizations on various domestic relations practice topics and mediation. She is a contributing author of the Arkansas Domestic Relations Manual (1993) and the Arkansas Juvenile Prosecutor s Handbook (1995). Ms. Bird entered the field of mediation with her first training in 1987, mediating for court-connected programs and in the private sector. She is currently the Director of the Office of Dispute Resolution Services for the Seventh Circuit Court of Missouri and serves on the Supreme Court Committee on Access to Family Courts. Robert Blackwell received his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in He is a member of the Missouri Bar (Chair, Commercial Law Committee, ). Mr. Blackwell is licensed to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western District of Missouri, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, United States District Court for the Southern and Cental Districts of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Blackwell is also a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (Chair, Business Law Section, ; Co-Chair, Bankruptcy Committee, ), the St. Charles County Bar (president 2004), and Chair of the Bankruptcy Practice Memorial Fund ( ). He has written articles and has been a guest speaker at various seminars on a variety of topics, including bankruptcy, ethics, secured transactions, asset purchases, and social security disability. Mr. Blackwell received the Michael R. Roser Excellence in Bankruptcy Practice Award in 2004, and Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyer, 2006, 2007, Bankruptcy and Creditor/Debtor Rights. Mr. Blackwell has been a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Panel Trustee for the Eastern District of Missouri since Gary D. Bollinger graduated from Washington University School of Law, with a J.D. in His practice is currently focused on consumer bankruptcy. 1--2

3 Jim Brady has served as Director of the Missouri Lawyers Assistance Program since April 1, Previously he worked as Coordinator of the STAR program at Fulton State Hospital for many years, providing substance abuse treatment to mentally ill clients committed to the hospital. Earlier in his career, Jim worked in a variety of out-patient counseling settings, both in Missouri and in his home state of Washington. Jim s academic training includes a BA in Psychology from Concordia College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary in Clayton, Missouri, and a Master of Social Work degree from University of Missouri Columbia. He has been a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers since 1988, and a licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri since licensing was instituted in Jim is active in community theater, and sings bass with the Jefferson City Cantorum. He enjoys skiing and using his passport. Martha C. Brown is an attorney and partner in the law firm of Oelbaum, Brown & Alsop, LLC in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended the University of Bath, Bath, England; the University of Vermont (B.A., 1976); and the University of Missouri- Kansas City (J.D., 1981). Her areas of concentration are: Elder Law; Medicaid Planning, Estate Planning, Probate Administration (including Guardianship and Conservatorship matters), and Special Needs Trusts. She is a Certified Elder Law Attorney* as certified by the National Elder Law Foundation. Ms. Brown is a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC), and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). She is a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (Elder Law Committee, 1999 to present); the Missouri Bar (member, Probate and Trust Committee), (Chair of the Elder Law Committee, ); Women Lawyers Association of Greater St. Louis (Board Member, ); founding member and past President of the Missouri Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; a member of the Special Needs Alliance LLC, a national alliance of disability lawyers; the Alzheimer s Association; a Board Member of the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program for Eastern Missouri; a Board Member of the Association for Aging with Developmental Disabilities; and a Board Member of the Mid-East Area Agency on Aging. Ms. Brown is the recipient of the St. Louis County Older Resident Program, 1996 Volunteer Award; recipient of the Volunteer of the Year Award, 2000, presented by the Alzheimer s Association; recipient of the Elder Law Attorney of the Year Award, 2001, presented by the Missouri Chapter of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys; and is a volunteer for the Alzheimer s Association. She is also a recipient of the National Association of Social Workers 2002 Public Citizen of the Year Award. Ms. Brown was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to the Disciplinary Committee, which oversees the ethical conduct of lawyers in the State of Missouri. She received the 2005 Service Excellence Award from the Brain Injury Association of Missouri, St. Louis Chapter. *Neither the Supreme Court of MO nor the Missouri Bar reviews or approves certifications, organizations or specialist designations. 1--3

4 Jim Calloway is an attorney from Oklahoma. He serves as the Director of the Oklahoma Bar Association Management Assistance Program. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma, where he was named to the Oklahoma Law Review. Mr. Calloway is a member of the American Bar Association where he served as chair of the ABA TECHSHOW 2005 Board. He has served on the TECHSHOW board for three previous years. He is an active member of the ABA Law Practice Management Section and was recently elected to the LPM Section Council. He is on its Practice Management Advisor s committee. He is also an active member of the ABA s General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section, where he serves on the Solo Day and Road Show planning committees for the GPSSF section. As a part of his duties with the OBA, he designed and now manages the OBA-NET, the official online service of the Oklahoma Bar. He has made over 250 presentations on law office management, legal technology, ethics and legal business operations. He also manages the annual OBA Solo and Small Firm Conference. Mr. Calloway publishes the weblog, Jim Calloway s Law Practice Tips at He also published, with co-editor Mark Robertson, the book Winning Alternatives to the Billable Hour: Strategies That Work, presently on sale through the ABA Law Practice Management section. Mr. Calloway was a featured speaker at the ABA Annual Meetings in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003, LegalTech Toronto 2000, ABA Techshows 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and LegalTech Dallas He has done presentations for the National Association of Bar Executives and the National Council of Bar Presidents at their annual meetings. He has also spoken at state bar association meetings and seminars for the Missouri, Colorado, Maryland, Georgia, Texas, Utah and New York state bar associations. His articles have been published in Lawyers Weekly USA, Law Practice Management magazine, Law Technology News, LLRX.com and GPSolo, as well as the Colorado, Maryland and Oklahoma Bar Association Journals. He was recently honored with an invitation to be inducted as a Fellow of the College of Law Practice Management. Mr. Calloway is also a member of the National Association of Bar Executives where he served as chair of the Website and Knowledge Management Committee. Before taking his present position with the OBA, he was in private practice for approximately sixteen years in south Oklahoma City and Norman, Oklahoma. He is a former President of the Cleveland County, Oklahoma Bar Association. He is a member of the Oklahoma City PC Users Group and, back in the pre-internet era, ran a computer bulletin board for lawyers and those wishing to discuss legal issues called the Barrister s Club BBS. Many of his articles are found at

