Practices

Brian R. Markley

Partner

DIRECT CONTACT
816.691.3215
e-mail | vCard

KANSAS CITY OFFICE
1201 Walnut, Suite 2900
Kansas City, MO 64106

Brian litigates business disputes. He devotes much of his practice to complex commercial litigation, including multi-party, class and collective action matters. Brian has extensive experience with multi-district litigation, including serving as liaison counsel to the court. In the course of his practice, Brian has tried claims to arbitrators, judges and juries. He has also obtained and successfully opposed temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions. In addition, Brian has protected the interests of clients in administrative proceedings and on appeal. Outside of the courtroom, Brian draws on his litigation experience while serving as external counselor for several corporations, medical societies and trade associations.

Representative Experience

Defended a client in multi-district antitrust litigation over the pricing and marketing of an agricultural commodity in the southeastern United States
Defended an investment fund targeted with a variety of claims in which the plaintiff sought compensatory damages in excess of $375 million and more than $1 billion in punitive damages
Defended an international business services corporation in a lawsuit by more than 30 plaintiffs alleging hundreds of individual employment claims
Defended an international petrochemical company in multi-district antitrust litigation and served as liaison counsel to the court on behalf of all defendants
Defended several retail companies in multi-district litigation involving consumer protection act, business tort and other claims
Defeated a nationwide, multi-count putative class action brought against a large business products and services company
Obtained on behalf of an international retailer an order denying class certification of multiple discrimination claims asserted on behalf of a putative, nationwide class of more than 10,000 current and former employees
Represented on appeal and through the certiorari process a large agribusiness company seeking reversal of a multi-million dollar punitive damages verdict, which the Eighth Circuit ultimately vacated

Education

University of Kansas, J.D., 1995
    Order of the Coif (highest distinction)
    Note and Comment Editor, Kansas Law Review
    Faculty Award for Most Outstanding Contribution to Legal Scholarship

Princeton University, A.B., 1990

Of Note

Prior to joining the firm, Brian clerked for Judge John W. Lungstrum, United States District Court for the District of Kansas. He also served on the staff of Senator John C. Danforth.

Community Involvement

Brian has held several leadership positions at Immanuel Lutheran Church, including President of the church council.
Together with his wife, Brian is active in local and party politics and has held elected office.
He also supports in a variety of ways the efforts of the American Cancer Society and the wider fight against cancer.

Bar Admissions

Missouri, 1995
Kansas, 1996
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
Kansas Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association