MICHAEL L. BLUMENTHAL 
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Mike’s entire legal career has been devoted to representing employers in workplace matters. His practice focuses on employment counseling and litigation, with particular emphasis on policy development and problem avoidance. Mike is known as an aggressive and passionate trial lawyer. Mike is often called upon by other lawyers to mediate and arbitrate employment lawsuits, and he is known for his creative and practical approach to dealing with employment disputes.
Mike has been recognized by his peers as a Kansas and Missouri "Super Lawyer," is "Best of the Bar," and is included among The Best Lawyers in America in the field of labor and employment law. The Chambers guide listed Mike as a “Leading Individual” in the Kansas City area in the field of labor and employment law and he was recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly in 2007 as an “Up and Coming Lawyer” representing Missouri businesses.
Mike received his law degree from the University of Kansas, where he was the Publications Editor for The Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy. His published articles include 10 THE LABOR LAWYER 19, The Defendant’s Perspective: Ethical Consideration In Representing and Counseling Multiple Parties In Employment Litigation (1994), and 1 THE KANSAS JOURNAL OF LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY 155, Warning! Collective Bargaining Can Be Hazardous To Your Health (1991). He is a dynamic trainer and a sought-after speaker at employment law seminars. He is admitted to practice before the courts of Kansas, Missouri and Georgia.
Mike is an active member of the American Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section and Committee on Employee Rights and Responsibilities, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association’s Labor & Employment Law Committee (of which he has served as Chairman), the Society for Human Resource Management, and is the immediate Past President of the Human Resource Management Association of Johnson County (where he has also served as President-Elect, Vice President, and Chair of the Government and Legal Affairs Committee).
BRENT N. COVERDALE Download vCard
Brent concentrates his practice on employment-related litigation and counseling, as well as general commercial litigation. This includes a focus on employee discrimination, wage and hour, and employee benefits, as well as unfair competition and covenants not to compete. Brent is licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas, as well as federal courts in those states and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Brent has been involved in cases and counseling on behalf of corporate employers all through the United States, including successful results at all levels of litigation, from motions to dismiss through appellate arguments. Brent provides counseling to clients and has spoken on current topics to a variety of groups. Brent has also authored several articles and chapters on current issues and was the coordinating editor of Employment Law and Practice, volume 37 in the Missouri Practice Series.
Prior to joining SBH, Brent worked at Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP from 2000 to 2005, where he handled employment and general litigation, as well as employment counseling and policy guidance. Brent also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Kathryn H. Vratil of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas from 1998 through 2000, where he gained valuable insight into litigation of commercial and employment matters and jury trials generally.
Brent received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law (Order of the Coif) in 1998, and worked on the Kansas Law Review, authoring two articles. Brent received his B.A. in political science and philosophy from Kansas State University in 1995.
ANDREW W. FUNK Download vCard
Andy focuses his practice on employment and business litigation and has managed cases in all stages of litigation in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Andy has been selected as one of the Kansas City business community's top "20 in their 20s" by Ingram's magazine. He received his A.B. with honors from Princeton University and his J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia. During law school, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Missouri Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He became a member of the school's moot court team after being selected as the top oralist by three members of the Supreme Court of Missouri.
Prior to joining SBH, Andy was an associate at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, where he handled litigation related to products liability, construction, insurance coverage, and general commercial disputes. Andy serves as pro bono counsel for juvenile offenders in family court. Prior to attending law school, Andy worked as an executive and legislative assistant in the Washington, D.C., office of U.S. Representative Dennis Moore.
CHARLIE J. HARRIS, JR. Download vCard
Charlie received his undergraduate degree from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri. Over the next twelve years, he was employed by three Fortune 500 corporations in various positions in management and human resources. Among his responsibilities was the companies’ compliance with applicable state and federal employment laws.