5 Bill Carr joined the firm of White, Allinder, Graham, Buckley & Carr as a partner in September of Prior to joining the firm, he was the sole shareholder and owner of the Law Office of William L. Carr in Kansas City, Missouri. Bill graduated from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri in 1989 with a B.A. in Biology and attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City School, graduating in Bill has been a member of the Board of Governors of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and has been a presenter at several CLE programs on subjects dealing with trial practice. He was named by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as one of ten Up and Coming Lawyers in the fall of 2004 and recently was honored with the Thomas J. Conway award by the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. He has also been featured in the Best of the Bar edition of the Kansas City Business Journal in 2007 and He has tried numerous cases in venues throughout Missouri and Kansas and specializes in handling serious injury cases He is a member of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, the Missouri Bar Association, the Kansas Bar Association and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. Bill is also active in the community and serves on the Board of Directors for ChildReach Ministries, a ministry based out of Canal Fulton, Ohio doing ministry work with underprivileged children in Ecuador and Peru. Lydia Carson has been practicing in the field of Family Law since 1983, in the Kansas City area. She graduated from UMKC School of Law. She has been married for 23 years, has 3 cats and lives in the Historic Shelley House near Westport. She is active in her community and church. Doug Churovich Education: Juris Doctor: St. Louis University School of Law, cum laude; Bachelor of Science: Ceramic Engineer, University of Missouri-Rolla Doug is licensed in both Missouri and Illinois, registered to practice before multiple federal district and appellate courts, and is registered to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office. He has litigated numerous varied matters before multiple Courts across the country. Since joining Polster Lieder, he has prosecuted numerous federal trademark and copyright applications, litigated multiple trademark and copyright infringement cases, and overseen multiple trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings. In addition, Doug has prepared and prosecuted numerous patent applications, covering various technical areas, and he has been extensively involved in multiple patent infringement cases. Doug also has extensive non-legal work experience at Boeing Corporation. As a manager, Doug was responsible for numerous solid state laser projects, and managed nine key program deliveries, including two time-critical space-launch programs. As an engineer, Doug supervised the transfer, start-up, operation and engineering of over $8.5 million in microchip manufacturing equipment. 1--5

6 Craig Chval received his B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law. Prior to founding The Chval Law Group, P.C., he spent over four years as chief of the High Tech and Computer Crime Unit in the Missouri Attorney General s Office. He also has served as special counsel to Illinois Attorney Jim Ryan and as Criminal Law/Cybercrime Counsel for the National Association of Attorneys General. Chval has lectured extensively on subjects relating to digital evidence and e-discovery, including before the Missouri Judicial College, the National Association of Attorneys General, The Missouri Bar, and the Illinois State Bar Association. He is the author of Chapter 21, Digital Evidence, in the MoBarCLE deskbook Missouri Evidence, 5 th Edition. Timothy R. Cisar was born in San Antonio, Texas. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he received his B.A. in Tim graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 1983, and was admitted to the bar the same year. He served as Municipal Judge in Lake Ozark, Missouri from , and in Eldon, Missouri from 2003 to the present. He is a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Camden County Bar Association (Treasurer, ) and 26th Judicial Circuit (Miller County Representative) Bar Association. He is also a member of the Missouri Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Missouri Society for Criminal Justice, National College for DUI Defense, and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where he served as a member of the Board of Directors from , Treasurer in 2001, Secretary in 2002, Vice- President in 2003, and President from The Cisar Law Firm, P.C. employs four attorneys and is primarily concentrated in the criminal defense field. Mr. Cisar has tried cases all over central Missouri involving many different areas of criminal defense, including post conviction relief. Creighton Cohn has focused his practice on consumer law and personal injury since He represents individuals in areas including abusive debt collection, debtors rights, improper credit reporting, identify theft, fraud and warranty and lemon law. He is a frequent speaker on consumer law related topics. He has tried several consumer and personal injury cases to jury and participated in numerous mediations and arbitrations. He obtained his certificate of mediation from the University of Missouri - Columbia. Mr. Cohn is a 1998 graduate of St. Louis University School of Law and is admitted to practice in Missouri and Illinois as well as the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. His firm is located in Clayton, Missouri. Hon. Frank Conley is a Senior Judge, was a circuit judge 32 years and tried alot of cases both civil and criminal, in many courts throughout Missouri. 1--6

