Derek D. Peele
Commercial Litigation Attorney
Kansas City, MO · (816) 555 0165 · name@example.com · linkedin.com/in/derekdpeele
Key Qualifications
EXPERIENCE
Six years of civil litigation practice at midsize regional firms
PRACTICE AREAS
Contract disputes, construction defect, business torts, commercial collections
SPECIALTIES
Motion practice, depositions, discovery strategy, mediation advocacy
SYSTEMS
Westlaw, Relativity, iManage, Clio, Everlaw
CREDENTIALS
Admitted in Missouri and Kansas; member, American Bar Association litigation section
EDUCATION
Juris Doctor, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law
Executive Summary
Commercial litigation attorney with six years defending contract, construction and business tort claims for regional companies. Handles a docket of roughly thirty matters, argues discovery and dispositive motions, takes depositions and second chairs trials. Admitted in Missouri and Kansas and comfortable in both state and federal court.
Signature Achievements
- Won summary judgment for a supplier in a two million dollar breach of contract case, ending the matter before trial.
- Took ninety depositions across six years, including corporate representative depositions in four construction cases.
- Resolved twenty two matters at mediation with settlements at or below the client reserve.
- Cut discovery spend on a document heavy dispute by a third by narrowing custodians and search terms before review began.
- Second chaired a five day jury trial that returned a defense verdict on all counts.
- Built the firm brief bank for Missouri commercial cases, now the first stop for every new associate.
Professional Experience
Attorney
Kellerman Voss Trial Counsel, Kansas City, MO 2022 to present
Carries about thirty active commercial and construction matters for manufacturers, contractors and suppliers.
- Drafts and argues motions to dismiss, discovery motions and summary judgment briefs in state and federal court.
- Takes and defends depositions of party witnesses, corporate representatives and testifying experts.
- Directs paralegal and electronic discovery support on collection scope, review protocols and productions.
- Reports case posture, exposure ranges and budget to clients each month in writing.
Associate Attorney
Brightwater Business Law Office, Overland Park, KS 2020 to 2022
General business practice serving privately held companies across eastern Kansas.
- Handled commercial collection actions from demand through judgment and garnishment.
- Researched and drafted briefs on contract interpretation, warranty and statute of limitations questions.
- Advised small business clients on vendor agreements and noncompetition terms.
Licensure and Certification
Admitted to the Missouri Bar, 2020
Admitted to the State Bar of Kansas, 2021
Admitted to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri
Education
Juris Doctor, University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law, Kansas City
Bachelor of Arts in political science, University of Kansas
Core Skills
Motion practice · Deposition skills · Discovery strategy · Legal research and writing · Mediation advocacy · Trial preparation · Client reporting · Electronic discovery oversight · Contract interpretation · Federal Rules of Civil Procedure