Jennifer defends clients in the automotive, trucking, construction and insurance industries in both state and federal courts nationwide. She has experience in all key phases of litigation: initial case assessment and negotiation, efficient written and deposition discovery, drafting and arguing pre-trial and trial motions, mediation and arbitration, and trial preparation. Jennifer has also drafted and argued successful dispositive motions. A key portion of her practice is advising clients on product safety to minimize tort and product liability risk and exposure. Jennifer also represents her clients interests in state government. Jennifer has testified before multiple state legislative committees in support of common-sense changes that will provide necessary and critical updates to state law.
In addition to her trial and counseling work, Jennifer regularly handles appellate work at state and federal appellate courts and state supreme courts. Drawing on her experience as a law clerk for The Hon. William Ray Price, Jr. of the Supreme Court of Missouri and an extern for The Hon. Karen King Mitchell of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, Jennifer strategizes appellate arguments, drafts briefs and other appellate materials, and constructs effective oral arguments. Jennifer has written appellate briefs, writs, motions for transfer and amicus curiae briefs for a wide array of issues, including matters of tort law, juror nondisclosure, expert qualification, contract interpretation, enforcement of arbitration agreements, and insurance matters. She has argued cases before several appellate courts in both state and federal cases.
Outside of work, Jennifer is an avid runner and hiker. She enjoys races of all distances and recently met a personal goal by qualifying for the Boston Marathon in 2017. She combines her love for running with a passion for heart health by working as a member of the Executive Leadership Team of the Heart Walk, the American Heart Association’s premier event to raise awareness of heart health in Kansas City.
Publications and Presentations
Two Years Since MMPA Reform: How Has It Changed Missouri Consumer Litigation?, 78 Mo. B.J. 173, July–August 2022 (with Cary Silverman).
Missouri Raises Bar for Punitive Damages and Consumer Protection Law Claims, 29:2 Legal Opinion Letter, Wash. Legal Found., May 14, 2020 (with Mark Behrens).
Post-MHRA Amendment Jury Instructions, Presentation to Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Kansas City, Missouri, November 16, 2018.
Complex Litigation, Presentation to University of Missouri School of Law, Spring 2018 (with Marty Bax).
Successful Interviewing, Presentation to Washburn Law, March 2017.
Successful Interviewing, Presentation to University of Missouri School of Law, January 2015, August 2015, August 2016, August 2017.
Making the Defense, Presentation to Missouri Girls State Law Class, 2012-2018.
Large Firm Practice, Presentation to University of Missouri School of Law, November 2014.
Social Media and the Law, SHB In-House Presentation, August 2013.