Practices

Mark S. Foster

Partner

DIRECT CONTACT
816.691.3106
e-mail | vCard

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

Mark is the firm's former managing partner. In July, 2010, he stepped down as managing partner after 15 years to resume his litigation and arbitration practice. Mark has extensive experience in a broad range of business litigation issues, including: securities, environmental, employment, banking and bankruptcy.

Representative Experience

Mark has represented and assisted numerous brokerage houses and security issuers in litigation and arbitration proceedings in both Missouri and Kansas. He was liaison counsel for a Fortune 100 corporation in a nationwide 10b-5 class action. Mark also has substantial experience in the representation of banks and other lending institutions in matters involving the UCC, lender liability, accounting practices and Director and Shareholder responsibilities.
Mark also has more than 30 years of experience in representing management in employment disputes before administrative agencies and in state and federal courts. In addition to handling individual claims of discrimination, he has been lead counsel in a class action sex discrimination case and a major matter involving breach of fiduciary duty claims in the administration of an employee pension fund under ERISA. Additionally, he has represented clients in toxic tort suits and environmental regulatory actions throughout the Midwest.
Mark has served as an arbitrator for the National Association of Securities Dealers and as a member of the Large Complex Case Panel of the American Arbitration Association. He is also a past fellow of the Private Adjudication Foundation in Durham, N.C. and a mediator/arbitrator panelist for the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

Education

Duke University, J.D., with distinction, 1973

University of Missouri-Columbia, B.S., cum laude, 1970

Of Note

Indicative of the breadth of Mark's experience, is the fact that he has been both lead and liaison counsel in defense of a nationwide securities class action lawsuit involving a major telecommunications supplier, and lead counsel in defense of a class action employment case involving a major regional bank.

Community Involvement

University of Missouri
- Missouri 100
- Jefferson Club, Fellow
- Davenport Society, Sponsor
- Trulaske College of Business, Strategic Development Board
Downtown Council - Kansas City, Missouri, Executive Committee Member and Board Member
Jacob and Ella Loose Foundation, Board Member and Treasurer
Bishop Miege Foundation, Board of Trustees
Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Board Member, Audit Committee
United Way Tocqueville Society, Committee Member
United Way Campaign, Key Accounts Group Chair
LEAP (Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance), Emeritus Board Member
Park University Board of Visitors; School of Business Advisory Board Member
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Business Council, Member
Economic Club of Kansas City, Member
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Arts Committee, Member
Heart of America Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Past President
Spelman Medical Foundation, Past President
Kansas City Area Development Council, former Board Member

Government/Political Involvment

LCDR United States Navy Reserve - Retired (1970-1990)

Bar Admissions

Missouri, 1973
Hawaii, 1975
United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
United States District Court for the District of Hawaii
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
United States Supreme Court

Professional Affiliations

Member of the American Arbitration Association Roster of Neutrals
Hawaii State Bar Association
The Missouri Bar
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association