Our firm is structured to provide full legal services to our clients. Many of our long-standing clients look to us for assistance related only to their businesses while other clients require legal services for both business and personal needs. Our clients have access to outstanding litigators, corporate lawyers and others for more personal services such as estate planning.
Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation
We advise our clients on how to reduce or avoid risk when it comes to their business or personal transactions and investments. However, sometimes risk is unavoidable. Mediation is a viable alternative to litigation, and many courts either require or encourage parties to engage in mediation before trial. Because mediation often leads to early dispute resolution, this process can help to minimize your costs and time away from your business. Our attorneys have attended numerous mediations involving a wide range of issues, and are well-versed in negotiation strategies and assisting clients with reaching an agreement early in the dispute process.
Arbitration, now required by many commercial agreements, involves the presentation of evidence to a neutral third-party — the arbitrator — who will ultimately render a binding decision. We frequently represent our clients before arbitrators, and are well-versed in the procedures and rules governing complex arbitration proceedings. Arbitration can offer many benefits over traditional litigation, and we are ready to help you take advantage of them.
Many of our attorneys have extensive experience serving as mediators and arbitrators, in all types of disputes. Our attorneys include mediators trained through the University of Missouri and approved to serve as mediators in federal courts, as well as attorneys approved as arbitrators by the American Arbitration Association.
Stephen S. Brown
William J. DeBauche
John L. Hayob
G. Steven Ruprecht
Heather F. Shore
Bankruptcy & Creditors Rights
In all types and sizes of bankruptcies — manufacturing, real property, construction, and personal bankruptcy involving business owners — clear communication and skilled negotiation can help guard against further loss and unnecessary expense. Our experience representing secured and unsecured creditors, commercial debtors, and investors allows us to quickly assess risks and develop a recovery plan.
Our attorneys work as both creditor’s and debtor’s counsel in all chapters of bankruptcy cases, routinely serving as counsel to creditors, creditors’ committees, and informal groups of creditors in many of the largest bankruptcy cases filed in the Kansas City – Metropolitan area. And we have solid professional relationships with bankruptcy courts and local creditor and debtor attorneys.
The firm has also represented creditors and claimants in state court insurance insolvency proceedings and in disputes arising out of insurance company reorganization and liquidation proceedings.
Asset Protection and Planning
Bankruptcy, Reorganizations, and Liquidations
Creditor’s Rights in Federal and State Courts
Insurance Company Insolvency Proceedings
Restructuring and Workouts
Representation of Official and Unofficial Creditors’ Committees
Commercial/Business Litigation
A successful trial experience begins with a strategy, which ties directly to your business objectives. During this pivotal time, it is imperative that you have an experienced business attorney who will aggressively represent you, from initial pleadings and discovery through closing argument.
Our approach to litigation is to think strategically and to streamline the litigation process so that the monetary and non-monetary costs of litigation to your business are minimized as much as possible. Our attorneys have extensive experience litigating an infinite number of legal issues ranging from complex contract disputes to dissolution of the business and shareholder disputes.
Stephen S. Brown
William J. DeBauche
Diane Hastings Lewis
John L. Hayob
Matthew M. Merrill
G. Steven Ruprecht
Heather F. Shore
Frank Wendt
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Appellate practice
Business and commercial torts
Banking and secured lending
Complex commercial matters
Construction
Disputes arising out of purchase and sale agreements
Real estate
Commercial Transactions & Corporate Counsel
Commercial transactions are the backbone of any business. Our attorneys can be trusted to keep your business running smoothly and to help you reduce the risk of disputes. You need attorneys who thoroughly understand current commercial laws, comprehend complex terms of contracts and agreements, can structure successful succession and exit planning strategies, and are in tune with the rapidly changing technology of a dynamic marketplace.
Brown & Ruprecht, PC’s commercial transaction and corporate attorneys work closely with executives, internal and outside accountants, and other professional advisers and decision makers in all aspects of your business. We also provide management advice needed to safeguard businesses across a wide spectrum of industries, and work to resolve business issues through sensible approaches.
