Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP is pleased to announce that ten of its attorneys have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® as leaders in the legal profession for 2022.  Eight of those KWM attorneys were listed in the 2022 Best Lawyers list.  Of those eight, KWM partners Emily Kembell and Dan Wheeler were also recognized as the "Lawyers of the Year" in their respective practices and locations.  Finally, two KWM attorneys were listed in the 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list.  In addition to the individual recognition, KWM was the "Top Listed" law firm for Litigation - Trust and Estates in Missouri having more attorneys (5) ranked by Best Lawyers in that practice area than any other firm.

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 recognition of our attorneys by Best Lawyers" says KWM founding partner Bob Kirkland.  "These recognitions are a testament to our firm and our attorneys' commitment to client and community service."

Those attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers are:

• Michelle Burge: Trusts and Estates
• John M. Challis: Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates, and Commercial Litigation
• Emily J. Kembell: Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates 
• Robert K. Kirkland: Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates 
• Scott K. Martinsen: Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates 
• Andrew M. Mitchell: Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates
• Daniel P. Wheeler: Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates
• Richard D. Woods: Trusts and Estates

Those attorneys recognized as "Ones to Watch" by Best Lawyers are:

• Allison Evans Gottschalk: Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates
• Joshua S. Rose: Trusts and Estates

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

• Emily J. Kembell: Trusts and Estates in Springfield, Missouri
• Daniel P. Wheeler: Litigation - Trusts and Estates in Kansas City, Missouri

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.

The law firm of Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP is very pleased to announce the promotions of Alice M. Haseltine and Andrew M. Mitchell to Partners of the firm. Ms. Haseltine will continue to focus on estate planning, transfer tax planning, and advising fiduciaries in trust and probate administration from the firm’s Overland Park, Kansas office. Mr. Mitchell will continue to focus on estate, wealth transfer, asset protection, and business succession planning as well as advising fiduciaries in trust and probate administration from the firm’s Clayton, Missouri office.
 
"We are absolutely thrilled to recognize Alice and Andrew as Partners in the firm, and we look forward to their continued excellence in providing legal services to our clients,” said Robert Kirkland, Founding Partner of Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP.
 
Ms. Haseltine received her J.D. from the University of Missouri, cum laude, in 2015, and has practiced with the firm since her graduation. She is licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas.
 
Mr. Mitchell received his J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2006, where he served on the Kentucky Law Journal. Andrew was selected by Super Lawyers in 2020 and by Best Lawyers for their 2021 edition. He is licensed to practice in Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky.
 
Kirkland Woods & Martinsen LLP has offices in Liberty, Missouri, Springfield, Missouri, Clayton, Missouri and Overland Park, Kansas. The firm has, since its founding in 2000, concentrated its practice in trusts and estates law, with capacity in closely-held corporate and real estate law as well. Six of the firm’s eighteen attorneys are active Fellows of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel (“ACTEC”).

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