W. SCHIAVONE Anne

I have spent my entire legal career in Kansas City. The first four years of my career were dedicated to working for defense law firms. I defended companies in environmental litigation, product liability cases, and personal injury claims. After four years, I leveraged my knowledge of law and defense to open a firm specializing in personal injury and employment law. We represent only individuals. There is no comparison between working for a corporation and working for an individual. I have truly enjoyed every client I have had the opportunity to work with.

My practice includes representing plaintiffs who have been injured due to the negligence or intentional acts of others. This includes claims involving injuries caused by products such as medical devices, personal injury claims related to singular events, as well as claims involving employment discrimination or wrongful termination. I also represent adults and children who are victims of abuse/sexual assault.

In addition to my daily litigation practice, I have the honor of serving on several committees. In 2016, I was appointed to the executive committee of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys (MATA). We work to protect the civil justice system and the 7th Amendment. This commitment includes frequent visits to our State Capitol to advocate for and protect the rights of individuals within our state. I am honored to currently serve as the president of MATA. I am one of five women to hold this position in the organization's 70+ years. I am also a state delegate to the American Association for Justice, a national organization dedicated to promoting justice for injured individuals and protecting the rights of victims.

In 2017, I was appointed to the executive committee of a multidistrict litigation case before the U.S. District Court in New Hampshire. Alongside four colleagues from different regions of the country, I was tasked with overseeing litigation involving thousands of cases in the MDL related to hernia mesh products. The litigation concluded in 2023. In September 2023, I was appointed to the executive committee of a current multidistrict litigation case before the U.S. District Court in Arizona. The current litigation concerns implantable port catheters.

I have had the privilege of serving on the merit selection committee for the reappointment of a magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, as well as for selecting a new magistrate judge to fill a vacancy on the court. In May 2023, I received the Distinguished Counselor Award from the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, which honors a member who demonstrates professionalism, collegiality, and courtesy in the practice of law. I love practicing in the Kansas City legal community and have met many outstanding attorneys during my 25 years of practice.