As Managing Partner, Mark optimistically leads a talented, solution-seeking firm in a strategy to succeed by delivering ever-better customer service and value to clients large and small, in the context of collaborative and welcoming workplaces.
Overview
Mark leads Stinson with a simple but effective vision: act as a "one firm" team without geographic or other artificial division; improve and reward excellent client service; add, listen to and gain value from diverse perspectives; craft work environments overlaid with communication, fairness and consistency that attract and retain positive contributors at all levels; conduct the financial and other affairs of the firm with absolute integrity; and serve our communities. The most important day in our 140 year old history is always tomorrow.
In addition to serving as the firm's managing partner, Mark is a member of its executive committee and board of directors. He has led (or co-led) the firm since 2010, successfully steering the firm and its constituents through a period of strategic growth, including 3 mergers. In that context, as part of his view to create a fully empowered one-firm team across a multi-office platform, he successfully advocated for and implemented a distributed headquarters model. With the help and support of others, including deputy managing partner Allison Murdock, he has also led the law firm to its most diverse leadership structure (Board, leadership team, staff leaders, practice and industry group leaders) ever. His prior experience representing clients in major business and public law litigation and arbitrations informs his leadership, as well as his period of service as general counsel of the firm.
Experience
Before being asked to assume the managing partner role, Mark served as one of the firm's leading trial lawyers, routinely handling eight and nine figure matters for key clients across the United States. In recognition of his experience and success, he was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers while still in his 40s.
Committed throughout his career to professional responsibility, he frequently writes and presents on the subject, and served for a period of years as general counsel or co-general counsel of the firm.
Mark co-founded and presents "Ethics for Good," which uses humor, skits and real-world scenarios in stage productions to teach legal ethics to lawyers. All proceeds (about $750,000 so far) go to charities and legal scholarships.
News & Insights
News
Speaking Engagements
Mark has been a frequent speaker (more than 75 presentations) and author on legal ethics and professional responsibility. He is a co-founder of "Ethics for Good," a benefit series of lively stage show ethics presentations whose net proceeds go entirely to local charities and law school and paralegal scholarships. Following its eighteenth year in 2017, approximately 9,500 lawyers have attended, generating nearly $700,000 in charitable contributions.
Publications
Mark is the author of law review and journal works appearing in the Kansas Law Review, Washburn Law Journal and the Journal of the Kansas Bar Association. In addition, Mark has served as a chapter author of the Kansas Bar Association’s Ethics Handbook and Construction Law Handbook.
Recognitions
Recognitions
Recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America© in Litigation-Construction
Received 2015 Law Firm Leader Award from Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Named in The Best Lawyers in America for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation and Municipal Litigation
Recognized as a Best Lawyers' 2013 and 2021 Kansas City Litigation – Intellectual Property "Lawyer of the Year" , 2012 Kansas City Litigation – Construction "Lawyer of the Year" and 2015 Kansas City Bet-the-Company Litigation "Lawyer of the Year"
Listed as a Super Lawyer in the Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine for Business Litigation
Ranked as a Local Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation for General Commercial, Intellectual Property, Competition, Professional Liability, Securities and White-Collar Crime.
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
University of Missouri – Kansas City, Board of Trustees
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow and Chair, Attorney-Client Relationships Committee
Kansas Bar Association
- Ethics Advisory and Ethics 2000 Committees
- Outstanding Service Award, 2003
- Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 1994
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Admissions
- Kansas, 1982
- Missouri, 2006
- U.S. District Courts for the District of Kansas (Member, Bench-Bar Committee 2000 - 2004) and Western District of Missouri
- U.S. Courts of Appeal for the First, Fourth, Eighth, Tenth and Federal Circuits
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Education
University of Kansas, J.D., 1982
- Kansas Law Review, Associate Editor
University of Kansas, B.A., with distinction, 1979
- Phi Beta Kappa
