News
Berkowitz Oliver Employment Team Presents at Local SHRM Lunch
The Society for Human Resources Management of Greater Kansas City—one of the oldest and largest trade associations in the greater Kansas City area—hosted Berkowitz Oliver at their monthly lunch on September 8 to speak about recent developments in the ever-changing landscape of employment law. Attorneys Kathleen Nemechek, Sharon Stallbaumer, Alex Demasi, and Megan Costello spoke to SHRM members about the EEOC’s new enforcement priorities, best practices with pregnant employees, how to safely use AI in HR operations, and the current …
Read More >Missouri Lawsuit Raises New Questions About Elevance Health’s Alleged Nonpayment of Binding No Surprises Act Awards and ERISA Fiduciary Oversight
LITIGATION UPDATE No Surprises Act Enforcement | ERISA Fiduciary Liability Complaint alleges that Elevance affiliates failed to timely satisfy binding federal arbitration determinations issued under the No Surprises Act and that employer-sponsored health plans and their fiduciaries failed to adequately monitor compliance with those obligations. PHI Health, LLC has filed suit in federal court against Elevance Health affiliates Healthy Alliance Life Insurance Company and RightCHOICE Managed Care, Inc., which operate as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield across most of …
Read More >Seven Lawyers Named to 2027 Edition of the Best Lawyers in America(R)
Seven Berkowitz Oliver partners have been named to the 2027 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America(R): Nick Kurt for Commercial Litigation; Jeff Morris for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Shazzie Naseem for Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: General Practice, and Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Kathleen Nemechek for Employment Law-Management; Tom Schult for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; John Shaw for Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Securities, and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; …
Read More >Stacey Gilman Receives Hon. Matt J. Whitworth Trial Excellence Award
Partner Stacey Gilman recently received The Hon. Matt J. Whitworth Trial Excellence Award. This award honors attorneys who exemplify the highest level of competence, ethics, and civility in the federal bar in the Western District of Missouri and the District of Kansas. Stacey is the first woman to receive this award. She graces our profession every day with her exceptional skills and professionalism. https://online.fliphtml5.com/mdwhq/GilmanWhitworthExcellence/
Read More >Partner Jennifer Wieland Selected as United States Magistrate Judge for District of Kansas
Partner Jennifer Wieland has been selected as the next United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Kansas in Kansas City, Kansas. Jennifer joined the firm in 2008 as an associate. She became a partner in 2013 and a Co-Managing Partner in 2023. She will be sworn in as a U.S. Magistrate Judge upon the completion of an FBI background check. She will succeed Magistrate Judge Teresa J. James, who intends to retire in Spring 2026, after 12 years on the bench.
Read More >Twelve Berkowitz Oliver Attorneys Named Super Lawyers, Rising Stars
Twelve attorneys at Berkowitz Oliver have been named 2025 Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers or Rising Stars. The following were named Super Lawyers: Stacey Gilman for Business Litigation Nick Kurt for Business Litigation Jeff Morris for Criminal Defense: White Collar Shazzie Naseem for Criminal Defense: White Collar Kathleen Nemechek for Employment & Labor Christina Wahl for Criminal Defense: White Collar Jennifer Wieland for Class Action The following were named Rising Stars: Courtney Kroeger for Business Litigation Braden Lefler for Business Litigation Blake Saffels for Criminal Defense: White Collar Diamond Thomas for Business Litigation Jasmine Ward for Business Litigation Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase …
Read More >Berkowitz Oliver Named Tier 1 Law Firm for Kansas City Metro in 8 Practice Areas by Best Lawyers
Berkowitz Oliver has been recognized for excellence in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms rankings. The firm was named a Metropolitan Tier 1 law firm in the Kansas City Metro area by Best Lawyers in their 2026 edition: Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Criminal Defense: General Practice Criminal Defense: White-Collar Litigation – Securities Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants Product Liability Litigation The firm was also named a National Tier 3 law firm for 2026 in Commercial Litigation .
Read More >Firm Named to Top Position by Legal500 in Commercial Disputes for Missouri
The firm has been named to the number 1 spot in the inaugural Legal500 Commercial Disputes list of Missouri Elite. Partners Tony Durone , Stacey Gilman , Tom Schult , and John Shaw were also individually named to the Legal500 list of the “ Missouri Elite ” in Commercial Disputes. Legal500 was founded as a “clients’ guide to law firms.” It is now a data-driven, AI-optimized research platform which benchmarks, informs, and connects providers and users of legal services in 100 countries world-wide. The company’s research includes interviews with top practitioners, referee and …
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