Meet Kate McKinney
Kate McKinney began her career in 1996 as an assistant prosecuting attorney in suburban Kansas City and then transitioned into private practice. After 11 years, Kate took a brief hiatus from her legal practice to start her own company, focusing on social media and digital marketing. After building a successful small business and gaining perspective on the needs of business owners, she felt called back to the practice of law. Kate joined Martin Pringle in 2014. Her experience as a business owner gives Kate a unique perspective when managing clients’ needs. Kate’s law practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation, insurance defense, and business and entrepreneurial law.
A Kansas City native, Kate earned her undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, Indiana and her law degree at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is active in the Kansas City community, was a member of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce's Centurions leadership program, and recently chaired the Board of Directors at the Kansas City CARE Clinic. Kate lives in Overland Park with her husband and four children. She spends an inordinate amount of time at the local soccer fields on evenings and weekends.
Civil and Commercial Litigation
Kate is an accomplished commercial and civil litigator with experience in contract cases, commercial foreclosures and other loan-related litigation, stockholder disputes, employment claims, will and trust disputes and business torts such as non-competition and trade secrets litigation. She has successfully represented clients in administrative proceedings and in mediations, as well as in state and federal courts in Kansas and Missouri.
Insurance Defense
Kate has represented regional and national carriers on a wide variety of insurance matters. She has successfully handled hundreds of insurance defense claims, including products liability matters, professional negligence claims, commercial general liablity, transportation litigation, homeowners and premises liability. She also regularly consults with insurance carriers on coverage matters.
Business LAW & Entrepreneurial Law
As a former entrepreneur and business owner, Kate is uniquely situated to understand the needs and concerns of clients who own and operate businesses. Kate works with Martin Pringle’s business practice and entrepreneurial law groups to help businesses with the drafting, review and negotiation of employment and vendor contracts and non-compete/non-solicitation agreements. Her background and knowledge of marketing law also allows her to work with clients on a variety of branding and consumer-focused regulatory issues.
Education
- Vanderbilt University School of Law, J.D., 1996
- Saint Mary’s College, B.A., 1993
Bar Admissions
- Kansas, 2000
- Missouri, 1996
Professional Affiliations
- Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, Member
- Kansas Association of Defense Counsel, Member
- Claims & Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), Member
- Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
- Johnson County Bar Association, Member
Civic / Social Involvement
- Kansas City CARE Clinic, Board of Directors, 2014 - 2020 (past chair)
- Kansas Supreme Court Ad Hoc Task Force on Jury Trials (COVID), 2020
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors, 2018 - 2019
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions, Class of 2016 (steering committee)
- Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions, Spring Class Alumni Steering Chair, 2018 - 2019
- Kansas City CARE Clinic, Bloom Party Committee, 2009 - 2014 and Co-chair, 2013 and 2014
- Vanderbilt University Alumni Club, Kansas City Chapter, Past President
Published Articles / Presentations
- "Social Media in Banking: Legal Issues." Kansas Bankers Association Bank Technology Conference, February 12, 2018. Lecture.
- "Corporate Depositions: Limiting In-House Counsel Depos and Selecting/Preparing Employees for 30(b)(6) Depos." Association of Corporate Counsel - Mid-America Chapter, February 15, 2017. Lecture.
- "Legal Update, Social Media." Community Bankers Association of Kansas Annual Convention, June 2014. Lecture.
- "Legal Issues in Marketing." Enterprise Center of Johnson County, 2014. Lecture.
- "The High Cost of Free Stuff", Thinking Bigger Business Magazine, June 2014. Print.
- "What Legal Issues Should I Consider Before Launching an Online Business?," Kansas City Business Journal, Ask the Professionals, April 2014. Print.
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