Protem Lawyers

“I’m proud to be a trial lawyer and proud to fight for my clients who have been harmed due to the negligence of others. Our civil justice system provides a platform and equal footing for those who don’t have the resources to hold powerful corporations accountable. Whether it’s making products safer for children or getting fatigued truck drivers off the road, I’m honored to be part of a system that protects our children and families.” Brendan received his undergraduate degree from Rockhurst College (1995) and his law degree from the University of Missouri (1998). After law school, Brendan served as a...

Gibbons Law Firm has represented numerous clients in a variety of civil, criminal and probate cases. Our client base includes individuals, employees, builders, contractors, homeowners, lenders, small businesses, subcontractors, municipalities, and other government entities. We have assisted clients with their legal needs in the areas of accident/personal injury law, appellate practice, business and corporate law, child custody matters, construction law, contracts, criminal defense, divorce and family law, employment law, landlord-tenant, land use and zoning, real estate laws, wills and probate, and workers’ compensation.

Our Ideal Customer Families with no planning or out of date planning; families in need of core estate planning; families in need of specialized/advanced wealth planning, tax efficiency/flexibility planning; business succession planning; legacy/irrevocable trust planning; asset protection; lifetime trusts; fiduciaries/trustees/personal representatives/executors in need of probate/trust administration counsel; families with minor children, college age children, adult children, aging parents; families transitioning into retirement, families with closely-held businesses, out-of-state assets/real estate, real property management needs; unique assets; significant collections; intellectual property; investments; individuals with wealth advisors/family accountants looking for collaborative estate planning counsel; families with $1-2M; $2-10; $10-25M; $25M-$100M; over $100M in assets;...

Samantha L. Shepherd JD, LLM, CELA
Samantha practices exclusively in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning and Special Needs Law. She received her undergraduate degree in 1990 from Tulane University in New Orleans, cum laude. She earned her law degree from Boston College Law School and received an LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Samantha currently serves on the Board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and as Chair of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Trust and Estates Committee. Formerly the Chair of the Missouri Bar Elder Law Committee and past President of...

Brian Barjenbruch has been a practicing attorney since 2002, having had the opportunity to work with and learn from many talented and well-respected members of the Kansas City metropolitan bar. Mr. Barjenbruch is licensed to practice law in Missouri and Kansas, and has represented clients at the trial court and appellate court levels, and in arbitrations before the National Association of Securities Dealers (predecessor to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Barjenbruch has litigated and resolved dozens of cases, including claims for wrongful termination, employment discrimination, employment contracts, fraud, breach of contract, personal injury, worker’s compensation...

Wes Coulson is a certified elder law attorney and the principal of Coulson Elder Law. He earned his B.A., with honors, from Northwestern University and his J.D. from The University of Michigan. He is a member of the Illinois State and Missouri Bar, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the St. Louis Estate Planning Council and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Mr. Coulson lectures frequently and presents classes on his vast experience and knowledge. He has published many articles on Medicaid eligibility planning; The Purchase of or Exchange for a Life Estate Interest as a Medicaid Eligibility...

Mr. Marks is admitted to practice in the State of Missouri (1963), the United States Supreme Court (1972), The United States Tax Court (1985), the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (1964) and the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri (1964) and the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri (1985). Mr. Marks received his undergraduate degree from Washington University in 1954 and his law degree from Washington University in 1963. Mr. Marks is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, The American Bar Association, The American Association of...

I am Cynthia M. Hennessey, a dedicated attorney in personal injury and workers’ compensation, serving clients across Missouri and Illinois. With over 30 years of experience and a background as a registered nurse, I am a trusted advocate for injured workers and accident victims in both states. Based in St. Louis, my practice spans statewide, focusing on workers’ compensation claims, workplace injuries, car accidents, slip-and-fall incidents, and other personal injury cases. As the founder of Hennessey Law LLC, I blend vigorous legal representation with genuine compassion, understanding the physical, emotional, and financial challenges my clients face. I have a proven track record...

Arturo A. Hernandez III represents the interest of management in all areas of labor and employment law, including litigation before state and federal courts, various administrative agencies, and provides sound and confidential client counseling, and document preparation and review. Arturo handles all facets of employment law including defending employment discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII, including race, sex and gender discrimination claims; the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Family Medical Leave Act; Missouri Human Rights Act; Section 287.780 of the Missouri Workers’ Compensation Act; and wage and hour disputes, including collective and class actions. Arturo also investigates and responds...

I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Washington University in St. Louis, where I earned academic all-conference honors while playing varsity football. I received my law degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where I was inducted into the National Order of Scribes, recognizing five graduating law students who demonstrated the highest degree of professionalism and excellence in the area of legal writing. During law school, I served as a Lead Articles Editor for the Missouri Law Review and a teaching assistant for Legal Research and Writing and Advocacy and Research. I am licensed in both Missouri...

Attorney Alex Ledbetter was originally drawn to the legal profession because of his principled nature, firmly believing that others should be held accountable for their actions. Alex enjoys being able to help others, lending his voice as an advocate for others and comforting clients when they need it most. Throughout your case you can expect to work with Alex significantly, so he can understand your story, your life, and your case in-depth. Alex will not only help you navigate your legal issue but also spend the time and effort to truly get to know you and how your legal issue...

Jack graduated from St. Louis University School of Law and began his law career handling Personal Injury cases. From there, Jack worked at the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, where he received invaluable experience prosecuting complex criminal cases. After leaving the Prosecutor's Office, Jack opened up his own law practice. Over the years, Jack has handled a wide variety of cases in the areas of Criminal Law, Traffic, Family Law, Business Law, Bankruptcy, Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice. With 50 years of legal experience and a lifetime spent in the courtroom, Jack has...

Dirk Hennessey has spent the last 10 years aggressively representing those injured in Missouri and Illinois. Since graduating law school, he has helped the injured recover over $13,000,000.00 from America's Largest Insurance Companies. Dirk has successfully litigated catastrophic work injuries, car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, truck and semi-trailer accidents and is committed to ensuring that each client receives the utmost care and is treated like family.

M. Blake Heath is the lead trial attorney for the firm. He grew up in the small town of East Prairie, Missouri and attended Westminster College for his undergraduate degree. Blake received his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City where he graduated cum laude. During law school Blake served as a Notes & Comment Editor for the UMKC Law Review. He was also on the Executive Board for the Ellison Moot Court Competition, and was a legal intern for the Honorable Duane Benton on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Blake has dedicated his career to...

Education: Washington University Law School J.D. 1965 Harvard Graduate Business School MBA. 1967 Arbitration: Qualified as Chairperson for FINRA Mediation: Styles: Facilitative and Transformative