Thirteen KWM Lawyers Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America

Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP is pleased to announce that thirteen of its attorneys have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as leaders in the legal profession for 2025.  Ten of those KWM attorneys were listed in the 2025 Best Lawyers list.  Of those ten, KWM partners Emily J. Kembell, Aaron K. Kirkland, Bob Kirkland, and Scott Martinsen were also recognized as the "Lawyer of the Year" in their respective practices and locations.  Finally, KWM attorneys Joshua Rose, Brandon Oldham, and Shane Rader were listed in the 2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list.  KWM was also again the "Top Listed" law firm for Litigation - Trust and Estates in Missouri having more attorneys (7) ranked by Best Lawyers in that practice area than any other firm in the State.  This is the fifth straight year that KWM has received this distinction.

Since it was first published more than three decades ago, Best Lawyers has become a definitive guide to legal excellence, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals.  Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are reviewed by their peers on the basis of professional expertise, and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.  Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognizes associates and other lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.  "We are thrilled with the continued recognition of our attorneys by Best Lawyers" says KWM managing partner John Challis.  "These recognitions are a testament to our firm and our attorneys' commitment to client and community service."

Those attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers are:

• John M. Challis: Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates, and Commercial Litigation 
• Emily J. Kembell: Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, and Litigation - Trusts and Estates 
• Aaron K. Kirkland: Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• ​Robert K. Kirkland: Trusts and Estates, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, and Litigation and Controversy - Tax 
• Scott K. Martinsen: Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates 
  
• Andrew M. Mitchell: Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, and Litigation - Trusts and Estates 
• Catherine E. Moore: Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• Robert J. Selsor: Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Commercial Litigation 
• Daniel P. Wheeler: Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates 
• Richard D. Woods: Trusts and Estates and Tax Law 

The attorneys recognized as "One to Watch" by Best Lawyers is:

• Brandon Oldham: Trusts and Estates
• Shane Rader: Trusts and Estates
• Joshua Rose: Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates 

Those attorneys recognized as "Lawyers of the Year" by Best Lawyers are

• Emily J. Kembell: Trusts and Estates in Springfield, Missouri
  
• Aaron K. Kirkland: Litigation - Trusts and Estates in Kansas City, Kansas
• Robert K. Kirkland: Trusts and Estates and Litigation and Controversy - Tax in Kansas City, Missouri
• Scott K. Martinsen: Trusts and Estates in Kansas City, Kansas

To learn more about any of the KWM attorneys referenced above, please click on their names to be taken to their bio pages.  To learn more about any of our professionals, click here.  If you need to contact us by telephone or visit us in person, please see information about our offices here.

ABOUT KIRKLAND WOODS & MARTINSEN LLP
Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP focuses its practice on estate planning, administration, litigation, and related matters. The firm has four offices in Liberty, Missouri; Overland Park, Kansas; Springfield, Missouri; and St. Louis, Missouri. The firm has twenty attorneys across these offices and assists individual and business clients in all matters relates to trusts and estates.  More information is available at www.kwm-law.com. ​

ABOUT BEST LAWYERS
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected lawyer ranking service in the world. For 40 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers awards are published in leading local, regional and national publications across the globe. Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized Best Lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Our awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to make sure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.