Family Law

• Divorce
  He has been named to the Super Lawyers® list in the area of Family Law in Kansas and Missouri for 2019, and named to the Rising Star® list every year from 2014 through 2018. He is a member of the Firm’s Family Law & Divorce Practice Group, and the Wills, Trusts & Estate Planning Practice Group.
• Child Support
  Colby Rieke is an experienced domestic relations attorney focusing on family law and divorce with more than 15 years of experience in both Kansas and Missouri. Mr. Rieke focuses his practice on divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, and maintenance (alimony) cases, for both mother and father. Mr. Rieke represents business owners, C-suite executives, medical professionals, and their spouses in a variety of family law matters. He helps clients navigate complex business valuations, characterization of marital and non-marital assets, and child support and maintenance issues. Mr. Rieke employs creative solutions to complex, high net worth, contentious matters. His steadfast goal, prior to engaging in contested litigation, is to exhaust all possible efforts to negotiate, mediate, or otherwise amicably resolve each and every family law conflict in which he is involved. Yet, he is an experienced litigator when the matter remains unresolved. Mr. Rieke is also experienced in the areas of estate planning and probate. This experience provides great value when analyzing complex property divisions, business valuations, and the preservation of marital and non-marital assets.
• Child Custody and Visitation
• Paternity
• Premarital Agreement
  Mr. Bronstein prepares and administers wills and trusts, including charitable trusts and foundations; obtains appointments for representatives in the probate courts for will administration and takes the representative through the entire administrative process; handles appointments of conservators and guardians for minors and incompetents; preparation of premarital agreements; prepares business documents that effectively relate to business owners’ estate and financial planning, including member, partner, and shareholder redemption, cross-purchases, and deferred compensation agreements; and litigates estate and trust-related matters.
• Guardianship
  In recent years, Mr. Marshall has seen a marked increase in contested guardianships/conservatorships and trust litigation. Because today’s aging population has more accumulated wealth among more of its members than ever before, and because tax law changes have rendered decades-old estate planning less advantageous than previously and sometimes even obsolete, issues of substituted judgment; fiduciary compliance; and trust administration, modification and termination have come to present ever increasing challenges to individuals and their families. Mr. Marshall continues to assist numerous clients to address such challenges in and out of court.
• Spousal Support
  In the realm of divorce, Rebecca offers practical guidance. She advises individuals during divorce proceedings and post-decree, adeptly interpreting financial statements and entity returns. Her counsel leads to efficient resolutions of joint income tax obligations and defense against potential penalties tied to business trust fund tax nonpayment. Her expertise encompasses tax planning for property settlements, alimony, and maintenance payments arising from divorces.