Charlie graduated in 1995 from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School, where he was a member of the UMKC Law Review and received the Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (“BNA”) National Academic Excellence Award. Upon graduation, Charlie served as law clerk to the Honorable Fernando J. Gaitan, Jr., United States District Court Judge for the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
On March 1, 2008, Charlie joined the law firm formerly known as Seyferth Knittig & Blumenthal LLC. and the firm changed its name to Seyferth Blumenthal & Harris LLC. Mr. Harris has a national practice representing corporate and municipal entities against claims of race, sex and age discrimination, sexual harassment and claims involving the ADA, FLSA and FMLA. Charlie also defends corporate clients in various commercial litigation including, but not limited to, products liability and consumer litigation. Charlie is known for his dynamic trial advocacy skills and his ability to craft solutions to difficult business related problems. Charlie has been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer in the states of Kansas and Missouri.
In 1999, the attorneys in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area first elected Charlie to represent them on the Missouri State Bar’s Board of Governors. In September 2007, Mr. Harris was elected President of the Missouri Bar, the first person of color to hold this distinction. Charlie has also served as Chair of the Western District of Missouri Federal Practice Committee by appointment by the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri en banc. Charlie is currently a member of the executive committee of the Federal Advocates Committee, a section of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the Advisory Board for the Western District of Missouri Federal Law Clerk Society. He is a member of the Missouri Bar, Kansas Bar, Jackson County Bar, Mound City Bar, and American Bar Association. In 2005, the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law honored Charlie with the Pat Kelley Distinguished Alumni Award for service to the community, bar and civic organizations. In 2008, he was not only named a Fellow by the American Bar Foundation, but was also the recipient of the NAACP Diversity Advocate in Law Award.
COURTNEY A. HASSELBERG Download vCard
Courtney’s practice emphasizes employment litigation and counseling at all stages of the employment relationship. Courtney is licensed to practice in Missouri and Kansas, as well as the United States District Court of Kansas and the Western District of Missouri. Courtney is also licensed to practice before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
In addition to her experience handling employment-related litigation, Courtney has also handled numerous general commercial litigation matters. Courtney regularly assists employers in addressing employment-related issues before litigation ensues. Courtney’s experience includes participating in litigation pending in numerous state and federal courts throughout the country as well as arbitrations and mediations.
Prior to joining the firm, Courtney clerked for the Honorable Floyd R. Gibson, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Courtney serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Women Lawyers, and is a graduate of the Kansas City Missouri Bar Leadership Academy.
Courtney received her J.D. from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law in 1998, where she graduated with distinction and worked on the UMKC Law Review. Courtney also wrote an article on affirmative action programs for universities while on the Law Review. Prior to law school, Courtney received her B.A. in History from William Jewell College and an M.A. in History from UMKC.
JULIA D. KITSMILLER Download vCard
Julia’s practice focuses on employment litigation, business litigation and counseling clients on employment-related issues. Julia is licensed to practice in Kansas and Missouri as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Western District of Missouri, District of Kansas, Eastern District of Missouri and Southern District of Illinois. Julia currently serves as a co-chair of the Western District of Missouri Federal Law Clerk Society, an officer for the UMKC School of Law Alumni Association Board of Directors, an Inn Master for the UMKC Inns of Court Program, and Vice-Chair of the Missouri Bar Labor & Employment Committee. She is also a graduate of the Missouri Bar Leadership Academy and the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Leadership Academy. Julia has also written and published the chapter entitled Time Limits on State and Federal Employment Discrimination Claims for the Missouri Bar Employment Discrimination Deskbook.
Julia received her undergraduate degree in from Truman State University. She received her law degree with honors from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law where she also served as Editor-in-Chief of the UMKC Law Review, was inducted into the Order of the Barristers, was a member of the national moot court team, and served as a teaching assistant for the legal research and writing classes. Before entering private practice, Julia had the honor of serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Ortrie D. Smith, United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Missouri.
