Kent Sullivan

Kent is an experienced trial attorney with an emphasis in commercial litigation. He also serves regularly as a mediator and as an arbitrator in complex commercial, employment, railroad and product matters. He is regularly listed in Best Lawyers in America (2008-2012) for Arbitration, Mediation and Commercial Litigation and in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers (2005-2011) for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Business Litigation.

Representative Experience

• Representation, in numerous legal proceedings, of a partnership that operates an interstate carbon dioxide pipeline. The partnership has included subsidiaries of several energy companies, including Shell, Exxon and Kinder Morgan. The legal actions have been brought on behalf of classes of royalty recipients and have alleged antitrust activities and have challenged the pipeline’s tariffs.
• Successful prosecution of action to rescind contract for purchase of a national fleet of delivery vehicles. Prosecuted successfully against the manufacturer, dealer and parties making modifications to the vehicles. Rent-A-Center, Inc. v. Nissan Motor Corp., et al. Case Number 88C 02773, District Court of Sedgwick County, Kansas.
• Defense of high-profile case brought against riggers of a failed stunt that resulted in the fall of a professional wrestler to his death during a national pay-per-view telecast. Martha Hart, Widow of the Deceased, Owen Hart, Individually, et al. vs. World Wrestling Federation Entertainment, Inc. and Vincent McMahon, Personally, et al. Civil Action No. 99CV210774 in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri.
• Served as national coordinating counsel for the defense of all product claims asserted against a leading manufacturer of medical devices.
• Defended financial institutions as well as their directors, officers and employees against claims premised on theories of lender liability and breach of fiduciary duties arising out of trust administration.
• Prosecuted and defended numerous actions in various state and federal jurisdictions against officers and directors for alleged misfeasance.

ADR Recognition Certification

• American Arbitration Association, Neutral (Commercial Division)
• The Supreme Court of the State of Kansas, Approved Mediator (Core/Civil)
• Federal District Court for the Western District of Missouri – Designated Neutral
• Federal District Court for the District of Kansas – Approved Mediator
• The Missouri Bar – Rule 17 Listed Neutral/Mediation, general civil

ADR Training

• American Arbitration Association - Maximizing Efficiency & Economy in Arbitration, November 9, 2011
• American Arbitration Association - Consummate Negotiation: Techniques & Tactics, October 12, 2011
• American Arbitration Association - How Are Your (Negotiation) Table Manners? October 28, 2011
• Kansas Bar Association – Commercial & Domestic Mediation, November 21, 2008
• Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association – Adopt the Uniform Mediation Act?, September 4, 2008, Kansas City, Missouri
• University of Missouri – Columbia School of Law – Institute on Negotiation, March 16 & 17, 2006, St. Louis, Missouri
• Association of Attorney-Mediators – Annual Advanced Attorney-Mediator Training and CLE, September 19, 2003, St. Louis, Missouri
• Kansas Bar Association – Innovations in Alternative Dispute Resolution, February 21, 2003, Wichita, Kansas
• Kansas Trial Lawyers Association Foundation – Alternative Dispute Resolution, April 12, 2002, Overland Park, Kansas
• American Arbitration Association – Arbitrator II Workshop, March 12-13, 2002
• The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association – Employment Practice, the EEOC and Alternative Dispute Resolution, August 27, 1999
• University of Missouri Law School and the Center for the Study of dispute Resolution / a Training Workshop on Mediating Civil Cases, August 19 – 20, 1999 (Approved for 16.0 Kansas CLE Hours)
• American Arbitration Association – Commercial Arbitrator Training Workshop, April 29, 1999 

Education

Bar Admissions

Professional Affiliations

Presentations

ADR Related Presentations

• University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law/Mediation Training for Civil Cases, "Basic Civil Mediation," "served as coach", 2009 and 2011
• Stinson Morrison Hecker, LLP, "Evaluating Cases," May 13, 2011
• Stinson Morrison Hecker, LLP, "Making your Way Through the Mediation Experience,"
  July 10, 2009
• Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, "Mediation, Negotiation & Settlement," February 27, 2004
• Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, "Mediation: Trends & Techniques," December 5, 2003
• Missouri Bar Association, "Negotiation Strategies for Experienced Lawyers," November 10, 2000
• The Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association "Dispute Resolutions; Practical Solutions,"
  October 6, 2000
• Kansas Bar Association Annual Meeting/Business Mediation, "Mediation Strategies," June 9, 2000
  
• American Academy of Family Physicians/Senior Residency Directors Workshop, "Mediation: Conflict Management and Consensus Building," June 4, 2000
  
• University of Kansas School of Law, Guest Lecturer, "Lawyering/Mediation," March 2, 2000 

Recognitions

• Listed in Best Lawyers in America for Arbitration, Commercial Litigation and Mediation, 2008-2012
• Named to Best Lawyers in Kansas City for Arbitration, Commercial Litigation and Mediation, 2012
• Recognized in Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers for Business Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2005-2011