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Office: 573-443-3141

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia (A.B., cum laude, 1977)
• University of Missouri-Columbia (M.A., Political Science, 1980)
• University of Missouri-Columbia (J.D., 1985)

Bar Admissions

• 1985, Missouri Bar
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit

Biography

• Missouri Law Review (Member, 1983-1985 and Editor-in-Chief, 1984-1985)
• Order of the Coif
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2010
• Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers (Board of Directors, 2003-2009)
• Electric Cooperative Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute

Areas of Practice

• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Eminent Domain/Condemnation Law
• Administrative Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury Litigation

Contact Phebe:
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Office: 573-443-3141

Education

• Southwest Missouri State University (B.S., Cum Laude, 1996)
• University of Missouri-Columbia (J.D., 2000)

Bar Admissions

• 2000, Missouri Bar
• 2001, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 2003, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals

Biography

• Member, Journal of Dispute Resolution, 1998-2000

Areas of Practice

• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Real Estate and Land Use
• Corporate Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Employment Law

Contact Sarah:
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Office: 573-443-3141

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (J.D. 2000)
  • Missouri Law Review, associate member (1998-1999)
  • Charles G. Young Award, Best Work in Professional Responsibility
  • R. David Ray and Jacob Y. Garrett Trial Advocacy Award
• University of Missouri-Columbia (B.S.W., cum laude, 1994)

Bar Admissions

• 2000, Missouri Bar
• 2001, Kansas Bar

Publications

• Co-Author, Chapter 34, “Will Drafting and Execution,” Missouri Practice Methods of Practice Transaction Guide (2002)
• Co-Drafter, Title 21: Missouri Family Trust (2005), Missouri Code of State Regulations
• Co-Author, Chapter 6, “Distribution of Commissioners’ Award,” Missouri Condemnation Practice (Fourth Ed. 2009)

Community Involvement

• Midwest Special Needs Trust, Member, Board of Trustees, 2002-present; President, 2006-2008, 2010-2011, 2019-2020; 2019-2020 Legal Committee; co-drafter, revised enabling statute §§402.199-402.208 RSMo (Cum. Supp. 2011)
• Southern Boone Area YMCA, Advisory Board, Member 2014-present

Areas of Practice

• Real Estate and Land Use
• Corporate Law
• Estate Planning/Probate/Trusts
• Eminent Domain/Condemnation Law
• Public Utility Law

Contact Daniel:
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Office: 573-443-3141

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia (B.A., Marketing, Cum Laude, 2000)
  • Member, Phi Delta Theta
• University of Missouri – Columbia (J.D., 2008)

Bar Admissions

• 2008, Missouri Bar
• 2008, United States District Court, W.D., Mo.

Biography

• Capt., U.S. Marine Corps, 2000-2004

Areas of Practice

• Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Law
• Personal Injury Litigation
• Banking/Finance
• Real Estate and Land Use
• Employment Law
• Eminent Domain/Condemnation Law

Contact Beth:
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Office: 573-443-3141

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law (J.D., 2010, Order of the Coif)
  • Missouri Law Review
    • Note & Comment Editor (2009-2010)
    • Symposium Coordinator (2008-2009)
    • Associate Member (2008-2009)
  • Guy A. Thompson Best Student Note
  • Guy A. Thompson Best Production Award
  • Fred L. Hall, Jr. Foundation Estate Planning Award
• Missouri State University (M.B.A., 2007)
• Missouri State University (B.S., summa cum laude, 2006)
• Smith Cotton (Sedalia) High School (2002, Valedictorian)

Bar Admissions

• Missouri Bar, 2010
• United States District Court, Western District of Missouri, 2011
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri, 2012

Publications

• The Eighth Circuit Loosens the Grip of the Bankruptcy Gag Rule but Holds Attorneys to Advertising Disclosure Requirement, Note, 74 Mo. L. Rev. 845 (2009)

Previous Employment

• Judicial Clerk to the Honorable William Ray Price of the Missouri Supreme Court, 2010-2011

Areas of Practice

• Commercial Litigation
• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Real Estate and Land Use
• Corporate Law
• Estate Planning/Probate/Trusts
• Employment Law

Contact José:
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Office: 573-443-3141

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law, Columbia, MO (Juris Doctor, Dean’s List, 2011)
• University of Missouri, Saint Louis (B.A., Political Science, Honor’s List, 2008)

Bar Admissions

• 2016, Missouri Supreme Court
• 2013, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
• 2013, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
• 2020, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 2012, Missouri Court of Appeals – Western District
• 2011, State of Missouri

Biography

• Active Member of the Missouri Bar
• Missouri Bar Board of Governors, ABA House of Delegates Representative, 2018-2021
• Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council, Chair, 2014-2020
• Missouri Bar Committee on Diversity, Member and Chair, 2015-2020
• Missouri Bar Joint Task Force with the Supreme Court on the Future of the Profession, 2015-2016
• Judge Advocate, Army National Guard
• Captain in U.S. Army

Legal Experience

• José Caldera is an accomplished civil lawyer with over a decade of experience. He advises businesses and individuals on a variety of complex contractual matters and has litigated cases throughout Missouri, including before the Missouri Supreme Court. José was a former City of Columbia Assistant City Counselor specializing in Land Use and Development law. In that role, he designed the City’s regulatory structures for various disruptive technologies, served as the City attorney for both the Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Commission, and advised the City on large-scale development projects.
  