7 Corinne Corley known to her friends as the Mugwump and to St. Louisans as the child formerly known as Mary, grew up in Jennings, Missouri. She is a 1977 graduate of St. Louis University and a 1983 graduate of the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law. She began her legal career as a paralegal for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri in St. Louis. Her early days as an attorney found her prosecuting for Kansas City and Jackson County, while starting the first of two solo practices. From , she lived in Fayetteville, Arkansas and practiced agricultural lender liability plaintiff's law, flying around the country in impossibly small planes, saving family farms from loss during the drought and decline of the 1980s. Her biggest claim to fame from that era is hearing a Farm Credit banker tell his lawyer, after a six-hour hearing in Natchitoches, Louisiana: I can't believe I got beaten by a pregnant crippled girl from Arkansas. Corinne returned to Kansas City in 1992 to manage the last successful re-election primary of then-congressmember Alan D. Wheat, after which she started her current solo practice. She concentrates in representing fathers and non-custodial mothers in custody cases; domestic violence victims; and both parents and children in Juvenile Court. She is a proud member of the Solo and Small Firm Committee of the Missouri Bar, an active participant in the Small Firm Internet Group, and the mother of one son, Patrick, who has just completed his first year at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana (go Tigers!). She authors a weekly blog that can be found in your inbox each Saturday if you are on SFIG, or at She is thankful to be a returning speaker at the Solo and Small Firm Conference and looks forward to presenting with Judge Beach. Fredrich J. Cruse, born Marysville, California, September 7, 1947; admitted to bar, 1974, Missouri; 1982, Illinois; 1987, Utah; also admitted to practice before U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, Central District of Illinois and District of Utah; U.S. Court of Military Appeals. Preparatory education, William Jewell College (A.B., 1969); legal education, University of Missouri, Kansas City (J.D., 1973). Public Defender, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Bankruptcy Trustee, Eastern District of Missouri, present. Rewrote: So You re Going into the Service, pamphlet for Missouri Bar Military Law Committee, City Counselor, Hannibal, Missouri, Member: Tenth Judicial Circuit and American Bar Associations; The Missouri Bar (Chairman, Non Urban Lawyers Committee (which became the General Practice Committee, the precursor to the Solo & Small Firm Committee), ; Chairman, Economics and Methods of Practice Committee (now the Law Practice Management Committee), ); Vice Chairman of the Solo & Small Firm Committee (2000-); Missouri Public Defender Association (Vice-President, ); National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees (Board of Directors, 1990 to 2002; Secretary/Treasurer ). (Judge Advocate, U.S. Marine Corps, ) Listed: Who s Who in American Law. Fred was elected Municipal Judge for the City of Hannibal in April

8 Mariam Decker P.O. Box 977, 401 Locust Street, Columbia, Missouri ; Spouse: David Gene Decker; Children: Brandi Decker Nichols and Jill Decker Greening; Education: University of Missouri Columbia School of Nursing , Degree obtained: Bachelor of Science in Nursing; University of Missouri Columbia School of Law , Degree obtained: Juris Doctorate; Honors and Awards: Member - Journal of Dispute Resolution University of Missouri School of Law 1988 through 1990; Managing Editor - Journal of Dispute Resolution University of Missouri School of Law ; Dean s List - University of Missouri School of Law 1987 through 1990; Criminal Law - American Jurisprudence Award University of Missouri School of Law Winter Semester 1988; Named as a 2007 Missouri Kansas Top 200 Super Lawyers, Medical Malpractice Defense Tim Dollar was born on October 16, He attended the University of Kansas and received a B.G.S. Degree in He then attended the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law and earned his J.D. Degree in Mr. Dollar is a special assistant prosecutor in homicide and capital litigation at the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office and has been since From 1986 through 2000, Mr. Dollar was a partner and a civil trial lawyer at Stigall, Humphrey, Lucas, Henry, Stigall & Dollar, L.C. In 2001, he became the founding partner and a civil trial lawyer at The Law Offices of Tim Dollar, LC, which changed to Dollar, Burns & Becker, LC, in Since 1984, Mr. Dollar has 250 jury trials under his belt. His experience in expert testimony includes Schorey v. Tolin, in St. Louis County, Missouri, in 2007; and W.W. Transport, Inc. v. Gem City Ford, Inc., et al, in the Eastern Dist. of Missouri, in Mr. Dollar has made appearances in many different courts around the United States including: the Missouri Supreme, Appellate, and Circuit Courts, the U. S. District Court for Western District of Missouri, U. S. District Court for Michigan, the U. S. District Court for Hawaii, the State Court for Hawaii, the U. S. District Court for Kansas, the State Court for Kansas, the U.S. District Court for North Carolina, the State Court for Texas, and the State Court in Illinois. Tim Dollar s activities and honors include the following: 1984 National Moot Court Team - National Competitions, Selected National Moot Court Team Kansas City Regional Competition Finalist, Selected National Trial Team Member, Semi-Final Regional Competition; Adjunct Professor of Law - Fundamentals of Trial Advocacy, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law ; 1985/1986 Coordinator/Presenter - In-House Continuing Legal Education Program (coordinated an in-house program of mock trials for new prosecutors) Jackson County Prosecutor's Office; Adjunct Professor of Law - Trial Advocacy II University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law; 1996 Awarded Lon O. Hocker Memorial Trial Lawyer Award, Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys Board of Governors; 1998 American Judicature Society; 2000 Appointed to the Missouri Ethics Commission of the 16 th Circuit Missouri Supreme Court; 2004 Best of the Bar Kansas City, MO, Best Lawyers in America; 2005 Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys -Appointed to the Executive Committee, Elected to the Judicial Nominating Commission, Best Lawyers in America, Best of the Bar Kansas City, MO; 2006 Best of the Bar Kansas City, MO, Super Lawyers Top 100 / Missouri-Kansas; 2007 Best of the Bar Kansas City, MO, Super Lawyers Top 100 / Missouri-Kansas; 2008 Best of the Bar Kansas City, MO, Super Lawyers Top 100 / Missouri-Kansas; 2009 Best of the Bar Kansas City, MO, Super Lawyers Top 100 / Missouri-Kansas. 1--8

