Kansas

Gary Patterson

Topeka, KS

Gary Patterson is the managing member of Patterson Legal Group, L.C., representing injured people for over 20 years. He earned his J.D. from Washburn University (1989), an M.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from University of Central Missouri (1981), and a B.S. in Psychology from Missouri Western State University (1976). He previously worked as a probation and parole officer for the State of Missouri and clerked for the Kansas Department of Administration and Shawnee County District Court Judges. He is recognized as a Super Lawyer and one of the Top 100 Kansas Trial Lawyers (2009-2020), having successfully litigated wrongful death, medical malpractice, and automotive product liability cases, recovering millions for clients.

Matthew L. Bretz

Garden City, KS

Matthew L. Bretz is a trial lawyer whose life's mission was shaped by the tragic loss of his sister. He grew up with a single mother and three sisters, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and graduating college by 20. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law and worked at Engstrom Lipscomb & Lack, learning trial law. The death of his sister in 1992 profoundly influenced his dedication to helping seriously injured individuals and families who have lost loved ones. He is a faculty member of the Keenan Trial College, teaching other lawyers, and serves on the MADD National Board. He also volunteers with United Way, Red Cross, Interfaith Housing, ABATE, and the Training and Evaluation Center of Hutchinson. He handles motor vehicle, premises liability, dangerous and defective products, and nursing home cases. He has an 'AV' rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible for professional ability and ethics, and has won over 98% of his cases since 1991, recovering over $300 million for clients.

Larry Wall

Wichita, KS

Larry Wall is an experienced Wichita, Kansas lawyer with over 42 years exclusively devoted to litigation. He graduated from North Texas State University with a BBA in 1969 and Southern Methodist School of Law with a JD in 1972. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Wichita (1972-1974) and later became a partner at a civil firm before opening his own practice in 1985. He is an active member of the Kansas Association for Justice and American Association for Justice, serving on the K.A.J. Board of Governors and as Chairman of the Medical Malpractice Section. He has received the Consumer Champion Award twice (2002, 2014) and the Distinguished Service Award (2012) from the Kansas Association for Justice for his advocacy in significant cases.

John G. O'Connor

Kansas City, KS

After graduating from the University of Kansas with his law degree in 1979, John immediately began practicing personal injury and workers' compensation law. His goal has always been to serve as a reliable resource that people can come to when they are in a vulnerable state and in need of trusted legal guidance. As an attorney, many clients have come to him for advice on how to fight for compensation after they've been injured. No matter what legal matter you may need assistance with, John will be there for you from beginning to end, striving to reach a favorable result at every turn.

Larry V. Swall is a family law attorney, licensed in Kansas and Missouri, serving the entire Kansas City Metropolitan area through our offices in Overland Park and Liberty. His private practice is concentrated in areas of family law and domestic relations, including domestic mediation. Practicing for over 30 years, in 2009, Mr. Swall was twice honored by the Missouri Bar Association, first as the Roger Krumm Family Law Practitioner of the Year Award; and second with the distinguished President's Award for extraordinary service to the Bar. Mr. Swall is an active member in both the Missouri Bar Association and the Kansas Bar Association. Mr. Swall has been a family law mediator since 1994; and was the architect of what became the M.A.R.C.H. Mediation program, expanding its reach from seven original counties to serving the entire State of Missouri for over 20 years before passing the reins to new leadership, training professionals in family mediation all across Missouri starting in 1999. He is a member of the Missouri Bar Family Law Section, having served as Section Chair for four years, as well as serving on the Family Law Legislative Review Committee. Mr. Swall consulted with legislators to pass seminal family law bills including the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA); child support laws including promoting a child’s ability to seek education beyond high school; and laws that give children better access to their parents, to strengthen family relationships, despite the conflict that often surrounds the process. Mr. was founder and Planning Chair for the Missouri Bar Annual Family Law Conference for eight years beginning in 1999; and has continued to serve on the planning committee and guiding professional family law training for over twenty years. Mr. Swall has been an active member of the Missouri Supreme Court Child Support Guideline Review Committee since 2008, and most recently reappointed in 2019. Mr. Swall was a founding member of the Missouri Association of Family Law Advocacy, helping to educate state legislatures about court system and the array of laws affecting the daily lives of families who find themselves in court. He is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Family Law Section and the Clay County Bar Association. Mr. Swall has presented over 100 professional trainings for family lawyers and mediators in how to better serve family law clients and effectively work in family courts. Mr. Swall has testified before the Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate on family law related bills and statutes, continually trying to improve the law and better the court system in which families appear. Mr. Swall is a founding member of the Missouri Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (Mo-AFCC), having served as President, and 10 years as a director. He also served on the Board of Directors for the international Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC), serving as publication chair, a member of the Resource Development Committee and Host/Auctioneer for the Annual Conference fundraising auction. He is a member of the American Bar Association Family Law Section, and a General Member of Association of Conflict Resolution. He has also served on the Board of Directors for Overcoming Barriers, an organization providing services to families torn apart by family conflict. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law, 1990, where he participated in the joint degree program in philosophy towards a master’s degree. He is a graduate of San Diego State University, BA-Philosophy, 1987. Mr. Swall was formerly a professor for over ten years with Drury College (Springfield, Missouri) where he taught in areas of law, including family law, and philosophy, and at Maple Woods Community College (Kansas City, Missouri) in the Department of Social Science, Philosophy.

Sylvia B. Penner

Wichita, KS

Sylvia Penner is a lifelong resident of Kansas. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in 1999 from Tabor College and her Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas in 2004. She worked as an Assistant District Attorney for four years, prosecuting criminal actions. Ms. Penner is bilingual and takes delight in representing clients from both the English and Spanish speaking communities. She practices in Criminal Defense, including White Collar Criminal and Civil Defense, Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Workers Compensation, and Juvenile Law. She is active in various community organizations and serves on several boards.