Throughout his 35 year career at Stinson, clients have put their faith and trust in William, relying upon his extensive litigation experience and knowing that he will handle their cases with the utmost professionalism.
Overview
Insurers, financial institutions, and telecommunications companies value William’s skills as a litigator. William’s practice includes ERISA and non-ERISA litigation in the life, health and disability fields. He has practiced in courts across the nation in a wide variety of complex class action and business litigation matters.
Over the past eight years, William has developed an extensive pro bono immigration practice, representing refugees, asylum seekers and other clients seeking U visas, green cards (permanent legal resident) or United States citizenship.
Experience
He has won summary judgments for numerous defendants in ERISA and non-ERISA life and disability cases.
William obtained a favorable judgment for a defendant in a multi-day arbitration hearing before a three-member AAA arbitration panel. Plaintiff sought damages in excess of $3 million as well as punitive damages, statutory penalties and attorneys’ fees.
William has successfully handled numerous life insurance disputes in both state and federal courts in Kansas and Missouri. Most recently, he obtained summary judgment on behalf of an insurer against a claim for life insurance benefits after the insured failed to report his cancer diagnosis shortly before obtaining supplemental life insurance. Earlier this year, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of an insurer represented by William in a case involving a "crime exclusion" in a life insurance policy.
In a case involving catastrophic damage to hundreds of property owners from an oil refinery flood and spill, William successfully defeated class certification.
William has obtained defense verdicts in jury trials in both state and federal courts in Missouri and Kansas.
News & Insights
News
Recognitions
Recognitions
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list, 2024, 2025
Named to Ingram's 2023 Class of 50 Kansans You Should Know
Named "Best of the Bar" by the Kansas City Business Journal
Rated “AV” by Martindale Hubbell
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Chairman of Board, Character That Counts, 2001-Present
Chairman of Board, Mercy in The City, 2023-Present
Board Member, Refuge KC, 2024-Present
Defense Research Institute, Life, Health and Disability Committee
National Institute of Trial Advocacy
Ross T. Roberts Inns of Court Program
The Missouri Bar Association
Kansas Bar Association
Elder, Leawood Presbyterian Church
KSHSAA Private School Classification Task Force, 2022
Beta Theta Pi, President, Educational Foundation, 2002-Present
NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Media Volunteer, 2018-Present
The Global Orphan Project, Haiti Vision Trip Leader, 2010-2017
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Missouri, 1989
- Kansas, 1990
- Kansas Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth and Tenth Circuits
Education
Baylor University, J.D., 1989
- Order of Barristers
- Runner-up, Outstanding Advocate, Moot Court Competition
University of Kansas, B.A., with honors and highest distinction, 1986
- Omicron Delta Kappa
- Owl Society
Harvard University, 1985 Summer School