9 Carolyn Elefant is an attorney in Washington D.C. specializing in renewable energy, appeals, and select federal litigation. She is creator of MyShingle.com, the longest running blog on solo and small firm practice and author of Solo by Choice: How to Be the Lawyer You Always Wanted to Be, as well as co-author, with Nicole Black, of Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier. Sherwin Epstein founder of the Law Firm of Sherwin L. Epstein & Associates, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, following his tour of active duty in the United States Air Force as an Intelligence Officer in the Strategic Air Command. Aspiring to be a real estate and business lawyer, he began his long career by working as a Title Attorney for Kansas City Title Insurance Company. During those brief years, he learned about title insurance policies, title examinations, closing of transactions, and claims. Later, the City of Kansas City, Missouri offered Mr. Epstein a position in its Law Department as an assistant city attorney handling real estate, land use, and eminent domain. During his years there, he was the attorney for the City Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Adjustment, the Building Codes Appeal Board, and the City Council's Planning and Zoning Committee, He handled many hundreds of cases during their administrative processes, as well as litigating them in the Circuit Court, Missouri Courts of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. Zoning, land use, and urban redevelopment were coming into their own during that period, and Mr. Epstein was on the ground floor. During that time, he revised and later rewrote Kansas City's Zoning Ordinance. He wrote the first Fair Housing Ordinance that did away with discriminatory practices. The Public Accommodations Ordinance did away with discriminatory practices found in restaurants, hotels, and movie theaters. In addition to his regular duties, Mr. Epstein was assigned to handle eminent domain cases for the taking of private property for streets, utility easements, sanitary sewers, and the demolition of truly blighted properties. Sherwin rose to the position of Associate City Attorney. Wanting to enter private practice, the City accepted his resignation so that he could open his own law office and practice law. The City Council presented him with a Resolution recognizing and commending him for all of his work and service to the City, and the Kansas City Star wrote about his achievements. As if Mr. Epstein did not have enough to do, he accepted an adjunct real estate professor position at Kansas City University, now known as the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He also taught real estate law to paralegal students at Rockhurst College in Kansas City (now Rockhurst University.) Later, in years passing, Sherwin conducted week-long seminars in zoning, land planning, and urban redevelopment at Texas A & M to graduate students in the School of Architecture. Sherwin continues to be a frequent speaker in the areas of general real estate law, land use, and eminent domain at the Missouri Bar conference, the Bench and Bar conference, the Solo and Small Firm conference, and other seminars. Sherwin is listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Who's Who In The World, Who's Who In American Law, Who s Who in Business and Finance, and the Martindale Hubbell Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers. 1--9

10 Iean Finley has been a high producing expert in the Mortgage and Banking industry for the past 10 years; closing and supervising thousands of real estate transactions. In the wake of the banking and financial crisis in late 2006, past clients and referrals began coming to him with requests for loan modifications and short sales. He realized it was going to be a much needed niche. This has since become the main focus of his ongoing effort to help Consumers and Banks find middle ground in liquidating Non Performing Assets. There was no manual or outline on how to approach short sales then. Short sales have existed for decades, but even most bank reps had no idea what they were or who to refer you to. Mr. Finley went to work with a small group of specialists in the field and has since founded Real Estate Mitigation Professionals, LLC to work with Sellers, Realtors, Attorneys, and Buyers to develop better and more efficient ways of accomplishing successful short sales. Judge Zel M. Fischer was born in Hamburg, Iowa, on April 28, 1963, and grew up in Watson, Missouri. Judge Fischer was educated in Rock Port public schools. He attended William Jewell College, in Liberty, Missouri, and received his B.A. in philosophy and political science in He is the recipient of the Harry S. Truman Most Outstanding Political Science Major for the class of He graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, with distinction, in He is the recipient of the Order of the Bench and Robe, and the American Jurisprudence Award from the UMKC School of Law, and was a member of Law Review. He is the original author of Chapter 40, Strict Liability of Product Manufacturers and Sellers Manufacturing Defect of the Products Liability Handbook, published by the University of Missouri Kansas City, Continuing Legal Education. Judge Fischer was admitted to The Missouri Bar in Upon graduation, he served for one year as a law clerk for the Honorable Andrew Jackson Higgins of the Supreme Court of Missouri. From 1989 to 1992, he practiced law in the Law Offices of James D. Boggs in Kansas City, Missouri. From 1992 to 2006, he engaged in a solo law practice in northwest Missouri. In November 2006, he was elected associate circuit judge for Atchison County, in the 4th Judicial Circuit, and served in that capacity until his appointment to the Supreme Court of Missouri in October Judge Fischer was selected as a 2008 program member of the Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Center (ASTAR), a national leadership consortium that helps train a select group of judges from around the country to aid them in presiding over complex cases involving difficult science and technology issues, and has taught professional ethics seminars for The Missouri Bar. An active member of his community, Judge Fischer is a member of the Rock Port Rotary Club, Community Awareness Team, Atchison County DARE, the leadership board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes of Northwest Missouri, Tarkio First Baptist Church, Atchison County Economic Development Corporation, and the Tarkio Rodeo board of directors. Judge Fischer was married July 13, 1985, to the former to Julie Ann Moore. They have four children. Judge Fischer was appointed to the Supreme Court by Governor Matt Blunt on October 15,

