Nineteen KWM Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers

Kembell Woods & Martinsen LLP (KWM) is proud to announce that nineteen of its attorneys have been recognized in the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Fourteen KWM attorneys were selected for inclusion as Best Lawyers, while five additional attorneys were recognized in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® category.

KWM attorneys also received four prestigious "Lawyer of the Year" awards, which are presented to a single attorney in each practice area and geographic region. This year's honorees include Emily Kembell, Aaron Kirkland, Scott Manuel, and Scott Martinsen.

In addition, KWM was named the Missouri "Top Listed" law firm for Litigation - Trusts and Estates for the seventh consecutive year, with more attorneys recognized in that practice area than any other firm in the state. KWM also earned the "Top Listed" designation for Trusts and Estates in Overland Park, Kansas, with four attorneys recognized. Further demonstrating the depth of its trusts and estates practice, KWM had more attorneys recognized in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® category for Trusts and Estates in Missouri than any other firm in the state.

"We are honored to see so many of our attorneys recognized by their peers," said John Challis, Managing Partner of KWM. "These recognitions reflect the depth of talent across our firm and our commitment to serving clients in complex trust, estate, tax, and fiduciary litigation matters. We are especially proud to see both seasoned and emerging attorneys recognized this year."

Best Lawyers recognition is based on an extensive peer-review process in which attorneys are evaluated by other lawyers practicing in the same areas of law and geographic regions. With nineteen of the firm's twenty-five attorneys receiving Best Lawyers recognition, KWM continues to be one of the Midwest's leading trusts and estates law firms.

Those attorneys recognized by Best Lawyers are:

• Erin L. Anderson: Trusts and Estates

• John M. Challis: Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates, and Commercial Litigation

• Rochelle B. Falk: Trusts and Estates

• Alice M. Haseltine: Trusts and Estates

• Emily J. Kembell: Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, and Litigation - Trusts and Estates

• Aaron K. Kirkland: Litigation - Trusts and Estates

• Scott R. Manuel: ​Trusts and Estates and Litigation - Trusts and Estates

• 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

• Betty H. Schaefer: 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 "Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®" are:

• Brynne C. Brown: Corporate Law and Trusts and Estates

• Shane C. Rader: Trusts and Estates

• Joshua S. Rose: Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates

• Robert L. Temple: Tax Law and Trusts and Estates

• Samuel E. Zachry: 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

• Scott R. Manuel: ​Litigation - Trusts and Estates in Kansas City, Missouri

• Scott K. Martinsen: Trusts and Estates in Kansas City, Kansas

ABOUT KWM

KWM focuses its practice on estate planning, trust and estate administration, fiduciary representation, taxation, and trust and estate litigation. The firm has twenty-five attorneys serving clients from offices in Liberty, Missouri; Overland Park, Kansas; Springfield, Missouri; and St. Louis, Missouri. KWM assists individuals, families, fiduciaries, charitable organizations, and businesses in matters involving trusts, estates, taxation, and related disputes. More information is available at www.kwm-law.com. ​

ABOUT BEST LAWYERS

Best Lawyers is the oldest 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. Lawyers who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized attorneys working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Those who receive high peer reviews then undergo a thorough verification process before they can be recognized by Best Lawyers.