KELLY S. MOOTHART Download vCard
Kelly primarily handles commercial litigtion and employment matters arising under state and federal law, Section 301 of the National Labor Relations Act and represents management before administrative agencies, such as the EEOC. Kelly also provides management with day-to-day advice concerning personnel and employment matters. Kelly has trial experience as well as experience in arbitration and mediation.
Kelly is licensed to practice in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. In addition, she is admitted to practice before four federal Appellate Courts and six federal District Courts.
Kelly is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (“KCMBA”). She has served as secretary and as treasurer of the Young Lawyers Section (“YLS”), has served as chair of the Public Service Committee (Law Week) and the Membership and Social Committee. She is also a member of the Labor and Employment Law Committee. In addition, she was a barrister in the KCMBA Inns of Court program. She is a topic author for a labor law treatise on discharge and discipline sponsored by the Section of Labor and Employment Law of the American Bar Association.
Kelly received her B.S. and her J.D. from the University of South Dakota . While at law school, she served as Articles Editor of the South Dakota Law Review.
Julie W. O'Dell Download vCard
Julie’s practice focuses on employment, securities and commercial litigation. She has handled cases at every stage of the litigation process, from preliminary investigation to discovery and trial in state and federal court, as well as arbitration. Her employment litigation experience includes representation of employers in defense of claims of race, disability, age and sex discrimination, as well as claims of sexual harassment, retaliation and wrongful discharge. Julie’s securities experience includes the representation of broker-dealers in defense of customer claims, including unsuitability, churning, misrepresentation and failure to supervise. In addition, she has represented clients in connection with disciplinary actions and enforcement proceedings commenced by self-regulatory agencies and state securities commissioners. Julie has also been involved in a variety of commercial cases, ranging from breach of contract to antitrust claims.
Julie received her J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2000, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and was a Note and Comment Editor for the Law Review. Prior to joining SBH, Julie was an associate with Bryan Cave LLP and served on the firm’s recruiting committee.
PAUL D. SEYFERTH Download vCard
Paul’s primary emphasis is commercial and employment litigation. He has practiced law for over 20 years and his practice extends throughout the United States. Paul has defended hundreds of discrimination lawsuits in state and federal courts. He also handles cases involving restrictive covenants, cases involving breach of fiduciary duties, and employment contract cases. When not involved in litigation, he advises management in connection with personnel policies and other federal and state employment law issues.
In the past several years, Paul has been hired to represent several different law firms in the Midwest to handle their employment claims and has served as a mediator and arbitrator in many different kinds of employment litigation. Paul has tried cases to juries throughout the United States, from Alaska to West Virginia. He has tried sexual harassment, whistle-blower, non-competition, trade secrets, gender, disability, age discrimination and employee polygraph cases.
Paul is a frequent presenter at continuing legal education seminars, and has spoken on a variety of topics such as voir dire, opening statements, cross-examination and the negotiation of severance packages for high level employees. He has published extensively on employment and litigation topics over the past 20 years. Some of his published articles include: “Cross Examination in Employment Trials, ” Journal of the Missouri Bar (May 2008); “The Five Most Common Mistakes Employers Make in the Hospitality Industry,” (Five Part Series) Hospitality Law Reporter (2003); “Evaluating Employment Discrimination Cases from a Defense Counsel’s Perspective,” Journal of the Missouri Bar (October 2002); “Using Expert Witnesses in Employment Litigation,” 82 Am Jur. Trials 97 (2002); “A Roadmap of the Law of Summary Judgment in Disparate Treatment Cases,” 15 The Labor Lawyer 251 (1999); “Taking the Deposition of the Sexual Harassment Plaintiff,” 65 Am Jur. Trials 65 (1998); and “Efficiently and Effectively Defending Employment Discrimination Cases,” 63 Am Jur. Trials 127 (1997).
Paul received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1987.
Paul has been repeatedly selected by his peers as a Kansas and Missouri “Super Lawyer,” as “Best of the Bar” by the Kansas City Business Journal, and is included among The Best Lawyers in America in the field of labor and employment law.