11 Russell Fracassa graduated with a BS in Accounting from Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri and his JD from University of Missouri at Kansas City. He has worked as an accountant, tax attorney and estate planning attorney for more than 20 years. He is a principal in the Elder Law & Special Needs Firm of McCormick & Fracassa, P.C., as well as a frequent speaker in the areas of estate planning, probate and elder law for local, regional and national sponsors. He and his law partner, Mary R. McCormick authored the Thomson West Missouri Practice Series volume on Elder Law. Russell has been an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Missouri Chapter since He is also an active member of the Missouri Bar s Elder Law and Probate and Trust Law Committees, Eastern Jackson County Bar Association, Independence, Missouri and Clay County Bar Association, Liberty, Missouri and State Advisory Council for Elder Counsel. Russell is a member of the Board of Directors for Home Care Research and Education Foundation (a part of the Missouri Alliance for Home Care) and I-Share of the Community Service League in Independence, Missouri. Jim Frickleton is the Managing Partner of Bartimus, Frickleton, Robertson & Gorny, P.C. in Kansas City. Mr. Frickleton represents plaintiffs in complex litigation of all types including product liability, medical negligence, trucking accidents, class action, aviation and railroad accidents and commercial litigation. Mr. Frickleton is a frequent speaker at local state and national bar associations and has lectured at many national programs and conventions. For eight years Mr. Frickleton served as Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at UMKC Law School. Mr. Frickleton has served as President of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and President of the University of Missouri Law Foundation. He is a member of AAJ, ABA, MATA and holds fellowships in the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), the International Society of Barristers (ISOB) and the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL)

12 Alan Gallas has been associated with credit and collections for his entire legal career which currently spans twenty eight years. He graduated from the University of Missouri at Kansas City with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 1975, and his Juris Doctorate in He was an associate and then partner at one of Kansas City s most respected collection law firms prior to opening his own office in In May, 1992, he and Mark Schultz formed the firm of Gallas & Schultz. From its inception, the firm has concentrated in pursuing collections, both in bankruptcy and civil lawsuits. The firm also enjoys a broad commercial litigation practice including employment, contract, corporate and partnership litigation. Mr. Gallas served three terms as Chairman of the Civil Practice and Procedure Committee of The Missouri Bar and two terms as Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Committee of The Missouri Bar He has previously chaired the Commercial/Bankruptcy section of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and the Associate Division section of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. Mr. Gallas is also a past president of the Credit Association of Kansas City Missouri, and has served numerous two year appointments on its Board. He is a past director of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Midwest, and served as its legal counsel for many years. He is a director of The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation and serves as a Governor of The Missouri Bar. In 1992, Mr. Gallas was appointed by the County Executive of Jackson County, Missouri to serve as a Director of the Industrial Development Authority of Jackson County, where he still serves. Mr. Gallas has also served as a member of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Advisory Committee and is currently a member of the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Associate Division Committee, having been appointed to consecutive terms by the last nine presiding judges of Jackson County, Missouri. Mr. Gallas received the President s Award of The Missouri Bar in 2000 for service to the Bar and was appointed by Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice William Ray Price to serve as a member of The Supreme Court Civil Jury Study Commission. In 2001, Mr. Gallas was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers Consumer Guide published by The Best Lawyers in America. The Missouri Bar Foundation bestowed the Purcell Professionalism Award on Mr. Gallas is Mr. Gallas has served as chair of two special committees of The Missouri Bar at the request of its president: Annual Meeting Review and Planning Committee; and the Special Committee on Unbundled Legal Services. Mr. Gallas received the Law Foundation Service Award from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law in Mr. Gallas is a frequent lecturer to state and local bar associations and trade organizations on the subject of collections and bankruptcy, including the areas of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, foreclosures, mechanic s liens and non-dischargeability cases. He authored the chapter entitled Collecting Judgments, in the Kansas City Court Handbook and is the Editor for the Missouri Bar Publication entitled Evidence Handbook. Mr. Gallas is licensed to practice law in the States of Missouri and Kansas; the Federal District and Bankruptcy Courts in Missouri and Kansas; the Federal Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit; and, the Federal Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit

13 Grant Gorman, Chief Administrative Law Judge, St. Charles Division of Worker s Compensation Education: Received Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Missouri Columbia. Received Juris Doctorate from St. Louis University. Legal Experience: Judge Gorman spent seven years in private law practice, both as a solo practitioner in St. Louis, and as a partner in the firm of Spalding & Cullen in Chesterfield. Practice areas included general civil cases, criminal defense, workers compensation and appellate practice in both federal and state courts. Judge Gorman spent six years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in St. Charles County. He was lead counsel in numerous jury trials. He prosecuted felony cases including felony DWI, methamphetamine production, arson, assault and homicide. Judge Gorman was appointed as an ALJ with the Division of Workers Compensation on January 1, He was named Chief Administrative Law Judge in the St. Charles Division in December, Maurice Graham is President of Gray, Ritter & Graham, P.C. in St. Louis, Missouri, and concentrates his practice in the areas of business litigation and catastrophic injury and death cases. He is a frequent speaker and author on litigation and legal ethics. Mr. Graham was educated at Central Methodist University and the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he received his B.A. degree and his J.D. degree in He was President of The Missouri Bar in Mr. Graham was a member of the ABA House of Delegates from He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, and is an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Graham was selected by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as Lawyer of the Year in He was selected as one of Missouri s top three litigators by Best Lawyers in America in both 2007 and 2008, and in 2009 was named Bet-the- Company Litigator of the Year for St. Louis. The Lawyers Association of St. Louis has selected Mr. Graham to receive its 2010 Award of Honor. Ellen Harmon has focused her legal practice in health care, corporate, employment and workers compensation law. She is an experienced litigator with appellate success. Additionally, she has evaluated numerous medical malpractice, health care compliance, and personal injury claims. Ellen has extensive experience in health care transactional work and corporate compliance and has dealt with complex, blended family issues as they relate to health care and estate planning. She is a trained mediator and believes in early intervention to manage potential litigation. Her strategies for dispute resolution have proven very effective