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Hugh Marshall’s varied practice emphasizes commercial, probate and trust litigation in state and federal courts and before administrative tribunals.  For the first eight years of practice, he served as an Assistant Attorney General of the State of Missouri, where he gained extensive experience in appellate practice, criminal law, mental health law, and administrative law.
• Wrongful Death
  McDowell Rice’s Transportation Law Group provides economical strategic planning and litigation representation for business clients and insurers in this highly-regulated field.  Our lawyers have a wealth of experience advising a wide array of transportation and trucking clients.  McDowell Rice has successfully represented transportation and trucking clients in all types of disputes and regulatory compliance issues, including in personal injury and wrongful death claims, insurance claims, as well financial and bankruptcy related matters.  Our attorneys practice nationwide and have appeared in state and federal jurisdictions throughout the country.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  McDowell Rice’s Corporate and Business Transaction Law Group consists of experienced, highly trained attorneys, several with graduate degrees in business and tax, with expertise advising clients on all aspects of corporate formation, liability, tax, and dissolution issues. The Corporate and Business Transaction Group assists clients on entity choice, including liability and tax attributes of all types of corporate and partnership entities under Federal and State law, including C corporations and S corporations and all other pass-through entities such as LLCs, LPs and LLPs.  Our lawyers organize the entity chosen by our clients, creating Articles of Incorporation or Organization, By-laws, Operating Agreements, Shareholder / Partner / Member Agreements restricting transfer of stock/ownership interests as clients direct.  As entities mature, we provide transactional services including negotiation and documentation of corporate contracts, stock purchase and sale agreements, merger documentation, letters of intent, asset sale and purchase agreements, and join venture agreements.
• Mergers and Acquisitions
  In conjunction with other practice areas, we consult on personnel matters such as employment agreements, employee incentive plans and employee terminations.  We coordinate with other lawyers and accountants to provide tax planning services for entities / transactions.  With our Real Estate Group’s attorneys, we provide advice to developer clients and others whose needs include the acquisition and disposition of real property, including the preparation of pertinent documentation authorizing such transactions.  We represent a varied group of companies and their owners, including banks, insurance brokers, doctors and other health care professionals, engineers, architects, developers, contractors, service companies and retail and restaurant companies. Our attorneys have handled mergers and acquisitions throughout the Midwest and nationwide.
• Business Formation
  Andrew represents clients nationwide with respect to real estate, corporate, financing, mergers and acquisition, business formation, and other business transactions. Andrew’s clients range from large scale developers and landlords, national banks and business owners to individual borrowers and tenants. Andrew also provides general counsel services for several Kansas City based companies.
• Business Disputes
  American Bar Association (Section of Business Law, Section of Real Property, Banking Law Committee, Commercial Finance Committee, Commercial and Real Estate Lending Committee, Legal Opinions Committee)
• Business Transactions
  Known for our expertise in business litigation, commercial transactions, bankruptcy and financial restructuring, our attorneys possess diverse backgrounds and legal expertise.
• Limited Liability Companies
  Mr. Bodker has a nationwide practice in all aspects of commercial real estate, including development, leasing, financing, and structuring of limited liability companies, partnerships, and syndication. He regularly represents banks, lenders, borrowers, and guarantors on all aspects of lending, especially secured real estate and inventory loans, including advice with respect to the Uniform Commercial Code and bankruptcy matters. He also represents officers, directors, and corporations on all aspects of corporate structuring and planning, including operating agreements, bylaws, and shareholder agreements.
• Trade Secrets
• Intellectual Property
  As a patent attorney and founder of Intellectual Property Center, Mr. Shaffer frequently speaks to local and national audiences in the areas of intellectual property law and the internet, providing guidance on its evolving legal landscape.  Throughout his legal career, Mr. Shaffer has garnered significant experience in complex business transactions and litigation involving a variety of intellectual property concerns.
• Antitrust

Employment Law

• Employment Discrimination
  Favorable determination from the EEOC in response to charges of sex discrimination brought against a regional restaurant chain by several former employees
• Employment Contract
  Mr. Mueller represents business entities in choice of entity, contracts, capitalization, loan applications, acquisitions, sales of businesses, employment agreements, non-competition agreements, and succession planning.
• Employment Litigation
  McDowell Rice’s Labor and Employment practice enables our clients to meet the challenges of the modern workplace. We assist employers in drafting and implementing employment agreements, restrictive covenants, and personnel policies and procedures that are tailored to meet the employer’s business needs and comply with applicable law. We also assist individuals who are treated unfairly or unlawfully in the workplace, or who are pursuing better opportunities. We provide guidance in all aspects of labor and employment, from training and compliance, investigating complaints, and addressing existing or potential employment issues, to handling all facets of employment disputes and litigation, including...
• Non-compete Agreement
• Sexual Harassment
  Assisting client in avoiding sexual harassment and retaliation claims by investigating charges, assisting with discipline and termination decisions and providing training to managers, supervisors and employees