Robert C. Latz
Matthew M. Merrill
Robert P. Reams
G. Steven Ruprecht
Heather F. Shore
Frank Wendt
Asset purchase agreements
Bankruptcy
Business formation and general business advice
Buy-sell agreements
Construction contracts
Independent contractor and consulting agreements
Lease contracts
Licensing
Loan agreements
Non-disclosure and other restrictive agreements to protect confidential and trade secret information
Outsourcing agreements
Representative and distributor agreements
Real estate acquisitions
Software and other technology agreements
Succession and exit planning strategies
Vendor contracts
Workout arrangements
Books and records creation and maintenance
Buy-sell agreements
Business formation and choice of entity
Contracts and contract documents
Draft and implement corporate policy statements
Franchise and license agreements
Distributor agreements
Independent contractor and consulting agreements
Mergers and Acquisitions
Outsourcing agreements
Shareholder and related agreements
Software and technology
Vendor agreements and purchase orders
Construction/Surety
Our attorneys have spent decades representing a broad range of local and national clients, providing hands-on business and legal experience to develop solutions and resolve the disputes that confront you every day in the construction industry. We have an intimate knowledge of how to manage and handle construction disputes, review and negotiate construction and real estate contracts, and navigate the complex rules and dispute resolution procedures on federal construction projects. Our construction attorneys also routinely advise clients on compliance with federal regulations governing contractors and subcontractors, prepare mechanic’s liens, assist with surety and fidelity bond claims, prepare and litigate bid protests in federal, state or local jurisdictions and resolve labor law issues.
Brown & Ruprecht, PC is devoted to supporting construction organizations like the Builders’ Association and Associated General Contractors and regularly publishes articles in construction industry and business publications, and our attorneys serves as construction mediators and arbitrators, including through the American Arbitration Association.
Construction Contract Review and Negotiation
Construction Litigation
Dispute Resolution
Federal Contracting and Contract Disputes Act Claims
Labor
Mechanic’s liens
Surety and Fidelity Bond Claims
WBE and DBE creation and participation
Employee Benefits/ERISA
Key business events might trigger a need for legal help: a merger or acquisition; new legislation affecting your business; a workforce reduction or outsourcing opportunity. At the same time, the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service are increasing their enforcement efforts as to employee benefit plans and compliance. We know how to best deal with these issues.
Our employee benefits attorneys work with clients to provide advice for all types of benefit programs including health and welfare programs, flexible benefit or cafeteria plans, executive incentive, stock option and stock purchase programs, Davis Bacon Act wage requirements and qualified pension, profit sharing, stock bonus, 401(k) and employee stock ownership plans.
COBRA Issues
DOL and IRS Compliance Audits
HIPAA Compliance
Plan Design, Amendments and Corrections
Davis Bacon Act compliance
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders
Voluntary Election Benefit Administration
Estate Planning/Probate
Marriage and birth. Illness and death. Family business or inheritance. In expected and unexpected ways, plans change. Our estate planning attorneys work with you to minimize costs and maximize wealth retention, as well as help with end-of-life planning, such as defining how to have your family cared for and your assets titled, managed, and distributed.
Brown & Ruprecht attorneys are also experienced with probate and advise personal representatives through the entire probate process, including opening and closing estates, collecting assets, and filing and defending against claims. We also provide counsel on tax issues and tax return preparation.
Irrevocable Insurance Trusts
Powers of Attorney
Probate Administration
Probate Litigation
Special Needs Trusts
Tax Planning
Wills and Trusts
Family Law
There are few events that are more emotionally taxing than divorce or child custody issues, which can include changes in residential and legal custody, as well as financial changes such as child support, maintenance and allocation of assets and debts.
Brown & Ruprecht, PC’s family law practice group provides pre-suit evaluation and consultation, trial work and litigation (filing for divorce, child support, child custody, maintenance, responding to divorce petitions and cross-petitioning) modification of existing orders and other resolution options, including mediation.
Adoption and Step-Parent Adoption
Divorce
Child Custody
Child Support
Maintenance
Modification
Paternity/Parentage
Protection From Abuse
Prenuptial Agreements
Separation
Family & Domestic Law & Relations
Insurance Coverage/Insurance Defense
As new regulations, statutes, and case law make insurance increasingly complex, you need an attorney who truly understands the changing insurance environment. Brown & Ruprecht, PC’s attorneys routinely work in all areas of insurance and layers of coverage; including commercial and personal lines, first and third-party coverage, professional and special liability, and both primary and excess liability.
We have extensive experience working in the insurance industry, litigating insurance issues before judges and juries, and serving as mediators and arbitrators in the resolution of insurance-related claims. Clients appreciate our ability to craft a successful strategy, often when it seems there are very few alternatives. We work closely with both insurers and insureds, quickly assessing the facts of a case, keeping communication open, and handling cases efficiently.
Additionally, our litigators have decades of insurance defense experience throughout state and federal courts in Missouri and Kansas including personal injury defense, professional liability defense, health care liability defense, premises liability defense and products liability defense.