14 Professor Patricia Harrison is an assistant clinical professor at St. Louis University School of Law. She has a Child Advocacy Clinic which focuses on representing children charged with delinquency in St. Louis. She further represents children with special education needs and advocates during IEP meetings and 504 plans. Moreover, she teaches Juvenile Law, Civil Advocacy, Client Counseling and a seminar and Legal Issues Affecting Children. She is a former solo practitioner who concentrated her practice on representing parents of children removed due to neglect allegations, guardianships and termination of parental rights trials. She also practiced in the areas of criminal and juvenile defense, as a guardian ad litem and in municipal courts. She's been an attorney in Kansas City, and worked for the Missouri State Public Defender System for over nine years, representing the accused in trial, appeals, post conviction relief and juvenile advocacy. She has presented at Missouri Bar CLE conferences, spoken at Saint Louis University School of Law and UMKC School of Law and led workshops for the Missouri State Public Defender system. Richard Hein, Education and Academic Honors: Saint Louis University School of Law, Doctor of Jurisprudence (1994); Treasurer, Student Bar Association, Secretary, The Federalist Society; Centro de Estudios Universitarios, Colegio de San Pablo, William & Mary School of Law, Summer Law Program, Madrid, Spain (1992); Saint Louis University, Bachelor of Arts (1991), Magna Cum Laude, Dean s Merit Scholar, Missouri Bright Flight Scholar, Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, Vice President, Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Member, Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society, Saint Louis Priory High School, Diploma (1988) Speaking and Teaching: Missouri Bar Solo and Small Firm Conference, Immigration Implications of Criminal Practice, Starting a Law Practice Boot Camp: Panelist, Starting a Practice: Hear From Those Who Have Been There and Did It!, How to Stay Out of Hot Water: Trust Accounts, Client Relations, Professionalism, Risk Management ; Saint Louis University, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Pre-Law Program; Universidad Centroamericana Escuela de Derecho, Invited Professor of Law, San Salvador, El Salvador; Universidad Abierta Interamericana, Invited Lecturer, Buenos Aires, Argentina Employment: The Hein Law Firm, L.C., Principal & Managing Partner (2003 present), Kodner, Watkins, Muchnick, Weigley & Brison, Associate Litigation Counsel ( ), B. Cremades & Asociados, Madrid, Spain, Summer Associate (1993) Primary Practice Areas: Civil Trial Practice; Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury; Workers Compensation; Criminal Trial Practice; Immigration & Naturalization; International Commercial Litigation; Appellate Litigation Professional Affiliations: American Bar Association; Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis; Missouri Bar, Solo & Small Firm Committee; International Law Firms ( Business Network International, Membership Committee Civic Involvement: Canterbury Enterprises, Inc., Member of the Board of Directors ( present); Argentine Society of St. Louis, Member Venezuelan Association of Missouri, Member

15 Paul Henry received his undergraduate degree 1987 from Southwest Missouri State University where he graduated cum laude and his law degree in 1990 from Washington University, St. Louis. Paul is a highly active member of the Missouri Bar. He currently is a member of the Board of Governors. His efforts on behalf of the Bar were recognized when he was awarded the Distinctive Service Award by the Solo and Small Firm Committee of the Missouri Bar. He has served on as the chair of several committees for the Missouri Bar, including the Condemnation Committee and the Solo and Small Firm Committee. Mr. Henry was an Associate Editor of the Washington University Law Quarterly and is the co-author of numerous publications on eminent domain law, including: Trial of Exceptions in Missouri Condemnation Cases, St. Louis Bar Journal (Spring 2007); Inverse Condemnation: Airplane Noise and Damages, The Southwestern Legal Foundation, 1995; and three chapters in the Missouri Condemnation Practice Handbook (Fourth Edition, 2009), co-authoring chapters on Inverse Condemnation, Abandonment and Relocation and Distribution of Award. He is a former Editor of the American Bar Association Committee on Condemnation Newsletter. Mr. Henry is a frequent speaker on issues pertaining to eminent domain law and the uses of technology in the practice of law. J.R. Hobbs graduated with a B.A. from the University of Kansas and a J.D. from the University of Missouri at Kansas City in He is past president of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and is listed in the National Directory of Criminal Lawyers as well as the Best Lawyers in America in criminal law. He is a past recipient of the Lon O. Hocker Trial Lawyer Award for the Missouri Bar Foundation. Mr. Hobbs has been KCMBA Criminal Law Committee chairman and is also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. Mr. Hobbs is a past recipient of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association s Congenial Counselor Award. Mr. Hobbs has been married to his wife, Dori, for 29 years and they have six children. Steve Hughes author of "The 5-Minute Speaker," is President of Hit Your Stride, LLC, a communications consultancy that helps clients create and deliver worldclass presentations. His seminars have been featured on NPR and BBC Radio and he is the creator of National Be Kind To Lawyers Day (observed annually on the 2nd Tuesday in April). Today he works with a host of premier firms including: Latham & Watkins, Kirkland & Ellis, Troutman Sanders, Association of Corporate Counsel, and the Law School Admission Council. Some other blue chip clients on his roster are: MetLife, Deloitte, Boeing, Nestle Purina, and the American Marketing Association. Prior to speaking full time, Steve spent 12 years in advertising and public relations where he delivered hundreds of presentations with millions of dollars on the line. Most recently he was a managing partner at an award winning 50-person advertising agency in St. Louis. Steve holds a BA in French Literature and European History from the University of Kansas and an MBA in Marketing from Washington University, where he was awarded the prestigious Olin Cup