  Before joining the City, José served as Acting Commissioner of Securities and Senior Counsel for the Missouri Secretary of State. Jose began his career as an Assistant Attorney General, where he litigated business law, probate, bankruptcy, and deceptive trade practices cases. José serves our country as a Captain in the Army National Guard JAG Corp and was selected to CoMo Magazine's 20 under 40. He is also fluent in Spanish.
  
  José provides representation in litigation and transactional matters in business law, land use, planning and real estate law, business development, contracts, construction law, estates and trusts, employment law, open government compliance, and other matters. He has successfully represented clients in federal and state courts. He also represents clients before the City Council, Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning Commission.

Areas of Practice

• Business Litigation
• Contracts
• Estate Planning
• Land Use and Development
• Real Estate Law
• Consumer Rights Law
• Municipal Law
• Employment Law

Contact Jackie:
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Office: 573-443-3141

Education

• Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D., Cum Laude, 2017)
• University of Missouri-Columbia, (B.A., Finance, Cum Laude, 2011)
• U.S. Army JAG Paralegal School (Distinguished Honor Graduate, 2003)

Bar Admissions

• State of Missouri
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri

Biography

• Sgt., U.S. Army, 2003-2007

Contact John:
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Office: 573-443-3141

Education

• University of Missouri School of Law (J.D., 2018)
• Journal of Dispute Resolution
  • Associate Managing Editor (2017-2018)
  • Associate Member (2016-2017)
• University of Alabama (B.A., magna cum laude, 2015)
• Rock Bridge High School (2011)

Bar Admissions

• Missouri Bar, 2018

Publications

• State Legislative Update, 2018 J. Disp. Resol. 197 (2018)

Education

• University of Missouri (B.S., 1969)
• University of Missouri (J.D., 1975)

Bar Admissions

• 1976, Missouri Bar

Biography

• Member, Missouri Law Review, 1974-1975
• Capt., U.S. Marine Corps, 1969-1973

Areas of Practice

• Corporate Law
• Real Estate and Land Use
• Banking/Finance

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia J.D., cum laude, 1981 (Order of the Coif)
• Missouri Law Review member and editorial board
• University of Missouri-Columbia A.B., 1972 (Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi)
• Cabool (Missouri) High School 1968 (Salutatorian)

Bar Admissions

• 1981, Missouri Bar
• 1981, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 1987, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
• 1989, U.S. Supreme Court

Publications

Legal Handbook for Freelancers (Outdoor Writers Association of America, 2009)

Justiciability and Foreign Affairs: The Treaty Termination Power, 46 Missouri Law Review 164 (1981).

The Right to Treatment: A Fabled Right Receives Judicial Recognition in Missouri (Eckerhart v. Hensley), 45 Missouri Law Review 357 (1980).

(Assorted articles and materials on estate planning topics, available to clients upon request. For example, see Estate Planning for Missouri Residents updated in 2023).

Contributed 100+ articles to various non-legal publications mostly about outdoor and travel adventures, also history, education, and legal issues.

Currently serve on editorial review board for The Missouri Bar Journal.

Legal Experience

During my employment since 1981 at Smith Lewis, LLP, I have handled various kinds of litigation and trials, including personal injury (plaintiffs and defense), medical malpractice (defense only), trust and estate litigation (plaintiffs and defense and as an expert witness), and business and real estate disputes. Recently I’ve become involved in public utility law matters. I also have considerable experience with alternative dispute resolution such as mediation. Litigation is a smaller part of my current practice as I have concentrated more on estate planning, trust and estate administration, and rendering advice to nonprofit organizations, including various journalists’ and writers’ organizations and entities that serve the disabled and the arts, but my practice remains broad and general.

Speaker

To professional and civic groups, mostly about various estate planning matters, but sometimes about my various hobbies.

Other Interests, Hobbies and Personal Information

International travel (35+ countries) and international law; backpacking and mountaineering (U.S., Andes, Alps, Caucasus, Himalaya, including climbs of highest mountains in South America, Europe, and Africa); growing grapes and making wine; eclectic reading; school board (12 years) and other local government service on boards and commissions; service on non-profit boards; mental health issues (worked seven years in Missouri’s Department of Mental Health, mostly in the maximum security unit, before attending law school). I’ve given advice about preservation of property of famous mountaineers and authors and other historically important real and personal property.

I was born in Cabool, Missouri, in 1949, am married, and have two sons.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning/Probate/Trusts
• Real Estate and Land Use
• Commercial Litigation
• Personal Injury Litigation

Education

• Northwest Missouri State University (B.S.Ed., cum laude, 1974)
• University of Iowa (M.A., 1978)
• University of Missouri at Columbia (J.D., 1986)

Bar Admissions

• 1986, Missouri Bar
• 1986, U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
• 2006, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
• 1999, 8th Circuit Court of Appeals
• 2000, U.S. Supreme Court

Biography

• Member, Missouri Law Review, 1984-1986
• Juvenile Justice Advisory Board
• Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee Mediator
• Elwood Thomas Inns of Court

Areas of Practice

• Medical Malpractice Defense
• Employment Law
• Public Utility Law
• Personal Injury Litigation
• Eminent Domain/Condemnation Law