Eric Kendall Banks

Eric Kendall Banks

Helping individuals and businesses fashion solutions for serious legal problems.
  • Employment Law, Business Law, Estate Planning
  • Illinois, Missouri
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Biography

Member of a national trial team that defended one of our nation's largest financial institutions in a $253 million dollar class action. Received national publicity while representing the wife of the Mayor of Kansas City, Gloria Squitiro, in the famous "Mammy-gate" lawsuit. First chaired approximately 75 jury trials in federal and state courts (has only lost one jury trial where he was the first chair in over 20 years); Admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, Courts of Appeals for the 7th, 8th and 10th Circuits; U.S. District Court of Kansas; U.S. District Courts of Eastern and Western Missouri; U.S. District Courts of Southern and Central Illinois; AV Rated By Martindale-Hubbell; has been listed in Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Law; selected by peers as a "Super Lawyer" for Missouri and Kansas for several years; former City Counselor for St. Louis; former Adjunct Professor for St. Louis University School of Law and Washington University School of Law; life member of the NAACP and St, Louis Chapter of the Urban League.

Practice Areas
Employment Law
Employment Contracts, Employment Discrimination, Overtime & Unpaid Wages, Sexual Harassment, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
Business Law
Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes
Estate Planning
Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    As well as Pay Pal, Cash App, and Apple Pay.
  • Contingent Fees
    On rare occasions where liability and substantial damages are reasonably clear.
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    I strive to become the type of person I would want to hire if I needed an attorney.
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Illinois
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Missouri
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7th Circuit
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8th Circuit
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10th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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Professional Experience
Equity Partner, Senior of Counsel, Business Owner
Privatre Practice of Law
- Current
Worked for two of the largest law firms in the United States before forming his own law firm.
City Counselor
Office of the City Counselor
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Lead attorney for the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Directed a staff of approximately 40 attorneys as well as attorneys at a dozen different outside law firms. First City Counselor in recent memory to actually try a jury trial while serving as City Counselor. Shepherded the litigation that resulted in clearing the way for the expansion of Lambert International Airport.
Corporate Counsel
Seigel Robert, Inc.
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Corporate counsel for a St. Louis based manufacturing company with over 8,000 employees in thirteen locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Supervised and occasionally first chaired litigation. Provided counseling for employment matters.
Trial Lawyer, primarily defending the Burlington Northern Railroad Company.
Private Practice of Law
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Primarily defended what was at that time known as the Burlington Northern Railroad Company with personal injury, property damage and breach of contract lawsuits in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.
Assistant Circuit Attorney
Office of the Circuit Attorney
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Tried dozens of jury trials and hundreds of bench trials while working as a State Prosecutor. Presented over 500 cases before various grand juries. Became a member of the Felony Trial Staff.
Assistant General Counsel
Missouri Public Service Commission
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Handled utility, and transportation litigation at the Commission, state, and federal levels before regulatory bodies, and state and federal trial and appellate courts.
Education
University of Missouri - Columbia
J.D. (1980) | Law
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Tenth African American law student to have graduated in MU's 107 year history.
Activities: Phi Alpha Delta Legal Fraternity; Black Law Student Association; first Graduate Research Assistant for the MU Black Studies Program;
University of Missouri - Columbia Logo
Awards
Hall of Honor Awardee
Lutheran High School North
Alumni Hall of Fame
Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis
Selected as a former Boys and Girls Club member who has achieved significant community or professional accomplishments.
Bringewatt Social Justice Award
Lutheran Family and Children's Services
Awarded for contributions to social justice for the community in general and members of the Lutheran Church in particular.
Super Lawyer
Missouri Kansas Super Lawyer
Selected by peers to join a group composing of more than 5% of the lawyers in any given state. Awarded most years from 2005 to the present.
Gains Since Gaines
MU School of Law
Included as part of a permanent display at the MU School of Law for being one of the early African American graduates who went on to achieve superior professional accomplishments.
Equal Justice Award
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
Awarded for assisting with policy change and development to assist members of undeserved communities to receive equal justice under the law.
100 Leaders for the New Millenium
St. Louis Business Journal
Selected as one of the top 100 leaders in the St. Louis area.
AV Rating
Martindale Hubbell
Awarded Martindale Hubbell's highest designation for professionalism and ethics for every year since 1997.
Listed
Who's Who in America & Who's Who in American Law
Listed in various editions of both Who's Who in America and Who's Who in American Law during the past twenty-five years.
Distinguished Alumni Award
University of Missouri St. Louis
Recognized for being an alumni who has made significant contributions to the St. Louis area.
Professional Associations
State Bar of Illinois  # 6197156
Member
Current
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Publications
Articles & Publications
The Business Case for Diversity in Large Law Firms
Mound City News
Record Retention Policies for Human Resources Departments
The Practical Lawyer, Published by the American Bar Association-American Law Institute Committee on Continuing Professional Education, Volume 49, Number 2
Certifications
Certified Consulting Hypnotist
National Guild of Hypnotists
Websites & Blogs
Website
Contact & Map
Banks Law LLC
308 North 21st Street, Suite 401
St. Louis, MO 63103
Telephone: (314) 583-7075