16 Cindy Jennings is currently the supervisor of the REJIS Training Department, a position she has held for the last 11 years. Cindy has been with REJIS for 32 years. Her previous assignments with the organization included Secretary, Trainer, Senior Trainer, Help Desk Specialist, Senior Help Desk Specialist and Client Representative. In these positions, Cindy has tested, learned and trained on all REJIS systems. She is the resident expert on all local law enforcement systems and is knowledgeable on the data relationships among the various criminal justice agencies. She has attended many Missouri State Highway Patrol seminars and conferences and is familiar with the Patrol s working relationship with other law enforcement entities. Cindy, along with Sue Baker, has been training the MoBar Net application for the last 11 years. Diana Kander co-founded Kander & Rigby after finding that business owners were not able to afford the type of legal expertise that they needed. Many company owners she knew were afraid of calling their attorney because of the cost, and were instead making their own legal decisions that could prove very harmful in the future. They didn t have time to search through the thousands of available attorneys to find a better fit. At the same time, highly experienced attorneys that wanted some flexibility in their life, and chose not to work at the grueling pace of a big firm, had no systematic way of connecting with these customers. Kander & Rigby was created to bring these two groups together. Diana Kander co-founded Kander & Rigby after finding that business owners were not able to afford the type of legal expertise that they needed. Many company owners she knew were afraid of calling their attorney because of the cost, and were instead making their own legal decisions that could prove very harmful in the future. They didn t have time to search through the thousands of available attorneys to find a better fit. At the same time, highly experienced attorneys that wanted some flexibility in their life, and chose not to work at the grueling pace of a big firm, had no systematic way of connecting with these customers. Kander & Rigby was created to bring these two groups together. Prior to co-founding Kander & Rigby, Diana was a practicing attorney for Lathrop and Gage and later served as General Counsel/Chief Operating Officer for a multi-million dollar real estate development company. She is a graduate of Georgetown Law School and has taught as an adjunct professor of Political Science at UMKC. In 2010 she was named one of KC Business Magazine s Influential Women

17 Ari Kaplan is the author of Amazon.com bestseller The Opportunity Maker: Strategies for Inspiring Your Legal Career Through Creative Networking and Business Development (Thomson-West, 2008), which is about how law students, lawyers and other professionals can stand out in today s stagnant economy. The New York Law Journal called it [a] must-have treasure box of marketing ideas. Mr. Kaplan offers strategic and cost-effective suggestions for immediately transforming one s perspective, profile and practice. He spent nearly nine years with large law firms in New York City and understands the delicate balance between self-promotion and professionalism. He has interviewed hundreds of authorities on related topics and brings those perspectives to bear in each of his presentations. Mr. Kaplan has been recognized in The Wall Street Journal s Law Blog, the Houston Chronicle, the ABA Journal, Above the Law, the National Jurist, the Chicago Lawyer, the California Recorder, the Miami Herald, the New York Post and other publications. As the principal of Ari Kaplan Advisors, he provides lawrelated ghostwriting and industry research services, personal coaching, and training for law students and legal professionals on publishing, communications, career enhancement, business development and networking. In addition to being the founder of the Ari Kaplan Advisors charitable book collection through the Intergenerational Literacy Project in Chelsea, Massachusetts, he is a member of the Law Technology News Editorial Advisory Board and a regular contributor to the Law.com Legal Tech blog. He is also on the Board of Editors for ALM's Marketing the Law Firm and Legal Tech. Mr. Kaplan has published over 200 articles, served as an Internet law commentator for CNET Radio and has been interviewed on CNN. He received Apex Awards in 2007 and 2008 for feature writing, and was named a Law Star by LawCrossing. He is admitted to the bar in New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. He earned his J.D. from George Washington University Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Boston University. Ed Karfeld received his J.D. from the University of Missouri, and practices in St. Louis, in the areas of bankruptcy and collections. Ed s experience in bankruptcy includes serving as a Chapter 13 Trustee and Chapter 7 Trustee, and representing debtors, creditors and Chapter 7 trustees. He has represented debtors in Chapter 7 cases and in successful reorganizations under Chapters 9, 11 and 13. Ed is a frequent author and lecturer for the Missouri Bar and other professional groups, on topics dealing with bankruptcy, insolvency, collections and creditors remedies

18 Jill M. Katz is a sole practitioner. She practices in the area of Family and Juvenile Law. She was previously with Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, which later became Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP where her practice focused on the representation of indigent parents and children in matters of abuse, neglect, delinquency, paternity, protective orders, dissolution, custody modifications and adoptions. Ms. Katz started her legal career as an attorney for Legal Aid of Western Missouri and from 1990 to 1993, she was an attorney for the juvenile officer in the Jackson County Family Court. From 1993 she was with Stinson, Mag & Fizzell, and Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP until 2005, when she opened her own law firm. Ms. Katz is active with the local bar associations, a frequent lecturer in the area of family and juvenile law. She is a founding member of the Lawyers Encouraging Academic Participation (LEAP Foundation) and was recognized in 2003 and in 2001 for her work with the children of Jackson County, Missouri. Ms. Katz attended the University of Missouri Kansas City where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1985 and in 1989 she received her Juris Doctor from their School of Law. She was admitted to the Missouri Bar in Ms. Katz received Mediation Training at the Johnson County Community College in 1999 and is recognized as a Court-approved child custody mediator in Jackson County, Missouri. Chris Kelleher As founder and president of The Law Firm For Businesses, PC, Chris Kelleher serves privately-held businesses and their owners by providing a unique blend of down-to-earth business and legal advice, cost-effective problem solving, and cutting-edge technology. Chris was recently named one of St. Louis Top Entrepreneurial Attorneys by the St. Louis Small Business Monthly and was named Small Business Lawyer of the Year in 2003 by The United States Small Business Administration (St. Louis District). He also served as a director on the West County Advisory Board for US Bank in St. Louis. He was invited to write monthly column on Legal Matters for Entrepreneur Magazine s internationally-renowned website, Entrepreneur.com. In addition, Kelleher has been published, quoted or profiled in a variety of publications including: US News & World Report; Nation s Business; The CPA Journal; Supervision magazine; The Journal of the College and University Personnel Association; The Journal of Property Management; Self-Employed America; The Dayton Business Journal; The Kansas City Business Journal; The St. Louis Business Journal; among others. Praised in the media for his high energy level and a great sense of humor, Chris has appeared on KSDK-TV (NBC affiliate), the Higher Education Channel, Entrepreneur.com and SBTV.com and has been asked to speak before a wide range of groups including: The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO); The International Association of Business Communicators; The Missouri Bar Association; The American Institute Of Banking; The United States Army; The Community Service Public Relations Council; among others. Chris earned a B.A. in Communications (summa cum laude) and a joint JD/MBA degree (cum laude) from Saint Louis University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa

19 Nancy Kenner graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (cum laude) from the University of Missouri Columbia. She also attended law school at UMC, receiving a Juris Doctorate (cum laude). While in law school, she was the Lead Articles Editor of the Missouri Law Review. Upon graduation, Ms. Kenner began a federal clerkship with the Honorable Howard F. Sachs, United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Missouri, in Kansas City, Missouri. Ms. Kenner joined Blackwell Sanders Matheny Weary & Lombardi after her clerkship. She practiced in litigation, primarily in the personal injury area with an emphasis on medical malpractice and products liability. In January 1993, Ms. Kenner and fellow Blackwell Sanders partner Sylvester James, Jr., left to form Kenner & James, P.C., emphasizing plaintiff s medical malpractice and serious personal injury. In December 1998, Paul Kavanaugh joined the firm, changing the firm s name to Kenner, James & Kavanaugh, P.C. The firm later evolved into Kenner & Kavanaugh, P.C. On January 1, 2008 Ms. Kenner started The Kenner Law Firm, P.C. and continues her focus on plaintiff s personal injury and medical malpractice matters. Ms. Kenner also does mediations and arbitrations, with an emphasis on employment matters. Ms. Kenner is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA), the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys, the Missouri Bar and the Association of Missouri Mediators. She is a Trustee of the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and a member of the Law Society which supports the Law School Foundation. She is a member of the Association for Women Lawyers and was President of that organization in She is a Disciplinary Hearing Officer appointed by Supreme Court of Missouri. Ms. Kenner is also a CASA Volunteer for Jackson County. Ms. Kenner currently serves on the following Boards: KCMBA (Treasurer), Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Turning Point, the Center for Hope and Healing (President), Association for Women Lawyers Foundation (Founding Member and Chairperson of the Board), Advisory Board for the Western District of Missouri Federal Law Clerk Society and the Missouri Institute for Justice. Ms Kenner has received the following awards: Up and Coming Lawyer (Missouri Lawyers Weekly 1998) Association of Women Lawyers Woman of the Year (2002); Order of the Coif from University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law; KCMBA Congenial Counselor Award (2004); Daily Record Legal Leader (2005); KCMBA s President Award (2008). She has been named for many years as the Best of the Bar by the Kansas City Business Journal and has been listed as a Super Lawyer for several years

20 Joseph Kodner graduated from the Washington University School of Law in 2003, where he was an associate editor for the Global Studies Law Review. Following graduation, Mr. Kodner practiced for two years in Kansas City in the field of defense litigation. Since returning to St. Louis in 2005, he has limited his practice to the field of matrimonial and family law at Zerman Mogerman, LLC. Mr. Kodner is a graduate of the American Bar Association's Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute, Denver, Colorado and participated in the 2007 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers' Training Institute for Family Law Associates. In addition to his other publications, Mr. Kodner co-authored the last two updates of the Missouri Bar Family Law CLE chapter on Conflicts of Law. In 2008 and 2009 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers, a publication of Law and Politics Magazine, recognized Mr. Kodner as a "Super Lawyers Rising Star." Mr. Kodner is licensed to practice in both Missouri and Kansas, and is a member of several local bar associations. Charles Lowry is an account executive with Fastcase ( a primary law database provided as a member benefit to members of the Missouri Bar Association. Prior to joining Fastcase, Chuck held editorial, product development and sales and marketing positions at Matthew Bender, Lexis, Kluwer Law International and American Lawyer Media. He is a graduate of the Athenaeum of Ohio (B.A. philosophy) and the University of Cincinnati (Ph.D. classics). Chuck will offer basic instruction in the use of the database during the two scheduled Fastcase training sessions and throughout the conference will be available in the exhibit hall to offer basic or advanced trips through the database or to answer any questions you may have. Before, during and after the conference, Chuck can be reached at clowry@fastcase.com or (646) Debra Lumpkins is a Missouri Assistant Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division. Prior to joining the Attorney General s Office in 2009, she was the managing attorney of the consumer protection unit of Gateway Legal Services, a not for profit public interest law firm in St. Louis. Ms. Lumpkins is a graduate of University of Kansas School of Law, and Missouri state coordinator for the National Association of Consumer Advocates. Ms. Lumpkins has represented the state of Missouri and consumers in a wide variety of consumer protection matters including debt collection, unfair and deceptive trade practices, credit reporting, mortgage matters, and autofraud. She is admitted to practice law in Missouri and Kansas (inactive status) and in federal district courts in Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals