A career litigator focused on practical resolution

I graduated from UMKC School of Law in 2008 and began my practice at Ensz & Jester, P.C., becoming a partner in 2012. In 2022 I accepted an in-house counsel role with a long-term client, where I remain. That span of work on both sides of the table shapes how I mediate today: practical, efficient, and grounded in how decisions are really made.

My litigation experience is broad. I have handled hundreds of matters through mediation and arbitration, including numerous consumer protection claims resolved in arbitration. I have tried cases at every level of involvement, from supporting first chair to first-chairing multi‑million dollar trials. Along the way, I earned two notable Missouri verdicts — $2.9 million for the defense in 2014 and $6.7 million for the plaintiff in 2022 — and I have settled more cases than I can count through dispute resolution.

In mediation, you will not wait until after lunch for a first offer and I will not just “carry water” between the parties. I engage early, surface the real issues, and keep momentum throughout the day. By the end of the session you either have a signed term sheet or a clear understanding of whether the matter will settle and why, with a concrete plan for follow‑up if needed. Counsel can expect candid reality testing informed by experience on both sides of the “v,” preparation that focuses on the facts and leverage that move numbers, and steady communication with clients when the conversations are hard.

I conduct in‑person mediations for Missouri and Kansas cases at our Lee’s Summit office or at a mutually agreed location. You can view live availability and schedule directly, and I will follow up with brief guidelines and a short pre‑mediation call so we are aligned before we meet.