Stephen S. Brown
John L. Hayob
Diane Hastings Lewis
Matthew M. Merrill
G. Steven Ruprecht
Joan M. Sheridan
Heather F. Shore
Aging services defense
Analysis of Insurance Programs
Insurance and Reinsurance Coverage Litigation
Construction defect issues
Dental liability defense
Directors’ and officers’ exposure
Employment Practices Claims
Environmental coverage disputes
Insurance Agent Errors and Omissions
Insurance Disputes
Insurer bad faith
Intellectual property claims
Mediation
Medical Malpractice Defense
Nursing home, LTC/CCRC liability defense
Professional Liability Claims
Reinsurance
Labor & Employment Law
With constantly changing employment laws, it is critical to work with a law firm that stays on top of ever-evolving regulations and trends. Brown & Ruprecht, PC’s labor and employment attorneys have handled claims and suits arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, ADEA, ADA, the Davis Bacon Act, FMLA, FLSA, ERISA, HIPAA and the NLRA.
We can assist with providing advice to address the day-to-day challenges and operation of your business, including reviewing employee policy manuals and developing employment agreements. We routinely provide counsel on workplace privacy, drug testing, wage and hour issues, unemployment claims, and employee discipline and terminations.
Diane Hastings Lewis
Robert C. Latz
Matthew M. Merrill
G. Steven Ruprecht
Heather F. Shore
COBRA
EEOC
Employee Handbook Review
Employment Agreements
FLSA
Litigation
Mediation
Policies and Procedures
Privacy and Security Procedures
Prevailing Wage Disputes
Severance Agreements
Professional Liability
Brown & Ruprecht, PC’s attorneys work with professionals and their insurance carriers on tailoring risk management strategies, trial preparation, and minimizing claims exposure. Our attorneys attempt to resolve claims before the time and expense of a lengthy trial. We also assist professionals who are facing disciplinary proceedings before state licensure boards.
Our professional liability attorneys have extensive experience representing health care providers as well as attorneys, architects, engineers, fitness facilities, personal trainers, allied health care providers, nursing homes, dentists, accountants and other professionals. We are actively involved with the Defense Research Institute, Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, and the Kansas Association of Defense Counsel.
Aging services defense
Allied health care provider defense
Dental malpractice defense
Health care provider defense
Fitness facility/fitness trainer defense
Medical malpractice defense
Nursing home, LTC/CCRC defense
Professional liability defense of lawyers, accountants, engineers, and architects
Errors and Omission
Officer Liability
Litigation
Real-estate agent defense
Real Estate
With multiple parties and changing laws, it is important that you work with a legal team that is knowledgeable about all facets of real estate law, from contracts and financing options to zoning and eminent domain.
Brown & Ruprecht, PC’s real estate attorneys work closely with developers, owners, property managers, tenants, financial institutions, landlords, and investors in Kansas, Missouri and regionally, in all types of transactions, from routine purchase agreements to complicated multi-party development plans. Our extensive experience in real estate matters enables us to advise clients through the process of developing, financing, zoning, management and ownership in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
Acquisition and Disposition of Real Estate
Development
Eminent Domain
Financing
Homeowners Associations
Landlord/Tennant
Leasing
Zoning
Taxation
Brown & Ruprecht, PC’s tax attorneys stay on top of the increasingly complicated regulatory environment, helping you understand how changes in tax laws today could affect you tomorrow.
Our attorneys address a variety of tax matters: tax planning in corporate structuring and reorganizations; planning for the formation of new businesses including the choice of entity, tax advice in mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and other arrangements; and tools like family limited partnerships and other entities to help grow family assets and reduce the tax burden on estates.
Audit Assistance
Compliance Reviews
Letter Rulings
Tax Consulting
Tax Resolution and Appeals
Tax Return Preparation
Tax Planning
White Collar Criminal Defense & Internal Investigations
In today’s world, scandal and subpoenas threaten the reputation of both companies and individuals. We can guide internal investigations, defend criminal and civil charges at trial, draft and implement comprehensive compliance programs and training, represent parties before the grand jury, and manage crisis response.
If you do face charges, you can rest assured that we know our way around the courtroom. Our attorneys have tried numerous cases in state and federal courts. We have persuaded prosecutors to dismiss charges, judges to suppress evidence, and juries to acquit clients. We will bring our experience with regulators, state prosecutors, and the Department of Justice to bear on your behalf.
Securities regulation
Mail/Wire Fraud
FCPA
Health Care Fraud
Environmental Crimes
Procurement Fraud
False Claims Act
Public Corruption
Tax Fraud
Immigration Fraud
RICO
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