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Stuart Bodker has developed a wide-ranging practice in corporate and real estate matters in Kansas City.  Mr. Bodker is primarily known for his representation of nationwide developers of shopping centers and office buildings; however, his practice includes acting as general counsel for mid-size corporations as well as documenting secured loans, providing advice on bankruptcy matters, and litigating with respect to all of the above topics.  Mr. Bodker also has an expertise in commodity regulations.
• Premises Liability
  Dyanna is a first-chair trial attorney who has successfully defended lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide.  Her practice areas include the defense of product liability, premises liability, insurance defense, construction defect, and commercial matters. She’s represented a wide range of defendants from product manufacturers to construction contractors.  In addition to her law practice, Dyanna owned several litigation support companies that provided document review and strategic planning assistance to large corporations nationwide.  She is a frequent presenter at CLEs and industry meetings.
• Construction Litigation
  McDowell Rice’s Construction & Architect/Engineer (“A/E”) Litigation Group provides superior, cost-effective representation for its clients in all types of construction and A/E disputes, including complex construction litigation, construction defect claims, contract negotiations and disputes, arbitrations, and mechanic’s liens.  We represent a wide array of companies and construction professionals, including engineers, architects, developers, subcontractors, appraisers and lenders.  Our experience spans a broad spectrum of commercial, industrial, and residential projects and includes disputes relating to casinos, hotels, office buildings, malls, power plants, wastewater treatment facilities, apartment complexes, condominiums and single-family residences.  Our attorneys practice nationwide and have appeared in state and federal jurisdictions throughout the country.
• Real Estate Transactions
  In addition, real estate professionals rely on Rebecca for transactions involving real property encumbered by federal and state tax liens. Whether representing buyers or sellers, she ensures the transaction's smooth progress, irrespective of lien payment feasibility. Moreover, she aids business owners in selling assets burdened by tax liens.
• Easement
• Land Use and Zoning
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
  Mr. Marshall represents individuals and businesses of all sizes in state and federal trial and appellate courts in commercial disputes involving contract, landlord-tenant, construction, real estate, mechanic's lien, bond, business tort, and collection matters; represents businesses and individuals in state and federal trial and appellate courts and administrative tribunals in contract and tort matters, professional negligence, defamation, probate litigation, trust litigation, nursing home compliance, and mental health matters.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  McDowell Rice’s Accident and Personal Injury Practice Group works to help injury victims and their families get the medical care they need and the financial compensation they are allowed by law. If you have been involved in an accident and sustained an injury, bringing those responsible to justice can be a very difficult process. At McDowell Rice, our first goal is to help you understand the details of your case and advise you of your options. More specifically, we will guide you through the crucial legal phases of your case and do everything possible to obtain the maximum benefits for you.

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  McDowell Rice’s attorneys have the experience and expertise to handle a broad range of estate planning needs from creating a simple will to representing clients in complex trust litigation, regardless of the size of the estate.  Our attorneys recognize that every estate plan needs to reflect the client’s unique circumstances.
• Wills
• Trusts
  Other specific types of irrevocable trusts, including Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts ("SLAT's") and Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts ("IDGT's")
• Power of Attorney
  Mr. Mueller handles elder law issues, including wealth management, durable powers of attorney, advance directives, estate planning, guardianships, and conservatorships.  He represents clients in the preparation of trusts and wills, and in the transfer of wealth from generation to generation, including representation of trust beneficiaries in receiving, managing, and growing family wealth; represents legal representatives and those serving under durable powers of attorney in managing the affairs of others.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
  McDowell Rice's Manufacturer/Dealer & Wholesale Finance practice group represents clients in commercial, dealer, franchise, wholesale lending, lender liability and trade practices litigation, bankruptcy litigation, and counseling.
• Foreclosure
  McDowell Rice’s attorneys represent lenders, landlords, individuals, and other creditor clients addressing disputes promptly to reach agreement, and when necessary, aggressively pursuing rights and remedies through litigation. Our core strengths include litigation seeking collection of money, loan enforcement, appointment of receivers, recovery of property (replevin), pre-judgment attachments, commercial foreclosure, post-foreclosure deficiencies, commercial rent/eviction and related matters. We represent clients in “business divorce” or similar matters. We protect and enforce security interests in and out of bankruptcy courts, including defense of creditors in avoidance actions, adversary proceedings, contested matters, and related claims brought by debtors in possession and trustees. Our bankruptcy practice includes representing creditors in non-dischargeability claims, lift of stay, and objections to bankruptcy plans.
• Tax Law
  McDowell Rice’s tax team with their extensive experience and knowledge of complex tax issues can assist you with everything from business entity and real estate tax planning, IRS controversies and tax litigation, Kansas and Missouri tax disputes and tax litigation, Jackson County real estate tax issues and exemptions, Kansas City, Missouri tax disputes and tax litigation, divorce tax issues, and probate tax issues. The team provides representation to taxpayers, individuals, businesses, employers, outside attorneys and other professionals.
• Debt Collection
  With the rise in consumer litigation our attorneys frequently defend creditors, collection agencies, and lawyers in alleged consumer protection violations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act/Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FCRA/FACTA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Kansas Consumer Protection Act (KCPA), and the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA). We vigorously defend the right of lawyers and debt collectors to enforce and seek payment for their clients.