News
Three New Associates Join the Firm
Three new associates have recently joined Berkowitz Oliver. Blake Saffels is a 2021 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law . He also graduated from KU’s Business School in 2013. He managed operations for 2 companies in different industries before attending law school. He focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense and general business litigation. Billy Hupp is a 2020 graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law . He graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in history and philosophy in 2015. While in law school, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Employment Law Journal …
Read More >Berkowitz Oliver Named 2022 Tier 1 Firm for Kansas City Metro by U.S. News & World Report
Berkowitz Oliver has been named a Tier 1 firm in the Kansas City Metro area by U.S. News – Best Lawyers(R) “ Best Law Firms ” in 2022 in the following eight practice areas: Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Criminal Defense: General Practice Criminal Defense: White-Collar Litigation – Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy) Litigation – Securities Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Read More >Wieland Honored for Work with Veterans
Partner Jennifer Wieland received the Volunteer Attorney Spotlight for November 2021 from the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Foundation for her work with its Military Matters program. Wieland has performed pro bono work through the Military Matters program since 2017. She specializes in military discharge upgrade cases for veterans in all branches of the military.
Read More >Firm Chili Cook-off Returns
The firm held its annual Chili Cook-off competition on October 29, 2021. The Chili Cook-off coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October. The event is held to honor firm employees Lynne Clark and Lois Steward. This year’s Chili Champion was new associate Billy Hupp , whose “Indian Spiced Chili” bested the eight entries. He took home the coveted Pepper Belt Buckle. The event also featured the firm’s first-ever Cornbread Bake-off, won by Stacey Gilman and her “Cheesy Chivey Buttermilk Cornbread Biscuits.” Gilman took …
Read More >Firm Wins 2021 Trophy for Teddy Bear Drive Supporting Bears on Patrol
After collecting over a thousand stuffed bears, the firm received the 2021 Traveling Trophy for Medium Firm from the Kansas City Paralegal Association (KCPA) . KCPA’s 2021 bear drive collected 4,762 bears in total for the local Bears on Patrol program. The program provides stuffed bears to local law enforcement who then provide them to children in the community who are going through traumatic experiences. According to Kansas City Police Department Officer Hamill, “Being able to calm a child down with a teddy bear makes me feel good, …
Read More >Morris, Humphrey Named to 2021 Missouri Power 30 White-Collar Defense Attorneys List
Jeff Morris and Jim Humphrey were recently named to the 2021 edition of Missouri Lawyers Media’s Power 30 White-Collar Defense Attorneys list. Attorneys in the Firm’s White Collar Defense and Investigations group have extensive experience handling complex criminal and regulatory litigation and government investigations.
Read More >Naseem Joins Board of Directors of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Shazzie Naseem was sworn in as one of 16 members of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers at the association’s July annual meeting. The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is committed to enhancing the capacity of the criminal defense bar to safeguard fundamental constitutional rights . It harnesses the unique perspectives of its members to advocate for policy and practice improvements in the criminal legal system.
Read More >Schult, Oliver Named Lawyers of the Year, Six Others Included in Best Lawyers in America
Eight Berkowitz Oliver partners have been named to The Best Lawyers in America© for 2022. In addition, Tom Schult was named the Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Bet-the-Company Litigation for Kansas City, Missouri. David Oliver was named the Best Lawyers® 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants for Kansas City, Missouri The honored Berkowitz Oliver attorneys for 2022 are: 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 …
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