Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  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.
• DUI/DWI
  Wallace Saunders’ Criminal Litigation Group handles cases in the federal, state and municipal courts of Kansas and Missouri. We specialize in handling nonviolent misdemeanors and felonies, which include: DUI and traffic offenses, drug-related offenses, theft, and other similar matters. Let Wallace Saunders partner with you to help move your life forward.
• Wrongful Death
  With the experience to handle clients of all sizes, she regularly takes on diverse challenges in the federal and state courts of Kansas and Missouri. Schalie’s practice focuses on civil litigation and trial work, with an emphasis on construction and design, commercial litigation, personal injury, wrongful death, and extra-contractual (“EC”) insurance matters. Schalie’s emphasis in construction law includes experience representing general contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals, in a variety of construction related matters involving construction defects, accidents, and design errors.
• Fraud
  Kathryn O'Shea was a seasoned litigator well before she joined Wallace Saunders in 2015, having already handled many cases, ranging from auto negligence actions to employment disputes and from consumer fraud claims to bad faith litigation.
• Theft
• Misdemeanors
• Assault
• Arson
  Jim Sanders is a leader and example for other attorneys at Wallace Saunders. As a Senior Partner, he is one of our most seasoned attorneys, bringing the kind of leadership and experience that is crucial to our organization. Jim’s practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on cases involving excess/bad-faith insurance litigation, fraud and arson.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
• Mergers and 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.
• Business Disputes
  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.
• Construction Contracts
  Thomas Hayes has over 30 years of legal experience that gives him a perspective that is very rare indeed. He practiced as a defense attorney representing the insurance industry, hospitals and manufacturers. Tom has also spent several years as a plaintiff’s attorney representing injured clients and their families. For the last decade he has been Assistant General Counsel for an international transportation company overseeing construction contracts, liability claims, workers compensation, FELA, Longshoreman and Jones Act cases. As General Counsel, Tom helped develop and implement Human Resource training and polices, developed contract management and risk transfer programs that have saved millions of dollars. Tom has tried numerous cases and has also resolved many cases through direct negotiations or through mediation of cases of every kind. Not many attorneys have the breadth of experience that has provided the Tom the knowledge to resolve difficult matters and the ability find the best solutions for his clients.
• Intellectual Property
• Antitrust
  St. Luke’s Health: Does Improving Patient Care Justify a Merger Under Antitrust Law? Ninth Circuit Says “No” and Orders Divestiture

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  Consider yourself lucky if you have Nick Nagrich on your side. He is the Partner in Charge of our Springfield, Missouri office. A pillar of the firm since 1998, he works hard, yet makes it look easy, thanks to a legal career spanning three decades. Nick’s practice focuses on civil litigation, including insurance defense, commercial general liability litigation, motor vehicle litigation, premises liability litigation, and products liability litigation, as well as workers' compensation defense. Nick is licensed to practice in Missouri, Colorado, and Alabama.
• Employment Discrimination
  That capacity runs the gamut, from day-to-day consultation on employment and human resources issues such as discipline and termination of employees, to defense and representation of employers in unemployment compensation hearings, to defense of employment-related claims at the state and federal levels. We handle claims involving race discrimination, sexual harassment, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), whistleblower retaliation and many others – the list is extensive and varied.
• Employment Litigation
  Our attorneys can provide a wide range of guidance to you on various legal issues that can arise in the day-to-day operations of your company, including operational, risk management, and employment issues.
• Sexual Harassment

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Our Real Estate Practice Group can assist you in the buying, selling or transferring of property, including 1031 like-kind, tax-free exchanges. We can assist you with all requirements for leasing and managing properties – creating and reviewing contracts, leases, promissory notes, mortgages and contracts for deed. Additionally, when the need arises, we can guide landowners through land-use and zoning hurdles. In the event of a formal dispute or lawsuit, our experienced staff of litigators can represent you in real estate matters whether in court, mediation or arbitration.
• Premises Liability
  Joel is a very experienced trial lawyer with many years of courtroom experience. He has tried nearly 100 jury trials. His litigation experience includes tort vehicle, product liability, premises liability, trucking, agricultural, and commercial and residential construction. Joel also has deep experience in insurance coverage matters and coverage litigation. He has tried cases involving extra-contractual or ’bad faith’ issues, and first party insurance claims. He also provides coverage counsel to insurance carriers and insureds on all types of policies, including personal and commercial lines.
• Construction Litigation
  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.
• Real Estate Transactions
  Successful real estate transactions result from effective management and proper handling of the entire process, from the transaction itself, to financing, tax ramifications, and land-use and zoning matters. Depend on the experience of Wallace Saunders’ Real Estate Practice Group to deliver.
• Land Use and Zoning
• Landlord-Tenant Disputes
• Property Damage
  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.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Bryan is passionate about defending his clients. He is a key member of Wallace Saunders’ Healthcare 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.”
• Medical Malpractice

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  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.
• Wills
• Trusts
  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.
• Power of Attorney
  No matter your worth, it's vital to have an estate plan in place. Your plan can include your will, power of attorney and living will. For some, a trust is also a valuable component of the estate plan, used to put conditions on distribution of assets. Trusts can reduce taxes, bypass probate costs, and provide full privacy. Trusts are especially important in estate plans for business owners.
• Probate

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy
• Debt Collection