In Mr. Shurin’s general trial and business practice, he has litigated and negotiated on behalf of small businesses, Fortune 500 companies and individuals in regards to mergers, acquisitions, leasing, contracts, franchising and employment related matters. Mr. Shurin has successfully tried, as first chair, jury and non-jury cases in numerous courts. He has appeared before the Eighth and Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Missouri Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court.
Mr. Shurin has successfully mediated hundreds of cases. Many of those cases involved multiple parties with adverse interests. As a mediator, Mr. Shurin has had a broad range of assignments, including cases involving: professional fees; employment-related disputes; insurance, construction and commercial disputes (including family succession of businesses, shareholder disputes, and numerous breach of contract claims); bodily injury and wrongful death claims. Amounts in dispute have ranged from a few thousand dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Mr. Shurin has served as chair of three-person arbitration panels as well as sole arbitrator in hundreds of arbitrations that have gone to hearing and Award. He has served as the arbitrator in disputes involving: design professionals/clients, advertising agencies/clients, and attorney/clients; contractor/subcontractor/owner disputes; technology disputes; financial institution liability issues; property damage disputes involving homeowner's or commercial insurance claims; claims involving securities and dealer representatives; employment related claims; franchisor/multiple franchisee contract issues and other commercial and bodily injury claims. Size of claims have ranged from a few thousand dollars to multi-million dollars.
PRACTICE AREAS
- Mediation
- Arbitration
- Special Master
- Business and Commercial
- Construction
- Negligence
- Employment
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Missouri
- Kansas
- Arizona
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court, District of Kansas
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
BACKGROUND
- Currently Of Counsel with offices in Kansas City, MO and Phoenix, AZ
- Shaffer Lombardo Shurin, P.C., Shareholder/Director, 1996-2016
- McDowell Rice & Smith, 1989-95, Shareholder/Executive Committee
- Horowitz, Shurin & Johl, P.C., 1968-89, Shareholder/Director
- Jackson County, Missouri, 1969-73, Assistant Counselor/Land Tax Attorney
EDUCATION
- University of Missouri at Kansas City, J.D., 1968
- University of Missouri at Columbia, B.A., 1965 (Economics Major)
SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Nominated by President Clinton to be a Judge of the U.S. District Court, Western District of Missouri; nomination withdrawn at Mr. Shurin’s request due to delays in the nomination/confirmation process
- Named to 2021-2022 The Best Lawyers in America©
- Named to 2020-2023 Missouri Lawyers Power 30 List
- Super Lawyer, 2009-2023
- Ingram's Business Magazine - named as one of Kansas City's best commercial litigation attorneys 2011-2016
- Reviewer in the Prudential Remediation Plan Appeals Committee
- Appointed by the Cole County Circuit Court as Special Deputy Liquidator of the General American Mutual Holding Company
- Multiple judgments/settlements on behalf of clients of a million dollars or more
- Represented Minnesota Twins baseball club in negotiations with Kirby Puckett when Mr. Puckett lost the sight on one eye due to glaucoma
- Counsel for BB King's 70th birthday weekend celebration in Memphis, TN; the weekend included music from 30 different groups and singers including Bonnie Raitt, Keb’ Mo’, Sting and Tony Bennett
- Represented numerous individuals in negotiating employment terms as CEO, CFO, COO and/or President of large companies, including Fortune 500 companies
- Attorney for Jackson County Transition Commission, changing county government from three person governing board with numerous elected positions to separate executive and legislative branches with appointed administrative positions
SPEAKING
- Keynote speaker at Governor's dinner for 35 judges in MO appointed by Governor, May 2016
- “Drafting Effective Arbitration Clauses,” AAA Seminar, March 2004
- “Negotiating Contracts with Sports and Entertainment Personalities,” April 2005, Sports and Entertainment Law Class, UMKC Law School
- “ADR, Advantages and Disadvantages,” ROMEO Meeting, January 2017
- “Annual Employment Law Update,” for large Kansas City-based client, 1996-2008
- “Special Masters – Authority and Procedure,” MO Bar CLE, 2018
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Missouri Bar Association
- Kansas Bar Association
- Kansas City Bar Association
- Arizona Bar Association
- American Bar Association (Litigation Section; Alternative Dispute Resolution Section)
- Certified Mediator, International Mediation Institute (IMI)
- Distinguished Fellow, International Academy of Mediators
- National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
CIVIC & CHARITABLE
- Chairman of the Missouri Gaming Commission, 2015
- Member of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri, July 2015-2019; served as President 1/2017-4/2018
- Chairman of the Board of Allen Village School 1999-2002
PERSONAL
- Mr. Shurin and his wife, Jill, enjoy domestic and international travel
- Reads biographies, world and American history and mysteries
- Collects American political campaign buttons and is a member of the American Political Items Collector Organization